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
Paddy
January 4th, 2011
7:33 am
D A DOUBLE….it is always healthy to hear the other side(sports writers). It has no bearing on recruiting, it is just human interest. The AJC would be a dull read without JS & MB, imho.
JB
January 4th, 2011
7:33 am
I’ve read on here how Cam made Auburn this year……….He was special…..but their OL was awesome…….They have four seniors and they were well coached. Even their average RB’s look pretty good. They also had a game changer on defense named Fairley. Georgia had none of this.
SickandTired
January 4th, 2011
7:33 am
Here’s what’s up. Saban will tell this kid this and this alone. “Son, if you are stupid enough to go to UGA, with that coaching staff and that offensive line, go ahead. We don’t want you at Alabama because you are too stupid to play for us.”
JDawg
January 4th, 2011
7:35 am
Richt would just put a redshirt on him . . .
Sloan
January 4th, 2011
7:35 am
Fact is Caleb King was billed as a program changer coming out of high school. He was a YouTube sensation and hyped to the max. No way to know if Crowell is the real deal or not until he lands somewhere and proves it on the field.
Reader of Morons and quite a few idiots
January 4th, 2011
7:36 am
If he could not help the Columbus Thugs beat a mostly white group from Canton, then he wont be getting it done in Athens. If will however fit in quite nicely with Christian “Me” LeMay.
JB
January 4th, 2011
7:39 am
When the Dawgs have had years worthy of praise, Schultz ans Bradley have been right there doing it. My feeling they could rip the program worse if they wanted to. It has fallen to a low that brought Richt to Athens in the first place.My feeling is Adams wants Richt to be the next JoPa like Penn St and let the program ebb and flow in success.
Reader of Morons and quite a few idiots
January 4th, 2011
7:43 am
JB, You are absolutely correct about Adams. He does not care one bit about football. He wants it to become a lesser part of the whole scene in Athens and he will never get rid of Richt because he sees Richt as the perfect caretaker of a nice little program who may have a good year here and there but will neve take to places that most Georgia fans want him to. Good observation.
NC Dawg
January 4th, 2011
7:47 am
Crowell won’t do anything without a great offensive line. Searles had some great ones at LSU. What’s different here? Is he being allowed to coach his players his way? Just asking.
SEC East = Big East
January 4th, 2011
7:51 am
Isaiah, run as far away as you can from this train wreck. That is unless you’re a thug who doesn’t attend class and hopes to go to the NFL one day.
John
January 4th, 2011
7:52 am
AJC: This is IMHO, dangerously crossing the line to doing the actual recruiting FOR UGA. Its very inethical on your part.
JDawg
January 4th, 2011
7:54 am
Why do we have a lousy O-line? ESPN says we have several NFL-ready linemen.
Is it the predictable offense, or the coaching, or what?
tc
January 4th, 2011
7:55 am
CMR can not coach. Yes getting Crowell would help the dogs, but CMR needs to go. What did CMR do with AJ Green. Nothing! We need a new coach that can come in with or without Crowell. Crowell would simply put a bandaid on CMR’s terminal illness. Still as a fan I hope we get Crowell, but I still have a bigger problem with CMR’s lack of effectiveness as a coach.
Sloan
January 4th, 2011
7:55 am
Don’t know if I agree with the comments about Adams. My impression of him is that he has an insatiable ego and wants to excel in every aspect including athletics, namely football. His ego, however, is such that he wants someone in a head coach or AD that is totally submissive to him and his position. That’s why he and Dooley could not coexist, and it makes me wonder if someone like Saban could succeed at Georgia over the long-term. In that regard, Richt is a good fit for the Administration at UGA.
Tenndawg
January 4th, 2011
7:56 am
I think he’s 5′11″ and weighs 210lbs, I think he would not bounce off tackles in the SEC, I think he’s a great back, very quick, but not a team changer.
And worse than all that, he has a chance to go to Alabama, if I were a top back, I wouldn’t play for a Jesus freak like Richt when I could go to Alabama and win National Championships.
tc
January 4th, 2011
7:56 am
JDawg… Yes it is the coach and yes we are very predictable on offense.
