Richt’s ‘Dream Team’ could provide the spark UGA badly needs
Malcolm Mitchell (left) and Jay Rome committing to Georgia is a major coup for Mark Richt. (Chip Towers / AJC)
Georgia landing a verbal commitment from Valdosta’s Jay Rome was huge.
It’s not that the five-star player, rated the nation’s top tight end prospect by ESPNU, likely will be needed to make a big impact immediately on the field for “Tight End U,” as he called it. Rome certainly will be given the chance to play early, but the Dogs are well stocked at the position with Orson Charles, Aron White and Artie Lynch, even if Bruce Figgins switches to fullback.
No, Rome’s biggest immediate impact might come before he ever even signs on the dotted line with UGA, by giving momentum to Mark Richt’s alternately praised and derided concept of a signing an in-state “Dream Team.”
After making his announcement on national TV, Rome was on hand Thursday night as Valdosta teammate Malcolm Mitchell, a Top 30 prospect at wide receiver and/or cornerback, also put on a cap with the Georgia “G.”
Both picked Georgia over Nick Saban and Alabama, which has to rank as a major recruiting coup for Richt. “I believe Mark Richt is a great coach,” Rome said. “I don’t feel like he’s going anywhere anytime soon. If we can get a couple of more guys to come in with me in this class, we’ll have everything we need at Georgia, and I believe we’ll start winning football games.”
Rome used his national media platform to try and get more prospects to climb on board the Dream Team train. Along with junior college defensive nose guard John Jenkins, Georgia badly needs Columbus running back Isaiah Crowell and Thomas County defensive end Ray Drew, who reportedly was present at Mitchell’s announcement in Valdosta.
“Isaiah, Ray, come be a Dawg,” Rome said on his broadcast. “We can have the dream team and we’re going to do it. Be a Dawg, baby!”
There are no guarantees in any of this, of course. The verbal commitments aren’t binding. And high school prospects don’t always pan out exactly as planned.
But Richt needs to restore some glamour and prestige to a program that’s been sadly lacking in momentum the past couple of years. Making his Dream Team a reality would provide some of that offseason momentum the Dogs need as they get ready for their national showcase game in Atlanta against Boise State to open the most important season in Richt’s coaching career.
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480 comments Add your comment
SEC HOMER
January 21st, 2011
3:57 pm
I wonder if Chip Towers will have a parade through athens if UGA wins the National Recruiting Championship? Him and his Boy Buck Belue to lead the way….woot woot’
Tiger Mania
January 21st, 2011
3:58 pm
SEC…Auburn bought the 2010 National Championship, plain and simple. Everyone outside of the state of Alabama knows it. Undefeated seasons dont mean squat when you’re on suspension for CHEATING (go figure), and playing Middle School teams.
SEC HOMER
January 21st, 2011
3:58 pm
Tiger Mania’ let me call my friend Don Leeburn real fast and let you know…I will call Garner next to make sure bags are clean..
JB
January 21st, 2011
4:00 pm
No trophy to polish is Athens, but lots of film of UGA wiping the field with AU for four years straight with lousy UGA teams
Tiger Mania
January 21st, 2011
4:01 pm
You do that, and i’ll polish the filth off that phoney 2010 NC. Bask it it now, but your money/gravy train is gone, and its back to the usual AU mediacracy.
JB
January 21st, 2011
4:02 pm
I’m outta here…don’t waste time busting my chops….have a good weekend, to all.
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
January 21st, 2011
4:03 pm
RTR!!!
THEY GONE STOP COACH SABAN FROM OVER SIGNING….HE HAS GAINED A HUGE ADVANTAGE WITH THIS….WHAT DO THE GUYS WHO HE LED DOWN THE PRIMROSE PATH TO CHOOSING ALABAMA AS THEIR PLACE TO GO TO SCHOOL AND PLAY FOOTBALL FEELS WHEN HE BREAKS THEIR PLATE….GOT A LOT OF THAT GOING ON, AND SOON THEY WILL PUT A STOP TO THIS HUGE ADVANTAGE ST. NICK HAS ENJOYED…..
