On Richt’s Florida raids
While the talk in recruiting circles often focuses on whether Mark Richt can fend off other schools trying to poach native talent in Georgia, Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald has an interesting look at how Richt is getting more commitments from Florida.
Of the eight players who’ve given UGA verbal commitments for the 2010 class, half are from the Sunshine State: linebacker Demetre Baker of Orange Park, offensive tackle Brent Benedict of Jacksonville, and safety Marc Deas and defensive end/outside linebacker B.J. Butler of Kissimmee.
Weiszer points out that’s already more players from Florida than Georgia signed in any of the past three classes, and it’s only June. The Dogs got Aaron Murray, Rantavious Wooten and Orson Charles in 2009, and Carlton Thomas, Blair Walsh and Jeremy Longo in 2008. UGA didn’t sign any Floridians in 2007.
Richt says he’s always gone after Florida players but “I do think more and more Florida kids are interested in Georgia than in the past, and when I say that, we’re talking about what we would consider the top flight player in the state. … We’re not going to Florida to find a second-tier guy.”
Urban Meyer’s program is white-hot, but the Gators can only take so many players. What’s at work here in UGA’s recent success? The decline of the Miami and FSU programs? Richt’s string of 10-wins-or-more and Top 10 seasons? Rodney Garner’s winning smile?
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Guides
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2011 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
111 comments Add your comment
Guys, please don't tell my mom I'm blogging and not studying for my Tech exam; she won't cut the crust off my sandwich
June 19th, 2009
3:08 pm
Could be UF’s depth chart or the nasty hot weather in FL. Or maybe they realize the amount of good HS’s in FLA with inferior academics and fast 40 times.
UGADawg83
June 19th, 2009
3:08 pm
first for the first time
how2fish
June 19th, 2009
3:20 pm
Don’t care why don’t care how…just let it roll..if we can get the blue chippers from Ga and Fla….more power to the Richt!
Cuz
June 19th, 2009
3:20 pm
I would think most recruits would rather play at UF or UGA in the SEC. Just the truth ACC fans. Both Coach Richt and Coach Meyer are top flight coaches, Why wouldn’t a kid want to play for a consistent winner?
diesel 13
June 19th, 2009
3:25 pm
We just got another commitment from Florida today. 5 out of the 9 now.
Blackberry Cobbler
June 19th, 2009
3:31 pm
I’m still waiting for Richt to accomplish something of significance with all this talent he’s been getting. So far, it’s been a huge dissappointment. Dawg fans will be patient only so long. This season and next will be the last for CMR before the patience runs out. Better take all this talent and produce something. Last year’s loss to Florida and embarrassments against ‘Bama and Tech better not haappen again.
godawg
June 19th, 2009
3:32 pm
83: That was funny…thanks.
Engineer: Why don’t you take after your bud POAD and off yourself. Thanks.
how2fish
June 19th, 2009
3:37 pm
Blackberry Cobbler great post really “nothing to show for all this talent”..really well thought out…your the type of “fan” that ran off Gene Stallings at Bama..he “only” averaged 10 wins a season and look how that worked out for the Tide..this is not Chan Galiey we are talking about…Lord help me…
Diamond Dawg
June 19th, 2009
3:40 pm
Loading up once again. Got the best fan base in the country!!! The bulldog Nation!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cuz
June 19th, 2009
3:41 pm
Florida just self reported two secondary recruiting violations. At least they are playing by the rules by reporting them. Apparently no biggies, Urban and an assistant spoke to the same recruit in one week, oh my! And the other was so mediocre I forgot it already.
weatherdawg
June 19th, 2009
3:42 pm
Cobbler and Engineer—it must really be sad being you.
TampaGator
June 19th, 2009
3:55 pm
Dawgs…you are welcome to the ones Meyer and Shannon don’t want…and Bobbby does but can no longer get. It will just make the Jax game more interesting…and hopefully, better, in the future. It will also make the SEC better.
Otto
June 19th, 2009
3:59 pm
CMR and CWM both have strong ties and connections in Florida. Good to see UGA getting some recruits out of them. FSU started to slide after CMR arrived in Athens and recruiting taking players away from FSU is one of the reason. Tubby creating a strong program is another.
For the 2 clowns in here 2 SEC titles, another SEC east division title, and 3 Sugar Bowl appearances winning 2 in 8 years are nothing. 66.67% winning percentage in SECCGs and BCS Bowl isn’t to bad.