Walker, Texas Ranger
January 4th, 2011
7:56 am
Jeff, If Richt’s future is dependent upon this guy, then he is screwed. This guy is no Herschel or even Marcus. He can run through holes but does not break tackles like the two mentioned. But you are right about one thing, the future revolves around tailback or a lack there of either through talent or scheme (Bobo).
JB
January 4th, 2011
7:57 am
It’s easy to bash Bobo on here, but after watching the bowl game again, the offensive game plan cost us that game.There will be some who will remind me about the times we scores 30+ points this year. Let me remind them we beat no one with a winning record this year. We are so easy to plan for. I know that is not new on these blogs, but it’s so true. Any DC who spends 2 days studying us can look at down and distance and call the correct D 80% of the time. Mark, if he really serious about keeping his job should get some help, fresh ideas on that side of the ball. We fool no one. And when you’re a lot better than the other guy, you get away with it.
tc
January 4th, 2011
7:59 am
I totally disagree about Adams. At the time CMR came on board, it was a great hire. Adams is super competitive and ants to win! Dooley is an jerk and needed to be removed from the atheletics program.
papadawg
January 4th, 2011
8:00 am
Why is it that none of ATL sports writers are not mentioning the fact that the ACC Elite Team, Va. Tech was spanked by Stanford last night. Oh they’re too busy trashing the DAWGS
MoDawg
January 4th, 2011
8:01 am
How many stars did the Stanford Cardinal players have out of high school? I’m not talking about academic stars, I’m talking about recruiting stars?? On average, maybe 3 to 3.5? How well-coached did they look as compared to UGA last week? Do the number of stars necessarily translate to production on the field? Obviously not! Crowell would be a great piece of the puzzle, but if we hinge our seasons on the play of 1 or 2 outstanding athletes out of the 22 on the field, we have a very low bar.
Coach Harbaugh and his staff are capable of coaching up their players. UGA’s coaching staff has proven that they are incapable of doing this. He’ll get the “deserved” one more year, but if UGA expects to get back to meeting expectations, it’s going to take another coach to get them there.
JB
January 4th, 2011
8:02 am
tc…………….you are correct….we have had lot’s of Number 1 draft picks in the last 5 years and others drafted pretty high, but the trophy case still sits empty.
Big Canoe
January 4th, 2011
8:02 am
Perhaps Coach Richt could enlist Reverend Newton to lobby on UGA’s behalf. Couldn’t hurt, according to NCAA & SEC.
JB
January 4th, 2011
8:03 am
MoDawg…………..Ditto your post also with TCU……Very well coached.
Reader of Morons and quite a few idiots
January 4th, 2011
8:04 am
papadawg this blog started at 9:45 which is the time you are usually taping up your adult diapers.
Dream Team=Delusional Team
January 4th, 2011
8:05 am
Oh yea, come to a 6-7 team and you will become just like us with these idiots running the ship.
Sloan
January 4th, 2011
8:06 am
NCDawg, I was discussing the poor o-line play recently with another UGA grad. He is from Athens and told me that a friend had told him that during pre-season practice Searles and the o-linemen ran a 2-miles conditioner. Searles supposedly finished second which prompted him to complain to Richt about the off-season conditioning. Don’t know if the story is true, but Van Halanger is the only coaching change thus far.
JB
January 4th, 2011
8:07 am
Difference in Georgia and Bama…….Saban calls the president and say’s I need to see you. He say’s come on over. Richt calls Adams with same request, he say’s I’m pretty busy, and have you gone to your Supervisor McGarity First?
tc
January 4th, 2011
8:07 am
JB my point exactly, CMR can not do anything with talent. We have always had players that should allow us to have consistant 10 win seasons. Including the last 3 seasons
m
January 4th, 2011
8:09 am
OK, I’ll play along. Just like Caleb King was the next Hershel Walker, Isaiah Crowell will be the next Caleb King. And the song contines, lody da lody da.
tc
January 4th, 2011
8:09 am
I don’t know what the coach needs to call the president about. Difference in GA and Bama. Bama does not settle for a lousy team and program, they continue making changes until the get it right.
Dream Team=Delusional Team
January 4th, 2011
8:10 am
tc, Exactly, the talent is good enough to get players to the NFL but the coaching is not good enough to win against quality teams (or even UCF).
