Isaiah Crowell: From recruit to key to Georgia’s season?
Two young Bulldogs (one human): Isaiah Crowell of Georgia and his little pal. (AP photo)
(Updated with Mark Richt comments.)
ATHENS — Isaiah Crowell just signed his letter of intent to attend Georgia. So is it too early to assume he’s the key to next season? I don’t think so.
Crowell is a 5-star recruit. He’s the nation’s consensus top running back. Highlights and statistics from Carver-Columbus project possible greatness. But we’ve seen too much to assume anything. Most recently, we’ve seen Caleb King, a former 5-star recruit who has been a huge disappointment.
But if Crowell lives up to the hype, he will become something even more important than the best player in Georgia’s recruiting class. He’ll be the most important player on the Bulldogs’ roster next season.
When asked how he sees Crowell contributing, coach Mark Richt said, “Heavily. … I wouldn’t be shocked to see him running that rock in the Dome against Boise State on the opening play if he does what he’s supposed to do.”
The Bulldogs have lacked a lot of things lately, but a solid running game tops the list. Poor offensive line play is part of the reason. The other is that the Dogs haven’t found a consistent — or even above-average — replacement for Knowshon Moreno. Last season the team ranked 10th in the SEC in rushing (ahead of only Vanderbilt and Tennessee) and 73rd in the nation. The passing game was fifth in the SEC, 40th in the nation. The onus was on a freshman quarterback, Aaron Murray, and A.J. Green.
King has struggled. Washaun Ealey has been inconsistent and generally a disappointment.
Crowell can make a difference. Great running backs can cover up for deficiencies on a team, particularly on the offensive line. A great running back in college can have at least as big an impact on an offense as a great quarterback. Look what Marcus Lattimore did for South Carolina.
Georgia needs Crowell to be their Lattimore next season. He’ll certainly get the opportunity. Coach Mark Richt is not going to come out with a depth chart Friday that lists Crowell first but the freshman will be given every opportunity to win the starting job.
“I’m gonna be a Dog,” Crowell said after putting on a Georgia hat. For the perfect touch, somebody then handed him a bulldog puppy, and the newest Bulldog held him up in the air.
He was the Dogs’ 25th recruit to sign his letter of intent — and easily the most important one of all.
♦
Earlier posts
– Georgia recruiting: Now Richt must turn stars into wins
– Georgia recruiting: Waiting on Isaiah Crowell (and normalcy)
– As Braves get started, Fredi Gonzalez looks like Cox 2.0
Follow me on Twitter @JeffSchultzAJC; friend me at Facebook.com/JeffSchultzAJC
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
321 comments Add your comment
Honky Talkin'
February 2nd, 2011
5:19 pm
High hopes for UGA in 2011. Too bad it’s all for nothing. 7-5 with a pancake schedule will put Pastor Richt on the preaching circuit.
Rolls Tied
February 2nd, 2011
5:19 pm
“Moved up in 1996 so Boise is doing pretty good for being a newcomer.”
Yeah, they do very well. Not knocking BS at all, just telling Boise Fan to calm down with the SEC rhetoric.
4th n Goal
February 2nd, 2011
5:20 pm
no doubt Tampa, I see the Gators being as tough as ever ( and as fast as usual ) . But don’t rain on our Dawg parade. This is Richt’s last shot and I think UGA will be ready to play this year..Go Dawgs!
Not so fast
February 2nd, 2011
5:20 pm
Speaking of coaching Richt needs to do some. I like Richt and think he can be a good coach but sometimes it’s like he doesn’t pay attention to details. For instance, spring practice last year Murray tried to be bad and wear gloves (Can’t think of many Qb’s that do well with them except Kurt Warner) then said he stopped because he couldn’t get a good grip on the ball and was losing stuff on throws. Okay, so I as a fan know this you would think a coach would know this as well. Bowl game comes and Murray who all season hasn’t worn gloves breaks them out. That is details and after the first few series I would of ripped them off of him and not wait until near the end of the game to do it. Details is what Georgia needs to work on and Richt needs to show some fire. I want to seem him chew some arse when someone screws up.
Rolls Tied
February 2nd, 2011
5:21 pm
Didn’t BS lose to Nevada?
Just a College Football Fan
February 2nd, 2011
5:23 pm
Didn’t Boise St beat Virginia Tech?
Didn’t UGA lose to UCF?
So what is your point. Good teams lose, Bad teams lose alot.
4th n Goal
February 2nd, 2011
5:25 pm
BS lost to Nevada. They beat Utah in the Las Vegas bowl. Their big win last year was over Va Tech by 3 int he first game of the season.