Otto
June 19th, 2009
4:02 pm
TampaGator, Shannon and Bobby haven’t been looking to good on the field lately. Win did either have a 10 win season? ‘03? Oddly just the time CMR started rolling
Otto
June 19th, 2009
4:03 pm
*When excuse the typo
TampaGator
June 19th, 2009
4:03 pm
diesel…Andrew Jackson, a DB from Jacksonville. 5-10, 153 lbs, and runs the 40 in 4.66. Not exactly requirements for being a Gator DB. More like Georgia DB speed. Get someone the Florida is heavy for and then we will acknowledge your impact in the state….like Charles and Murray, last year…though Murray was never going to be a Gator with Tebow and Brantley in town.
Pierre from Ft. Myers
June 19th, 2009
4:04 pm
L’univeriste du Georgia c’est magnifique! Partez Bulldawgs!
TampaGator
June 19th, 2009
4:05 pm
Otto…look out for Miami. They are loaded. They just need a QB and they will be back in the top 5 right away. Shannon is a great recruiter. But can he coach?
blazerdawg
June 19th, 2009
4:05 pm
They are coming to UGA because of the coach and the campus. Many friends from FL tell me they love North GA as a nearby change of scene and climate, and Athens rocks!
Fire Marshal
June 19th, 2009
4:07 pm
Blazerdawg, where were you at 7 a.m. today?
Corrine Brown
June 19th, 2009
4:09 pm
Coarch Urban Meyers get all the player he want. Go Gator!
GatorsBCSchamps again
June 19th, 2009
4:11 pm
The real measure is what they DO with these guys the Gators didn’t want… sooooo, be excited while you can and we’ll see ya in Jax on October 31st…
viningsgator
June 19th, 2009
4:13 pm
Richt is capatilizing on the miseries of F$U & scUM.
Bowden got hit with another probation. I think this makes his 3rd probation. I can’t think of any other coach who wouldn’t have been forced out with that many probations. Throw in 3 awful seasons in a row and bowl games called Weedeater or Emerald Nuts and Richt can cherry pick big time.
As far as scUM is concerned well all you have to know is that they are led by Randy Shannon.
The only loss that really stings with Gator fans is Murray. It’s easy to see why he didn’t come. He was going to sit at least 3 years with Tebow and Brantley on board.
TampaGator
June 19th, 2009
4:19 pm
It looks like the Gators are raiding Georgia instead…check out the hootch Gator photo on the main page. He is looking for a stray dog, I think. That’s cool.
TigerMike
June 19th, 2009
4:26 pm
Dawgs in the NFL is another factor.
uga_b
June 19th, 2009
4:28 pm
Yeah I could see how UF would shy away from top 150 players. Athens is a big draw and the program is Top 10; makes sense kids would want to come here. Not every school is for everybody.
Tom
June 19th, 2009
4:29 pm
Meanwhile, 4-star South Paulding CB Ryan Ayers has committed to Georgia Tech.
tizzle
June 19th, 2009
4:30 pm
TampaGator actually the kid name is Derek Owens 5-11 185lbs 4.45 and was offered by Florida, USF, L’Ville, Miami, Purdue and Oregon. So the kid must have talent! Look a-lot of kids dont care bout winning National Championship anymore, they want the quickiest way to the NFL. Since Urban Meyer took over the program how many first round draft picks has recruited: 1(Percy Harvin)….Derrick Harvey and Jarvis Moss he didnt recruited. Reggie Nelson doesnt count because he signed out of H.S. with Fla. in 2003 and resigned 2 yr. later! Thats why recruits arent jumpin’ at the chances of signing with Fla. b/c of that offense.
BAMA STAN
June 19th, 2009
4:32 pm
12 NATIONAL TITLES – 21 SEC TITLES
maybe because BAMA is cleaning up in Georgia this year!!!! UGA has to go to Florida.
Hey – plenty of talent to go around – UGA is putting together another good class.
GADAWG
June 19th, 2009
4:44 pm
Who’s speakin spanish up there???????
Herschel Talker
June 19th, 2009
4:50 pm
BAMA STAN likes men
Camden Mark
June 19th, 2009
4:50 pm
Bama stain come down here and watch one of ur storied HS (Hoover) get sent home with a butt wuppin and thier tails between thier legs.Camden HS Stadium,Kingsland Ga, Sept 11
sswinfordawg
June 19th, 2009
4:51 pm
Ayers hasn’t committed to anybody and said in an article that UGA and i believe Auburn has trumped GT. I wouldn’t count on ayers wearing that baby $h*t yellow yall like to call gold.
