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?
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503 comments Add your comment
AltamahaDawg
January 28th, 2011
2:26 pm
I don’t know about the #1 ranking with the magic star ratings formulas……BUT in terms of a team in need of a great recruiting class….this is a #1 class.
duh
January 28th, 2011
2:29 pm
you become an elite program by winning games.
not by signing recruits.
FanSince59
January 28th, 2011
2:46 pm
Richt is going to look like a fool if things do not improve significantly for the 2011 season with all this talent he is allegedly going to sign come Wednesday. It looks as though a lot of people think these new recruits are going to play and contribute early in 2011. If that is so and things don’t pan out, Richt will be short on excuses.
Jim 007
January 28th, 2011
2:46 pm
DUH, you are 100% Correct !
Signing a recruit is signing Potential .
The way CMR developes them…..Good Luck !!
dawgfacedboy
January 28th, 2011
2:47 pm
You must be that straw that I am arguing with. Do you know the defininiton of “infer”?? It has been infered in here countless times that we are now “back on the map”. My only point is that I don’t see us being “back on the map” for a couple of years.
WINWITHRICHT- Newton was a juco transfer and plays the most important position on the field. Also, NOBODY predicted he was going to be as good (or have the impact he did) as he was. So aside from one of these kids being one of the greatest to ever play the game I’ll wait and get excited about 2012.
I think some of you just like to argue for the sake of arguing. Geez.
Pacific Dawg
January 28th, 2011
2:48 pm
DawginLex
Tombstone would wilt in the desert.
WIN WITH RICHT
January 28th, 2011
2:50 pm
Dawgfaced
You have to think positively!!!
dawgfacedboy
January 28th, 2011
2:58 pm
Don’t get me wrong. I’m very excited about this class. But i’m excited almost every year about the class we bring in. I’m only trying to make 2 points. 1) Don’t expect these guys to make much of a difference for 2011. 2) There has never reall been a talent shortage at UGA. Hopefully the changes made in the staff will yield the results we are all hoping for.
Aside from Crowell coming in and mirroring Lattimore’s first year, Jenkins looking like the resurrection of Mt. Cody, and Drew looking like Pollack off the end all in year 1 then 2012 is where the real difference will be made.
dawgfacedboy
January 28th, 2011
3:00 pm
Altamaha- I agree with you. Richt is/has addressed the team needs and should be commended. Just trying to stay realistic with expectations for 2011 season.
how2fish
January 28th, 2011
3:05 pm
Pacific Dawg no worries he won’t be wilting at Swinging Richards the Bugs will see to that…
how2fish
January 28th, 2011
3:07 pm
dawgfacedboy I think your correct we should show improvement in 2011 with a couple of these guys helping out but its 2012 when their impact should be felt.
RTR
January 28th, 2011
3:15 pm
(slow clapping) Great UGA! Way to go. There’s hope yet. Wait a minute. Bama has a better recruiting class (all rankings are unscientific), AND we have the coaches to coach them to turn them into a single functioning unit comprised of talented parts. You don’t have that. Until you get that, it wouldn’t matter if Herschel had one year left of eligibility. Richt is lesser than most of the SEC coaches. Print new shirts. #14 is on the way. Roll Tide!
WIN WITH RICHT
January 28th, 2011
3:18 pm
Dawg Face
I know that all of these signees will not be superstars. But, with the high rankings of these players, odds are that some of them are going to be awesome players. In 2006, Stafford and Moreno turned into great players. But, NaDerris Ward, Brandon Wood, and Akeem Hebron were 5 star players . And neither of them ever started a game. But, this high ranked class is a big blast of good news after all that has happened over the last few months. It certainly gives Dawg fans a lot of hope.
how2fish
January 28th, 2011
3:20 pm
RTR and yet your the number 2 program in your own state…best coaches, best players and number 2 explain that to me please nancy??
Pacific Dawg
January 28th, 2011
3:20 pm
If, we can only land Vasi “Tombstone” Papulu, the monster NG from Samoa.
This guy is lethal.
Pacific Dawg
January 28th, 2011
3:23 pm
RTR
Saban will leave The Bama program in shambles when he makes his usual ungraceful exit.
