Fortunes of Georgia, Richt can turn on recruiting Crowell
Carver-Columbus High's Isaiah Crowell can be a difference-maker at Georgia. (Jason Getz/AJC)
Those of you who’ve read me around college football recruiting time are familiar with my feelings about it. I’ve mostly mocked it — not because I think it’s not important but because the importance is so often overstated
We’ve seen enough in college football to know that it’s less important how highly a player — or entire recruiting class — is ranked by DraftSuperGeek.com than it is what happens to that player when he arrives on campus. Most significant is whether players are coached up, down or not at all.
How many top 10 recruiting classes you think TCU has pulled in the last 100 years? I’ll speculate: zero.
OK, that said, the fortunes of Georgia next season — and, it follows, coach Mark Richt — could swing on the potential recruitment of one player. I know. I’m contradicting myself. But by all accounts, running back Isaiah Crowell of Carver High School in Columbus, Ga., is that special of a player and, most importantly, he plays the right position.
The Dogs need to improve in a lot of areas but mostly they need a running back they can count on from week to week, on and off the field (read: not Caleb King).
What did Marcus Lattimore do for South Carolina this season? What did a guy named Herschel Walker do for Georgia?
Nobody can guarantee Crowell will be in that category as a freshman, but most seem to believe he’s a game-changer. Richt’s issue is he may not have the luxury of time so he needs an immediate-impact player in 2011. Crowell would pair nicely with quarterback Aaron Murray. The expected loss of A.J. Green will hurt the offense but Murray is good enough — his Liberty Bowl performance notwithstanding — that the Dogs should still have a solid passing attack.
Our recruiting monster, Chip Towers, is down in Florida at the high school All-American game at Disney’s Wide World of Sports. Here’s a link to his latest blog about recruits saying they’re not spooked by Georgia’s 6-7 record this year. Here’s an excerpt, which quotes Crowell:
The general consensus among some of the state’s highest-profile college football prospects is that Georgia’s 6-7 record this past season is not necessarily a deal-killer with regard to their recruitment. Most notably, that is the opinion of Carver-Columbus running back Isaiah Crowell. He is generally considered Georgia’s highest-ranked recruit and is, quite clearly, the Bulldogs’ No. 1 target from the Class of 2011.
“Really, I don’t how they’re going to be when I get there,” Crowell said, speaking metaphorically of the possibility of enrolling at UGA before next season. “I try not to think about it like that. One year South Carolina’s down, then Marcus Lattimore went there and the program’s up. So you never know how it will be when you get there. And I feel like I’ll be a difference maker wherever I go.”
Hey, he stole the Lattimore example from me.
For what it’s worth, Georgia’s in a recruiting battle with Alabama and Auburn for Crowell.
So what do you think? Can one player like Crowell make that big of a difference?
This might help you make your decision. It’s a near four-minute highlight video of Crowell from Scout.com, via YouTube. (Sorry, no audio. But you can provide your own screaming.)
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Earlier post: Our first coach rankings (and a poll about Richt, Hewitt)
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601 comments Add your comment
S. Thomas Coleman
January 4th, 2011
11:19 am
Jeff and Redclay:
At last spring’s state track and field finals, I spoke to Crowell at length. At the time he was about 5-10 (not 6 feet) and probably about 200 pounds. After a year of training and growing as teenage boys do, he may be closer to 5-11 (maybe 6 feet) and 210-215.
S. Thomas Coleman
Gatormeat
January 4th, 2011
11:19 am
Just imagine the matchup next year, Weis vs bobo. LOL, what a mismatch. It will be the game that finishes richt’s career. You better wear those black helmets again dogs, black is going to be an appropiate color for you that day. Remember georgia, to Florida, you are Vanderbilt. You are Kentucky. Accept it
David
January 4th, 2011
11:20 am
There is only one Hershell Walker. Crowell is good, but he want turn Ga around. Generally no one player will carry a team. That is where Ga people miss. The game is won in the trenches.
Jeff, don’t venture into recruiting. Monster Chip, what a joke. He get’s all his information a day later than everybody.
beanuga
January 4th, 2011
11:21 am
Is there a Fire CMR web site yet? Nah we gone give him another season!!!So MR can embarrass the Dawg Nation!!!He is not an SEC coach. FSU made him and none of those players even attended class. Steriods was big during those days.
beanuga
January 4th, 2011
11:23 am
The game is won in the trenches!! Look at all the small OL we are recruiting. DL is coached by Garner and He suks
On a break in Bangalore
January 4th, 2011
11:24 am
ThU(sic)GA(y or g) has major programs in education, housing and languages, many pretty girls and likes to party…we can’t compete…CMR is a very bad man, very bad!
