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.
600 comments Add your comment
GaGator
February 3rd, 2010
11:17 am
Jax Dawg
February 3rd, 2010
11:03 am
Miles needed a flag to beat Georgia this year. Dooley, Mullins haven’t beat Richt. And Coach C and Petrino lost to Richt this year. Will that do?
He hasn’t beaten Dooley or Mullins, one of them will beat Richt this year, Petrino and Coach C have only been at their schools 2 years, playing the mighty 9 year veteran Richt.
Let’s just see who is coaching in2-3 years.
mark bradley is the reason why willie martinez robs ga tech students
February 3rd, 2010
11:18 am
may have been said already(def on other blogs) but Mark is obviously biased. he may have a compliment now and then but mostly negative. These people havent even played a down in the SEC. Ga Tech sucks every year(not just in recruiting) and the won the ACC last year, and one of their week classes produced 3 1st round prospects in this years draft. Mark is just a hater. Time to give Richt some credit! GO DAWGS
Jax Dawg
February 3rd, 2010
11:18 am
So your statement is based on……………
Bruce Mac
February 3rd, 2010
11:18 am
Yellow Fuzz, Tech had top twenty classes under Gailey. CPJ is a great coach but he still needs talent. He can win with sub standard talent but to be top ten he needs more talent than he is getting.
dawgfacedboy
February 3rd, 2010
11:19 am
No gagator- the point was not to simply name coaches that you’ve heard of. I believe you were asked to have something to back up you candidates. Saban and Meyer I would agree with, they coach in the same league and have 2 titles each since Richt has been at UGA. Miles took a 2 loss LSU team to the NC 1 year after a 2 loss UGA team had to play in the Sugar Bowl. Both were SEC champs. In RIchts 2nd year they were a 1 loss SEC champ and again played in the Sugar Bowl. In the last 5 years a 1 loss SEC champ plays for the NC.
Playing for the NC has just as much with you do as much as what everybody else does. Timing is important.
Why is it that Chyzik (sp?), Mullens, Petrino and Nutt are better coaches again????
David
February 3rd, 2010
11:19 am
Bruce, be silent with your logic…making you look dumb.
Morgan Burnett
February 3rd, 2010
11:20 am
I just re-committed in hopes of catching an UNTOUCHED Caleb King on another 75-yard TD run.
Saint Augustine
February 3rd, 2010
11:21 am
OMG, this is the latest rankings from Scout.com as of 11:20 EST. Hahahahahahahahhahhahhaahahahhahahahaahahahahhaahhahahahahahaha
7th in SEC? Can anyone say “second tier”?
Hahahahahahahahahahahhahahahhhaha
1. Florida
2. Texas
3. Oklahoma
4. Alabama
5. Auburn
6. LSU
7. Penn State
8. Washington
9. USC
10. Michigan
11. Florida State
12. UCLA
13. Tennessee
14. Oklahoma State
15. Mississippi
16. Pittsburgh
17. Texas A&M
18. Ohio State
19. Miami (Fl)
20. Georgia
Motel 6 - Shreveport
February 3rd, 2010
11:22 am
UGA fans……its pretty obvious you will be heading back to Shreveport this year so we advise you to book early. Our best rooms, closest to the outhouse, will book quickly. We now allow up to 12 drunk UGA rednecks per room so the cost per person will not be so bad. Here is our contact info and remember a free breakfast of PBR and Pop-Tarts will be included.
Motel 6 Shreveport #2005
7296 Greenwood Road
I-20 at Industrial Loop, Exit #8
Shreveport, LA, 71119
Phone: (318) 938-5342 | Fax: (318) 938-5348
Sam Robards, Dawg Fan
February 3rd, 2010
11:22 am
Ga Gator said:
“These coaches are better than Richt: Meyer, Saban, Miles, Dooley(reruiting anyway), Auburns coach “C”, Mullins (Miss State) Petrineo, and Hustson Nutt. Will that DO?”
Meyer and Saban I can give you (not saying I’d want either in Athens, mind you, but they’re damn good coaches, even if they’re space cases and egomaniacs), but the rest? Miles only got a MNC because they didn’t have to play the UGA team that was CLEARLY playing the best football in the nation that year. And have you seen his inability to manage a clock? Poor clock management skills do not a good coach make. Les Miles was a flash in the pan and will be fired after this year.
