What, if anything, would losing Da’Rick Rogers mean to UGA?

Da'Rick Rogers: If he goes to Tennessee, is Signing Day sunny for Georgia? (AJC photo by Jason Getz)

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.

Update: Rogers indeed signed with the Vols on Wednesday.

568 comments Add your comment

Jeff in Calhoun

February 2nd, 2010
10:42 pm

Da’Rick says money talks and BS walks!

John

February 2nd, 2010
10:46 pm

This is no big loss for the dawgs!! This all stems from the me first mentality instilled at Calhoun High, Mr. Rogers will wear orange proudly but it will probably be on the side of the highway picking up trash.

Bill

February 2nd, 2010
10:47 pm

Best of luck Roger where ever you good. Stop crying Dogs….you don’t walk on water.

dawg85

February 2nd, 2010
10:47 pm

Would have liked to have had him but such is life. Dawgs have plenty of receivers. Fix the defense and get a QB and the Dawgs will be fine.

UGA Ranked #5 in Top 100 Recruits by Scout, #4 By ESPN

February 2nd, 2010
10:48 pm

Go to:

http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=9&c=14&yr=2010

Click at top of columns that read “top 100″ or “avg” and it will sort from best to worst which team
1) has the most top 100 recruits
2) best quality of recruit

Then you’ll see Georgia is:
1) #5 in number of top 100 recruits
2) #5 in average score (quality) of recruits.

Note:
Auburn has 29 signees where UGA has about 17, thus the lower overall QUANTITATIVE score/ranking, which is deceptive. But on a pure QUALITATIVE level, the class is very strong, top 5.

espn.com also has Georgia’s recruiting class ranked high, based on a quality measure, how many espn top 150 recruits. Georgia’s recruiting class is ranked #4 on espn.com

Jeff in Calhoun

February 2nd, 2010
10:48 pm

I can honestly say that he was the best high school football player I ever watched. I saw him play against Dalton, Cartersville, Adairsville, North Ocnee, Jefferson County, Lovett and Buford this past season. He is a great player. But, Buford put the clamp on him with double teams.

bubba

February 2nd, 2010
10:50 pm

Do all you rednecks think about is football? Who gives a **it if this “prized recruit” goes to one college or another. You all are a bunch of worthless people who all you think about is this or that college. Get a Life!!! Are you a bunch of homosexuals or can you keep it in your pants if a recruit actually commits to your school?

.

February 2nd, 2010
10:52 pm

It makes not a crap what rating class you have if you can’t coach them and win.

Dawg Days

February 2nd, 2010
10:52 pm

Losing DaDick will be a short term loss, but UGA has some good receivers in the fold,and dont forget that Chris Durham will be back for his final year after sitting out last year due to injury. The bottom line is UGA has had top 5 recruiting classes the past several years and it has not translated into the seasons that Dawg fans expect. So Richt and Grantham have to coach up the guys and go from here.
The ironic thing about UGA’s recriting class is that it’s approximately 30 spots better than GT’s, but the slimball AJC writers want to make it look UGLY, in their type sleazy style…..Some sh_t never changes

Da'Rick

February 2nd, 2010
10:55 pm

Da’Rick done gone somewhere else..

Can Da’Bobo and Da’Richt be next?

Jeff in Calhoun

February 2nd, 2010
10:55 pm

Da’ Rick will be a 1st round draft pick after his Junior year. I wish he would go to UGA and wear the Red and Black. I can’t see him in that ugly Orange and White. I guess he feels like he owes the Nance family to help out young Nance. There is one thing for certain and it is that they both won’t be playing on the same NFL team or will they?

Tdawg

February 2nd, 2010
10:57 pm

Only loss will be from trusting the brat in the first place. Can’t miss what you never had.Would have loved to have had him, but will be just as good without him. A darn shame that he has no charter though. I mean in the end what else is there.

The question is wheather the NCAA is going to turn a blind eye again to what everybody else see’s so clearly?

Imadrandishitandpissmyselfdaily

February 2nd, 2010
10:59 pm

Does it really matter?

Jeff in Calhoun

February 2nd, 2010
11:00 pm

It means that Georgia didn’t fork over any cash!