RAPbama
January 4th, 2011
11:30 am
Bama just got a verbal from a Florida running back, so they are probably not in the hunt for Crowell. Coach Richt has been good for Georgia but if the talent level is not very high, the SEC has gotten to be a tough place.
Bama had the best running back combo in their history coming into this season and finished fourth in the SEC West. Georgia does need a good running back but the days of a one guy, a Herschel Walker coming in and making all the difference are pretty much over. Still though, Cam Newton floated Auburn’s boat this year. Maybe it’s still possible, but not at running back. See Marcus Latimore, he’s good but they are 9-5, which is not what Georgia fans will be happy with.
dawgfacedboy
January 4th, 2011
11:30 am
Recruiting is only a big deal if you get the most out of them which UGA has not been doing. They have 1 top 10 finish in the last 6 seasons and let’s face it, if you’re not in the top 10 you aren’t relevant in the national picture. This despite averaging a top 10 class during that time. In fact the only other programs that have been doing less with top 10 classes are Miami, FSU, and Notre Dame.
Programs who have averaged top 10 classes over the last 6 years and have multiple top 10 finishes: OU,OSU,Texas,Fl,Bama,LSU,USC.
Alabamadawg
January 4th, 2011
11:33 am
Great article. I always love reading your opinion/views on sports.
Ralph
January 4th, 2011
11:33 am
Tech’s Nesbitt is a senior majoring in management and will graduate. There are no pretend majors at Tech like thUGA. Additionally Tech is half the size as thUGA and draws many more out of state students, hence in-state loyalty is naturally a lot less. Tech is not going to be able to compete either locally or nationally for the local non-student athletes that thUGA savors.
(I never attended Tech – just call it as I see it)
WildcatMom
January 4th, 2011
11:34 am
One man can not win in a game of football it will require 11 men who are totally on the field, so therefore I don’t see him as being a savior. I have seen a lot of great players at UGA’s football camps but because of their size UGA will not give them a second look. Maybe if they stop discriminating because of size and get ability they can win some games! Check out the video for Curtis Mason out of Villa Rica, GA on YouTube! He also had great performance at UGA’s camp 2 years in a row!
Buckhead Dawg
January 4th, 2011
11:34 am
I have supported the Dawgs for more than 50 years; in good times and bad. I have never been as disappointed as I was watching the Liberty Bowl. We were flat and obviously did not want to play. No amount of “monotone” CoachSpeak can change what is now abundantly clear. UGA is in deep trouble and CMR does not have what it takes to re-energize a moribund program.
I have great respect for CMR but I have come to the conclusion that he has lost his passion for the game and the Bulldogs. Too unfocused; too many players who fail the character test that he himself exemplifies. When I listen to Will Muschamp and observe how he is attacking the job of building a quality motivated staff at Florida, I am very envious. No single recruit or group of recruits can succeed when the program is as lost as it appears to be.
beanuga
January 4th, 2011
11:39 am
AMEN!!Buckhead Dawg!!You have 50 years!! How can UGA keep on giving another year to MR? I have respect for MR! I also know this football program needs a leader!! I do not want to wait another year! I am embarrassed to be a dawg fan.
RAPbama
January 4th, 2011
11:40 am
I do think that the state of Georgia produces a lot of talent, but over the years folks like Tennessee, Alabama, FSU and most notably Auburn, get too many of them. UGA has a recruiting base to die for and only Tech to compete with in state. They have never cleaned the state up on a consistent basis and they have never had any really good coaches either. Richt is decent, but Dooly was no better. Dooly got a flood of talent in the early 80’s and then things cooled down again. From a historical and resource basis, Georgia has done well but I always think they should have done even better. They have no obvious advantage over Bama for potential and acutally have a better situation.
beanuga
January 4th, 2011
11:41 am
It takes a family of players to win a game. One player is not going to change things for a team. Lets go swimming!!!
Steve
January 4th, 2011
11:45 am
Going to the SEC means he won’t ever have to go to class! Super athletes, no education.
ChunkyMonkey
January 4th, 2011
11:46 am
Even if UGA signs him, what is to insure Richt and Bobo won’t screw it up some how or other? They have managed to do it in recent years!!
There are times when Richt and Bobo appear as though they ‘KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO’!!
