UGA WR targets not affected by Stafford departure for the NFL

For any wide receiver recruited by UGA, next year was shaping up to be the opportunity of a lifetime. It was the chance to catch passes from Matthew Stafford, one of college football’s biggest stars and Georgia’s best-ever pro prospect at quarterback. 

Kenney

However, Stafford decided on Wednesday to exit for the NFL, along with Knowshon Moreno. So how do UGA’s top two remaining recruiting targets at wide receiver feel about it?

“I’m happy for him [Stafford], I think he made the right decision,” said Marlon Brown of Memphis, who is deciding between Tennessee, Georgia, Ohio State and LSU.

“I kind of figured that Stafford would go … and why wouldn’t he go if he is projected to be drafted so high?” said former Dacula standout Cameron Kenney. He plays at Garden City Junior College and is mulling over offers from Auburn, UGA, South Carolina and Kansas State. “He did what he felt like he needed to do.”

The more important question is this: How will Stafford’s departure affect how each prospect feels about UGA?

“None at all,” Brown told the AJC on Wednesday night.

“Georgia will always be Georgia,” Kenney said. “I mean, if Stafford and Moreno would’ve stayed, it would have definitely been a good thing. They were great players. But there are more great players behind them at Georgia.”

Wide receiver is the No. 1 remaining recruiting priority for Georgia coach Mark Richt, who publicly vowed that he needed to sign “at least two.” The Bulldogs have a commitment from Rantavious Wooten of Belle Glades, Fla., who is still being pursued by the Florida Gators.

The 6-foot-5 Brown is heavily involved with Georgia, but his chances to signing with the Bulldogs seem to slowly lessening. Brown says has developed a close friendship with Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor. However, most discouraging for Georgia is that there is mounting pressure for Brown to stay local and play for the Volunteers. And Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin has made Brown feel like he’s the No. 1 prospect in the world. After Kiffin was named coach, he immediately caught a flight that same day to meet with Brown.

“Yeah, there’s a lot of people who watched me play football growing up, that would like to see me play for Tennessee,” Brown said. “I hear about Tennessee all day, every day. There would be some unhappy people around here if I left the state to play ball. But I know I’ve got to do what’s best for me and my future. It may be Tennessee, or it may be one of the other schools. I don’t know yet.”

Georgia, perhaps seeing its window of opportunity closing with Brown, will make an in-home visit on Saturday. The Bulldogs will be hoping to regain the early momentum they had with Brown.
Meanwhile, Kenney told the AJC that he has scheduled his official visit with UGA for Jan. 23. Wooten could not be reached for comment.

Got an item? Send an email to mcarvell@ajc.com