Dooley hasn’t even coached an SEC game yet, so he’s outta the running. Chizik’s Auburn team LOST to UGA last year and barely beat NORTHWESTERN in their bowl game. Dan Mullin has yet to do anything of consequence on his own. Petrino could have a good year this year, but he’ll have to do it despite a loss to UGA in Athens. And Houston Nutt … really? Last I heard, Houston Nutt hadn’t even beaten Richt. EVER.
Hell, after Miles on your list, none of those guys even has an SEC Title (titles gained while an assistant don’t count: otherwise Richt would have 3 or 4 ACC titles and a National Championship to his credit).
So you have two coaches that are “better” than Richt. What else ya got?
GaGator
February 3rd, 2010
11:22 am
Just in from ESPN
http://insider.espn.go.com/ncf/recruiting/classrankings?&action=upsell&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fncf%2frecruiting%2fclassrankings
National signing day is underway and already there are some shakeups in the top 25. The biggest change is the fall of Georgia from No. 4 to No. 9. The Dawgs lost a Calvin Johnson-type receiver in four-star WR Da’Rick Rogers as well one of their top corners and overall athletes in four-star Nickell Robey.
Jax Dawg
February 3rd, 2010
11:23 am
How many Top 10 Classes did Ron Zook have at Florida?
Is Georgia really ranked 20th by Scout?
February 3rd, 2010
11:24 am
when’s the last time that happened? 1990’s?
AltamahaDawg
February 3rd, 2010
11:24 am
The correlation between winning game and recruiting stars, is about as reliable as selling tires and blog hits. And only a fool would put much money down on either.
Mel Kiper, Jr.
February 3rd, 2010
11:25 am
“As well one of their top corners and overall athletes in four-star Nickell Robey”
Yeah, always sux to lose those 5′ 7″ cornerbacks the size of Spud Webb or Mugsy Bogues.
OkieDawg
February 3rd, 2010
11:26 am
Maybe, the UGA fans are responsible for the ranking of this recruiting class. During several home games, with recruits in the stands, the BOO Birds were out in full force. Notably, Kentucky and early in the Auburn game the BOO Birds were more evident than UGA Fans. The UGA BOO Birds will say they did not boo the players, they were booing the coaches. You think the recruits knew that? Even if they did, do you think they wanted to play for Fans that boo their coaches?
So don’t balme CMR without sharing in some of the problem. Maybe next year, the Boo Birds will stay away and not influence the recruits.
GT Mike
February 3rd, 2010
11:26 am
No way Georgia fell to 20th. really? What’s the link?
Jax Dawg
February 3rd, 2010
11:27 am
Nickell Robey is basically Prince Miller that can catch rabbits.
GaGator
February 3rd, 2010
11:27 am
dawgfacedboy
Just sit back and watch, by the time you get to Jacksonville Richt will be 2-2 or 1-3 in the SEC.
Saint Augustine
February 3rd, 2010
11:27 am
rockc82
February 3rd, 2010
11:28 am
screw you mark bradley and everyone who is doggin out georgia. lets wait and see how the recruits we have pan out. this is all based on what they did in high school
Yeah, Let’s!
rockc82
February 3rd, 2010
11:28 am
screw you mark bradley and everyone who is doggin out georgia. lets wait and see how the recruits we have pan out. this is all based on what they did in high school
Dear Mark
February 3rd, 2010
11:29 am
You guys are lame. UGA is only signing 18 players while everyone else ranked above has more signees except USC. The number of signees does affect your ranking. UGA has room for up to 25 players this year. The 2011 class looks better than this year’s class. UGA will be able to sign 7 additional players to fill spots in need support with better players next year. Mark my word, UGA will have at least 26 signees next year and be at the top of the class yet again. Later haters
Biased reporting
February 3rd, 2010
11:29 am
This paper is slanted heavily against UGA. When articles are posted simultaneously that read “forget the experts Tech will be just fine”, and then, “thorton signing eases Georgia’s pain but Dawgs still drop in rankings. Why is that stars beside a players name don’t matter when they are talking Tech on here but when it comes to UGA the sky is falling and Richt is losing his edge. blah blah blah. A person would have to be blind to not realize there is an anti-UGA slant to this paper.
