What, if anything, would losing Da’Rick Rogers mean to UGA?
Da'Rick Rogers: If he's a Vol, is Signing Day sunny for Georgia? (AJC photo by Jason Getz)
Vince Dooley, who knew a thing or two about recruiting and about winning, said of the former: “It’s the way you win in the offseason.” And if that’s the case, would Da’Rick Rogers’ apparent defection to Tennessee — esteemed colleague Chip Towers has the breaking news — constitute a loss? A 45-19 sort of loss?
On the one hand, you can’t lose what you never actually had. On the other, Rogers is considered the best player in the state and is rated No. 9 nationally by Rivals.com. He’d committed to Georgia last summer. Bulldog fans — and Bulldog coaches — had been counting on him for a while. But now it appears he’ll be a Vol instead, and if that’s the case he’ll have spurned a program that has won 90 games in nine seasons for one that changed coaches last month.
I’m headed to Athens for tomorrow’s Signing Day doings, but on SD Eve I wanted to ask you folks: If Rogers does wind up signing with Tennessee — he’s scheduled to make his announcement at 9:45 a.m. at Calhoun High — does that take the fizz off Georgia’s recruiting class? Is this a loss? A Big Loss? Or is it no loss at all?
And with that, the floor is open for what I know will be our usual erudite discussion. Thanks in advance.
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
568 comments Add your comment
CHARLOTTE DAWG
February 2nd, 2010
9:37 pm
Chuck UGA,
thanks for the info….and I hope Richt gives the order for someone to take this punk out on the field….but he’ll never do that…he’s too nice….just thing what Urban would have done if Da’ Dumb Dumb did this to him….
I hope the kid is starting by the UGA/UT game. Just get QBanks and Rambo nice and irritated before kick-off.
ga gator
February 2nd, 2010
9:38 pm
Dawg fan here are the stats and I dont read Hershels name.
NFL 14 4,142 17,418 4.2 155
1 Emmit Smith
2 (2) Walter Payton * NFL 13 3,838 16,726 4.4 110
3 (3) Barry Sanders * NFL 10 3,062 15,269 5.0 99
4 (4) Eric Dickerson * NFL 11 2,996 13,259 4.4 90
5 (5) Tony Dorsett * NFL 12 2,936 12,739 4.3 77
6 (10) JEROME BETTIS NFL 11 3,119 12,353 4.0 69
7 (6) Jim Brown * NFL 9 2,359 12,312 5.2 106
8 (7) Marcus Allen * NFL 16 3,022 12,243 4.1 123
9 (8) Franco Harris * NFL 13 2,949 12,120 4.1 91
10 (9) Thurman Thomas NFL 13 2,877 12,074 4.2 65
11 (15) CURTIS MARTIN NFL 9 2,927 11,669 4.0 73
12 (11) John Riggins * NFL 14 2,916 11,352 3.9 104
13 (12) O.J. Simpson * AFL-NFL 11 2,404 11,236 4.7 61
14 (14) MARSHALL FAULK NFL 10 2,576 11,213 4.4 97
15 (13) Ricky Watters NFL 10 2,622 10,643 4.1 78
16 (16) O.J. Anderson NFL 14 2,562 10,273 4.0 81
17 (19) EDDIE GEORGE NFL 8 2,733 10,009 3.7 64
18 (17) Joe Perry * AAFC-NFL 16 1,929 9,723 5.0 71
19 (18) Earl Campbell * NFL 8 2,187 9,407 4.3 74
20 (20) Terry Allen
Wall St. Journal: Good News for Georgia
February 2nd, 2010
9:41 pm
The Wall St Journal studied the top 100 recruits, like Da’ Rick, and found it really doesn’t impact the BCS.
Only 8% of BCS starters were top 100 players.
Texas and Florida had 10 top 10 players, Bama had 3, and Bama killed both teams.
Georgia’s had years where we had more top 100 players than anyone, and it didn’t help, it hurt.
