Credit to Richt: A big recruiting yield at a big moment for UGA
Coming off its first losing season since 1996, Georgia is poised to sign the most illustrious recruiting class Mark Richt has assembled, which is saying something when you consider two 2006 signees were among the top dozen taken in the 2009 NFL draft. Obvious question: Who saw this coming?
Said Chad Simmons, the Southeast recruiting analyst for Scout.com/FoxSports: “I am a little surprised … but I’m not that surprised.”
If we’ve learned anything this past month, it’s that the Georgia program might be in a weakened state but that the Georgia name remains a powerful thing. Four different SEC programs have accounted for the past five BCS titles, and yet Georgia, at least on Signing Day 2011, seems positioned to stand with any of them.
Said Simmons: “I don’t think wins and losses make a difference. There’s a chance Georgia, which was 6-7, will outrecruit Auburn, which won the national championship.”
Said Jeff Dantzler, the astute Athens radio man: “This is the most important recruiting class coach Richt has ever had, and it’s one of the most important in Georgia history. And it’s not just because of talent — it’s because of the psyche of our people.”
We pause to insert the disclaimer: Recruiting isn’t an exact science; if it were, Georgia wouldn’t have been 6-7. But such was the discord in and around the program — fans in a tizzy, media (blush) in high dudgeon, the strength coach being re-assigned — that a diminished recruiting class figured to be the next falling domino. But no.
Scout.com ranks Georgia’s class the nation’s seventh-best, and Simmons said there’s a chance the Bulldogs could clamber into the top five. Still in play: The running back Isaiah Crowell of Carver-Columbus, the defensive end Jeoffrey Pagan of Asheville, N.C. and the massive defensive tackle John Jenkins of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
Simmons: “If all the chips fall their way, this would definitely be the top class Richt has had. It would throw over the [2006] one with Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno and Reshad Jones.”
Let’s recall: The calendar year began badly. Having lost the Liberty Bowl to Central Florida on New Year’s Eve, Georgia watched Xzavier Dickson of Griffin and Quan Bray of LaGrange use the Jan. 5 Under Armour All-America Game to announce for Alabama and Auburn, respectively. That prompted even more hand-wringing among Bulldog Nation — and much tut-tutting, it must be said, from this observer — but Richt and Co. have since gotten almost everybody worth getting. How?
“It’s a tribute to these coaches for not giving up, for selling Georgia as still being Georgia,” Simmons said. “They want these guys to be difference-makers, the guy who’ll turn it around.”
We say again: With Richt, recruiting has never been the overriding concern. At issue is how well assembled resources have been marshaled. Which leads to this: Should Georgia land Crowell and Jenkins to go with Ray Drew (defensive end, Thomasville) and Damian Swann (defensive back, Grady High) and Jay Rome (tight end, Valdosta), could the Bulldogs win the SEC East next fall?
Simmons: “These next few days [Crowell is announcing Wednesday, Jenkins not until Saturday] will be big for Georgia. Those are guys who can play for Georgia next year. They’re big pieces in this class. Jenkins is the 6-foot-4, 340-pound nose guard that [defensive coordinator] Todd Grantham needs for his 3-4 defense.”
Let’s see. Big interior lineman from a junior college: Didn’t Auburn just win it all with one of those? (The name was Nick Fairley, in case any Bulldog fans have forgotten.) And a hotshot freshman runner: Didn’t the arrival of Marcus Lattimore lift South Carolina to a breakthrough SEC East crown? Said Simmons: “Crowell can be that same type of player for Georgia.”
We pause here for breath, and also to remember: Georgia went 6-7 and didn’t beat a team with a winning record. But such is the promise inherent in recruiting, and no school knows better than this one. In 1979 the Bulldogs were 6-5. They signed Herschel Walker (running back, Wrightsville) on Easter Sunday 1980; on New Year’s Day 1981, they became national champs.
By Mark Bradley
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523 comments Add your comment
Mark Bradley`s Booster
January 31st, 2011
1:48 pm
Obviously this recruiting class will be a big boost for the UGA program. Those who continue to blast CMR and his staff are either not true UGA fans or they have expectations that are not realistic.