Joe
January 4th, 2011
8:10 am
Carver’s blocking is better.
papadawg
January 4th, 2011
8:10 am
Reader of Morons you are one who need the diaper duct tape to your mouth since that’s where all your S___+ flows from
Enter your comments here
January 4th, 2011
8:11 am
EX GEORGIA FAN
Eli
January 4th, 2011
8:12 am
I’m not a recruiting expert, but I am not impressed by what I see on the video. He looks like a good high school running back, but he’s not plowing over people or scoring at will. I remember watching the AJ Green highlights before he came to UGA and seeing a freak athlete making plays that most NFL guys would gawk at. I don’t see anything noteworthy on this video reel.
Throw him in the UGA offense and I’m afraid he would pan out about the same as Sanks and King. Hurts to say it… but I’m afraid it’s true.
JB
January 4th, 2011
8:12 am
I know we have 11 months, but who’s the new guy gonna be? Will McGarity be allowed to bring in his guy? Will we reach….or settle? Will we open up the check book and pull a Bama and not take no for an answer? Are we serious about winning again…or will Adams just replace Richt with ‘anyone’ just to get the “commoners” to leave him alone?
lawdawg
January 4th, 2011
8:12 am
Last year some people said Florida had maybe the best recruiting class of all time and it didn’t help them,you think one person can come in and help Ga. as they run the same old sorry offense,I don’t think even Crowell is good enough to get yardage running up the middle on 2nd and long,ONLY WAY GA. GETS BETTER,”FIRE RICHT.”
tc
January 4th, 2011
8:15 am
Can Crowell get a first down running up the middle on 2 and 25?
n
January 4th, 2011
8:15 am
“And the song contines, lody da lody da.”
************************************
No, m, the song that keeps going and going and going, is the that the ACC lost another BCS Bowl game.
Even UGA has as many BCS Bowl wins as the entire ACC.
Reader of Morons and quite a few idiots
January 4th, 2011
8:16 am
papadawg, whats wrong you havent had your daily bowel movement yet S for Brains?
Saint Mark
January 4th, 2011
8:16 am
There were a lot of things for the dawgs to celebrate this year. Let’s see…
1. A drunken, whoring athletic director with red panties in his lap.
2. Twelve players arrested. And 41% of UGA football players are arrested during their time at UGA.
3. A player suspended for violating NCAA rules.
4. Winning the Fulmer Cup for the most players arrested.
5. Winning the title of #1 party school (i.e., the most drunken student body in the USA).
6. A sleazy assistant coach who razzes opposing players, unethical coaching conduct in violation of NCAA rules.
7. A super sleazy head coach who thinks he’s a saint, but recruits thug wannabes, gangbangers, and illiterate morons.
8. A 6-7 record despite having a team full of 4- and 5-star recruits.
That’s really something to be proud of!
JB
January 4th, 2011
8:16 am
good one tc
JB
January 4th, 2011
8:17 am
Saint Mark….we get it….We read it all 7 times you posted it yesterday.
Elvis the Peacock
January 4th, 2011
8:17 am
Does anyone else think that the highlight reel isn’t all that impressive?
Mike
January 4th, 2011
8:19 am
You can never tell with these guys… look no further than King. He was the 2nd rated back in the country coming out of high school. Also see, Pass, Sanks, etc., etc. You can’t put your future in one recruit… the speed of the game changes too much (everyone is as good as they are).
Time for a Change
January 4th, 2011
8:19 am
#12!!!! That’s awesome!! 12 players arrested this year!! Now that’s something to be proud of right there!!!
Snoop Dawg
January 4th, 2011
8:19 am
We don’t have to keep Richt to get Crowell. If he’d be good with Richt, he’d be Heisman material with a quality head coach instead of an incompetent burned-out Buddha on the sidelines like the Marlboro Man Richt.
Dawglasville
January 4th, 2011
8:20 am
The idea that the fate of a coach and a program can hinge on an 18 year old is unbelievable. This whole “Dream Team” notion is ridiculous. I wonder where these kids get the sense of entitlement? What happened to kids who sacrifice for the love of the program and for their self respect? Where are the Shockleys, Pollacks, Wards, Robert Edwards, Jermaine Phillips?
JB
January 4th, 2011
8:20 am
Good point about Florida…They have had top 5 recruiting classes the last 5 years…….and lost FIVE games this year…..Hello…………Coaching anyone?