Hummon
February 3rd, 2010
11:30 am
The different takes in the Schultz and Bradley columns – par for the course. UGa down, Tech up – that’s our story and we’re sticking to it.
Bob
February 3rd, 2010
11:30 am
Is Georgia really ranked 20th?
Saint Augustine
February 3rd, 2010
11:30 am
Biased reporting
February 3rd, 2010
11:29 am
This paper is slanted heavily against UGA. When articles are posted simultaneously that read “forget the experts Tech will be just fine”, and then, “thorton signing eases Georgia’s pain but Dawgs still drop in rankings. Why is that stars beside a players name don’t matter when they are talking Tech on here but when it comes to UGA the sky is falling and Richt is losing his edge. blah blah blah. A person would have to be blind to not realize there is an anti-UGA slant to this paper.
Dude, over 80% of the people in the south are anti-UGA. Wake up
Sad Stuff Mark
February 3rd, 2010
11:30 am
You pitiful fool……..Please leave this Great State…..We don’t like you!!!
For a Hometown Paper, you just can’t quick writing snide remarks about UGA.
Be Gone Fool…….YOU SUCK MY MAN !!!!!!!!!
GaGator
February 3rd, 2010
11:31 am
Here’s the link, if you really want to see UGA 20th.
http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=9&c=14&yr=2010
Mid South
February 3rd, 2010
11:32 am
OMG. Top 20 recruiting class for Georgia = 5 win season in the next 2 years. Can anyone say Titanic?
Mel Kiper, Jr.
February 3rd, 2010
11:33 am
Is GT really ranked 42nd?
BOB
February 3rd, 2010
11:33 am
ROFLMAO, Georgia REALLY IS ranked 20th. Good grief!
Gator Mike
February 3rd, 2010
11:33 am
I believe we all put too much into the recruiting of the power of high school kids (me included). What counts is how the recruits develop under their coaches and what they do on the field for their respective schools. Yes, on paper the UF class looks good, but that means absolutely nothing if they get kicked off the team or do not proces in 2 years. If the coaches fill their needs with quality kids who will help advance the program, the star ranking means nothing. That goes for all programs.
Good luck to all teams in the SEC next season. It will be interesting.
casey
February 3rd, 2010
11:34 am
I’d just like to point out that GT fans being excited with a recruiting class ranked in the 40’s and laughing at a UGA recruiting class ranked in the top 20 is just admitting that GT’s program is inferior to UGA’s. I mean GT just won the ACC title, but they still can’t break the top 40 in recruiting? UGA just finished 8-5 and they still have a top 20 class? The writing’s on the wall guys.
gdawginkalamazoo
February 3rd, 2010
11:36 am
Well, I hope that Da’Rick works out better for UT than the last recruit they had with an apostrophe in his name.
Another fine column by Ma’rk Bradley bashing the dawgs recruiting. And all those highly ranked classes that we had the past three years, those kids are gone now? So what about 20th this year? Richt had problems, cleaned house and got a new D coordinator. Looking at what we got so far looks like needs are being met.
billytdoogan
February 3rd, 2010
11:36 am
If you people recall – Knowshon Moreno was a 3-star recruit.
yellow Fuzz
February 3rd, 2010
11:36 am
casey
February 3rd, 2010
11:34 am
I’d just like to point out that GT fans being excited with a recruiting class ranked in the 40’s and laughing at a UGA recruiting class ranked in the top 20 is just admitting that GT’s program is inferior to UGA’s. I mean GT just won the ACC title, but they still can’t break the top 40 in recruiting? UGA just finished 8-5 and they still have a top 20 class? The writing’s on the wall guys.
BUT WE SURE AS HECK CAN TAKE A TOP 40 RECRIUTING CLASS AND TURN IT INTO A 13TH FINAL RANKING NATIONALLY.
Dain
February 3rd, 2010
11:36 am
Still a better recruiting class than tech!!
Saint Augustine
February 3rd, 2010
11:36 am
(((((((((( 20th class )))))))))) Hahahahahahahaha
Jax Dawg
February 3rd, 2010
11:37 am
Do you have the palm of a hand or a woman’s face on your sign outside your place of business as a physic Lady Ga Ga-tor?