Jacket Man
January 31st, 2011
1:48 pm
No one has ever called into question Mark Richt’s recruiting capabilities; he’s consistently brought in some of the top classes in America. No matter how how good the classes have been, however, it hasn’t changed the fact that he’s gotten less with his talent than any other coach in America since his initial assistant coaches left campus.
Mark Richt is a nice man who wants to do right but has lost his fire; he’s just going through the motions.
Georgia fans were screaming for Richt’s head just a couple of months ago in spite of the previos stellar classes, so excuse me ifI don’t skinner all over myself because the Bulldogs got yet another one. Until Mark Richt can show college football he is able, and willing, to coach, these kids are just another recruiting class that CAN be under utilized.
Jeff
January 31st, 2011
1:49 pm
CMR and staff right now have earned an A+ with the recruiting class they have assembled. A couple more big names would complete an awesome class. Then comes the tough part which is coaching them up like the competition has been doing the last five years minus Auburn which bought their title.
Law Dawg
January 31st, 2011
1:52 pm
Geathers is 325 – check the website. http://www.georgiadogs.com
300 lbs does not = good nose tackle. Need to be quick, play with leverage. I think he’s also 6′5″ – that doesn’t bode well for playing with leverage. I do remember that he came into camp overweight, slow, and not used to strenuous weight-training regimes. don’t be surprised if chris mayes eventually ends up as jenkins’ backup instead of Kwame.
Dan
January 31st, 2011
1:54 pm
Is there any other recruits who are thinking about changing schools to UGA?
Josh Smith For 3
January 31st, 2011
1:55 pm
This recruiting class is the kind of thing that gives Richt’s job security room for debate. Who is UGA going to get that will recruit better than Richt, especially considering the fact that the Dawgs have been awful the last two years? Athens is obviously going to draw plenty of talent because its arguably the greatest college atmosphere in America, but Richt connects with kids in ways that other coaches can’t. Hoping that a new coach would just run away with the SEC thanks to Richt’s talented classes is not a very safe bet.
headley lamar
January 31st, 2011
1:57 pm
Big recruiting yield? Um, they had top 10 classes from 02-09. They had top 10 classes 07 08 and 09. And that got them what?
2 SEC Titles . 6 Top ten finishes and the 4th most wins of any program last decade.
Thats all.
edumacated
January 31st, 2011
1:58 pm
Count me among the ones on here who don’t see what the hoopla is all about. Yeah, this should be a great class, and yeah, they should contribute early. The same can be said about most of the classes Richt has brought in. So what happened the last 2 years?
I would feel better if a new coach was coming in with this great class.
So what does Richt need to improve on next year? O.K., we need to increase our strength and conditioning, keep the players out of trouble, design a new offense that has more than 10 plays, find a true tailback who can actually break tackles, rebuild our defensive line and our linebacking core, find a deep threat receiver, find a fullback, cure Richt of making knuckleheaded mistakes during the game (late touchdown in GT game), find a punt returner who doesn’t fair catch everything, learn how to block punts and field goals at least once a year, teach Richt to break his unbearable conservative nature.
That’s all, and we got the SEC East BABY!!!
jarvis
January 31st, 2011
1:58 pm
My understanding is that Geathers needs to work a little on stamina, which is understandable. Takes a lot of energy to move a frame that big.
Grady Jackson was never able to play more than 2 downs in a series as the “clogger” in the middle of a 34 defense.
excessive celebration
January 31st, 2011
1:58 pm
Mark Richt isnt fired. So might as well get behind him. I like him a man I think he has done well considering he has had depth problems in the trenches the whole time he’s been here. Would love to see a good guy finish first. If he dont do it next year then its a no brainer he’s gone. So quit bashing the man he is not going anywhere…yet. Hire a guy with some personality and swagger next. Get some emotion going, get off ya’ll behinds in the stands at games. Create an environment of exitement!
Preston
January 31st, 2011
2:01 pm
It looks like one of two things will happen. The excellent recruiting will either save CMR’s job or he will have set his successor up very well talent wise. I’m pulling for Richt to learn from his mistakes and play true freshmen that are ready to contribute immediately rather than stay loyal to seniors that aren’t as good. He also needs to exhibit the fire that’s under his arse on the practice field and the sidelines during games. How many times have we seen a player make a stupid mistake only to go to the bench w/o a coach in his face letting him have it? Too often! Players need to fear their coaches to minimize senseless mistakes and penalties. That has been a very big problem at UGA. CTG was a pleasant surprise on the defensive side of this but Richt needs to get himself, Bobo, and other assistants more involved with this to see substantial improvement and a serious run at a SEC/national championship.