SEC HOMER
January 21st, 2011
4:04 pm
JB, you guys have beaten us 4 out of 5 years, good job..Au has run the table twice in the last 6 years with two different coaching staffs, that is pretty damn impressive
Tiger Mania
January 21st, 2011
4:04 pm
Tiger fans running smack about the 2010 NC is like Reggie Bush running smack about his Heisman Trophy.
Tiger Mania
January 21st, 2011
4:05 pm
One of the undefeated seasons was playing 5 teams that where blind. Lets get real.
SEC HOMER
January 21st, 2011
4:06 pm
Tiger Mania, have fun with your “dream team”…tell Garner I’m glad he is back in the “game” this year…good luck to all l my dog friends next year…i’m out….
Tiger Mania
January 21st, 2011
4:06 pm
Most teams in the SEC would have went undefeated that season with AU’s schedule.
t callaway
January 21st, 2011
4:09 pm
Still trying to find the downside of Searls leaving. O-line hasn’t blocked anybody in 3 yrs
Buckeye
January 21st, 2011
4:10 pm
Hmmm, haven’t had one practice, gone to one class, have only “verbal” committments to an unranked program………”Dream Team”? Please.
EastGa
January 21st, 2011
4:21 pm
if CMR couldnt win with knowshon, AJ and Stafford, what makes you think he will win with theses guys. i know he had success early in his coaching career but “what have you done for me lately”. Phillip Fulcher won a national title in ‘98 but he still got the axe. Joe Cox probably wouldnt have started on most high school team but yet he starts for the entire year. i dont he was ever talented. just tired of all the excuses
the real Old Gold
January 21st, 2011
4:23 pm
Crowell is a thug. You should have seen the show he put on at Calhoun. Less yards, more taunting and penalties. He’ll fit right in.
kd
January 21st, 2011
4:24 pm
I hate to comment on something so silly, but Joe Cox played on Independence High School’s football team. That was one of the best teams in the country. Regardless of that, to say that an SEC QB cannot start on most high school teams is just dumb.
You know what I am tired of? People that can’t think, or put together logical thought.
LoveBamaHATEsec
January 21st, 2011
4:31 pm
Too bad these great players still have to be coached by an inferior staff.
NVDawg
January 21st, 2011
4:32 pm
Tiger Mania –
I know how difficult it is and how it takes a big man to come onto an opposing team’s message board (well, not technically but basically) and kick them when they are down. You sir are a true internet warrior and a prince among the online community. I’m sure your parents and family are very proud. Do you take candy from kids too?
One another note, it never hurts to sign some good recruits regardless of what the current state of our team/coaching staff is. This is certainly not bad news.
Jerry
January 21st, 2011
4:34 pm
Ealey averaging more ypc than Herschle Walker did so far. Bobo just doesn’t get RB’s reps, he’s a pass oriented OC.
cowbulls
January 21st, 2011
4:38 pm
How many scholarships does UGA have available?
kd
January 21st, 2011
4:39 pm
Yeah- Todd Grantham is “inferior”. Richt is “inferior”. Searles is “inferior”.
Guys- Richt has won, so don’t act like he is a simpleton. Grantham coached a very good Dallas defense for years, who subsequently declined when he left. Searles is so inferior that Saban, yes, your Bama Saban tried to retain him, and then Texas decided to give him a 200K raise because he is an idiot.
Has it ever crossed your minds that sometimes things just don’t go the right way and that you can’t be great all of the time? When you are coaching 18-22 year olds, things don’t always go as planned. Put down your Madden video games and think about working with live people who make their own decisions.
Jerry
January 21st, 2011
4:40 pm
Ealey 5.4 ypc, Walker, 5.3
Ealey 1 td every 20 touches
Walker 1 td every 20 touches
Walker got @300 touches a season, while Ealey gets @130
But Ealey IS as good as Walker.
dcbl
January 21st, 2011
4:44 pm
“Ealey IS as good as Walker.”
