A most unusual sight: UGA absent from Rivals.com’s Top 10
It’s a strange feeling for Georgia fans, and it has to feel a bit odd to Mark Richt. According to Rivals.com, Georgia’s recruiting class of 2010 ranks 15th nationally and sixth in the SEC. (The ratings — updated as of 10:48 a.m. Wednesday — are subject to change.) That would be the Bulldogs’ lowest national rating since 2001, when Mark Richt had been on the job barely two months.
Over Rich’s first nine years, Georgia finished outside Rivals’ Top 10 only once. A year-by-year look:
• 2001: Sixteenth nationally, third in the SEC.
• 2002: Third in the nation, second in the SEC.
• 2003: Sixth in the nation, third in the SEC.
• 2004: Sixth in the nation, second in the SEC.
• 2005: Tenth in the nation, second in the SEC.
• 2006: Fourth in the nation, second in the SEC.
• 2007: Ninth in the nation, sixth in the SEC.
• 2008: Seventh in the nation, third in the SEC.
• 2009: Sixth in the nation, third in the SEC.
About here, you might be saying, “So what if Georgia’s not in the Top 10 this time? All those highly rated classes really only resulted in one SEC title.” (That being in 2005; the 2002 conference championship was achieved largely with Jim Donnan’s recruits.) Not to be a Gloomy Gus, but here’s what:
When you get used to a school lighting up the recruiting board, it’s significant when it doesn’t. It’s significant when Georgia doesn’t land a single 5-star recruit. (That last happened in 2007.) It’s significant when an Auburn program in Year 2 under Gene Chizik lands 13 spots ahead of Georgia in Year 10 under Richt. And from this we can draw only one conclusion:
Mark Richt needs to rent some white limos.
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600 comments Add your comment
Da'rick Rogers
February 3rd, 2010
10:32 am
I owns you too now
Ken
February 3rd, 2010
10:33 am
I guess Georgia coaches are more concerned with “black outs” and teaching their boys another step or two when dancing to “Soulja Boy”.
RedAndBlack
February 3rd, 2010
10:33 am
Hey Mark, have you become and expert in recruiting? UGA has been in the top ten every year yet in 2009, UGA finished the season unranked and an 8-5 record. Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice to have the best talent come to UGA but that’s half the battle in becoming a consistent top ten team year after year. Coaching and having coachable kids have a lot to do with a successful program. Look at what Saban did for Alabama with a lot less talent than Florida. Also, you can’t forget about the 2,3,4 star recruits that made significant contributions to the football program at UGA and have moved to the NFL.
Can you explain in detail how significant it is when UGA does not land one 5-star recruit and when Auburn is umpteenth spots ahead of UGA? There are a handful of schools out there that consistently do not land a top 25 recruting class yet they finish in the top 25 rankings at the end of the season.
Please explain since you seem to be an expert
Benjamin
February 3rd, 2010
10:33 am
Good points all, Don.
The “Annual azz-whoopin’,” Orange? It’s not the 1990s, man…. lol
LarryDawg1
February 3rd, 2010
10:33 am
One of the reasons we are losing recruits is because of these blogs. If the REAL UGA fans would stop complaining about every little thing, maybe these kids would get a better vibe from our fan base. So what, if DaRick want to be loyal to the people who put foo in his mouth. None of you did. Instead of crying about the four or five that did not want to be Bulldogs, You ought to be thankful to those 18 (including Mike Thornton) that WANTED to come to UGA. Welcome new dogs! I personally feel good about playing with the ones we got! No one was hotter at the end of the season than UGA, and if you keep comparing your team to others, instead of being the best you can be, you will always be second best. Ya’ll are scared of Fla. and Ala. and Tenn.! We have the talent and now the coaches to excel. If you’re gonna be a Dawg, BE A GAWG! If not, get off this blog. Its good to be a DAWG!!!!!
vollball96
February 3rd, 2010
10:33 am
watch the sparks fly.. PS UT had coach change 2 weeks ago and still whooped up on UGA..lololol I hate them dogs for stealing Tennessee players with..Oh look how good we are,, Bottom line.. Until your boosters hire a great coach you guys will always be stuck in Goff mode
Da'rick Rogers
February 3rd, 2010
10:33 am
In yo face
Sean
February 3rd, 2010
10:33 am
All the injuries in previous years mask Georgia’s poor coaching performance of its highly rated recruits. With fewer injuries last year the poor coaching was exposed. But i still love dem dawgs!
