With only 78 days left until the University of Georgia kicks off the 2016 football season in the Georgia Dome against the University of North Carolina, take a moment to Know Your Bulldogs.

The keeper of the No. 78 jersey - and trust us, nobody will try and take it from him - is sophomore defensive lineman Trenton Thompson.

Thompson was one of the most coveted recruits in the 2015 cycle, not only out of the state of Georgia, but considered by some to be the No. 1 recruit in the nation. Many of his scouting reports listed him as being the most college-ready defensive lineman analysts had seen. And in 2016, he will be relied on heavily to fill many voids left by graduated players.

His 2015 season was dulled a bit with a lingering ankle injury, but he is expected to enter camp not only healthy, but in the best shape of his life. A year in an intense college strength and conditioning as well as nutrition program seems to have that affect on second year student-athletes.

While Thompson showed glimmers at times last year of what Bulldog fans can expect going forward, expect to jump up out of your seat on more than one occasion this fall in reaction to a big hit the sophomore may put upon an opposing SEC running back or quarterback.

Class: Sophomore

Hometown: Albany, Ga

High School: Westover

Height/Weight: 6-4 / 307

Position: Defensive Line

Birth Date: 7/27/1996

2015: Appeared in 12 games for the Bulldogs and recorded 25 tackles, 8 solo and 17 assisted. He also recorded 2 tackles for loss and .5 sacks, as well as 2 QB hurries.

High School: Westover, coached by Octavia Jones … named the 2014 Maxwell Football Club's National High School Player of the Year … selected to represent the East in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl … 2014 American Family Insurance USA Today ALL-USA First Team Defense … 2014 USA Today All-USA Defensive Player of the Year … Parade Magazine All-America Team… PrepStar Magazine five-star prospect, #2 player in the PrepStar Top 300 … ESPN.com five-star prospect, #3 player nationally, #2 DT nationally, #1 player in the state …  247Sports.com five-star prospect, #1 player nationally, #1 DT nationally, #1 in the state … Rivals.com five-star prospect, #7 player nationally, #2 DT nationally, #2 in the state … Scout.com five-star prospect, #2  overall player nationally, #1 DT nationally, #1 DT in the South … DawgPost #1 ranked player in Georgia Member of the Atlanta-Journal Constitution 2014 Super 11 … 2014 Atlanta-Journal Constitution Class AAAA Defensive Player of the Year and member of the All-State Class AAAA First Team Defense … during his senior season, tallied 84 tackles, including 36 tackles for loss and four sacks, one interception and one forced fumble … recorded 148 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 17 sacks, one interception and one forced fumble his sophomore and junior seasons … helped his team to the Georgia AAAA state playoffs his sophomore, junior and senior years.