A double whammy: Two touted Georgians spurn the Bulldogs
Xzavier Dickson dealt a blow to the Bulldogs by choosing Bama. (AJC photo by Jason Getz)
Say what you will about the unseemly process of football recruiting, but the young men at the heart of it are expert trend-spotters. They know which program is Hot and which is Not Hot. On Wednesday two ballyhooed Georgians used the Under Armour All-America Game as the venue to announce they’d be making runs for the border, and there you have it.
The Georgia Bulldogs = Not Hot.
Xzavier Dickson of Griffin is bound for Alabama. Quan Bray of LaGrange is taking his talents to Auburn. According to ESPN.com, both rank among the nation’s 25 best prospects. We should also mention that ESPN.com has Georgia’s 2011 recruiting class rated No. 8 nationally. We should also mention that Rivals.com has the Bulldogs 23rd, while Scout.com puts them 20th.
Yes, rankings can and will change. (And yes, recruits have been known to reconsider. Ask Da’Rick Rogers, currently enrolled at Georgia … er, Tennessee.) But seeing Georgia ranked outside anyone’s top 10 always constitutes a shock. Rivals rated the Bulldogs’ signing class among the 10 best every year from 2002 to 2009; last year the Bulldogs were 15th according to Rivals, 21st according to Scout, 12th according to ESPN.
Even in lesser seasons on the field, Georgia under Mark Richt has always been able to point to its recruiting. Now, with lesser seasons running together, the program that controlled its state controls it no more. The buzz about this program has been downgraded to a murmur, and the murmur concerns the future of its head coach. Which grows more tenuous by the moment.
Four SEC schools have qualified for the BCS title game since 2005, Georgia not among them. Seven league members have qualified for the SEC championship game since 2005, Georgia not among them. This program of vast resources has been rendered second-rate.
The Bulldogs lost 19 times in Richt’s first 95 games as coach; they’ve lost 15 times over the past 35. Recruits know this better than anyone. Recruits can sense a program on the descent, even if it’s the flagship school in their state. Thus does the cycle of football spin onward: Win and you’re the place to be; stop winning and you’re the place to flee.
This isn’t to say Georgia can’t and won’t land an uncommitted player or two to bolster this class — Jay Rome of Valdosta and Isaiah Crowell of Columbus are still in play — but Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald offers this nugget: The Bulldogs’ last known public commitment was rendered on Aug. 22.
Put another way, not one recruit has been moved to pledge himself to the Bulldogs since the football season began. Talk about Not Hot.
By Mark Bradley
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571 comments Add your comment
TopDawg
January 6th, 2011
3:40 pm
Why would they come to Athens??? Everyone seems to know Richt is done except a few money men, EXTREME Christian fans that care more about his talking of God rather than wins and losses, and possibly the Georgia AD (or is he keeping him politically??? to assuage the money folk?). The recruits certainly know it but some like Rome will come to UGA out of blind loyalty to their beloved program (thanks to them! but to be honest they also hinder the program from making true progress…an out of the top 20 class would hasten Richt’s removal.
BRUCE BROWN
January 6th, 2011
3:42 pm
Oregon’s in the Championship and I don’t see very many ‘any’ 5 star recruits out there. Just maybe it’s the coaching ‘you think’. I’m not too sure what Georgia’s doing, they’re just sitting around expecting a championship team to fall into their lap well it doesn’t happen like that and I believe the coach has got a little too comfortable and someone better light a fire under that program or the Dawgs are going to be a program that just gets another small bowl every year while the big teams clean their clock.
still@the bar
January 6th, 2011
3:44 pm
Delbert D
Can you believe LUCK left about 55+ million dollars on the table? WOW the kid really like college, his education, and his team I guess.
Mark will not write much on Paul Hewitt because all the TECH fans know he has to go and wanted it done 2 years ago. Writing about Mark Richt is fun because 1/2 the Dawgs want to keep him and 1/2 want to fire him, while people that HATE the mutts love poking the JAILHOUSE DAWGS for entertainment.
still@the bar
January 6th, 2011
3:46 pm
Catholic Hammer
It is better than wondering which preist will be your molester.
SID
January 6th, 2011
3:48 pm
Good riddance, both look like THugas anyway!!!!!