Tide roll
January 28th, 2011
3:37 pm
Fellas, If you were Crowell would you run behind these softies UGA is bringing in? Ya’ll are so blindly loyal you can’t face facts. But for XzavierWard, they’re a bunch of marshmellows. Crowell needs to be advised to take the emotion out of it and go where he’ll be able to run behind the best guard in the conference, none other than Westlake’s CHANCE WARMACK. After Sturdivant and Glenn graduate next year and Harmon loses his eligibility, who’s he going to run behind? Benedict? Against SEC defenses? Crowell knows better than that. And with Joe T. now involved, who do you think “Old School” is going to recommend play, Watts Danzler or Xzavier Ward, if they’re competing for the same position? That’s easy to answer. Crowell needs to be made aware of what goes on over there and come to a real football team, THE ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE, who BLACKED Y’ALL OUT.
AltamahaDawg
January 28th, 2011
3:39 pm
ok.fair enough. I haven’t seen that infered enough times that I even noticed. Most of that just seemed to me more of a “yea baby!” kind of deal.
I had only noticed the most folks said exactly what you did. These guys could make a big impact as soon as a couple of year from now, which seems like a pretty optimistic deal to me.. If that’s your -hate the burst your bubble- reality, I’d say welcome to the homers club.
(I can’t speak for everyone, but I know how much I like to argue for the sake of it)
King Gator
January 28th, 2011
3:47 pm
Dream Team?? Work on beating UCF in the Alsoran Bowl first, then worry about National Championships.. mix in a victory in Jacksonville too. Go Gators!
how2fish
January 28th, 2011
3:50 pm
Tide roll we will make due…I would think you should be more worried about keeping teams from coming back from 24 points down to beat that Tidal Azz..seems that would be my number one concern not UGA’s recruiting class but that just me…worrying about my own program..not someone elses team.
Livin in da past
January 28th, 2011
3:50 pm
“What do you think?”
UGA could recruit Tom Brady and still finish 4th in the east.
Tech Stinger
January 28th, 2011
3:51 pm
Can we please leave this trash off the news please and lets talk about some real news like georgia being 6-7 and losing to UCF
how2fish
January 28th, 2011
3:52 pm
King Gator small concern for Gator Nation might be 1) don’t get spanked by Bama this year or 2) wait till your HC has actually won a game as a HC and THEN thump your chest.
WDE
January 28th, 2011
3:52 pm
RTR
Little brother, what are you doing talking smack to UGA fans?
how2fish
January 28th, 2011
3:52 pm
Tech Stinger or really really big news..the Bugs losing 9 of 10 to UGA…shall we?
WDE
January 28th, 2011
3:53 pm
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, I just went over to Chip Towers blog and man o man, what a circus.
King Gator
January 28th, 2011
3:53 pm
Not too worried … we beat Georgia even with Zook!
____________________________________________________
After a 52-17 thrashing of the Dawgs in Athens in 1995 (Jacksonville was being renovated) where Spurrier was airing it out with a minute left in the fourth quarter leading to a touchdown, he defended his play calling by saying – “We knew coming in nobody had scored 50 against them here, so that’s what we wanted to do. This may be the only time in our lifetime that Florida plays here, so we wanted to make it memorable for the Gators.”
Tech Stinger
January 28th, 2011
3:54 pm
how2fish
January 28th, 2011
3:52 pm
Tech Stinger or really really big news..the Bugs losing 9 of 10 to UGA…shall we?
How about the mutts losing 8 of 10 to their big brother Florida, now that is real news
woebegong
January 28th, 2011
3:54 pm
I was just wondering if GT Joe might be ashamed that tech. very seldom has anything good to blog about so he comes on UGA articles to act like a fool. I believe Ron white said it best. “You can’t fix stupid”. His ranting and raving might be a lot more believable if tech. had anything to be proud about. Just how many BCS bowls has tech. played in that they have won. And before you make any other stupid remarks about UGA,s recruiting class, you might want to examine what Tech has gotten so far this year.If tech. is such a hotbed of great football talent, how come none of the top instate recruits have even mentioned tech. as a possibility. Of course you will fall back on the education requirements, but we all know the truth about that as well. My guess is that you will not have to worry about a one point loss to UGA this year or for at least the next three years. Not gonna be even close during this time, as you will lose substanially. The only thing I can not fiigure out about you GT, is whether you are a SNERTF (snot nosed egotistical rotten tech fan) that is actually over the age of 16, or if heavens forbid, you actually attend tech. and really act this childish all of the time. But no matter, you will continue to show your childish mannerisms so I just suggest that all the DAWG fans ignore as I will now do. You are just not worthy of any more space on thisw blog.
Gatormeat
January 28th, 2011
3:55 pm
georgia always has a dream team in Feb, but come Oct they are just another bunch of scrubs getting beat down by the Gators. Again
WDE
January 28th, 2011
3:56 pm
Just want to say congrats to UGA and their fan base. You guys just brought in some really good football players and it looks like Auburn, Alabama and UGA will finish in the top 8.