Rolls Tied
February 2nd, 2011
5:25 pm
“So what is your point. Good teams lose, Bad teams lose alot.”
My point, Gump, was that Boise isn’t THAT good. Then again, UGA hasn’t been relevant since 1980.
Rolls Tied
February 2nd, 2011
5:26 pm
“Their big win last year was over Va Tech by 3 int he first game of the season.”
Yep, I forgot about that one. VT. LOL
4th n Goal
February 2nd, 2011
5:28 pm
BS lost their star QB but this is a much better team than the one that came to Athens a few years ago. I think it’s going to be a hecku football game, but we’ll see in about seven months..
Not so fast
February 2nd, 2011
5:28 pm
Didn’t Alabama lose to Louisiana Monroe the year before going 12-0 during the season before eventually losing to Florida and in the Sugar Bowl? Yep it happened point is Just a fan sometimes upsets do happen. But what happened the year before whether it’s losing to Louisiana Monroe or UCF has jack to do with the next year. Sure your a fan?
4th n Goal
February 2nd, 2011
5:30 pm
By the way, after that loss to BS, Va Tech proceeded to lose to James Madison! They actually went on to have a decent season after that.
Rolls Tied
February 2nd, 2011
5:31 pm
4th n Goal
Yeah, and then they were destroyed by Stanford. What a game that was!
teriyaki dawg
February 2nd, 2011
5:32 pm
Someone should start giving soup to homeowners. It seems that homeless people get all the soup.
Enter your comments here
blazerdawg
February 2nd, 2011
5:41 pm
So, going forward, what does today mean? Many of these recruits, like all students, will have trouble adjusting to their school or new team, get injured, loose interest, or have , ahem, other issues.
Auburn loaded-up, but lost Cam, so maybe they are more of a long-term favorite?
Florida signed some good ones, but perhaps the coaching change and emerging FSU will be a problem next year?
Georgia did what they needed to do, signed playmakers and players in positions of need, but will need a major butt kicking from the new OL coach and in the weight room to catch-up. Richt and Bobo will continue the maddening playcalling and time management errors, but Richt is an excellent program coach (despite the past two seasons) and the team will benefit with the upgrade in talent.
Shocked S Carolina got taken by Clemson…Gamefowl seem to be on the decline. (too bad for Lattimore)
Alabama seems to be poised in the short-term, but the conference is no cake walk.
Alabama vs UF/UGA winner in the SEC CG is my guess.
Rolls Tied
February 2nd, 2011
5:43 pm
“Auburn loaded-up, but lost Cam, so maybe they are more of a long-term favorite?”
Yeah, but they picked up the number 2 quarterback in the country.
Not so fast
February 2nd, 2011
5:49 pm
Auburn’s top recruit might not be going there after all…
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/football/news/story?id=6082657
Not so fast
February 2nd, 2011
5:50 pm
That would be Cyrus Kouandjio by the way.
Rolls Tied
February 2nd, 2011
5:50 pm
Not so fast
Doesn’t change the fact that Auburn signed another great class.
Not so fast
February 2nd, 2011
5:54 pm
No it would still be a great class just not as great. Which to me Georgia’s class is just okay right now depending on what happens with Jenkins. Because out of all the recruits Georgia has went after he is the one that could have the biggest immediate impact in my opinion. The defense really needs a big like him in the middle.
Rolls Tied
February 2nd, 2011
5:55 pm
“No it would still be a great class just not as great. ”
Just remember, not all 5 star recruits do well. I was looking at the 07 class on ESPN and they were WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY off.
84dawg
February 2nd, 2011
5:58 pm
not so fast, yeah it makes me feel better, just like it makes me laugh to think you’re a Georgia Fan. you and your partner are the ones that wear pink right? lot’s of “really intelligent post”from a someone who I guess elected themselves blog monitor, right? If you are a Georgia Fan,you would realize that Cam Newton manhandled(you really like that word)our constantly on the field defense. Ga will have a rebound year,and i don’t need you to tell me why or why not. GFYS
Not so fast
February 2nd, 2011
5:59 pm
Actually Alabama might get Cyrus Kouandjio now. Might want to join is brother after all.
Not so fast
February 2nd, 2011
6:04 pm
84dawg I bleed the red and black. Not just football but in all sports. The offensive line did get manhandled in the 2nd half by Auburn’s front. Newton manhandled everyone this past season. But you were calling Fairley out as dirty. A lot of the best players in football are dirty. UGA should of done something about it instead of waiting until the game was out of reach to man up. That has always been one of my issues with the Richt teams is they tend to be soft. I love UGA but I am not some delusional fan that can’t sit here and not recognize the issues with the team,
Rolls Tied
February 2nd, 2011
6:04 pm
“Actually Alabama might get Cyrus Kouandjio now. ”
Yeah, but hopefully not. I don’t know why the kid said Auburn if he really meant Bama.