UGAKev

February 2nd, 2010
11:02 pm

Look Georgia fans this recruiting class we will just have to take up the @** but the bright side is that we do have a few really good defensive players that will help us out in the future. So we take a top 20 recruiting class this year and it will not do nothing to our team this next season especially on offense where we are already loaded. We will have a great season this year and next recruiting class we will be back in the top 5 again. I will admit I wanted da rick rogers but in all honesty after doing my homework on him he really is not the type of player Georgia needs. Guys we have aaron murray and this kid is going to lead us to the promise land i guarantee you that. Tennessee does not have an aaron murray or a monte kiffen coaching their defense next season. In all honesty I am about to put a gag order about even talking about georgia football to myself all the negativity towards the UGA georgia gets tiring to see after a while. So to any true Georgia fans just sit back and let our great teams the next few years do the talking for us.

Taylor

February 2nd, 2010
11:04 pm

These kids think they are God’s Gift. I guess commitments mean nothing

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February 2nd, 2010
11:05 pm

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Hairy Dawg

February 2nd, 2010
11:06 pm

We didnt needs Rogers anyway and he had brick hands and pass droppies. He is a no talent bums and he goning to stink it up with the pupkin patchers in Knox. The Big Dawgs owns Vols whos is so stinky that they hiring new coaches each year and still losers. Vols is dropping in SEC and better getting used to watching rear of Dawgs as we taking champions of east for many years. Dawgs is goning to dominating SEC and win all games. Go Dawgs! Vols Stinks! Rogers Loser! Go Dawgs! Vols Stinks! Go Dawgs!

GIVE ME A BREAK

February 2nd, 2010
11:07 pm

I have no use for an athlete from Georgia wanting to play for a team other than one in the state. He could have played for UGA or Valdosta State or even Georgia State. I’m a Tech fan and I hope UGA cleans Tennessee’s clock. GO JACKETS!!!!

Chris

February 2nd, 2010
11:08 pm

Karma,

Your just a typical Vol fan that has absolutely no sense at all. I could care less what Roger’s does. He is nothing until he proves himself. Just like Marlon Brown has yet to show how good he is supposed to be. Granted he was only a freshman last year but he didn’t live up to the hype the way A.J. Green did. We have had a slew of supposedly great receivers come into Georgia that were just average. You don’t win championships with receivers. You win championships with great defense, a great o-line, a smart QB, and a great running game.

I seriously doubt that Rogers will ever live up to the hype because of his documented lack of work ethic, and numerous accounts on how he gives up when he’s not getting the ball.

This is not the qualities I would be looking for in a player. Those five stars printed next to his name aren’t any better than the paper they’re printed on.

Roger’s may turn out to be a pretty good reciever but I can promise you he wont make much of a difference in Tennessee.

CrashTestChris

February 2nd, 2010
11:09 pm

Bless his heart, Ray Goff said it best at a Dawg Ralley of about 2000 barking nuts, “I don’t care if their the biggest, fastest, greatest athlete on God’s Great Earth…If they don’t bleed ‘Glory, Glory..’ and want with all their heart to just wear that red helmet with the big black “G”, we just don’t want ‘em!!!!”

Loran Smith wrote a great article in the Athens Banner Herald this morning about the state of college recruiting past and present…It’s an eye opener..

Wreckmaniac

February 2nd, 2010
11:10 pm

content dawgfan: a lot of wisdom in your comments.

Gen Neyland

February 2nd, 2010
11:11 pm

May be UGA was the girl Da’Rick liked to date but Tennessee is the one he brings home to Momma. Get my point..? Still, below from KNS :

UT’s coaches won’t count Rogers as a signee until they receive his signed National Letter of Intent today, National Signing Day.

Prospects can begin signing, then faxing, their contracts at 7 a.m.

Rogers will announce his decision during a press conference at 9:45 a.m.

…I hope there are a few of you out there that understand the difference between signed written contracts and verbal commitments. Sweet Dreams.

GIVE ME A BREAK

February 2nd, 2010
11:12 pm

Looks like DeAngelo.

joe

February 2nd, 2010
11:13 pm

I would have felt a lot worse about losing him if he had showed better against Buford but instead he
looked like a quitter.

Rocky Top will run the state

February 2nd, 2010
11:13 pm

Get used to it. Derrick Dooley AND Vince are going to own recruiting in Georgia. Pops already said he’s wearing Orange. Richt wont be able to keep up. Hell he couldnt keep up with Kiff**. Dooley’s running circles around him already.

docdawg

February 2nd, 2010
11:13 pm

How important is the loss of DaRick Rogers? Only time will tell but I know UGA would not have the history it does if Hershel Walker or Charlie Trippi had gone someplace else so individuals can be important but they are few and far between—Time will tell!