Red Bull 77
February 3rd, 2010
10:34 am
DISGUSTING!
Starring Kam Fong as Chin Ho
February 3rd, 2010
10:34 am
Ga got the big uglies and the big uglies win the games.
BamBam49
February 3rd, 2010
10:34 am
Mark Bradley used to be a GIRL….HATER!
Sonny Clusters
February 3rd, 2010
10:35 am
Looks like the da’class was hanging on Da’rick. Not to worry. The ones they signed will be fine.
Red Bull 77
February 3rd, 2010
10:35 am
Maybe the assistant coaches in charge of recruiting should be made to go through the mat drills
GaGator
February 3rd, 2010
10:35 am
Face facts, Richt is now about the 7th or 8th best coach in the SEC
Ginger
February 3rd, 2010
10:36 am
Amen—we need some white limos !!!…..UGA needs to turn recruiting up a notch….lost too many good in state players this yr….need to work on the Bulldog Brand……This was rough yr….Game after game where offense made mistakes and defense let teams score & score….that had to affect the views of this yrs recruits….We gotta get back to playing good fundamentally sound football and work these recruits a little harder…..would like to see the team have more of a presence in the state during offseason…more football camps….maybe some football camps in South Georgia at local high schools and camps for middle school as well as high school…could just be a 1 day camp….UGA needs to develop young fans and really get a good Bulldog Brand in the state….Damon Evans talked about getting a Better Bulldog brand nationally…..If we improve our in state brand—we will compete for NC every yr.
J.J.M.
February 3rd, 2010
10:37 am
its over for uga. they will never be good again
Can you dig it?
February 3rd, 2010
10:37 am
Go screw yourself Bradley….You are nothing more than a idiot who lucked out and got a job at the AJC…..I feel sorry for you..the glass is always half empty as far as your concerned…I’ll bet you compiled you informtion on Georgia recruiting weeks ago and couldn’t wait to put it in print.Please do everyone a favor..including the Tech fans and move back to Kentucky. We don’t want you or need you in Georgia.
Saint Augustine
February 3rd, 2010
10:38 am
This just in, Georgia up to 17th at Rivals. Florida stays at number 1!
hahahahahahahahahahahahaha
((((( 17 of 20 )))))) hahahahahahahahaha
Starring Kam Fong as Chin Ho
February 3rd, 2010
10:38 am
Ga Gator, face facts, you’re just plain ignorant. If Ga didn’t matter you wouldn’t be so obsessed.
Eat and Tweet
February 3rd, 2010
10:38 am
Owensjeff…. @10:33 am I cants believe I ates the whole Hairy Dawg cakes all by myself here at the Butts Mehre building. peoples are starting to flock in now awaiting on word bout my homie Telv. word is he aint a solid nole yet.. later dreggs…
Otto
February 3rd, 2010
10:38 am
All this big deal made about Auburn. Something to keep this in perspective, Auburn was playing a dozen schalrship athletes below the NCAA limit last year and was very short on defense. The coach is on a honey moon and a decent first year, chances are he’ll be there next 3 to 4 years. Of course kids are going to flock there.
UGA needed big guys up front especially on defense they don’t get the glamour of a WR or RB. UGA has signed 2 very highly WR recruits each of the past 2 year and some other good WR/TEs (Charles?) WR is not the worry this year (Don’t forget Durham comes back from injury, hopefully Marlon steps up). UGA lost some secondary recruits that CWM had recruited which is to be expected. I like that UGA picked up a new OL recruit yesterday.