Rolls Tied
February 2nd, 2011
6:06 pm
“Newton manhandled everyone this past season. ”
Mmmmmmm, no he didn’t. He didn’t manhandle Oregon, Alabama, Clempson, Miss St etc..
“UGA should of done something about it instead of waiting until the game was out of reach to man up. ”
There’s absolutely nothing UGA could have done because Auburn was/is better than UGA.
Not so fast
February 2nd, 2011
6:07 pm
Well he is the number 3 prospect in the country. But yeah kind of weird that he had this big press conference and then hours later changed in mind. I mean but this are kids so I don’t really have that big of a problem with the switch. Which he said it still may be Auburn just wants to think it over some more to be sure he is making the right choice. Which trust me I know from making a lot of stupid decisions that sometimes that can be the best thing.
blazerdawg
February 2nd, 2011
6:08 pm
Rolls – The WEs signed a GREAT class, particularly on the line, but Cam was a once in a generation talent. Even with the #2 QB in the class coming in, don’t you think Auburn will have a big drop-off in offense? How many wins for the WEs next year?
Not so fast
February 2nd, 2011
6:09 pm
Well I meant in regards to what they thought were cheap shots. If you think a team/player is being dirty with you you push the boundaries too. Georgia didn’t until the end of the game when it didn’t matter.
Not so fast
February 2nd, 2011
6:12 pm
I really wish Richt would take back the playcalling himself. Anyone else notice the decline started when he gave up playcalling? Leave Bobo as offensive coordinator but call the plays yourself a la Steve Spurrier.
Rolls Tied
February 2nd, 2011
6:13 pm
blazerdawg
Trust me, I’m not here predicting that Auburn will have a great season. Do I think they’ll lose 6 games, absolutely not. I think they’ll lose 3-4 games at the most. Remember, in 2009, Auburn didn’t have a defense but their offense was pretty darn good and had they had a defense they would have only lost 2 games. They were only blown out twice in 2009. Every other lose was close. Just ask Bama.
Rolls Tied
February 2nd, 2011
6:14 pm
Not so fast
I really do hope he signs with Auburn. Was reading where Auburn is going to have a fantastic 2012 recruiting class.
Not so fast
February 2nd, 2011
6:20 pm
Rolls tied
Yeah either way like I said earlier I’m glad the SEC did well as a whole in recruiting….best conference in college football.
blazerdawg
February 2nd, 2011
6:20 pm
Rolls – oh no, I do not think Auburn will lose 6 games, or even 3; I do think that it will take AT LEAST 11-1 to get to Atlanta out of the West.
NSF – Richt says he is tied-in with the headsets and can change a play call. I do not know whose call it was to kick the FG against UCF after a 95 yard drive, but that person should not be making the call. The Dogs ran-up some points the last half of the season – maybe with the defense giving them some better opportunities this year Bobo will look better.
Not so fast
February 2nd, 2011
6:23 pm
blazerdawg
Yeah I don’t think Bobo is a bad coach I just think as a playcaller Richt is one of the best and that is one reason Georgia was so good early on. I understand he had this whole CEO vision of a head coach after a few years. But if you one of the best playcallers in football you need to do that.
blazerdawg
February 2nd, 2011
6:26 pm
NSF – Agreed…Richt needs to throw em everything this year…no tommorrows!
Rolls Tied
February 2nd, 2011
6:27 pm
“Rolls – oh no, I do not think Auburn will lose 6 games, or even 3; I do think that it will take AT LEAST 11-1 to get to Atlanta out of the West.”
It will come down to LSU and Bama. I think LSU is in a better position. Arkansas has no defense and they have a new quarterback, who is very very good. But, Petrino is predictable and everyone knows how to beat him. Defense.
Not so fast
February 2nd, 2011
6:30 pm
Georgia versus LSU would be an interesting SEC Championship game..especially if Mettenberger wins the Starting QB job for LSU.
blazerdawg
February 2nd, 2011
6:32 pm
Rolls- LSU’s schedule is BRUTAL and I think the cumulative effect of that will result in at least 2 SEC losses, and out. I think it will come down to the Iron Bowl for the West.