Don’t bogart that joint brah…
Ealy has fumblitis, Walker did not…
Foothills
January 21st, 2011
4:45 pm
Everyone talks of this recruiting class being so vital to CMR’s future….It will be rated very high….just like ALL of his classes have been rated high. What does it matter? Where were T.C.U.’s classes ranked the last four or five years? Boise St.? If CMR want’s them, he’ll get them-then what?
Thuga
January 21st, 2011
4:47 pm
Do thuga recruits arrive wearing ankle bracelets or do they pass them out shortly after they arrive?
Jerry
January 21st, 2011
4:57 pm
Aaron Murray had 3x more to’s than Ealey.
Terry
January 21st, 2011
5:05 pm
Herschel Walker was a man among boys back then, but these football recruits now are a lot bigger, stronger, and faster, I believe even Herschel Walker would have had trouble running against some of these defenses today.
TROJAN
January 21st, 2011
5:05 pm
Jerry: You don’t have a clue. When Ealy gets thru the line, he has no ability to out run anyone. He is not strong enough to run over anyone. He really has no moves. He is a good back, that is all.
Herchel was the fastest man on the field his whole career, he was the strongest man on the field and he could give you a move or two.
Reading stats don’t make you an expert. You were probably watching the Dukes of Hazzard when Herchel played, if you were even born yet.
SugarHillDawg
January 21st, 2011
5:07 pm
It sure is mighty white of Richt to be signing the “dream team” for our next coach.
Paddy
January 21st, 2011
5:09 pm
Murphy……I agree, coach Trickett at FSU would be great. But I doubt very much if he would leave the Seminoles any time in the near future. They may end up with the #1 or #2 recruiting class this year. The Noles are back! So why leave?
DIT
January 21st, 2011
5:09 pm
I see where Jeff S & Mark B are still licking their wounds and STILL, have yet to comment on last nights events.
_____________________
“Herchel was the fastest man on the field his whole career, he was the strongest man on the field and he could give you a move or two.”
I was at UGA when Herschel was there. I have not seen any running back do the things he did. The whole stadium knew he was getting the ball yet still broke off these incredible long runs. There won’t be another one like him at UGA.
JimmyO
January 21st, 2011
5:14 pm
Tech Fan here. After all the congrats from alot of the “Dawg Nation” the other day when Tuitt cliamed to commit to Ga. Tech. Here’s right back at y’all. Hope the Dawgs get all the recruits they’re
trying to land. Good luck in ‘11. Of course until that Sat. after Thanksgiving.
DIT
January 21st, 2011
5:16 pm
Appreciate that JimmyO
It would be good for both of our schools to get our recruits so we can get this rivalry back in the national spotlight light it was, unfortunatley, a couple decades ago. Heck growing up in Los Angeles in the early to mid 70’s I heard of the UGA/GT rivalry. So yes, at one time it was big and it can be again!
UGA DREAM TEAM
January 21st, 2011
5:21 pm
am i the only one who is noticing that rivals has Mitchell at the #1 corner in the nation?? i would think thats a stat that should be by his name just like jay rome has at tight end
Brucerugby79
January 21st, 2011
5:48 pm
Everyone knows I am a Hugh Nall fan-but I have been hearing great things about Robbie Caldwell from people that were his teamates at Furman He was head coach at Vandy maybe didn’t go so well but He would be awesome as our Oline Coach a real battler
Brucerugby79
January 21st, 2011
5:53 pm
Hey dit there will never be another Herschel not fair to compare kids to him the greatest college running back of all time Jimmy Brown with Deon speed at that time in history nobody had been like that
Jerry
January 21st, 2011
6:13 pm
Ealey has BETTERED Herschel Walker’s records in college so far (ypc average & td per carry ratio).
