Mark Richt’s ‘Dream Team’ picks up momentum
Ray Drew is the latest to say he'll join the "Dream Team." (Ray Drew)
Our Chip Towers reports five-star Thomas County Central defensive end Ray Drew announced this morning he’s going to become a Georgia Bulldog.
Perhaps some of those snarky folks who laughed at Mark Richt’s “Dream Team” gambit are taking it somewhat more seriously now.
Snagging Drew is a biggie not just because he’s rated a five-star player, but because Georgia badly needs talent on its defensive line. Now if UGA can get another stellar DE, Asheville’s Jeoffrey Pagan, who recently decommitted from Clemson and is reportedly favoring the Dogs, plus sign junior college nose guard John Jenkins (who won’t announce until Feb 5), Todd Grantham’s 3-4 will be looking a lot more formidable.
And then, of course, there’s still running back Isaiah Crowell, who’ll make his decision public on signing day on ESPNU.
The Dream Team is far from complete at this point. But it’s closer to reality than many ever thought it would be.
Assuming these guys all sign on the dotted line, is that enough to elevate the Georgia program back to the elite? And can it be done in the 2011 season — in other words, are the Dogs likely to actually get turnaround performances from that many true freshman players this fall against SEC competition? What do you think?
Find me on Facebook.
Follow me on Twitter.
— Bill King, Junkyard Blawg
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
503 comments Add your comment
CMR Lies Again?
January 28th, 2011
12:46 pm
CMR has stated on several occasions (usually when he didn’t get the player he wanted, like a cry baby) that he “wouldn’t have a player on his team who switches his decision after verbally committing to another school”. Well – once again – we may catch CMR lying again if Jeoffrey Pagan, the No. 4-ranked defensive end in the country, who de-committed from Clemson picks Georgia instead. Let’s see CMR tell BullDawg Nation that he will NOT take Pagan. CMR Lied again.
how2fish
January 28th, 2011
12:48 pm
CMR Lies Again? Waaaaaa Waaaaaa Waaaa
Ted Striker
January 28th, 2011
12:53 pm
I think this: A lot of these recruits seem to be talking to each other, making their own decisions yet working in concert with each other. It also appears that Rome and Drew, though both are late commitments, are already assuming leadership roles in this class. Besides the obvious talent level of this class it seems they have something of a TEAM concept.
i think you forgot
January 28th, 2011
12:55 pm
mark richt can coach… it was three years ago we finished the season with a sugar bowl win ranked no. 2 in the nation… we’ve had two bad years. my god. two year out of ten must mean they can coach them up. dont let two years make you forget about the eight before them. great things ahead for georgia. we are on our way BACK to the top
Dawg Fud
January 28th, 2011
12:56 pm
Talent is a good ingredient but all comes down to coaching and mentoring.
Isn’t that painfully obvious by now?
how2fish
January 28th, 2011
12:59 pm
Dawg Fud correct coaching and mentoring do mean a lot , that’s why Tech suxs so bad…
Hike!!!
January 28th, 2011
1:01 pm
Crowell won’t pick Bama because he would ride the bench for a couple of years. Bama already has the top signing class and they say it is way better than # 2 Texas. So, Crowell plays as a true freshman @ Ga. Most of these 4 and 5 star freshman will compete for starting time…that’s why they signed with Ga.
Fla gave us a break this year after having the top class last year. So, what “goes around…comes around”.
Browndog
January 28th, 2011
1:02 pm
UGA will improve in 2011. It all starts up front with the line on both sides of the ball. Personally think the nose tackle is number one priority with running back next. A great class so far and congratulation to CMR. I shall be happy with improvement in each phase of the game. Believe UGA can win 8 games and maybe steal one they should not. 2012 should be year they can play with anyone.
Rusty
January 28th, 2011
1:03 pm
CMR LIES AGAIN….
Uh, CMR has NEVER said that. Stop making up stories, jealous hater. Who’s the liar?
Averyboy
January 28th, 2011
1:04 pm
Georgia football!!! The most exciting program in the offseason!!!!
Rusty
January 28th, 2011
1:05 pm
Hike, Most of these 4 and 5 star players will compete for starting time? Wrong again, buddy. Maybe they’ll compete for playing time, but I’d be shocked if any of the high school recruits apart from Crowell is starting, especially toward the beginning of the season. Jenkins would obviously start, but he’s a JUCO.
DaltonDawg
January 28th, 2011
1:06 pm
Welcome aboard the UGA Dream team. Sweet dreams for Georgia. nightmares for the rest of the SEC for years to come!! Great job Coaches!!!
Crowell, Jenkins, Richardson, and Pagan...UGA BOUND
January 28th, 2011
1:06 pm
That is the Mark Richt I remember. Amazing what a little fire will do.