Fletch
June 19th, 2009
4:51 pm
RIP old GA Theater…looking forward to seeing the new one
Old Dawg
June 19th, 2009
4:51 pm
Blackberry Cobbler: 2 SEC Championships, 6-2 in bowl games, 2-1 in SEC championships. Amazing road record. Winning record against everyone in the SEC except Florida (and who has a winning record against the Gators this decade?), and a ton of 10-win seasons.
The fact UGA has not won an SEC championship in 20 years prior to CMR’s arrival speaks volumes.
Plus, Florida has so many D-I players they have to go somewhere. True Florida has new D-I programs but they don’t rate as high as UGA. And the Dawgs are getting pretty good players from the home state as well.
braveswin
June 19th, 2009
4:53 pm
bama stan, I heard a rumor that there was a player in Idaho that had not been offered a scholly by bama yet. Is there any truth to that rumor? I guess if you offer everyone a scholly enough will come to fill out your class
Tom
June 19th, 2009
4:54 pm
check again, sswinfordawg
http://georgiatech.scout.com/a.z?s=140&p=2&c=873658
Dorsey Hill
June 19th, 2009
4:57 pm
This just in: We just got a fifth committment from the Sunshine State. Derek Owens wants to be a Dawg!
Corrine Brown
June 19th, 2009
5:09 pm
I is won smarrtt cukee! I ohs et oil 2 hucked onn fonecks
http://blogs.ajc.com/recruiting/2009/06/19/tech-lands-south-paulding-cb-ayers/?cxntfid=blogs_recruiting
June 19th, 2009
5:21 pm
http://blogs.ajc.com/recruiting/2009/06/19/tech-lands-south-paulding-cb-ayers/?cxntfid=blogs_recruiting
southgadawg88
June 19th, 2009
5:22 pm
I like the recent recruiting classes we have hauled in.The thing I am most excited about is the increased size and explosiveness in the secondary and linebacker corps.When I look back at our D last year a couple of things stand out as issues that needed addressing.1.DE play-This is a no brainer.One bone I would pick with the staff in regards to recruiting is the lack of elite end prospects we have signed over the last 3-4 years.I remember griping a bit about how we were signing so many ” projects” at DE.It seemed like we were signing kids based on potential over more traditional DE prospects.Guys like C.Washington and Ball come to mind as well as a seemingly unwavering faith that Toby Jackson would qualify both years we signed him.I think we dozed off a bit at a critical position …which is a “head scratcher ” for me considering how crucial pressure off the end is to the BVG/WM defensive scheme.Lott,Jones and Robinson may impress come fall camp…throw in Ball and Washington and hey….I’m sure we are bound to hit on ONE of these kids.2.Lack of physical play by our secondary.I know a lot of times it seemed that anybody other the Asher was toast at the CB spot.Some of that can be contributed to lack of pass rush,injuries etc but we tackled poorly all year at CB and except for a few good Reshad Jones games our safeties provided no intimidation factor whatsoever.We lacked “ballhawks,head hunters.. in general “game changers” you know the guy who makes the strip,tips a pass,picks off that tip pass and takes it to the house,lays a bone crushing hit on a WR that swings ole “mo” back our way.I just felt like we were” too light in the pants” so to speak to effectively tackle and better yet punish opposing ball carriers.Kudo’s to the staff because in my book we have definitely brought some dynamic talent to our secondary this year!!Sanders Cummings,Bicari Rambo,Jordan Love,Branden Smith,Boykins …WOW…our secondary will be stocked full of 6ft 200lb plus missiles roaming our secondary for years to come!I know Smith and Boykins are smaller guys but they are the int-for-td caliber players we have missed at corner.I’m looking for more big hits and picks from this year’s bunch(not to mention the fact that Jones and Evans should be a great tandem there 2nd year together.3.LB depth-I know some may be surprised I would pick LB as a place of concern.Curran,Dent and Gamble are a solid unit to a degree.However they do have some weaknesses as a unit as well.Dent and Gamble are pretty good in pass coverage yet neither are all that stout against the run(they will make the tackle eventually but both are brushed off a bit too much on initial contact)Renne is a run stuffing machine yet a lot of teams have found success throwing the ball over his head in passing downs a disturbing amount of times.He can’t get any taller so you have to live with it.Washington,Williams and Dowtin add more speed,toughness and flat out athletic ability to the fold.Washington is a rock against the run,Williams brings speed and ht vs pass and Dowtin may be the best athlete of them all.I really like this kid,he was a pretty good RB in HS and from what I have seen of him so far I am impressed,great size,speed and he get’s after the ball with bad intentions…I think this young man will open a few eyes this fall.I have no concerns about DT at all this will be the heart of the D we may have 3 DT’s go in the 1st 2 rounds of the draft.Look for a much more nasty D this year.It don’t hurt that the entire Defensive staff will be under the microscope this year and should come out with a big fat brick on their shoulders.
