UGA’s impact freshman of 2010? Best bet is an Ogletree
Alec Ogletree passes a poster of himself and his twin brother. (AJC photo by Jason Getz)
Athens — I tried this last February and was — stop if you’ve heard this before — wrong as all get-out. I thought Georgia’s biggest impact freshman of 2009 would be Branden Smith, who made a couple of plays but wasn’t half as significant as Washaun Ealey or Orson Charles. I thought Marlon Brown would be starting by the end of September; he didn’t start at all. I thought Aaron Murray wouldn’t be redshirted; he was.
In sum, I guessed wrong on pretty much everything involving a true freshman last season. (Though I was correct in suggesting Abry Jones and Montez Robinson wouldn’t be redshirted.) This year I tried to cheat: I solicited Mark Richt’s help. And he, being smart, wouldn’t bite.
“If you say this guy’s going to make an impact,” he said Wednesday, “the other guys read it and say, ‘What about me?’ ”
And then Richt went into those cautionary tales that make recruiting so much fun. “Tra Battle was a walk-on, and he starts in our nickel package as a freshman. We offered Tim Jennings a scholarship the night before Signing Day — he was going to South Carolina State — because we’d seen him in an all-star game and he was the best player on the field.”
Postscript: Jennings will play in the Super Bowl on Sunday. He’s a cornerback for Indianapolis. He was a 2-star recruit exiting high school, according to Rivals.com, and he’s in his fourth season as a professional now.
Loading ...In sum, you never know. But we, being all too human, love to guess. And the guess here is that no 2010 offensive signee will leave much of a mark this fall. Why? Because Georgia returns starters at every offensive position save quarterback.
Defense, however, is another matter. The Bulldogs have lost six starters and are thinnest up front. That could pave the way for Mike Thornton, the tackle from Stephenson. Todd Grantham, the new defensive coordinator, sees Thornton fitting into his 3-4 as the 1-gap tackle, and that’s a big thing. Because Georgia hasn’t been recruiting 1-gap tackles in previous years. Garrison Smith, the tackle from Douglass, would be another possibility.
T.J. Stripling, the defensive end from Southwest DeKalb, figures to see time at that position or, since Georgia will now field one extra linebacker, at that position. But Alec Ogletree, the safety from Newnan and the highest-rated Bulldog signee, stands to have the best combination of ability and opportunity. (There’s a chance Ogletree will become a linebacker before he’s done, but Georgia is listing him as a DB.)
Were I guessing today — and I guess I am — I’d go with Alec Ogletree as Impact Freshman of 2010. (Not to be confused with Alexander “Zander” Ogletree, his twin brother who’s likewise a Georgia signee and who UGA lists as a linebacker.) But I invite your input and, in the poll above, your vote.
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166 comments Add your comment
Pup Fan
February 4th, 2010
10:58 am
Awesome! I must have missed that watching Da’News! Thanks Mark.
todd grantham
February 4th, 2010
10:59 am
Mark, I would have to say that I am the man that will have the most impact in Athens this fall.
Best, Todd
Mark Bradley
February 4th, 2010
11:00 am
Thanks for the input, Coach Grantham.
willie martinez
February 4th, 2010
11:03 am
And I would have to state that my absence from Athens this fall will be the greatest impact on the team.
GHOST OF ERK RUSSELL
February 4th, 2010
11:07 am
I would have given up 5 recruits to get rid of three def coaches we let go.We are in good shape-you are gonna take a hit when alot of turnover happens.T Granthem is worth 10 recruits.WR depth AJ- Durham-Wooten-Troupe-M Brown-T King-O Charles even plays in the slot alot of the times.If nobody gets seriously injured we are good.
Tony
February 4th, 2010
11:07 am
The Dawgs are in trouble. This class is not very good but neither is our team. CMR is in over his head. He has made some very poor chioces and we are now suffering from them all. If we win the national championship with Stafford in Moreneo we are not in this situation. If CMR fires CWM two years or even one year sooner, we would not be in this situation. If we beat UT last year we would Rogers today. CMR is not the future on Bulldog football. I have never felt so humiliated being a Dawg fan and alumnus. Thank God there’s more to my life today than UGA football.
willie martinez
February 4th, 2010
11:08 am
GOER, its spelled G-r-a-n-t-h-a-m
Asheville Dawg
February 4th, 2010
11:08 am
hey paul paul, write your term paper elsewhere
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
February 4th, 2010
11:10 am
UGA will be fine guys- it’s up to the coaches now to coach them up.