San Francisco Dawg
January 6th, 2011
3:48 pm
Did anyone really expect either of these kids to commit to Georgia…No…bad article, Georgia was not counting on those two…we are counting on Crowell, Rome and Drew….
THE CATHOLIC HAMMER
January 6th, 2011
3:50 pm
What I like about those attacks is that they say more about the person attacking than it does the Church founded by God Himself.
Anyway, the model for college football “professionalization” can be found South of the Border (no, not in South Carolina), but here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Club_Universidad_Nacional
Janet
January 6th, 2011
3:54 pm
I am so sick of you MB. Can you please move on and get off your high horse of ripping UGA?! I was hoping 2011 you might change. I am moving on to someone else for any real sports news. Guess you never see a glass half full – only half empty. Negativity will kill you, ya know?
Delbert D.
January 6th, 2011
3:54 pm
still@the bar – Plus, he made the decision before any official word on Harbaugh. Luck is a smart guy (Architectural Design major) who is thinking beyond the NFL. The potential lockout may have been a factor. Or, he might have wanted to make the Carolina Panthers miserable (heh-heh.)
BigHittas
January 6th, 2011
3:59 pm
simple lessons:
GEOGRAPHY – Lagrange, closer to Auburn or Athens?
WINNING/EXPOSURE – Which team is playing for the national championship?
Which of the following teams in the SEC besides Auburn could play for it next year? Alabama or GA? lol…..
Producer
January 6th, 2011
3:59 pm
This should not surprise anybody. Actually, I’d be surprised if any top notch prospect comes to UGA. It’s a second-rate program. No inspiration, no guts. Until we get a bad-a$$ed coach who instills the fear of God into his players we will always be a failure.
Janet
January 6th, 2011
3:59 pm
BTW, I completely agree with you, College Football Fan! MB is the one who needs to go, not CMR.
JInx Master
January 6th, 2011
4:05 pm
If you wnat to call Richt a master recruiter, thats on you. Truth of the matter is most of the GA athletes grow up wanting to play in state & to be seen in all the homes where they grew up. Reality sets in sometimes & some realize they just won’t fit in at UGA, for whatever reason. If you are making a life changing decision be honest to yourself first & foremost. There is no turning back afterwards, do you think some of these guys not choosing UGA isn’t worried about Richt’s future this next season & what changes that may follow???
ColumnDawg
January 6th, 2011
4:07 pm
Florida is starting with a fresh coach. Tennessee is in rebuilding mode. Now is the time to replace Richt and get some new ideas and leadership for our Dawgs! Not sure why we are showing so much loyalty to a coach that has had the game pass him by. Lets stop losing our in state recruits and get someone in her to reignite the program!
Get off my lawn
January 6th, 2011
4:07 pm
Ray Drew would be the big fish that got away. Christian LeMay has been trying to get him to come on over to UGA but the guy has still not decided. Drew is into the ministry so Richt needs to go after this top ranked DE like a used car salesman. Or something like that….
SID
January 6th, 2011
4:09 pm
Let’s move on to Basketball!!! It’s become UGAs top draw!!!!
Frank
January 6th, 2011
4:11 pm
Dream team. LOL
big root
January 6th, 2011
4:15 pm
A man does the right thing Coach Richt get that scary ass yellow streak off your back and start coaching be aggressive and fast on offense speed the game up
Nick Saban
January 6th, 2011
4:15 pm
I guess CMR just needs to “study” more!
coachgb
January 6th, 2011
4:15 pm
Just saw where Luck is staying at Stanford. I think that in a nutshell tells it all. You guys are all hyped about what 5 star guy is going here and what 4 star guy is going there. UGA has been getting as many 4 star and 5 star guys as anyone but look where they are now. Its all about character not how many stars you have attached to your name by some recruiting geeks somewhere. Luck wants to earn his degree before moving on to the NFL. AJ and Houston and some of the others have been counting the days until the draft for some time now. Don’t tell me AJ didn’t know he couldn’t sell his jersey, he didn’t care. Richt and his staff have been listening to the recruiting boys too much instead of hunting for real players. How many 4 or 5 star guys have been letdowns in recent years. Everyone wants to jump on the bandwagon and blame the coaching staff for not coaching them up but the real blame on the coaching staff is for not finding real football players not just real athletes, there is a big and important difference. Just check out TCU or Stanford. Tell me that undersized, slow linebacker that swatted down the 4th down pass would have even been considered for a scholarship at UGA! He is a football player, not an athelete. The best football player in recent years at UGA was Rennie Curran. How did he slip in over there?