Look at Marlon Brown, #2 ranked WR, top 10 recruit. Total flop.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704304504574610421544186330.html
Top 100 players feel entitled, don’t have a work ethic, don’t blend real well team chemistry wise.
Terrell Owens.
jtm
February 2nd, 2010
9:42 pm
Looks like Dooley still has more influence than Richt in this state. Dooley and Lamb have always been pretty good friends.
Obvious
February 2nd, 2010
9:43 pm
Know why Da’Rick is a huge loser? He committed to the Dawgs to begin with. Anyone dumb enough to be a Dawg deserves the criticism on this blog. Good riddance Dawgs say. Indeed. I’m sure Da’Rick will show the Dawgs why he left in future years. You Dawg fans are pathetic. He’s a Dawg so he’s deity, he changes and he’s the anti-christ. Any recruit with half a brain can see that playing for a retarded fan base is the ultimate insult.
crabapplejoe
February 2nd, 2010
9:45 pm
Its really funny reading these threads where grown men are crying over the loss of some arrogant overrated 18 year old “five star” player. There are plenty of players that Rivals hasn’t bothered to rate that are probably better. Never forget that the player that has caught more passes in the NFL the last three years went undrafted and was cut by his first NFL team…..that Dwight Clarke (probably the best TE in the NFL today) didn’t get a college scholorship until his senior year at Iowa…..that Toby Gerhart was a “two star” at “fullback” after rushing for the third most yards in U.S. high school history and was not offered a RB scholorship at USC but went on to lead the NCAA in rushing yards and TDS for Stanford….probably should have changed their names to D’Wes, DeWight and Tobarius…..LOL at the silliness.
PTC DAWG
February 2nd, 2010
9:46 pm
Puddin’ stirred.
Dooley's Blue Tick Coon Hounds
February 2nd, 2010
9:47 pm
We’ll take him mutts! Everyone knows that Blue Tick Coonhounds are muscular and speedy, not chunky or clumsily built like their sickly cousins the English Bulldog. Notice how Smokey doesn’t need around the clock vet care, a bag of ice, or an air-conditioned doghouse? Your dogs are about as healthy as your football team. We’ll take Da’Rick and those annual beatdowns to UGA every year.
Pope UGA XXIII
February 2nd, 2010
9:48 pm
Check back in 4 or 5 years, and you will be able to determine
whether losing this guy was of any consequence.
GT Alum
February 2nd, 2010
9:48 pm
Yeah, there is definitely something that doesn’t pass the sniff test on this with Daddy Warbucks Nance in the picture. But I agree with the others here that UGA is already stacked at WR anyway. I’d be more concerned about finding a QB and a defense if I were a Dawg fan. UT will get what they deserve with Dere’Lict Rogers and his BFF Nance. I doubt he even qualifies and if he does he’ll end up holding up somebody at a gas station in Knoxville..
Brook Whitmire
February 2nd, 2010
9:49 pm
MARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW????????
GT Alum
February 2nd, 2010
9:50 pm
crabapplejoe, don’t forget Calvin Johnson was a 3 star I believe. Da’Dick couldn’t hold his jock and never will..
Enlightened
February 2nd, 2010
9:51 pm
I have enjoyed reading all the UT comments about how this kid
will be an All-American and a 1st round NFL player. You might be
a little premature. As a longtime fan of college football, I’ve seen
more than a few “Pretty Boys” fall on their faces. And what happens
in 2 years when Nance finds he may not play at UT. Will he do what
he and Da’Rick did in high school? Pack up and change schools?
As you guessed, I’m a Dawg fan who is a little bitter by being
dropped at the eleventh hour by another prima donna.
Defense Wins Championships
February 2nd, 2010
9:52 pm
If you look at the cause of success or failure in the SEC, it comes down to one thing: defense.
Do a search for SEC defensive points allowed. That one stat lines up win/loss records better than any other criteria, including passing yards.