AltamahaDawg
January 28th, 2011
1:09 pm
speaking of lies…..why not just make up a quote when it serves your point?
Let me get this straight. Mark Richt has said on several occation that he would refuse, literally block, the signing of a player who had for any reason, at any time in the past, given a verbal non-binding agreement to accept the request of another college to attend but then later changed his mind and did not believe thats what he wanted to do????? he said that several times, did he? Under no circumstances would he ever sign that guy?
No NC with Richt
January 28th, 2011
1:11 pm
No doubt UGA will improve next season but Richt will never bring GA to a national championship game.
GT Joe
January 28th, 2011
1:14 pm
I smell like swiss cheese on a dead fish!
WIN WITH RICHT
January 28th, 2011
1:16 pm
Richt is great coach. Only a matter of time before NC falls our way.
RNB
January 28th, 2011
1:17 pm
Remember folks neither of these guys have ever played a down of college football. This is the SEC. I do not think this class will put us back on top next year. It usually takes several of these back to back.
WIN WITH RICHT
January 28th, 2011
1:19 pm
RNB
Remmber 1980, a freshman runningback made a big difference in a 6&5 team.
saban
January 28th, 2011
1:20 pm
thanks goodness all of this talent is going to Athens, where it will be wasted and no threat to me winning another national championship.
Last time I visited Athens when the dawgs were ranked no. 1 was well easy. Nothing has changed.
dawgfacedboy
January 28th, 2011
1:21 pm
Stop looking at it blindly and be honest. How many of these kids are going to make an impact next year as a true freshman??? While Lattimore did have a HUGE impact on S.C.’s success he was the missing piece. They’ve always had a good D they just needed somebody to take the pressure of Garcia.
The Dawgs need everyone of these “dream teamers” except for Rome to come in and make a difference next year and that’s just not realistic. It’s awesome that we are signing these kids, don’t get me wrong, but we are at least a year if not two away from these kids making a big impact. Not to mention Richt has averaged a top 10 recruitng class over his tenure. There is no shortage of talent in Athens.
If Richt goes 7-5 next year will he be the coach in 2012???
AltamahaDawg
January 28th, 2011
1:23 pm
Without a doubt your memories are better when we were preseson #1, than when you were.
how2fish
January 28th, 2011
1:26 pm
Browndog good points I think UGA will show good improvement in 2011 but its 2012 where we will start to see the true benefit from this class.
DCDAwg
January 28th, 2011
1:26 pm
Another top ten recruiting class that will fizzle out?
I’d really rather have a team full of three stars who bleed red&black/leave everything on the field and only the 4 & 5 stars that want to be a Bulldawg! Look at Terry Hoage, last player offered by Coach Dooley, who went on to be one of Coach D’s favorite players or the “Le Sack” Richard Tardits who walked on from France.
National Championship!!!!
January 28th, 2011
1:26 pm
You Dawg fans sure do think highly of that program in Athens.
You guys have not won anything since 1980 what the hell makes you think you are going to win one in the next few years?
I will give CMR some credit for haveing 7- 10 win seasons in the 10 years he has been at UGA but national championship! HAHAHAHAH
That’s like asking Obama to stop spending! Will not happen
AltamahaDawg
January 28th, 2011
1:27 pm
Who said anything that sounds as if they are looking at it blindly?
brad
January 28th, 2011
1:29 pm
hey saban..Georgia was not #1 the last time you came to Athens…please get your facts straight. and to CMR lies agiain….the kid de-committed to Clemson…so therefore he is NOT committed to anybody at the moment….have a clue dude
KeepDreaming
January 28th, 2011
1:31 pm
I wouldnt say the Dream Team is ‘gaining steam,’ with the Drew announcement, is pretty much ‘full speed ahead’ at this point. Crowell is a Dawg, mark it down!!!!
Foster Keats
January 28th, 2011
1:34 pm
All you morons who get all into Recruiting are complete LOSERS!!!!