Snoop Dawg
January 4th, 2011
11:50 am
I like the dream team prospects. These quality players deserve to work for a dream team of coaches, too. These quality recruits’ talents will be wasted with the Dumb and Dumber crowd of Richt, Bobo, Searles, Garner, and Grantham.
5150 P.O.A.D
January 4th, 2011
11:51 am
If your Quality of Life is based on 1 18 yr old running back you may need to get a new job.
Snoop Dawg
January 4th, 2011
11:52 am
I hear all these folks blathering all over themselves about how much respect they have for Richt. Why? It’s all a big facade and he has run the wheels off the wagon.
I do not respect Mark Richt as a coach, and that is what the UGA is paying him three MILLION DOLLAR A YEAR to do.
It is a disgrace.
SOUTH GA DAWG FAN
January 4th, 2011
11:54 am
I might be wrong but didn’t Hershel Walker save dooley hadn’t Dooley recently had a losing season before he got walker. Not saying crowell will be even close to walker and i still think richt should have been let go , but one player can save a coach.
Tide Rising
January 4th, 2011
11:55 am
My feeling is that Georgia will probably get him because he’s the hometown kid who grew up a dog fan and its mighty hard to pull a homestate kid who grew up a fan of the local program. That being said he won’t make or break the Georgia program just like Ealey and King didn’t make or break Georgia’s running game.
Lattimore had a great year but S Carolina is still only 9-5. Cam elevated the AU program to great heights but he’s a qb and a qb has much greater overall influence on a game than a rb.
Adding Crowell will certainly help but if the O-line isn’t plowing over people it won’t make a hill of beans worth of difference.
Snoop Dawg
January 4th, 2011
11:55 am
By the way, we need some backs with heft that can run over linebackers. These finesse little backs that Richt has recruited are a joke. Watching Carlton Thomas run is like watching a drunk run into a brick wall at full speed. He probably doesn’t weigh 160 soaking wet.
What a joke. This is an FSU thing. Can we send Richt back down to FSU to help out the Noles in the ACC?
beanuga
January 4th, 2011
11:55 am
3 Million is alot of money to not have a team prepared!!I am sick of it!!
Jim Bob and the Copenhagen cowboys
January 4th, 2011
11:56 am
Crowell;
We love you and we need you!
5150 P.O.A.D
January 4th, 2011
11:56 am
I love it. The SEC schools get the most top 25 recruiting classes, but only 2 SEC school are AAU members (Florida & Vandy). Most Big 10 schools don’t get top 25 recruiting classes, but the STUDENT athlete gets a damn good education. Education is not a concern for the SEC as it relates to student ATHLETES.
Dawgs73
January 4th, 2011
11:56 am
Can one player make a difference..yes, but we are talking about saint Richt who couldn’t win the SEC east with Stafford, Moreno, Massoqua, and others.
Richt needs a double dose of the'pecia
January 4th, 2011
11:57 am
Pray for him to come Saint Richt. It might work this time. God bless
beanuga
January 4th, 2011
11:57 am
Muschamp gets Weis!! We promote bobo!!Dang.
Dawghater
January 4th, 2011
11:58 am
All UGA fans do is brag about every recruiting class. Funny, how are those star recruits doing. I mean when they aren’be being arrested.
Einsteindawg
January 4th, 2011
11:58 am
Jeff, I respectfully disagree…Crowell is just a newer version of CK4, and has the same attitude. I saw him shutdown and losing his cool against Calhoun. Bray would be a much better fit for UGA, and Branden Smith should be moved to the offense where we could desperately use his speed and versatility. Just my opinion.
blazerdawg
January 4th, 2011
11:58 am
Enter your comments here
beanuga
January 4th, 2011
12:00 pm
Richt had Peter Warrick at FSU. MR called his number every other down. We pass to Green one or 2 plays a quarter and try to get him killed most of the time.
Football fan
January 4th, 2011
12:01 pm
Is Crowell going to play both ways? Unless he can tackle I dont see him doing alot of good at Ugay.
Iowa Corn
January 4th, 2011
12:02 pm
Enter your comments here
Tom
January 4th, 2011
12:04 pm
Yes, one man can fix the Dawgs problems, the man who takes over when Richt leaves.
Snoop Dawg
January 4th, 2011
12:04 pm
We need a smack mouth running back that weighs around 225 with speed and an attitude. Is Crowell this person?