Rolls Tied
February 2nd, 2011
6:34 pm
Not so fast
I don’t think UGA will make it to the SEC Championship this year.
blazerdawg
I just love it that Auburn and Alabama are both powerhouses again. It’s really nice to see both teams ranked and playing each other. Last years Iron Bowl was the best ever. EPIC!
blazerdawg
February 2nd, 2011
6:35 pm
NSF – that would be UGA’s luck would’nt it…kick a kid off the team for discipline and then if he beats you and everyone jumps you for letting him go. ZM is well liked around Athens, hope it works out for him.
blazerdawg
February 2nd, 2011
6:36 pm
Anyone could win the East, which is why UGA has a chance! Cocktail Party winner goes to ATL.
Not so fast
February 2nd, 2011
6:38 pm
Well didn’t have to be this year. Zach has 3 years left and so does Murray. So gives us 2 at the least and maybe 3. But if they both stay through senior year it will hapen in 2013 anyways during the season. Also, if Georgia doesn’t win next year they might be getting a new coach then all bets are off. Because it is not unprecedented for a new coach to come into a team like Georgia (with a lot of talent that may have been squandered) and win a national title the first year.
Georgia recruiting: Now Richt must turn stars into wins | Jeff Schultz
February 2nd, 2011
7:21 pm
[...] won in recruiting. He landed one of the top classes in the nation, punctuated by the best running back around: Isaiah Crowell. That means a lot today. But it won’t mean bupkis at kickoff against Boise State in seven months [...]
crabapplejoe
February 2nd, 2011
7:32 pm
Yep, its gonna be pretty funny when Boise State, and all of their “no stars” and “two stars” named ‘Bob’ and ‘Frank’ comes here and beats UGA with all of its “Rivals five-stars” named ‘DeMequius’ and ‘TonJavius’….LMAO
Katherine
February 2nd, 2011
7:37 pm
crabapplejoe
February 2nd, 2011
7:32 pm
Yep, its gonna be pretty funny when Boise State, and all of their “no stars” and “two stars” named ‘Bob’ and ‘Frank’ comes here and beats UGA with all of its “Rivals five-stars” named ‘DeMequius’ and ‘TonJavius’….LMAO
Your lame attempt at humor came off as entirely racist. Good lord…why are you on this blog? All of you negative idiots who have nothing better to do with their lives other than come on the uga blog and try to bring people down on what is a good day. Why don’t you go to your teams blog..thanks.
Tide Roll
February 2nd, 2011
7:44 pm
How many players did auburn pay this year? Their title was bought and paid for by big boosters. Bama wins the title in 2012—Saban’s got tons of top flight talent.
crabapplejoe
February 2nd, 2011
7:53 pm
@Katherine: Honey…calm down…I’m just trying to laugh about the whole “Rivals stars” system which basically shuts out white athletes at the skills positions particularly. How many white WRs or RBs are in the Rivals “top 150″….its “Rivals” that is “entirely racist” not me. How many ’stars’ do you think Dallas Clark or Wes Welker would get from the Rivals system? Wes Welker backed into a D-1 scholorship at the last minute and Dallas Clark had to walk-on at Iowa before getting a scholorship his senior year. One is the best receiving TE in the NFL and the other has caught more passes than anyone else in the NFL the last four years….go figure. Oh yeah, I forgot, the leading rusher (yards and TDs) in the NCAA in 2009, Toby Gerhart, was listed as a three star Fullback by Rivals….even though he was the third leading rusher in U.S. highschool history…..there’s your “racism”……LMAO
Katherine
February 2nd, 2011
7:55 pm
crabapplejoe
February 2nd, 2011
7:53 pm
@Katherine: Honey…calm down…I’m just trying to laugh about the whole “Rivals stars” system which basically shuts out white athletes at the skills positions particularly. How many white WRs or RBs are in the Rivals “top 150″….its “Rivals” that is “entirely racist” not me. How many ’stars’ do you think Dallas Clark or Wes Welker would get from the Rivals system? Wes Welker backed into a D-1 scholorship at the last minute and Dallas Clark had to walk-on at Iowa before getting a scholorship his senior year. One is the best receiving TE in the NFL and the other has caught more passes than anyone else in the NFL the last four years….go figure. Oh yeah, I forgot, the leading rusher (yards and TDs) in the NCAA in 2009, Toby Gerhart, was listed as a three star Fullback by Rivals….even though he was the third leading rusher in U.S. highschool history…..there’s your “racism”……LMAO
You are an idiot…I feel sorry for you.
crabapplejoe
February 2nd, 2011
7:58 pm
@Katherine: I knew you had nothing meaningful to contribute……but I won’t stoop to calling you names….I’ll just understand that you are “misguided” and have nothing to offer….I’ve met you a thousand times before…LOL