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
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321 comments Add your comment
Katherine
February 2nd, 2011
8:00 pm
Yes you are right…I am a woman so I know nothing about sports…and I know who you are. It was a good day for uga! Go dawgs!
crabapplejoe
February 2nd, 2011
8:02 pm
@Katherine: Has nothing to do with you being a woman….has everything to do with a “racist” system in the recruiting process…..
Stupid Mullets from Alabama
February 2nd, 2011
8:35 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.”
None and no it wasn’t.
Bama started out on the cover of SI in 2010 and Auburn ended on the cover of SI.
Bama will not win the title in 2012.
Colin
February 2nd, 2011
8:51 pm
Rex, what planet are you living on? Are you serious? Richt the greatest Georgia coach!!! He has had ample time to produce a National Championship team. But to be fair, let’s give him one more year to even get close to the golden ring.
Sautee Dawg
February 2nd, 2011
10:33 pm
Colin
It too Dooley 13 seasons to win a titlt at UGA.
Wagtheworld.com » Dogs fans able to ‘Dream’ again – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)
February 2nd, 2011
10:36 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
1962 DAWG
February 2nd, 2011
10:42 pm
You just get the feeling that Auburn will be on the cover of some publication real soon.
You just don’t know which one!
#1DawginMississippi
February 2nd, 2011
10:50 pm
To: Nick Fairley
February 2nd, 2011
2:41 pm
You son are a real stool, I can’t wait to see Aubarn go back to there losing ways this season without any pay for play players, oh wait they may have paid again this year I guess only time will tell! Your #1 Recruit is having second thoughts because the NCAA gave him a call and told him to REALLY think about what he is about to do because the Death Sentence is on its way to the plains!
Ga > boise st
February 2nd, 2011
11:57 pm
Mark this down: UGA will beat boise state like a rented mule in that first game. Boise will not be able to deal with Ga’s speed.
Captain Allen Waters
February 3rd, 2011
5:30 am
I am glad to see all of our amazing recruits and wonder how UA or AU get the nod over UGA? We have the best class and hopefully it will mean WINS for years to come! UGA fan in India.
Sports Review
February 3rd, 2011
6:20 am
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
chazzo
February 3rd, 2011
6:53 am
Ranking recruiting classes is ridiculous. Georgia got a good bunch of players. Hopefully they will bring competition to the mix and push some of the older players. Crowley just needs to WORK like the rest of the Dawgs need to WORK. He is not the mesiah. He is very good, of course, but he was injured a lot, and it was AA ball. Let’s maybe not put the world on his shoulders.
Ealey runs hard. He is a good back. Caleb has his moments. The line needs work, and Georgia needs to find someone to do that job. Overall, they need to fix minds and attitudes and work bodies. Next year should be the “who’s got the guts and desire to play” year. There will be an improvement over 2010. Focus needs to be on those first two games.
gatrzrit
February 3rd, 2011
7:40 am
Isaiah Crowell = Jasper Sanks…ha..ha..ha……suckers!!!
gabugman
February 3rd, 2011
8:54 am
Top 5 recruiting class in the country + Mark Richt = 7-6 in 2011
David T
February 3rd, 2011
10:35 am
Mark Richt’s done it again. Rabbit in a hat, rush the end zone after a touchdown, black-out, and now its the Dream Team. Tell the fans what they want to hear. He will never figure it out, gimmicks don’t win in the SEC. Ga has recruited in the top 10, 9 times out of the last 10 years. Results, no BCS championship. If this is the Dream Team, what is Alabama’s class. Dream Team +1……
Thwg
February 3rd, 2011
1:52 pm
After the arrests and academic casualties settle in as usual, I suspect at least eight in this class won’t make it past spring practice. I hope Crowell is as good as he was in the under armor game. Like CFB news said: is there a more over rated player than Crowell. Kid couldn’t carry Lattimores jock. See ya in ATL puppies. Just gonna make kicking your butt that much more fun. Plus now Richt has to win. He’ll never stand the pressure. Oh yeah, that great recruiting class was still behind 4 other sec teams and 2 acc teams.
Thwg
February 3rd, 2011
1:55 pm
I think David t has hit the nail on the head. I’m not sure what the big deal is : uga always has great recruiting classes! Last year was the first time they haven’t. ID rather have three star sceniors on my team than five star sophomores declaring for the draft.
'Rejuvenated' Richt can thank McGarity for having his back | Jeff Schultz
February 3rd, 2011
2:34 pm
[...] said one grand recruiting class is just a part of the big picture. It doesn’t change anything going into next season. It [...]
Bitter hershal in south beach
February 3rd, 2011
3:50 pm
nick–un-fairky meet me in the cage as—-wipe
stw
February 3rd, 2011
11:37 pm
Crowell and Malcome in the same backfield…Sounds good to me..Here’s hoping one of them can pick up the blitz…
more of the same
February 4th, 2011
3:54 pm
crowell = caleb king—more mediocrity to continue, arrests and fumbles in big games.