Tech Stinger
January 31st, 2011
2:01 pm
Georgia will start the season 0-2 so this class won’t matter anyway because most of this class will be at the Clarke County Jail before the season starts
headley lamar
January 31st, 2011
2:02 pm
The myth that UGA doesn’t get anything from all the great recruiting classes is a myth.
It helps the Techies sleep at night. Thats all.
Richts recruiting classes have been in the Top Ten 6 or so times since he came to UGA.
His teams have finished in the Top Ten 6 or so times.
Just about right on the mark.
jarvis
January 31st, 2011
2:04 pm
I have a question about my overblown expectations.
Why wouldn’t I expect a championship out of Georgia? I don’t expect one every year, but I do expect one eventually. We have just as much money as most any other program, we have facilities just as nice as most any other program, we have as strong a fan base as any other program, and our state’s talent is just as good as any other program’s.
I’m invested in this program both financially and emotionally. I give up a lot in terms of time and money to support my alma mater. I do have high expectations, but unrealistic?
BYU, Colorado, Washington, and Tech have all won championships since Georgia. It is not unrealistic for me to think that if those schools can do it, so can we.
headley lamar
January 31st, 2011
2:05 pm
Georgia will start the season 0-2 so this class won’t matter anyway
We might start 0-2. Playing a couple of good teams.
But we can at least count on beating Tech now cant we.
The Dude Abides
January 31st, 2011
2:05 pm
@ Dan
“Is there any other recruits who are thinking about changing schools to UGA?”
So far the guys that have UGA as a finalist are Crowell, Jenkins, Pagan(recently decommited from Clemson), Richardson and Kent Terene (just decommitted from USC this weekend)
DC
January 31st, 2011
2:06 pm
Two years ago people went nuts over the recruiting class….last year everyone screamed doomsday…this year…everyone is going nuts….
Getting recruits doesn’t win you a championship. It puts you in a position..but if you don’t have the coaching..its just a big pile of crap…good luck with CMR..War Eagle!
KBP
January 31st, 2011
2:07 pm
dawgfacedboy, Totally agree. By the fact that 4 different SEC school has won the last 5 BCS championships shows how difficult it is to win it. The winners in those years had everything to break their way. We missed our turn in 2007 not 2008. It is not like we have been totally outclassed in the East every year. My point regarding recruiting is look at how many NFL players LSU,BAMA,GATORS, have had not star rankings. To me NFL talent is the difference in playing for the BCS and not playing.
headley lamar
January 31st, 2011
2:09 pm
BYU, Colorado, Washington, and Tech have all won championships since Georgia.
Tech didnt win one. They won the UPI title. the only one recognized is the AP poll won by Colorado.
Tech didnt even play a Top 25 team that entire season I dont think.
YellowJacket21
January 31st, 2011
2:10 pm
But at least my team will have a terrible season to go along with our normal terrible recruiting class. UGA can’t say that.
UGA 92
January 31st, 2011
2:11 pm
Mark, as someone who is critical of your work at times, I must say that this is a very good article.
Mike
January 31st, 2011
2:12 pm
I’ll believe it when I see it.
Richt isn’t good enough to pull this off after a 6-7 record, is he?
This is not possible to keep all who have announced, and get Jenkins & Crowell too, right?
All in a year, where Greg McGarity didn’t think anough of Richt to extend his contract by even 1 year?
One thing’s for sure, if Richt pulls this recruiting class off, he can write his own paycheck in 2012, at Georgia, or anywhwere else he wants to coach.
This is epic, it’s remarkable, it’s amazing, it’s unthinkable to out=recruit Auburn, after a 6-7 season, with the only head coach in the SEC with less than 5 years on his contract.
This will certainly prove a lot of skeptics were DEAD WRONG ABOUT RICHT AND GEORGIA THIS SEASON and PROVES RICHT’S CLOUT WITH RECRUITS IS ENORMOUS.