Don’t get me wrong I fear the program needs further changes to get back on top but the recruiting ranking is not the big of a deal. Beside we’ll see how the day pans out, it is far to early to call. ESPN had UGA #9 when I checked earlier this morning.
Dawg Fud
February 3rd, 2010
10:39 am
GaGator,
if you are 7th or 8th…does the word “best” really follow?
Saint Augustine
February 3rd, 2010
10:39 am
It is OVER. Georgia officially became a gymnastics college today!
AceDawg
February 3rd, 2010
10:39 am
I worry about the recruiting, but when all said in done, UGA in top 15 recruiting keeps the program steady while Grantham gets a chance to resurrect the defense. His affect on Richt will be pivotal not only on defense, but in rejuvenating the staff and program. A nice 2010 will reverse all negative trends. Plus, maybe some of the recruits we lost will end up in jail anyway!
Gen Neyland
February 3rd, 2010
10:40 am
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger : And that translates into an automatic nationally ranked Top 10 defensive unit..? I’ll believe it when I see it, not when you say it.
The trouble UGA is having recruiting may be perceived and not a true reality in the short term. Sure, the low ranking may be telling, especially in the years ahead, but why..? Who can explain why 18 year olds see a better tomorrow elsewhere other than UGA. It’s simple, really.
Dawg Fud
February 3rd, 2010
10:40 am
you’re correct, J.J.M.
i give up. take our recruits, we’re dismantling the program.
moron
GaGator
February 3rd, 2010
10:41 am
Dawg Fud
GaGator,
“if you are 7th or 8th…does the word “best” really follow?”
Don’t they teach grammar at UGA the “7th or 8th coach” makes no sense,
but I guess it does to you.
Joshhh...
February 3rd, 2010
10:41 am
I love how Bradley is calling Georgia’s recruiting class “lackluster” while ESPN posted this:
The Dawgs lost four-star WR Da’Rick Rogers (Calhoun, Ga./Calhoun) and four-star CB Nickell Robey late, but still have a solid class with 17 commits, including six players from the ESPNU 150. RB Ken Malcome (Decatur, Ga./Southwest Dekalb) is a top-10 RB and has the tools to become a very good every-down back. Georgia also landed a couple top O-linemen in 6-5, 265-pound, four-star OG Kolton Houston (Buford, Ga./Buford) and 6-5, 280-pound, four-star OT Brent Benedict (Jacksonville, Fla./The Bolles School). Defensively, Georgia landed one of the top safeties in this year’s class, four-star Alec Ogletree (Newnan, Ga./Newnan). The 6-3, 214-pounder looks and hits like an outside linebacker but has the speed of a safety. Plus, he’s a special teams demon. Georgia also landed top-five OLB T.J. Stripling (Decatur/Southwest Dekalb), who — at 6-5, 202 pounds — likely will develop into a defensive end for the Dawgs.
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
February 3rd, 2010
10:42 am
If Da’rick wants to be a Vol after being a longtime UGA commit, so be it. I just hope all after this drama that next year, one of our DB’s will implant a giant G in his chest. Go Dawgs!!
Blind Homers Club
February 3rd, 2010
10:42 am
When does the pity party start at the Butts Mehre building today ???? When will CMR make his yearly speech on how UGA met its needs despite the huge bail outs?
sogadog
February 3rd, 2010
10:42 am
MARK: check your facts, doesnt scout.com have Alec Ogletree as a five star recruit? (Like it matters.)
RedAndBlack
February 3rd, 2010
10:43 am
Hey Mark, have you become and expert in recruiting? UGA has been in the top ten every year yet in 2009, UGA finished the season unranked and an 8-5 record. Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice to have the best talent come to UGA but that’s half the battle in becoming a consistent top ten team year after year. Coaching and having coachable kids have a lot to do with a successful program. Look at what Saban did for Alabama with a lot less talent than Florida. Also, you can’t forget about the 2,3,4 star recruits that made significant contributions to the football program at UGA and have moved to the NFL.