DirtyDawg
February 4th, 2010
11:13 am
Hey 1444, I don’t know who your kid is that decided Georgia fans were booing their 18-year-olds, but my guess is that he got it confused – assuming it happened at all – with Georgia fans booing their coaches for the play calling or 40-year-old officials that cost us the game. And believe me, Georgia fans are no more inclined to boo than Auburn fans – been there, heard that.
As for Mr. Bradley, so today we’re in our ‘make nice mode’. I mean to read your dumpin’ on us article yesterday, I’da thought you’d pose the question of ‘who’ll make the biggest impact’…and answer it with ‘with a sorry class like this…NOBODY…ha, ha, ha’
MARK BRADLEY IS A UGAY HICK
February 4th, 2010
11:29 am
MARK RICHT IS STANDING ON THIN ICE AND STANDING UNDER HIM IS KIRBY SMART!
CTG
February 4th, 2010
11:30 am
Mark,
I unfortunately have to retract my previous statement, I just receieved all new flooring in my home from Nance’s Flooring in Calhoun, GA and now have jilted the dogs to sign with Da’Rick at UT.
Condolences,
Todd Grantham
gatorhater
February 4th, 2010
11:44 am
CMR got his own state straight poached by UT, UF, and FSU. Leg humpers fired the wrong coach, that fake pro-style slow developing offense has gone stale and I dont even need to start with the D problems. As they’ve been for 30 years, UGA will remain a pompous fanbase who believe they’re an MNC contender while they continue to be a second-tier SEC school.
hahaha, troof hurts puppies.
Bud
February 4th, 2010
11:45 am
I’m not sure I’d want anyboby stupid enough to call himslf da rick.
AltamahaDawg
February 4th, 2010
11:51 am
Benedict might not be an Impact guy, but I’m betting he cracks the 2 deep chart. OL had been a LOT bigger issue, and just as responsible for our recent woes as any part of the team, IMO. And depth has been a part of that.
Just one sidenote, trying to figure out this scoring. How is it that the AU commit Coleman get 5 stars, while not being in the top 5 of any category that they rate OL by?
For what its worth, when Benedict first commited he was considered by some to be the top OL prospect in the country, but got hurt early in his senior year. Look how much richer all of our lives would have been to have got that 1 extra star rating.
MARK BRADLEY IS A UGAY HICK
February 4th, 2010
11:53 am
IT BURNS UGAY FANS AND I LOVE IT!
UglyOldDog
February 4th, 2010
11:53 am
WHIIZZZZ………sorry about that gatorhater
REALIST
February 4th, 2010
12:16 pm
If I were a GT fan I’d be more than a little concerned that under Johnson you will be almost totally devoid of bonafide Div 1 athletes before much longer. Think Annapolis South. Have you seen the incoming class on the field? I’ve seen several…ouch. Even the officials are finally zero-ing in on the chop blocks and incessant illegal motion by interior OL on every play. Please tell me Iowa wasn’t that slow.
JAMES STEWART
February 4th, 2010
12:25 pm
Da Rick Rogers knew he was going to lose his money tree if he went to Georgia. he will be the best paid college freshman at tenn.
Moonlight Graham
February 4th, 2010
12:35 pm
The best thing for myself about this upcoming season is that Coach Grantham will be playing the best players, on the D. So in the future recruits will know if they come in and earn a starting spot they will play right away.
The 2011 class will be outstanding with all of the available scholarships and the high quality of Georgia Highschool seniors, next year!!!
SOUTHGADAWG88
February 4th, 2010
12:36 pm
When you add the redshirts to the mix we should see 7-8 impact freshman hit the field this year plus Hamilton who is a juco so I rank them by impact like this.
1.Hamilton-should be starter after spring.
2.Kwame Geathers-Kwame will be a star at UGA before he’s done.EVERYONE says he is the best of the Geathers clan and with the amount of athletes that family has produced that’s a big statement.
3.Thorton-Geno Atkins clone..should be playing from game 1.Explosive get off..3-4 end terror.If he get’s bigger he could play NT.
4.Olgletree-Highly regarded safety/LB prospect.. lots of talent but I think Rambo/Hamilton will be starting safeties yet Tree will get a ton of PT.