Mike
January 31st, 2011
2:13 pm
iT WILL TAKE TIME WITH THIS CLASS, LOOK FOR IMPROVEMENT, MAYBE 8=5 IN 2011, AND THEN 10 OR MORE WINS IN 2012.
cantondawg
January 31st, 2011
2:14 pm
Herschel Talker,
You are an absolute embarassment to the UGA nation. First of all, you’ve admitted that you’ve never even played football so obviously know nothing about it. I will give you credit though, you are a first class asshole.
Alabama | MrSEC.com
January 31st, 2011
2:15 pm
[...] following Stacy Searels’ departure for Texas.4. Mark Richt is getting credit for putting together what could turn out to be his best recruiting class.5. Kentucky is back inside the Top 10 today.6. Andy Kennedy needs his Mississippi team to shoot [...]
The Dude Abides
January 31st, 2011
2:15 pm
I was calling for Richts head after the UCF game but lately the recruiting has gone heavily in our favor that i have more optimism for next year. Lets just hope Marlon Brown can fill those big shoes next year and becomes a plaaymaker.
DAWGalum09
January 31st, 2011
2:16 pm
DO NOT even mention winning the SEC east in an article right now.
Mark Bradley’s take on the Georgia Bulldogs = Not Hot. | Get The Picture
January 31st, 2011
2:16 pm
[...] Noted recruiting guru and all around sage about what goes on in Athens, Georgia Mark Bradley can’t get out of own his way fast enough with regards to Georgia’s 2011 recruiting class. [...]
DC
January 31st, 2011
2:16 pm
Don’t see them getting 10 wins in 2012…tough road games..
PS Mark, I wont tell any of the UGA fans that you got them all fooled. It will be our little secret!
RussDawg
January 31st, 2011
2:16 pm
The more everyone gives kudos and talks it up the more it will hurt if we again underachieve.
No redshirts. Everyone should compete for playing time and starting duty.
All this hype over this class CMR has to prove it on the field !
Georgia State Patrol
January 31st, 2011
2:17 pm
Georgia will have more thugs arrested than wins next season and we have cells ready for caleb and washon
BG
January 31st, 2011
2:18 pm
GO DAWGS!!! The Dream Team is in the house!!!!!!!!!
ugaclassof2004
January 31st, 2011
2:19 pm
Looks like a great recruiting class….for UGA’s new head coach.
excessive celebration
January 31st, 2011
2:20 pm
@ Jarvis…..right on all points. Now you feel my frustration …only you have alot more at stake and alot more invested. You ought to be peeved. your question is why not? wish i knew. it just looks like its not in their destiny. Uga is good but they do not carry the same clout traditionally as ALA, FL, LSU, AUB, TEX, Oklahoma, ect. they they are the “biggest dogs”. and aparently uga is not. until im proven wrong. my opinion
IlliniDawg
January 31st, 2011
2:23 pm
You guys arguing that UGA would get these recruits just as easily without Richt (and in spite of Bobo) are smokin some wacky tabacky. Absent Richt and Bobo and we don’t get Drew, Lemay, Rome, Mitchell, or Ward – and probably many others. These are guys who have said that character and culture issues mattered to them, and clearly stated their respect for Richt (and Bobo – yes Bobo!) and their belief that these coaches would help them grow as people and not just football players.
I’m sure many of you will mock this line of reasoning, but it sure seems to me that Richt is THE reason we are getting such a talented class.
The General Feeling
January 31st, 2011
2:23 pm
You mutt fans have all the history you need, yet you refuse to accept the reality.
Talent is NOT and has NEVER been your problem.
Vinnie
January 31st, 2011
2:25 pm
Mark-
I don’t think Richt has ever recruited a class like this, or had talent all in one class like Crowell, Lemay, Jenkins, Drew, and so on. I don’t think we can say the problem hasn’t been talent, look at the QB play last 2 seasons, look at RB play last 2 seasons, look at D-Line in 2010, Georgia just didn’t have the talent at those positions. Now, with Tyson at DE, Drew at DE, Jenkins at NT, the D-Line will be MUCH BETTER. Lemay at QB will also be MUCH BETTER, as will Crowell at RB. QB, RB, and D-Line were weakest part of team last year, and all were addressed with this class (if Richt gets Crowell & Jenkins).