Can you explain in detail how significant it is when UGA does not land one 5-star recruit and when Auburn is umpteenth spots ahead of UGA? There are a handful of schools out there that consistently do not land a top 25 recruting class yet they finish in the top 25 rankings at the end of the season.
Please explain since you seem to be an expert
Dorsey Hill
February 3rd, 2010
10:43 am
Recruiting kids is about four things:
1) immediate playing time (Rogers to UT)
2) buzz around the program that suggests that success is near (Auburn, FSU)
3) program playing at current championship level (UF, Texas, Bama)
4) loyalty to a particular program that you grew up dreaming about playing for
Being a young team with a lot of players coming back with no real open starting spots and a dissapointing 2009 this lull is not all that unexpected. They just need to get back to double digit wins in 2010 and this will all be forgotten. As I have said here and will say again, UGA wins the East in 2010 and Bark Madly will have to stick his finger in the air and readjust the sails.
Finally, the reality is that some of those prior classes did not pan out. There is nothing that says that this class won’t overachieve where some others have underachieved.
Mark Bradley
February 3rd, 2010
10:43 am
Herschel Walker was the No. 1 prospect in the nation.
LarryDawg1
February 3rd, 2010
10:43 am
You all are hyper-sensative because Florida is in your division, and they are one of the best programs in the country. Georgia is not a bad team if the other teams in our Conference do well. On the contrary, that attracts players to your school as well. Isn’t it interesting that we are around the top, even the top twenty, with less the 20 commits. Our 18 are stout, and those other 2 and 3 star athletes on other school’s lists are just filers. Our 18 will play, and they will play well.
Georgia Not Having A Great Year | MrSEC.com
February 3rd, 2010
10:43 am
[...] The loss of the state’s #1 player — receiver Da’Rick Rogers — to Tennessee stung. Rogers had been ticketed to Athens for months before changing his mind and following high school teammate Nash Nance (QB) to Knoxville.Rogers’ flip-flop made the signing of in-state prospect Mike Thornton (DT) even bigger, but as Mark Bradley of The AJC writes, the Dawgs are still likely to have one of their worst signing classes this decade. [...]
cantondawg
February 3rd, 2010
10:44 am
I really don’t get excited on NSD anymore. I remember getting excited about Reshard Dudley, Marquis Elmore(5 star), Marcus Jackson (4 star), Brandon Miller (5 star top player in GA), Richard Cook ( 4 star), Dana Grayden ( 4 star), Eric Mclendon (5 star), Josh Johnson (5 star), Seth Watts (4 star), Naderris Ward ( 4 star), Chris Little (4 star), Brandon Lang (4 stars) and Toby Jackson (4 stars)
Unfortunately most of these great players never played a down at UGA. Brandon Miller never lived up to the hype and Mudcat Elmore was a big disappointmen.
I also remember getting excited about signing the no.1 running back in the nation a few years ago Stafon Johnson and then seemingly have to settle for a running back from NJ Knowshon Moreno.
Point is we have no idea how these players will turn out until they hit the field. Remember the great Wr from a few years ago Kenny Carr that almost picked us and instead pick FSU. Remember John Harris who signed with us but didn’t make the grades.
NSD is all show. I want to reserve my judgement on this class until crunch time
Bruce Mac
February 3rd, 2010
10:44 am
Mark, it obviously matters if you get good recruits. The point is that the reason for the slip from 8 to 12 or whatever is obvious and you don’t recognize it but choose to indicate the CMR has lost his touch in year ten. You know this is bogus but pursue it anyway. There is not one UGA fan that wants Willie back so we could make the top ten in recruiting which is what would have happened. We will take to 12 and Coach Grantham 100% of the time and you know it.
Dawg Tired
February 3rd, 2010
10:44 am
Mark – Am I wrong in thinking the #17 ranking for this class was before Thornton was signed? Would that not cause the ranking to be somewhat better?
Having said that, I’m looking for the TEAM to get ranked as high as this recruiting class is ultimately ranked. This will happen if the players are coached up.