Ealey also bettered Herschel Walker’s records in High School gaining 8100 yards and scorign 130 touchdowns.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 21st, 2011
6:21 pm
The Dream Team is exciting talk right up to the end of the first quarter of the first game then reality will set in again
Why
Because conservative play calling reigns supreme here
And
Most of the Dream Team will sit the bench until they learn the plays or run block so that will be 3 yrs away
reality dawg
January 21st, 2011
6:37 pm
Look, we should all realize that the Dream Team name is a recruiting tool used by the coaches to help get the players they want/need. It sounds good to players and fans alike, but we all know that UGA has had some excellent recruiting classes before without needing catchy titles. The bottom line is that we need the added help to keep the premier players in state more than we have in a long time, which is fine with me. But let’s not get carried away.
Even the best recruiting classes rarely use more than 6 or 7 freshmen (and most of those spend much of the year in special teams). Give these guys time to develop physically and to learn a playbook that’s a hell of a lot more complex than what they’ve ever seen before.
chazzo
January 21st, 2011
6:42 pm
I still like Ealey. He runs hard. the fumbles were unfortunate, but at least one was due to him stretching out with the ball , striving to get more. Caleb has just never impressed me all that much. He doesn’t seem to have that drive and desire. Both these guys still have a lot of potential. Maybe having Crowell would light a fire. It is suffice to say that Crowell will not be a solo, overused back like Lattimore.
If you think about it, it is ideal. There is a supporting cast, but not an overwhelming cast like Bama. he would be lucky to get playing time there.
FT on 95,
Some of these players may not have an immediate impact. Some will. The indirect impact of excitement, motivation, and competition is huge, however.
tennessee tom
January 21st, 2011
6:58 pm
it don’t much matter,its still Richt and Bobo
Sad Truth For AJC Writers
January 21st, 2011
7:36 pm
Seems that the AJC sportswriters are sad about the fact that UGA will most likely end up with a top 5 class when it is all said and done…seems like Tarkenten said that top recruits were repelled from Richt and UGA. Sorry Bill…we won’t forget your betrayal of the Dawgs and our coach.
Tony
January 21st, 2011
7:38 pm
if Crowell is as good as everybody say, he shouldn’t be afraid of Washaun Ealey and Caleb King. Those cats can play, but if Crowell is for real, all dat’, he’ll show it when he gets to Georgia. Gonna have competition at every good skool, and at the next level, better not be afraid of it.
if Crowell is afraid of going up against Ealey & King, I’d rather not have him.
lot of these cats wait late, cause they fraid of comeptition, they wait roun to see where everrybody else goin.
EastGa
January 21st, 2011
7:39 pm
kd just because he played on a great team doesnt make him great or even good. sec qb in theory yes. legitimite sec qb, heck no. my opinion n um stickn2it. sorry
My Guess.....but what do I know
January 21st, 2011
7:46 pm
Was listening to a local radio show,The Bill Shanks Show,who is an avid Dawg fan have to admit,but in my opinion and several caller on the show today most feel that Crowell is a lock at UGA.If uga can reel in Crowell along with Jenkins and Drew who was with Mitchell when he told the Dawgs he was coming to Athens it would be awesome and put hope back in the minds of the UGA faithful.This could possibly be the best class CMR has ever recruited.The one thought for me is this Kirby Smart pulling these recruits in for him to be the head coach at UGA in 2012???????????
Bill
January 21st, 2011
8:02 pm
Isn’t this interesting… Turns out Bobo is not only the best coach at UGA: he is also the best recruiter.
What a bunch of idiots on here…
Snoopdawg
January 21st, 2011
8:23 pm
Don’t no if he would take it but please hire Ralph Fridgen for o line lives at Lake Oconee was very interested in the head coach position when we hired Jim D. Could help Bobo and Richt with his offensive ability. WOW GO DAWGS.
Hacho Nandina
January 21st, 2011
8:33 pm
More thugs and morons for Saint Mark.
Buh Bye
January 21st, 2011
8:37 pm
Boise State 77, UGA 13.
Buh bye, dream team jerks.