Arkansas passed a lot and went 7-5.
You don’t win in the SEC with a passing game.
So the loss of a WR is not a big deal.
Georgia has 10 of 11 starters returning on offense. Excellent TE’s, AJ Green, Ealey & King, and the O-Line returns. Sure, we need to get someone to counter-balance AJ so trasm don’t overplay the run. I’d think WR K. Boone recruit is still a strong possibility for Georgia–USA Today says he’s leaning UGA.
bOTTOM lINE:
We have Grantham, the guy Saban wanted. Grantham was #2 in defensive scoring with Cowboys last year.
Hey Dooley Hound
February 2nd, 2010
9:52 pm
that was the dumbest comment ever.
Big Bob
February 2nd, 2010
9:55 pm
It’s ok. The Dawgs will be just fine. Da’Rick’s mama, Da’Rachell and his dad, Da’Rock never taught their boy how to keep his word. Let him go to that hillbillie team up north. Tenasea is the real loser.
chuck
February 2nd, 2010
9:56 pm
Da’Rick should never have been recruited in the first place. Why the heck didn’t the UGA coaches know how Mr. Nance was going to leverage Da”Rick in exchange for a scholarship for his son? We have all known a “live thru my son” loser like Mr. Nance (I suggest all UGA fans boycott his stores) and having these two mixed up together should have been a signal to recruit another WR if UGA needed one. Again, UGA should have passed on this guy from the start.
The bigger issue is CMR has been sitting on his backside while UGA is going to sign only ONE OF THE TOP TEN PLAYERS in the state. That is not acceptable and CMR had better do better next year or somebody else will be the new football coach at UGA.
Enlightened
February 2nd, 2010
9:58 pm
I’ve got to say I was a little surprised that UT recruited Nance
as their QB in the 2009 class and they already have 3 or QB’s on
scholarship. That depth chart will be hard to move up on by a AA
high school QB. I was actually surprised that D Dooley would
recruit a player just to get his best friend. I’m not sure that
was fair to Mr Nance. I guess he learned that from Saban because
I don’t think he learned it from his Dad.
Calhoun Insider
February 2nd, 2010
9:58 pm
Rodgers didn’t pack up and change high schools on his own accord. He was kicked out of the Darlington school and didn’t have a choice. Coach Lamb got him into Calhoun and helped build him into the player he is now. And look at how he has treated coach Lamb the last few weeks. People outside of this area just don’t realize what a problem he is going to be at UT. UGA fans will have the last laugh on this one. Trust me, he won’t make it on the next level.
Suwaneedawg
February 2nd, 2010
9:59 pm
Da’ Rick will end up being Da’ Wreck when he can’t get in because of his grades and he ends up not even being a pimple on AJ Green’s buttocks. For blue tick that means butt. I will take our corp of receivers over your bunch any game, any day, any week.
Big L
February 2nd, 2010
10:00 pm
It is only a big loss in appearance. As far as the field goes, I think it won’t have any impact at all. Besides , if that picture above is an indicator of character, we just may be better off. Primadonnas need not apply.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
February 2nd, 2010
10:04 pm
Offer Paris Head, (the player from Buford) a scholarship cause he is apparently a 5 star CB
orlandodawg
February 2nd, 2010
10:05 pm
i feel like the word “decommit” will be word of the year for 2010 much like “tweet” or whatever was for 2009
CHARLOTTE DAWG
February 2nd, 2010
10:06 pm
How dumb is he if he can’t get into UT?
If this kid flops out, it will be a running joke with us Dawgs for years to come. I mean, who can forget such a Techwood home name like Da’ Rick? That’s even better than Tech’s Quayshawn.
I hope this kid gets straight up abused! God almighty, it would be sweet, sweet revenge.
Remember when we used to chant “Darryl, Darryl” at Braves games? Same concept boys. Pass it on. Let’s have fun with this punk for the next few years if he’s not robbing liquor stores.