Jax Dawg

February 2nd, 2010
11:14 pm

It is what it is! We sputtered through the season. It’s kind of like the stock market (our stock is down). UF, AL, and AU all kicked *ss in recruiting. Our supposed recruting guru, CRG, looks like a joke!

We will just have to wait and see what happens this season (probably 8 – 4 again)!

Urban Meyer

February 2nd, 2010
11:16 pm

This is simple folks. Who cares about Da’Moron Rogers? UGA did not lose to UT because of the receiver position. They lost because the QB and defense sucked. Both of these appear to be headed in the right direction regardless of Da’Moron’s decision. He is an 18 year old kid who changed his mind probably because of outside pressure applied by a white guy getting his white son to UT where he will sit on the white bench. Then what Mr. Dooley has to deal with is an angry white father who thinks his below average son should be playing and will put heat on Da’Moron. At the end of the day – if Da’Moron was any good – I would have offered him a scholarship to UF. He is too much into himself and besides UGA has plenty of skill players and he would not get to play this year anyway. Of course, he will still lose to me and in the end that is all that matters. Regardless – he was gonna be a loser.

CrashTestChris

February 2nd, 2010
11:17 pm

…and as far as you Tech fans and your relentless crowing….GT would not have beaten LSU,or Arizona St., or Tenn.,certainly not FLA, probably not Auburn….So take your “Conference” title and Orange Bowl flop and sing “Budwieser…You said it all!!!” till the cock crows 3 times….

AU Mike

February 2nd, 2010
11:17 pm

Auburn had their stumble. A nice breath of fresh air and we are a year or two away from competing for the SEC title. Georgia will be having theirs very soon. The program is becoming stale. This is Mark Richt’s worst recruiting class so far after his ugliest season….May need an energy jolt somehow someway

Tug McGroin

February 2nd, 2010
11:17 pm

Nice glamour shot, perchance is he Billie D. Williams nephew…

Mark Bradley

February 2nd, 2010
11:17 pm

Thanks, Falcon 34. I’m kind of saving my take until tomorrow. Not to be a tease or anything.

VolfromGA

February 2nd, 2010
11:17 pm

Whether he signs with TN or not… Why does every school’s fans plead with kids they don’t know at first to come to school X and then when he doesn’t follow a fan bases wishes the first response is always, “well we didn’t want him anyway.” Its dumb! GA fans look dumb today the exact same way that we looked dumb last year about Marlon Brown. The kid has lots or reasons to go to either school and the degree, stadium, town, or weather has nothing to do with it. He’s 18, we all made decisions that we regretted and some we wouldn’t do over for anything. Who knows how it will work out, but a little bit of more rational behavior is certainly needed when it comes to recruiting by every fan base not just ours.

ATHENSDOGFAN

February 2nd, 2010
11:18 pm

Good. UT can have that punk, he’ll never play a down in Knoxville. Trust me I can spot a truoblemaker 100 miles away and it’s good for UGA that he’ll be about that far from our program.

Yellow Fuzz84

February 2nd, 2010
11:19 pm

Jackets will be 12-0 in 2010 regular season including YET ANOTHER victory against the puppies at the cesspool of the South in November.

Looking for Jackets to knock off a 1-loss Bama team and win fifth undisputed national championship. Nesbitt finishes 1st or 2nd in Heisman voting.

Technophobia

February 2nd, 2010
11:19 pm

Mark, it means karma’s a bi#$&. lol

In answer to Bradley...yes on prima donna

February 2nd, 2010
11:20 pm

As to BRADLEY’s question: No, no one from Georgia called Da’Rick a prima donna last summer. Why? Not simply because he committed — but because we didn’t know him. The last several weeks have given people far more insight into this kid’s character and maturity (or lack thereof)….the MySpace pages full of gangsta imagery…the entire way he handled this situation…the manner in which his long committment to a program meant nothing…the (probable) involvement of Nance’s father and all that entails (no further comment on that one…but let’s just see what leaks out after a couple of months). This kid is reminding me more and more of Michael Vick…a talent with zero ethics or conscience. A guy like that can help you win…or he can cause problems….

Yellow Fuzz84

February 2nd, 2010
11:21 pm

Mark, can’t wait to see you unleash your fury tomorrow on the Dawgs and Richt’s failures with all praise be to Georgia Tech and the almighty Paul Johnson.

Wardog

February 2nd, 2010
11:21 pm

LOL….Mark Bradley is one of the best poop stirers I have ever seen! LOL….He loves keeping controversy going. I bet your a hoot in real life Mark. LOL…you and I would have some very lively conversations over a few beer.

