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Inside College Recruiting: Michael Carvell

UGA football coaches setting up for a fast and furious finish

2:43 am January 14, 2009, by Michael Carvell

Tight end Orson Charles of Tampa

Georgia’s recruiting strategy for the rest of the year looked so simple back in August. That’s when the Bulldogs had 15 early commitments, and when UGA coach Mark Richt admitted “We probably could have a few more than that [15] right now if we really wanted.” At the time, Georgia expected to sign no more than 20 players in February. The five remaining scholarships? The Bulldogs, riding a wave of momentum with the No. 1 ranking and more importantly already securing commitments at key positions, decided to go all-out for some of the nation’s top prospects, mostly from out of state.

It was a great decision then and a good decision now, as the Bulldogs are finalists for around a half-dozen of the nation’s elite players at their positions, including wide receiver Marlon Brown of Memphis, offensive tackle Bobby Massie of Hargrave, Va., and tight end Orson Charles of Tampa.

However, Georgia’s recruiting strategy has been altered by the NFL draft. The early exits of Matthew Stafford, tailback Knowshon Moreno, and cornerback Asher Allen have allowed more scholarships to become available. The Bulldogs are coming closer each day to having a full recruiting class of 25.

It will be interesting to see how things play out over the next three weeks for Georgia, which has 18 commitments. Which prospects that favored UGA all along will now get offers? McEachern tight end Terrell Mitchell? Northside cornerback K.J. Morton? And will it be too late for Georgia for the some of those players if they are committed to other colleges? Walton’s David Paulsen (Oklahoma State)? How long will the Bulldogs wait on certain elite prospects before going in a different direction? Which of the elite will appear to have no intentions of going to UGA and then have a “change of heart” on signing day? Carver-Columbus linebacker Jarvis Jones?

The action will be fast and furious. Nothing like anyone (including myself) expected back in August.

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12 comments Add your comment

Dawg fan

January 15th, 2009
9:54 am

Michael,
Have heard nothing of Rontavious Wooten for some time now. Is he still solid UGA?

Michael Carvell

January 15th, 2009
8:00 pm

Wooten is still committed to UGA and says he will sign with the Bulldogs. But it will be very interesting to see how things play out. If I was FORCED to pick the UGA commitment “most likely” to switch, it would be Wooten in a landslide.

Also a Dawg Fan

January 15th, 2009
11:42 pm

Michael, Anything on Greg Reid as of today? How bout Marlon Brown how are our chances of landing him?

Michael Carvell

January 16th, 2009
1:11 am

On Marlon Brown: I just get the feeling from talking to Marlon, that Lane Kiffin is determined to keep Brown in Tennessee and will do anything to make it happen. I could see the Vols promising to throw to him on the first play of the first game (aka Clemson w/Davis), letting him pick his jersey number, name a street after him, etc. … All kidding aside, Brown is still blown away that Kiffin left directly from his press conference to catch a flight and visit him the same night. I know Marlon also loves him some Mike Bobo and Aaron Murray, but will tough for him to leave Tennessee, especially with the mounting public pressure and the fact that his last visit before signing day will be @ Rocky Top.

Greg Reid? I really think UGA has a chance. I don’t have any inside info, but it seems like Reid was shocked to see the enormous public reaction when he said he would take an official visit to Georgia. He liked it, and I think the idea of signing with Georgia is growing on him.

jawaan

January 16th, 2009
12:53 pm

which recruit not expected to sign with UGA has the best chance to have a signing day switcheroo?

JOHN MITCHELL

January 19th, 2009
10:05 am

TO 1953 dawg: YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT. UGA IS ABOUT TO HAVE POSSIBLY THE GREASTEST RECRUITING CLASS EVER. ALMOST ALL OF THE TOP PLAYERS LEFT (MASSIE,JONES,CHARLES,KENNY,GEATHERS,REID,BROWN) ALL HAVE UGA EITHER AT THE TOP ON SECOND. DO YOUR HOMEWORK BEFORE MAKING STUPID COMMENTS.

Imes

January 19th, 2009
6:09 pm

I’m a huge UGA fan and I keep in touch with all of the recruiting going on. Truthfully, UGA is in the running with charles (50-50), Kenny (almost certain UGA), Reid (50-50 with FSU, they have made a huge late push), Brown (50-50 with Ohio State), Geathers (50-50), Massie (going to UNC or Virginia), Jones (FLA lock). I wish we could sign all of them but its not realistic at all.

Imes

January 19th, 2009
6:19 pm

FYI: Wooten is very solid to UGA and Toby Jackson still hasn’t made the grade to get in to UGA. He is scheduled to retake the SAT in Feb.

Also, ALL DAWG fans need to be praying that Jeffery Whitaker signs with us next year!!

Joe

January 21st, 2009
10:17 am

Imes,
where do you get your information from? Do you subscribe to rivals or scout? Just curious because I don’t subscribe but follow recruiting very closely and am very interested in any stories involving the last few guys UGA has on their radar.

Paul

January 22nd, 2009
11:44 am

Jones, Reid, Charles, Brown, and Geather will be dogs comes Feb. 09. We can’t have anymore kids beside them.

jimmy

January 22nd, 2009
5:14 pm

dont count on reid yet,,,itll be close between fsu (where he would team with teammate demps) and the dawgs (one of the top recruiting classes) but it wouldnt suprise me to see if he goes back to the gators. i hope not but it just wouldnt suprise me.

Dawg fan

January 23rd, 2009
8:43 am

Is Michael Bowman on our radar at all now? Always thought we might get him from Bama late in the cycle if we were still short on the TE position.

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