Technophobia
February 2nd, 2010
10:06 pm
By itself this wouldn’t mean much except that you lost a good recruit. But this isn’t the only recruit and it’s not the only cause for concern for dawg fans. Todd Grantham was supposed to make UGa more attractive to recruits as well as improve the defense. The former apparently hasn’t happened the latter remains to be seen. On top of that, UGa just finished a season unranked despite having a team that was composed of 4 years of top 10 ranked recruiting classes. How does that happen? People are starting to notice. This years class is currently ranked #16 by Rivals, the lowest ranked class for UGa since at least 2001. (I say that because Rivals only lists back to 2002) Now, a good season next year for the dawgs could erase all that but another season like the last and it will only get worse.
jimmy
February 2nd, 2010
10:07 pm
tebow was great-leave him alone be worried about what happenad to our class
Bulldawg 01
February 2nd, 2010
10:10 pm
Another thing to the UT fans… stop talking like you had a great year! You were 7-6 for crying out loud and got your a**es kicked by VA Tech in the bowl game. UT on the way up… Please!!
Tommy
February 2nd, 2010
10:11 pm
Now Nickell Robey to SOUTHERN CAL
http://www.southernpigskin.com/index.php/site/robey_picks_southern_california/
Stupid
February 2nd, 2010
10:11 pm
Suck it bradley, you’re an idiot.
Bubba
February 2nd, 2010
10:14 pm
is that cubic zirconium in his ear?
Dawg Fan
February 2nd, 2010
10:15 pm
I hope the AJC writers are happy. You have written so much negative about the Dawgs and their coaches during the last few months. It appears the High School player are believing you. Do us a favor and leave us alone. I am sick of your writing and no longer buy your paper.
Vick=Dog killing Thug
February 2nd, 2010
10:15 pm
I wonder how much Daddy boy Nance offered him ?
Georgia Sucks
February 2nd, 2010
10:18 pm
“Techwood home name” huh CHARLOTTE DAWG?
I wonder if you’d say something like that to Hershel’s face? I hope you’ve got the guts to admit you’re a fricking prejudiced ahole like most of your fellow Georgia fans. Their great if their making plays on the field in Athens though right?
Why would a black player ever go to UGA?
DCJACKET
February 2nd, 2010
10:24 pm
First, what UGA has done in the last nine years is as irrelevant as what any other program, including GT has done during the same time period. The reason being that the landscape and dynamics are very different. For UGA, outside CMR there is very little specific within the football program that is the same from the early years. On a positive note, CWM and crew is no longer between the hedges and we will not know what Grantham and staff will be able to do until at the earliest this summer if not in the fall. I think many kids will want to see what impact he makes on the field before buying in. It is safe to say that while UGA is the state school, they have deep cofers, and a 90k stadium-this year’s recruiting class is another sign that the program has taken a couple of steps backwards. A progression that started 2.5 – 3 years ago and has become more noticeable as of late. The fact that other programs and competitors of UGA are improving, including some like GT where it is dramatically better, makes the slip more noticeable.
scdawg
February 2nd, 2010
10:24 pm
I am glad we have Jakaar Hamilton
Truth
February 2nd, 2010
10:26 pm
I guess you could say Georgia fans got what they deserved… keep taking shots at Tennessee… LOL!
anotherdawg
February 2nd, 2010
10:26 pm
I think this says more about Rogers character than it does UGA. Georgia kept their end of the bargain in saving him a spot. Rogers shows he doesn’t know what the word commitment means, so why beat yourself up when you haven’t done anything wrong. When you go after the top rated recruits, you are not going to get them all. They are being courted by so many teams. This also was a unique situation with his buddy going to Tennessee, and his buddy’s dad was his guardian. But, I’m not ready to write UGA off just because they may not sign all their targets. Nor would I assume that an automatic SEC and National Championship is guaranteed if we had the number 1 class in the nation. We still have a very good class coming in, and I think the changes that have been made with the defense will pay off in the long run. After all, I remember some bloggers stating they would be willing to lose all the recruits, if we would just get a new d.c.