WDE
January 28th, 2011
3:57 pm
Gatormeat
Speaking of Spurrier and the gators, we had fun taking Florida’s previous scoring record in the SEC Championship game.
how2fish
January 28th, 2011
3:57 pm
Tech Stinger but you as a Bug fan had no Dog in that fight however as a Dog fan beating the Bugs 9 of 10 is real news, news you can trust, news that never grows old or out of date, news that entire generations of Dog fans can take out and admire year after year after year…
80 Dawg
January 28th, 2011
3:58 pm
Who is this Richardson ,Drew was calling to come join the Dream Team? Only Richardson i could find on Scout was The DE who has committed to Missouri. Anybody Know ?
Mobile Dawg
January 28th, 2011
3:58 pm
Gatormeat, that would be a wise thing to keep in mind. If I were the UGA coaching staff, I might hang that reminder up in our locker room, our weight room, and let these players look at it for a year. Eventually you will get what’s coming, when, I don’t know. That’s up to McGarity, and the Dream Team for now….
how2fish
January 28th, 2011
3:59 pm
WDE yeah congrats to ya’ll and Bama the SEC will not be getting any easier to win in…but it will get harder for those other conferences when they meet us.
RTR
January 28th, 2011
3:59 pm
Stronger. Faster. Better. Plain and simple. You may grow more of them in GA or FL, but Alabama makes them into champions. Your pathetic sports programs and even more pathetic fanbases don’t even compare to the tradition and history at the University of Alabama. Vince Dooley? Richt? Are you kidding? 1 championship in nearly 70 years makes you one thing: insignificant. You can recruit all of the touted players you want. Have fun finishing second in the SEC East, kids. When Bama plays Georgia again, and we block and tackle better than you and are stronger than you, what’s your excuse going to be then? No one does less with more than UGA. Can I get a Roll Tide?
Tech Stinger
January 28th, 2011
4:00 pm
how2fish
January 28th, 2011
3:57 pm
Tech Stinger but you as a Bug fan had no Dog in that fight however as a Dog fan beating the Bugs 9 of 10 is real news, news you can trust, news that never grows old or out of date, news that entire generations of Dog fans can take out and admire year after year after year…
When the mutts win their conference again then talk loser but until then you can enjoy your spot at the bottom of the SEC loser
WDE
January 28th, 2011
4:00 pm
“Can I get a Roll Tide?”
Sure, at the Walmart discount counter. They had to make room for all the new Auburn BCS apparel.
WDE
January 28th, 2011
4:01 pm
how2fish
Thanks, and I really do hope that UGA does well this year. I’d be nice for another school to win the championship. I really do like CMR and hope he can have a stellar year after last years stinker.
WDE
January 28th, 2011
4:03 pm
“what’s your excuse going to be then?”
Speaking of excuses, did you catch that Iron Bowl? In case you forgot, Auburn came back in the biggest Iron Bowl win in history. Talk about a colossal failure on Saban’s part.
Mobile Dawg
January 28th, 2011
4:04 pm
RTR, I normally don’t respond to “peckerheads” like you. So I won’t. “War Eagle” Sport….
how2fish
January 28th, 2011
4:04 pm
Tech Stinger lets review shall we UGA has won 9 times the last 10 times they have played Bug U..again who is the loser..oh and yeah we beat that Bug Azz when you were “ACC Champs” and we didn’t even have rings made..again who is the loser??
WDE
January 28th, 2011
4:05 pm
RTR
Just for you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXmZCd_059I
WDE
January 28th, 2011
4:06 pm
Mobile Dawg
And a big GOOOOOOOOOOO DAWGS SIC EM! to you!
Georgia State Patrol
January 28th, 2011
4:08 pm
With all these new convicts coming to athens we will need some new jail space for these future thugs
how2fish
January 28th, 2011
4:08 pm
RTR next time Bama dares to play us we will beat you like rented mules…who do you guys think you are the Gators…our coach has a winning record against your bunch…even counting the years you “vacated” wins for cheating.
Mobile Dawg
January 28th, 2011
4:08 pm
WDE, here’s to hoping we can reestablish a “Great Rivalry” and forget all the negative crap from last year….Good luck….
Tech Stinger
January 28th, 2011
4:10 pm
how2fish
Look mutt loser once again you have proved that you are a complete idiot, at GT we win with real talent but at Georgia you losers can’t win with any talent
WDE
January 28th, 2011
4:10 pm
Mobile Dawg
There were penalties on both sides of the field.