5.TJ Stripling-If you ever see this kid’s film he looks like Quinton Moses a little bigger and a lot faster get off.He will play this year,
6.Garrison Smith-Undersized DT at 250 but excellent 3-4 end prospect.Great motor
7.Demetre Baker-My player to watch.You tube this kid…the most explosive athlete in this class bar none.His RB tape is incredible looks better than Holcome to me.A beast at LB on film too.This guy is going to surprise a lot of folks.
8.Jordon Love-RS last year..big CB 6-200 son of former NFL WR.Hurt foot in HS.Should be ready to go in spring.
9.Burrows-Like Baker this is my other kid to watch..6-5 240 RB in HS..Brandon Jacobs type of back.moves beautifully for a person his size. The upside of this kid is huge but there is some injury concerns with him.If he stays healthy at UGA he could end up being the best of the bunch.
I love the size and athleticism that we will be putting on the field on defense this year.Coupled with the new scheme our D will look totally different…we go from small and fast to big and physical seemingly overnight.I look forward to this season.About damn time the best players we signed were Defensive kids.As for Rogers does anybody know if he will qualify this year?If he doesn’t look for him to sign with UGA next year.
greg
February 4th, 2010
12:42 pm
next years talent pool in the state will be amazing, that is why Coach Richt and staff did not stress about filling every scholy this year, also I have watched the Ogletree kids play the last 4 years and they are both high character men on and off the field and are excited about being DAWGS.Before the season is over, Tree will block a punt or field goal to win us a game.
Moonlight Graham
February 4th, 2010
12:46 pm
Mark any word on Travis Jones as the last hire for a Defensive coach, after the Super Bowl?
NCDawg
February 4th, 2010
12:48 pm
So, if Murray and Mettenberger were red shirted, why are they showing up on the georgiadogs.com website roster as sophs?
Kuntufecky
February 4th, 2010
12:50 pm
Wildcats got your number in 2010….it’s gonna be a REPEAT of 2009!!!
YOU Duds are OWNED, Kentucky Style
UglyOldDog
February 4th, 2010
12:56 pm
Kuntufecky are you implying Deliverance style “Kentucky Style”
CRACKER JACKET
February 4th, 2010
1:00 pm
DaRick will be Da Dud! What was that SAT score again???????????????
AndyC
February 4th, 2010
1:02 pm
The Junkyard Blawg has some interesting stuff today that shows that this recruiting class isn’t as bad as some are saying. I think it’s also worth noting that this was the smallest class in all of the SEC so if you are going to have a bad year, this would be the one to have it where you do have most of the starters returning. One mediocre year will not hurt the Dawgs in the long term, two or three in a row…then you have problems.
Plain Truth
February 4th, 2010
1:02 pm
gatorhater….Dr. Phil going to be on the gator staff this year?
Ginger
February 4th, 2010
1:06 pm
My guess for impact freshman is Mike Thornton or Garrison Smith…New 3-4 and Nose tackle player will be huge..Olgetree had a few problems back pedaling in passing coverages in the Under Armour game—so remains to be seen if he will get these corrected at safety or if he becomes a linebacker. I am also for impact freshman– high on Zander (Alec’s brother)…He is Rennie Curren type player and He just had a great Sr year at Newnan…Zander was such a play maker for that defense…I like folks who make plays and those who just find a way to get the job done & that is what Zander is.
Aiken for Clay
February 4th, 2010
1:12 pm
Did Dawg fans get Chris Hansoned yesterday? This guy thinks so…good stuff.
http://www.atlantasportssoup.com/home/
WTF???
February 4th, 2010
1:14 pm
Stripling will be the impact freshman of the year for the Dawgs… Don’t take this as a knock to Ogletree, he is an AWESOME football player.. But I think he is a bit undersized to play backer in the 3-4 and a bit inexperienced to see a significant amount of playing time at safety. But who knows? He could put on another 10-15 lbs before the fall… I think the Hamilton kid will see a good bit of time on the field and have a big impact… But from what I hear, TJ is the cream of the crop in this class. REGARDLESS of rankings….
Bob Spencer
February 4th, 2010
1:56 pm
what is happening to UGA is the Fulmerization of Mark Richt. At the end of Phil’s tenure Tennessee lost the appeal to the recuits because Phil was not sexy enough. Mark has lost that appeal and it will gradually shop up in the recruiting process over the next few years. When the fans have had enough they will make a change and a good man will be out of a job because he could not recruit or coach up the talent.
Stinger
February 4th, 2010
2:03 pm
Sorry, I just don’t see it with this group. None of them will be impact players. Some of them are lucky to get Divn 1 offers.
DawginLex
February 4th, 2010
2:07 pm
Hamilton will play right away.