Gary
January 6th, 2011
4:18 pm
ANy half decent player has a chance to start and that should be what we offer. Enjoy the bench at Bama or be in the game in Athens. Auburn may get its national title this year, but they cannot kid anyone into thinking they will win more than 8 games next year with all the players they are going to loose. The kid amy have a good chance at starting for Auburn as well. Richt needs to be fishing the JC’s for big guys who can start now on defense.
JInx Master
January 6th, 2011
4:19 pm
Wake all GA fans, this includes UGA & GT. Stop living a fairy tale fans,there is no way any school will ever be able to keep all this hot bed of talent in state. Hello Murray is from FLA, they needed any capable QB this year at FLA. If you recruit to your needs you will succeed, Harbaugh has not been complaining in Palo Alto CA. Just get off your @ss & shake the bushes, if they are not from GA, recuit the next athlete that satisfies your scheme, period.
Gary
January 6th, 2011
4:22 pm
I am not so sure Georgia is where we need to recruit. We have had better luck in Texas and New Jersey and Florida for actual tallent. Maybe Georgia High School ball is not up to snuff becuase the players we get in state a not living up to their rankings or reputation.
Double Zero Eight
January 6th, 2011
4:22 pm
@ Crumpy’s 2.27 post
Cecil will refuse to help CMR as he wanted
to make Cam him a tight end.
Double Zero Eight
January 6th, 2011
4:28 pm
error in my prior post ( “him” should be deleted from last line).
Bama Fan
January 6th, 2011
4:36 pm
go 2 Bama and git goode edukation. u wrok at Quicktrip.
JInx Master
January 6th, 2011
4:42 pm
Richt needs to go! The next coach will be able to get good players & will go after other out of state guys in the south
Tell the truth
January 6th, 2011
4:45 pm
Another wasted column pal. Still preaching to the choir are ya?? Good lord.
Delbert D.
January 6th, 2011
4:46 pm
Hah! Scooped the AJC again, on the Andrew Luck decision. Beat them by 1 hr and 12 minutes this time.
mark twain
January 6th, 2011
4:48 pm
IT IS OBVIOUS TIMES HAVE PASSED GEORGIA BYE BYE. THEY CANNOT WIN IN FOOTBALL OR WOMENS BASKETBALL, WHY? BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO STUDY FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS. DO YOU THINK THE ATHLETES ACTUALLY STUDY AT ALA, AUB. LSU OR FLA. its all about the money. WHAT WE NEED ARE MORE TERRY HOAGES WHO NO ONE WANTED. SO G.A.T.A.
inthecellar
January 6th, 2011
4:56 pm
Well Richt needs to find him another 5 foot nothing running back to help him stay in the cellar. I hope there is a lot of talent already in UGA football because recruiting is staying lean. I do like the idea of putting some muscle on the players. Maybe that will tire them enought not to become jersey salesperson.
iTiSi
January 6th, 2011
4:57 pm
Let’s look at the bright side of things. Kentucky and Vanderbilt appreciate GA very much. They were beginning to feel lonely down there at the bottom. Now they have some company.
Einsteindawg
January 6th, 2011
4:58 pm
Recruiting rankings are for nerds and losers. Sign players according to our needs and players that want to be a Dawg! Need proof…look at all the four and five star failures, and look at TCU and Oregon.
Snoop Dawg
January 6th, 2011
4:58 pm
Yo Dawgs!
Did you see the news today where the NFL 1st round draft choice QB Andrew Luck from Stanford elected to stay for his senior year? Have you wondered why that doesn’t happen at the UGA? Well, the answer is Mark Richt’s absolute derelection of duty in the leadership and culture department. This buffoon by not actively encouraging these players to stay and get their degrees, just shruggs his shoulders. If the players aren’t asked, they surely won’t stay. The culture doesn’t put any worth on finishing out your college years and getting the degree. As a result, each recruiting class has to replace the best players in addition to normal senior attrition.
This is just another data point on the graph of why RICHT NEEDS TO GET FIRED YESTERDAY, NOT TOMORROW. Our players and our fan base and alumni deserve a coach with passion, brains, and active leadership ability. Richt has none of these traits. His only asset is his alleged righteousness, but evidently this hasn’t rubbed off on his players because Richt gets the NCAA Blue Ribbon among ALL Division 1 universities with his 12 player arrests this year (2:1 ratio of arrests to wins).