Iowa Corn Fed Dawg
January 4th, 2011
12:05 pm
CMR needs some good ole corn fed hawg mollies up front. Right now he has a bunch of Captain Kangaroo Dancing Cubs on the LOS who cant run block through a wet paper bag.
blazerdawg
January 4th, 2011
12:05 pm
Crowell seems solid and may be a great kid (don’t know), but he is not the exceptional talent of, say Lattimore, who made a big difference at S Carolina – but they still lost 5 games, even with the genious.
UGA needs more creative playcalling, tougher practice drills and discipline. With improved coaching UGA can have better results, with Crowell and no institutional changes it will be more of the same.
Snoop Dawg
January 4th, 2011
12:05 pm
Every year it seems we sign a 4 or 5-star running back. The vast majority wind up like King and Ealey. The odds are better than even that Crowley will be closer to King than Walker.
Snoop Dawg
January 4th, 2011
12:07 pm
All this talk about recruiting is a diversion from the important subject at hand which is why we have to fire da Preacha Man this year, not next year.
Talk is cheap. UGA is famous for training 5-star recruits up to 2-star level since Mark Richt became the CEO.
blazerdawg
January 4th, 2011
12:10 pm
RAT- Tech’s top prospect (Lee) claims a 2.5 GPA and an 850 SAT from Hillside High in Durham.
I hope Tech get’s him (as opposed to a N Car school), that he performs well, gets a degree and has a great career, but how is this level of academic performance superior to other SEC recruits? It is actually inferior. Perhaps he is an engineering diamond in the rough.
Snoop Dawg
January 4th, 2011
12:10 pm
Let’s talk about who needs to replace Richt, not about of high school players who will probably be bench warmers. The dream team is a mirage, a diversion, a hallucination of Mark Richt. Richt has not credibility with anybody anymore and that includes both college and high school coaches, players, fans, and alumni.
OFF WITH HIS HEAD!
Einsteindawg
January 4th, 2011
12:13 pm
Snoop…my vote goes for Mike Leach. We could surely use his no-nonsense style and innovative offensive skills. BTW, Craig James is a POS.
blazerdawg
January 4th, 2011
12:13 pm
Snoop – Would love to have Mullen, Strong, or Smart.
ARdawg
January 4th, 2011
12:15 pm
Gatormeat
Weis won’t be “going against Bobo”. You do realize that would be two offenses on the field at the same time? Weis and Grantham would be matching witts. Looking at it that way I’m afraid your Gators won’t stack up. Did you happen to see Weis’s offenses at ND? Did you get your degree from Florida too?
beanuga
January 4th, 2011
12:16 pm
All Richt does is keep the same ole assistants. Bozo, Garner, Etc etc. Why not hire someone like Weis? He knows Uga is not going to fire him any time soon. We just got a AD! Who’s to fire him!
wildbill
January 4th, 2011
12:16 pm
After Boise State, what then?
DIT
January 4th, 2011
12:17 pm
I have to admit, I use to be one of those who would get excited when a 4 to 5 star recruit would come to UGA. I can’t argue what most of the haters on here say. These big time recruits the past 3 to 4 years have turned out to be duds for the most part.
I kept hearing how awesome King & Ealy were going to be and bought into it. Shame on me. However, I can’t blame the lame running attack this year just on those two. We were suppose to have this so-called veteran offensive line to open up holes for them. I don’t recall that happening one time this year. End part of last year when they had a couple nice holes to run through they did pretty well.
I’m now at the “wait and see stage” I don’t care what these guys did in high school. It’s what they do on a college football field on Saturday’s in the Fall that matters most.
Snoop Dawg
January 4th, 2011
12:19 pm
Leach would be quite an improvement over the bozos (er uh I mean Bobos) we have now. I like the TCU coach a lot. Mullen also looks like a winner. Van Gorder would be awesome but da Preacha Man infuriated him when he left, unfortunately. Wouldn’t it be poetic justice for him to come back and replace Preacha Man?!?
I like Spurrier’s adage that a coach really shouldn’t hang around over ten years. In the Army, they change out commanders every two to three years for a good reason. Brings in innovation, new thoughts, fresh growth, etc.
Speaking of that, the USAFA coach would also be a winner for UGA.
What we don’t need is some UGA football mafia prima donna like Smart or Muschamp who is totally unproven as a head coach, working for a successful program as an assistant who understands how to cowtow to idiots like Adams and McCavity. We need an outsider to estabish standards of excellence. As it is, we’re like some big incestuous Appalachian family where the gene pool has gotten all defective from too much inbreeding.