Samuel will move to LB and will be starting by the 3rd game.
Thornton will get some reps at DL.
Other than that, I say redshirt them. We have 14 returning starters and a lot of players who have played.
Will
February 4th, 2010
2:13 pm
The best one we got this year was Coach G…followed by Coach L. We are going to have one of the best secondaries in the nation next season.
Paddy
February 4th, 2010
2:21 pm
It is my belief that if we are wanting to see big hits on UT Da’Rick next year, it will be a long wait. Don’t believe he will see the field much for a couple years.
Gatormania
February 4th, 2010
2:21 pm
Benedict is recovering from a serious knee injury and will need a year redshirting/recovering before he even thinks about playing. But you are going to need several Benedicts to block the wave of defensive tackles, ends, and linebackers the Gators will be sending your way the next several years. The front 7 (3 deep with quality at every position) for the Gators is going to be unbelieveable folks.
longtimedawgfan
February 4th, 2010
3:01 pm
Jax Dawg: don’t hold your breath until Bradley writes something positive…no matter how well the dawgs perform….some people never change….Bradley is one of them…a Kentucky Wildcat…first and last….
ATLdawg, ya dig?
February 4th, 2010
3:15 pm
It’s a shame Benedict blew out his knee. He’d be starting on day one. Kholton Houston has a chance as well. He’s tough and mean, which Georgia’s line lacks outside of Ben Jones. Thornton is the obvious choice to make an impact b/c we lost so many defensive lineman. Stripling looks athletic but doesn’t really show up on film. Not sure how much impact he’s going to make until he gains 30 pounds and some fire in his belly. Alec and Jakar are MOBSTERS they lay down so many HITS. Can’t wait to see them strap on the MIGHTY “G”, ya dig????
Mark Bradley's red headed step child
February 4th, 2010
3:20 pm
I am excited to see what Samuel can do at OLB along with the DE/OLB’s we recruited this class. Jamie Newburg said last night that UGA easily recruited the #2 overall Defensive Line class in the country behind the Gators. I think Stripling will be huge year 2 in that Hybrid DE role with Morant beinging the other. Both guys are over 6′5″ and fast. Just need a full year or maybe 2 in college to get caught up in the weight room and cafeteria. Benedict will be starting LT as a Soph.
walrus
February 4th, 2010
3:38 pm
GT51 says “what happened to all the 4* lb recruits?”
Lets see, how many people would you like to have at each position? 2-3
How many linebackers are in the 3-4 defense? 4
So how many linebackers do you need? 8-12
Look at Georgia’s roster and look at all the linebackers who aren’t walk-ons. You can seldom have too many.
Camden Mark
February 4th, 2010
4:57 pm
Benedict will be fine by summer.Local kid down here,people will be pleased with the way that young man moves.For a big guy he runs and moves his feet really well,strong,loves to hit and smart.
5th Coach Quits on Urban Meyer Since December
February 4th, 2010
7:20 pm
George Edawards, the new DC for Florida, quit after working with Urban Meyer for just 4 weeks.
Since December that’s:
Charlie Strong
Vance Bedford
Kenny Carter
Billy Gonzales
George Edwards
Of course, Urban Meyer also quit, but later tried to un-quit, now might quit again.
Urban Liar Strikes Again!!!
February 4th, 2010
7:30 pm
Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Guess what?
Urban Meyer forgot to tell recruits his new defensive coordinator was quitting BEFORE sining day.
Oops.
I’m sure the TIMING is PURE COINCIDENCE–1 day AFTER signing day.
I’m sure Florida officials are “shocked” at the “sudden” news.
1eyedJack
February 4th, 2010
7:31 pm
If Urban should quit again which “high-profile” coach would Mr. Foley try to entice (steal) away? You know he couldn’t hire a Muschamp or other uncertainty…not with all that talent on hand.
jack
February 4th, 2010
7:32 pm
Ogletree and Hamilton = Davis and Blue
FortsonDawg
February 4th, 2010
8:28 pm
Who is this Outlaw kid? Has anyone seen him play? I didn’t see where he was rated by any sights.
MARK BRADLEY IS A UGAY HICK
February 4th, 2010
9:24 pm
MARK RICHT=MARV LEVY, JIM TRESSEL,BOB STOOPS,BOBBY COX AND ANDY REID!
We Ruin This State
February 4th, 2010
11:23 pm
Zander has decided that since Hershel is his hero he will concentrate on wrestling.