Scott
February 2nd, 2010
10:26 pm
Look at him ……All I can say is TYPICAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Scott
February 2nd, 2010
10:28 pm
what else would you expect from this guy??
Truth
February 2nd, 2010
10:28 pm
Georgia should have informed him that ESPN said that a National Title for Georgia under Richt was “inevitable” and also that Georgia was due to win a Title because “Uga died”
LOL
OedipusTax
February 2nd, 2010
10:28 pm
The stupid clowns that proclaim ‘first’ are convincing me that expecting blogging here to be a worthwhile expenditure of time to be highly doubtful.
Ben
February 2nd, 2010
10:29 pm
Don’t really know much about him other than fabricated “Star” ratings (these are at best hit or miss). Seems to me that we’re pretty solid at receiver for a couple years. This gets a resounding MEH from me. Give me a Defensive End or a maniac Middle Linebacker instead.
Pi$$onatechie
February 2nd, 2010
10:30 pm
First he is the loser not Georgia he is just a tiny overrated WR in a tiny AA school and will be red shirted, second our best recruit is getting rid of Martinez, Fabris and Jeneck. Third our second best recruit is Granthem and our best recruit to come is Travis Jones!!
Greenman
February 2nd, 2010
10:31 pm
It’s shameful the way you are all treating this kid. Yes, he is still a kid. I would hate to think that millions of people were following my every move at 18 and discussing it with the rest of the world. The people posting stuff on Facebook and message boards should take a look in the mirror and try to find out where their life got off track. Until the recruiting process is changed this is going to happen over and over again. Something needs to change, whether its not allowing a player to commit until signing day or once he commits the LOI must be signed and adhered to. I dont know but it is what it is right now. I agree with Mark, no one was calling him a prima donna when he was all Dawg. I dont know what his grades are, whether he qualifies or not, whether Mr Nance brokered this deal, whatever…..I just know this young guy made a tough decision and will have to live with it. Just imagine the hell he will be put through from now until he leaves for college. I feel bad for the kid…
FL DAWG
February 2nd, 2010
10:35 pm
This in and of itself will not be the end of the world for the dawgs. One player does not make a team. Coaching and on the field play will determine what happens to the dawgs. Richt and the coaching staff have their work before them. I hope and believe that Grantham will do well… He had better or Richt is in serious trouble.
What, if anything, would losing Da'Rick Rogers mean to UGA? | Mark … < Read what Young Americans Read
February 2nd, 2010
10:36 pm
[...] Read more from the original source: What, if anything, would losing Da'Rick Rogers mean to UGA? | Mark … [...]
Big L
February 2nd, 2010
10:37 pm
Having only seen two pics of Da’Rick. There is one onvious thing. Someone told this kid that he IS a star. There can’t be one humble bone in this fellas body. God bless him. UT can have all the head cases they want.
K-Town Dawg
February 2nd, 2010
10:38 pm
Looks like a new target for Rambo & The Hitman!
Mike Vick
February 2nd, 2010
10:40 pm
Marlon Brown $$$ last year coming back to bite the dawgs!!! Your program is SAD!!! Lame Kiffin beat you down and said he was going to steal all your recruits and it appears Dooley and Chiznick has picked the state clean!!! May be time for the pups to move to the ACC……….
Jeremyoo7
February 2nd, 2010
10:42 pm
Strange to hear his head football coach say the kid wasn’t at school againg today??
I would say If he is going to see any college field this fall he better get his PRETTBOY BEHIND to class. I have a feeling CMR may be gratefull Mr. Rogers didn’t come to his neighborhood.
Glad to see a kid like Gates jump on the UGA offer and say it was where he wanted to be all along!
I would think there would be more than 25 quality football players in the state of GA who would jump at the chance to play for UGA! I hope the UGA coaching staff looks for those kids.