Saint Augustine
February 3rd, 2010
11:38 am
((((( 20th = Shreveport repeat ))))) hahahahahahahaha
billytdoogan
February 3rd, 2010
11:38 am
Thomas brown was also a 3-star recruit. danny ware was a 5-star recruit. that worked out.
todd grantham
February 3rd, 2010
11:38 am
Mark, be not discouraged. I can make mediocre talent into fine players with my coaching abilities.
Hummon
February 3rd, 2010
11:39 am
Fellow Dawg fans, it won’t do to assert that rankings aren’t a big deal and then make fun of GT’s ranking. Please.
The rankings DO matter, of course – more than Schultz thinks, less than Bradley thinks.
what has Georgia done since 1980..paul johnson
February 3rd, 2010
11:39 am
maybe so ..we may be headed back to shreveport you are right..won’t find out till after the last game of the year (always a guaranteed win) well 76 percent of the time since i was born 45 years ago..90 percent of the time since the turn of the century) but beating tech isn’t everything ya know..lmfao……..30 to 24 buggoes…oh and if that offends you…”you punch a georgia fan in the face…with your baton”" coach paul johnson’s quote after the debacle at Grant Stadium last fall!
Saint Augustine
February 3rd, 2010
11:39 am
((((( 7th in SEC ))))) Hahahahahahahahaha
Dawg Tired
February 3rd, 2010
11:40 am
According to Rivals (which may not mean anything) the average star rating for the Dawgs in this recruiting class is in the Top 8 in the nation. Our overall ranking is lower because we only have 18 recruits. They alos inidcate we have 8 of the ESPN Top 150. Very impressive for a class ofonly 18 total.
However, the bottom line is we must get better at coaching these guys up. The talent level is very high. We should be doing better on the field. Hopefully the changes in the coaching staff will pay off. Only time will tell.
Gatorzone
February 3rd, 2010
11:40 am
GatorMike, you are right on. I remember a few premier recruits that UF had that were arrested and kicked off of the team. What matters is their integrity, work ethic and coachability. UGA will always be tough, and for our sake I would love to see them run Richt off. He is the best coach they have had since Dooley, maybe better. The conference and college football in general is MUCH tougher to coach in now than it was in the 80’s.
what has Georgia done since 1980..paul johnson
February 3rd, 2010
11:40 am
no we beat TECH 37 -24 last year i was wrong!!!!! just looked it up
AIN'T Simon!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 3rd, 2010
11:41 am
Rankings???? HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The good thing is the games will be decided on the field, not some computer……………let’s revisit how things turn out a year from now!!!!!! GO DAWGS!!! 7 more months!!!!!! and>>>>>>>>>>>>> (((((((((30-24))))))))))) HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Flo-Ri-Duh!
February 3rd, 2010
11:41 am
Dawgs will miss Da’Rick if he is as good as advertised – primarily because he is going to play for the ENEMY – flea ridden Tick Hounds. They may miss Robey – though he is a runt on today’s market (5″7″ 155 lbs.) They won’t miss the guys that went to Louisville and now have extra scholarships to offer to someone that may actually play in the future. The way I see it they got most of the needs for their defense and will have most of their offense coming back next season. This was a great class for safeties – which was one of their greatest needs and it was a great class for DE’s and DT’s, another need. They missed on Jeff Luck – probably the biggest unmet need but they have good LB’s returning and their are set at CB though they could use some more depth there. The OL will be good and the RB’s will be above average and WR and TE are also excellent. What I am saying is that in ‘10 they will be a SEC east winner if (a big if) the QB cuts down on last years turnovers and is steady and IF they convert smoothly to the new defensive scheme. UGA is ranked 15th, or whatever, not because a lack of quality, but because of the numbers – all ranked above them have at least 25 commits but UGA only has 19. That said the day is not over yet and they have scholarships to offer. To bad they weren’t willing to submit to the Nance’s threat of turning Da’Rick if their son was not given at scholarship at UGA. I think Da’Rick, like Berry before him, will regret going to a team in turmoil and lacking in talent. Berry played on a team that had a LOSING record during the 3 years he was there and Da’Rick better get ready for the same.