FL DAWG
June 19th, 2009
5:24 pm
Everyone looks to the states of Georgia, Florida, Texas and California to recruit. There is plenty of talent in these states for the ugas ufs uscs and uts to share. The bottom line is how they are coached up after they get on campus. To this point, CMR and staff over achieved early on. They are now doing an very good job at coaching up their players. I’ll give credit where it is due, Urban Meyer is doing a great job. Saban is on the wait and see list. He needs to continue what he started last year. Spurrier has not lived up to the hype and expectations in SC. Les Myles started out hot and we will see if he continues. In the end Urban has done the best job so far…and I hate that.
Maddog
June 19th, 2009
5:37 pm
UGA just received another commitment from a player in Florida – Derek Owens:
Ht: 5-11 Wt: 175 40: 4.48
Position: DB, P
Year: Class of 2010
High School: Andrew Jackson HS
(Jacksonville, FL)
3-star, #26 Position player according to Scout
Derek Owens had it down to two schools in the SEC and he has made his decision. He made the call and he is now committed to playing in the SEC.
“It came down to Georgia and Florida for Derek Owens,” said Coach Sullivan of Andrew Jackson High School.
“He had offer from each school and he called Coach [John] Lilly and Coach [Willie] Martinez to let them know he was committing to Georgia.”
Owens looked at both SEC programs and he decided to leave the state.
“I’d been to Georgia and Flordia and I liked them both,” said Owens. “But I just loved my trip to Georgia. I didn’t want to leave.”
I like the way this kid sounds!! Go Dawgs!!
Dawgtime
June 19th, 2009
5:51 pm
You talking about throwing kids under the bus. The Gators fans are belittling Florida kids when they say no to the Gators and yes to the Dawgs. He only runs a 4.66. News flash: all the 4.3 stuff is just recruiting hype. Very few kids can actually run a sub 4.4. Check out the NFL combine. How many true sub 4.4’s did you see. I believe Tampa Gator is obsessed with UGA. He post on UGA blogs on a daily basis. If he feels his program is superior, why would he read another team’s blogs. He is that pathetic and needy?
BruffDawg
June 19th, 2009
6:05 pm
While it is fair to judge richt, lets not judge him too harshly. Remember, before him we were a perrenial 8-4. He has raised the bar here, not us.
follow the money trail
June 19th, 2009
6:13 pm
amen to that Dawgtime
HH
June 19th, 2009
6:31 pm
Winning ten games a year is great except for one little fact: if you are always and forever #2 in your own division, ten game seasons don’t mean doodley squat. Sooner or later you have to step up to the plate and knock off #1, and not just once every 4 0r 5 years.
HAHA
June 19th, 2009
6:33 pm
GEORGIA GETTING FLORIDA’S LEFTOVERS.. DON’T CARE WHO UGA GETS THEY NEVER HAVE WON A NC WITH MARK RICHT OR NEVER WILL.
Flo-Ri-Duh!
June 19th, 2009
6:36 pm
This star rating is really just a way for Rivals.com and Scout.com to make a living. If you look back in history they are right maybe half the time at best. It is funny how many 5 star recruits never even start in college, much less make it in the NFL. Likewise there are many guys that weren’t rated above 3 stars who went on to be NFL All-Pro. Don’t get to swept up with who recruits the #1 class as oppossed to the #10 class. There is not that much difference. What really makes a difference is coaching.
dumb georgia fans
June 19th, 2009
6:46 pm
Have all those “so called 4or 5 star recruit” why hasn’t mark richt have a national crown? also most thirty years since mutts last crown. THAT’S PATHETIC!!