Urban Meyer

February 2nd, 2010
11:22 pm

Wall St. Journal: Good News for Georgia — are you a moron? If you can get the top 100 players and can coach – you guessed you will win. Florida had one of the best classes ever in 2006, results — 2 National Titles and just missed another. That is what 5 of the top 12 players are going to do with the 2009 class.

Now again – remember – Da’Moron was not critical to UGA. Wait till tomorrow is over before you judge your class. It might be better than you expect. I don’t think it will get any worse.

For all you bloggers talking about he is an 18 year old kid…blah blah. Shut the hell up. He is an 18 year old kid who is taking advantage of a situation and played it. He deserves to be slammed as much and more. If he committed to UF and then backed out like he has to UGA. Then the first time he stepped on the field, he would be hit and hit hard. Give me the 15 yards and the whipping UT will get from UF again this year.

UGA fans – in honor of Spurrier remember you can’t spell CITRUS with UT (as in the bowl).

NewnanDawg

February 2nd, 2010
11:23 pm

Blah, Blah, Blah – Rogers may be great, Marlon Brown may end up being great. Bottom line – nobody knows. I, for one, hope that all this attention to one guy doesn’t make all of the other fantastic recruits in the UGA class feel under appreciated. How excited were people about Stripling, Ogletree(s), Malcome, Hamilton, and the list goes on and on? Don’t forget about them now.

Stop obsessing over one story that should really be about Craig James, oh sorry, I mean Mr. Nance, who will torment Coach Dooley for 4 years over Nash’s playing time. Good luck fending off the attempt to get you fired in a couple of years if Nash is on the bench Coach Dooley. I don’t blame Rogers one bit in this; just the supposed adults that look after their own agendas (on both sides) instead of the kid’s best interest.

Go Dawgs and good luck to all of these young athletes!

Jordan j

February 2nd, 2010
11:25 pm

I just love how the dawg fans wait until he decommits and then try to find ways to bash him. How can you say you will be better off without a 5 star recruit??? Just admit you lost him with some class please!! Sore losers…

Love the State of Georgia

February 2nd, 2010
11:26 pm

Richt is good for UGA and for the state. I wish him all the best. He is no Goff and Donnan. He is a Dooley type coach. However, I don’t think he will ever post any losing seasons like his former predecessors. I do believe he will win a national championship at UGA before the overbearing fans click their heels three times to wish him out. We look at Alabama & Florida winning National Championships and think… ‘why not us?’ Well, Florida had a Steve Spurrier who loved his sucky school. UF didn’t have anything before Steve and then they continued their dominance in the East by hiring this spread offense fool. Lucky this offense will no longer succeed in this league. Alabama had perceived football tradition (cheaters used to win all the time) and then they went on to get a darned good college football coach in what’s his name. What did Georgia have? Maybe six strong years during the late 70s & early 80s. We have always been a middle tier program with elite football players in the state & on the roster (according to recruiting services). Either the recruiting services are overhyping the players we target & sign or our current & former coaches aren’t good at developing and coaching talent. With all that said… I still believe in Richt.

ronald smith

February 2nd, 2010
11:28 pm

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cantondawg

February 2nd, 2010
11:28 pm

I honestly think people should lay off DR. He’s a young man who is torn in many directions. UT is a good school with a good football program. They have a history of great WR’S and he will probrably get a chance to start there quicker than UGA. Plus, he gets to go to UT with his best friend.

Dale

February 2nd, 2010
11:29 pm

Dale

February 2nd, 2010
11:31 pm

Urban Meyer

February 2nd, 2010
11:31 pm

Anyone who is slamming Marlow Brown…hush your mouth. He will be fine and he actually concerns me when he and AJ line up against my young and inexperienced defense. He has not played at all.

Another point on Da’Moron as I look at more tape. UT wasted a scholarship on Nance, who has no QB skills at all unless holding a clip board and calling in plays counts. This being said they wasted a precious slot where they could have gotten someone else. I love that Dooley can recruit in Georgia. But that does not mean he can coach in Tennessee. Don’t sweat it. Stay focused on why you can’t recruit like me in Florida.

I would also say that the players in Georgia are overrated. The last 2 great players off your team that went pro did not come from Georgia but Texas and New Jersey.

Gen Neyland

February 2nd, 2010
11:36 pm

ATHENSDAWGFAN at 2313 posts : Good. UT can have that punk, he’ll never play a down in Knoxville. Trust me I can spot a truoblemaker 100 miles away and it’s good for UGA that he’ll be about that far from our program.

I have to ask, are you a cop with the ACCPD..?