I find it rather creepy that GROWN MEN obsess about the vital statistics of 17yr old BOYS…
Then you either love or hate these BOYS based on which school they choose…
Step away from the computer, stop looking at Rivals & Scout and stop calling into two-bit local sports radio stations and raving about “that 4 star kid from Columbus”…
Go outside, get some air, read a book, go spend time with your girlfriend, although most of you probably don’t have girlfriends b/c any normal woman wouldn’t put up with someone who constantly obsesses about high school BOYS…
coach smith
January 28th, 2011
1:38 pm
Just like Drew, Jenkins and Crowell have been silent commits to UGA for a while…
Now Richardson and Pagan are headed to UGA too! These guys are recruiting each other to play together
see the article about this here
http://uhearditherefirst.com
coach smith
January 28th, 2011
1:39 pm
Foster Keats
But its okay to follow Free Agency in the NFL? It is the same thing moron
coach smith
January 28th, 2011
1:40 pm
saban
Richt has a winning record against you my friend
Browndog
January 28th, 2011
1:44 pm
There has to be talent and a lot of luck to get to the top. Just look at the last five teams that won and ended up number one in the country and you can pick out at least two or three games that could have been losses. You have to have the talent, but you also have to have a lot of luck to get there. Not saying UGA will ever get there, but it all starts with talent and coaching. Truly believe the coaching will be there this year and hopefully the talent is well on the way as well.
Tide roll
January 28th, 2011
1:44 pm
Bill, Drew doesn’t play offense. The class sets up nicely, but only by looking at each unit can you really determine whether you have a dream team or not. If you land Antonio Richardson, and move Chris Mayes to offense, then you can rightfully claim a dream team, otherwise Uga is once again woefully short on talent on their offensive line, and if Bama can point this out to Crowell, he should come our way. ROLL TIDE
dawgfacedboy
January 28th, 2011
1:48 pm
I would say that anyone thinking that these kids are going to come in and make a big impact as true freshman is a blind fan getting caught up in the hype.
Alphare
January 28th, 2011
1:50 pm
Here are Rivals ranking for UGA:
07-#9
08-#7
09-#6
There you have it, you recruiting class gets better year after year, 3 years in a row. But your results gets worse after a better recruiting year.
If I am UGA, I’d try something different, something like a bad recruiting class might help you win more games. You have tried good recruiting classes before, haven’t you?
coach smith
January 28th, 2011
1:52 pm
Tide roll
you need to check again my friend Georgia has commitments from the #1 O lineman in Georgia Xzavier Ward, as well as 4 star recruits Watts Dantzler, and Zach DeBell….not to mention Benedict and Gates from last year’s class
get your facts straight my friend
WIN WITH RICHT
January 28th, 2011
1:52 pm
Foster Keats
You breath stinks and your mother dresses you funny. You sound like someone who hangs around playgrounds with a trenchcoat on and a bag of candy.If you don’t like it log off!!!
AltamahaDawg
January 28th, 2011
1:53 pm
…….and that’s my question, who said that? You are arguing with a straw man.
coach smith
January 28th, 2011
1:53 pm
Tide roll
with commitments from 2 big time recruits and Trent Richardson is still there…the Tide WILL NOT be getting Crowell. He can start at UGA day 1
WIN WITH RICHT
January 28th, 2011
1:54 pm
Dawg Faced Boy
Top players like H. Walker and C. Newton have proven to have a huge impact in year 1.
Pacific Dawg
January 28th, 2011
1:56 pm
Has anyone heard anything on Vasi “Tombstone” Papulu?
TROJAN
January 28th, 2011
1:58 pm
Jeff Shultz is concerned about the term Dream Team. Why is this a problem for him? He obviously has a severe bias that is keeping him from being an objective reporter.
Hello, recruits are 18 years old, it is ok to try to get together a rallying cry for a recruiting class. He is more offended by Dream Team that he was by CAM’s many adventures and Auburn’s pay for play.
Come on AJC, at least try to hide the bias!
TROJAN
January 28th, 2011
2:01 pm
CMR Cries: It is obvious that you are having a bad day. It must be bad if you have to make up a new blog name.
Go Dawgs! Something special is happening at UGA!
how2fish
January 28th, 2011
2:03 pm
Foster Keats on what planet do you think you get to tell us how to spend our time? If ours wives can’t control us what makes you think we can…
how2fish
January 28th, 2011
2:10 pm
Pacific Dawg yes we have…. yesterday Vasi “Tombstone” Papulu held a news conference to come out of the closet..yes he is gay and has committed to play football at Ga Tech and to take over as head bouncer at Swinging Richards after the press conference he and Coach “Man Boobs” Johnson then boarded a private jet holding hands and making plans on being introduced to the Bug Village next week.
Sammy Dawg
January 28th, 2011
2:12 pm
This has to be the #1 recruiting class in the nation! Take that techies!
TROJAN
January 28th, 2011
2:20 pm
This recruiting class helps UGA in the positions of greatest need. A great job of recruiting.
Glad to see UGA getting great talent, especially the home grown talent!
DawginLex
January 28th, 2011
2:21 pm
pacific dawg,
I heard Tombstone is going to sign with Arizona to feel more at home……………….
Cuz
January 28th, 2011
2:23 pm
HERE WE GO!!!!!!
Think I will grab some Bud Lights.