WAKE UP DAWGNATION! OFF WITH HIS HEAD
Timbo
January 6th, 2011
4:58 pm
It doesn’t matter what the recruiting rating services say, the eyeball test will tell any fan that UGA needs a ton of offensive and defensive lineman, and a big-time runningback. They really need to try to go the juco route and shore up both sides of the line of scrimmage. If not, than expect another down year next year. They are getting beat up front physically.
Einsteindawg
January 6th, 2011
5:02 pm
Snoop…are you saying that because CMR settles for mediocrity, the loyal fans, boosters, and paying alumni should sttle for mediocrity, too?
Tdawg money
January 6th, 2011
5:03 pm
Attention All Who Will Listen…….
At least one of the Dream Team recruit defectors will do an about face and ultimately sign with Georgia. One is reportedly second-guessing his announcement already, according to a close friend. Don’t jump off any tall buildings Dawg Fans, things will get better.
Savannah Dawg
January 6th, 2011
5:07 pm
Mark-
You finally found something that you know less about than coaching and that would be recruiting rankings. If you took the time to do any research, you would know that UGA still has a good chance of finishing in the top 5 if they land Rome, Crowell, Swann, Mitchell, Pagan among others. They are in the final two for each of these guys. So what if they haven’t had a commitment in months. The most highly rated players typically wait longer to commit, but don’t let facts get in your way when you’re on your anti-Richt roll. I used to think Schultz was the biggest douche at the AJC, but you are the leader in the clubhouse by a mile.
UGA Dawg 97
January 6th, 2011
5:07 pm
Why would he pick UGA with a scholarship offer from Bama? Richt will be gone by his 2nd year and he’d never play for a championship. At Bama he has a chance to win big and play for Saban. Richt needs to be fired NOW!!!
Reality Bites
January 6th, 2011
5:14 pm
Seems like the love affair with R. Gardner is souring. He is the problem. Recruiting nothing but thugs and future DUI cases. Think this assistant has run his course. Smart money pays former RC @ Tech to come to Athens….one Giff Smith. As a Tech fan he IS definitely missed!
Cam the Scam
January 6th, 2011
5:20 pm
And where did Boise St, TCU, and Stanford “rank” in recruiting the past 5 years……yeah, recruiting wankers need to lighten up…
Snoop Dawg
January 6th, 2011
5:21 pm
Einsteindawg, you obviously are not related to Albert…
UGA - Stop Losing, You are making us all look bad
January 6th, 2011
5:22 pm
After looking at the photo on the top of this page, it does not look like UGA is at a huge loss by not bagging this kid, unless he is hiding 30 lbs somewhere. As for Bray – if you heard his interview when he picked AU last night, it would be embarrassing to have him – if he could get in. At AU, this will not be a problem.
Now losing Crowell would be a blow – that kid is good. Real Good.
Einsteindawg
January 6th, 2011
5:23 pm
Snoop…would that be Fat or Prince?
Delbert D.
January 6th, 2011
5:23 pm
@Snoop Dawg – That is extreme. Better retract that last statement.
Snoop Dawg
January 6th, 2011
5:25 pm
That would be Einstein, Einsteindawg…
falcon
January 6th, 2011
5:25 pm
Bray lives in LaGrange and was an Auburn lock for some time now. Dickson prefers to play the traditional 4-3 defense where he lines up in a 3 point stance. He has no desire to play in a 3-4 as a stand up outside linebacker. Not making excuses for CMR, just presenting some facts to Bradley’s hit piece. Has there ever been a year when we got every player in the state of GA that we wanted? Not to my knowledge.
Snoop Dawg
January 6th, 2011
5:26 pm
Delbert, the Snoop Dawg IS extreme. He demands excellence and victory. Get with the program…
Delbert D.
January 6th, 2011
5:27 pm
Giff Smith won’t be in Buffalo much longer. The Gailey effect. Smith would be a good RC, but the HS coaches would probably wonder about his change of allegiance.
dawg for life
January 6th, 2011
5:28 pm
mark has to go i could deal wit losing bad for one year but wen u cant get the players in your own state,the ball has been dropped there wont be a dream team just a sorry team