Tim Jennings is playing in the Super Bowl. His “star rating” = 2. This year we lost to a Kentucky team without any recruiting classes ranked in the top 10. Thomas Davis may be one of the best players ever at UGA. His star ranking? I’m not sure he had one.
An interesting question? Does anyone know how highly regarded Herschel Walker was? He is the greatest dawg of all time, imho.
Finally, how many teams would like to have a top 15 recruiting class(I’m reasonably sure we’ll get that high in the finally rankings)? Nevertheless, I am convinced of two things: (1) we are better off without these prima donnas whose word is meaningless; and (2) regardless of who we sign, the key to success is coaching.
Gatorzone
February 3rd, 2010
10:45 am
Roll Tider, I wouldn’t be so sure that UF will lose 2-3 games. Georgia, you guys will be fine. Richt is a good coach and had limited numbers which he used wisely on Defense. The offense is there, and with your coaching the D will bring you guys back.
sogadog
February 3rd, 2010
10:45 am
You enjoy comparing Tech to UGA, why dont you compare recruiting classes this year? Tech’s is awful and Tech won the ACC championship. Why do you make a big deal and criticize a good class for UGA and say nothing about Tech’s crappy class?
LarryDawg1
February 3rd, 2010
10:47 am
You all need to look at the recruiting show that is on live! Even with the loss of DaRick Rogers, UGA is still #9, and Tenn. still did not crack the top 10! Thank You
eastofA1A
February 3rd, 2010
10:48 am
Eight years in a row with a top 10 recruiting class. Wow. That is some serious underachieving.
Dawg Tired
February 3rd, 2010
10:48 am
Mark – I think you should respond to Bruce Mac’s post at 10:44. He seems to make a very good point. Surely you are smart enough to know that if the coaching staff had not been shaken up we would have ahd a Top 10 recruiting class. Or are you?
Mike
February 3rd, 2010
10:49 am
One thing to remember about recruiting rankings, the amount of recruits you have in your class can raise your position as much as the quality. Auburn ranks in the top 5 because they have 30 recruits in their class. The average star rating is only slightly ahead of UGA (3.53 comparted to UGAs 3.5). This appears to be Mark Richts smallest class with under 20 recruits (18) right now, otherwise this would likely be a top ten class as well. Look at USC. They arent top 5 either because they only signed 16 recruits so far. Yet, they have over a 4.0 star rating because 4 are 5 star recruits and nearly all the rest are 4 star.
cantondawg
February 3rd, 2010
10:50 am
On the flip side, I remember UGA being the only team to offer Terry Hoage (one of UGA’s greatest defenders. Tim Jennings was a great last minute pickup and started a couple of years for us. Richard Seymour was the last guy that signed in his class and turned out to be a Great DT. Kelin Johnson was a 2 star player while Pollack was a 3 star FB. David Greene didn’t excite anybody with his signing. Drew Butler was a 2 star kicker (should be a 6 star punter.
Gregg T
February 3rd, 2010
10:50 am
MB, Recruiting rankings only matter to career bloggers and others who think their opinion is gospel. It’s all meaningless. Let me ask you something. How many of these kids could even get into a major university if they weren’t athletes? That’s what we need to be concerned about.
get real
February 3rd, 2010
10:51 am
these are 17-18 year olds. I work with them. they can’t commit to weekend plans. get off their backs. it you want to see what top recruiting classes get you, just compare this year’s top 5 with what their recruiting ranking were 3 years ago. remember, all potential means is you aint s@@t yet
GaGator
February 3rd, 2010
10:51 am
Georgia signs Thornton and moves from 17th to 15th—–no top ten this year.
This could be bad for the UGA future, Richt could do no better than 8-5 this year
with 8 top ten classes in a row. When are you people going to realize Richt best days are behind him?
Mark's Bradley
February 3rd, 2010
10:51 am
Mark Bradley
February 3rd, 2010
10:43 am
“Herschel Walker was the No. 1 prospect in the nation.”
And what was David Pollack (UGA’s other 3 time All American)?