It’s not coaching, when you win 75% of your games in the SEC, that’s unrivalled by any active coach. 3 DL went to the NFL this year–big talent drop, Stafford went #1, and Moreno went 1st round, Georgia hasn’t really replaced Stafford & Moreno past 2 seasons with Ealey/King or Cox/Murray.
Mark Bradley
January 31st, 2011
2:26 pm
Just for the record: I don’t like to see references to UGA with the letter “y” tacked on. I’m apt to ban those.
just a fan
January 31st, 2011
2:26 pm
@DC
other than @bama, and the burners there is NOTHING tough about that schedule IMHO
we have bye week before FU we have 3 easy ooc games ole miss, ut, vandy and yech at home and @ uk and USCe
boots
January 31st, 2011
2:26 pm
Not to celebrate too early, but there has also been improvements in player behavior in the last few months. Richt has taken a firm stand against stupidity, and he has also made strides in meeting our needs on the field. Every program has its problems, and IF he is the leader we need for him to be (and pay him to be), he will get things changed. People always gripe – I certainly have not been happy the last two years. However, we might have seen the worst, and it could be a good month for the Dawgs. (Another big piece will be hiring a stud O-Line coach.)
Les W. Moore
January 31st, 2011
2:28 pm
Mutts still have their same ol’ HC, OC, and DC… right?
Ha, ha, ha. I can’t wait until… ummm… say October to read the “Fire Richt” comments.
Dontavius Supremo
January 31st, 2011
2:30 pm
Well, we all know what the Old Ball Coach says about Georgia’s recruiting…..
WDE
January 31st, 2011
2:32 pm
I know my attempt to help you all out will be futile:
You have literally had similarly hyped classes for AT LEAST the past 5 years. Those classes got you nowhere.
Do you think that this class is literally better than all of those, or is it just that you are more desperate for any kind of positive news about the program?
To see the ish-talking by some of you over landing certain recruits really is just depressing.
Ichabod Crane
January 31st, 2011
2:32 pm
Since everyone wants to give Jim Donnan credit for CMR”s success with two S.E.C. titles in five years,it is only likely that Mark Richt will also win SEC titles with a recruiting class as outstanding or better than the one credited to Donnan! And everyone knows that a SEC title is one step from a national title! This class is already better than the one credited to Donnan. And if he has lost the “touch”it will take care of itself!
Jesse Stone
January 31st, 2011
2:32 pm
CMR reminds me of a kid I knew growing up. His folks always bought him the nicest equipment. He had the newest bats, nicest cleats, and the best glove, but he performed below average for the tools he was given.
dawgster
January 31st, 2011
2:33 pm
@Mark B…good positive areticle and i concur with another blogger, that you did a first class job with this one…i hope we will see more of them in the future…of course i guess that depends on how we perform on the field..which i guess is fair…go dawgs
just a fan
January 31st, 2011
2:33 pm
@Vinnie
Lemay will not be starting this year, I will not say he won’t get any playing time but I think Murray is our guy for the next 3 years
headley lamar
January 31st, 2011
2:33 pm
Uga is good but they do not carry the same clout traditionally as ALA, FL, LSU, AUB, TEX, Oklahoma
Georgia has won more SEC titles than Auburn LSU and Florida.
We carry as much clout as any of those teams.
UGA 1992
January 31st, 2011
2:34 pm
Mark – might want to mention Malcom Mitchell as a big get also. He was a heavy Bama lean and ended up picking the dogs. Corey Moore, Dantzler, Scott-Wesley will also help in the future. Crowell, Jenkins, Pagan, Richardson, and Turene would be a nice finish. Of course, CMR and staff have to coach em up and create a winning team not a few NFL talents.
cantondawg
January 31st, 2011
2:34 pm
Herschel Talker,
You have got to be the dumbest fan around. You only say simple negative stuff like “fire richt” or 2011 will be a disaster. I laugh at you because your comments are so simple and show that you have no clue what is going on. You just blame everything on the head coach.
You said if CMR were a good head coach 2008-2010 would never have happened. Ok dumbass, 2008 we were 10-3 and finished ranked #10 in the nation. That’s never a bad season for UGA.
2009 and 2010 were disappointments but every coach has bad seasons like Joe Paterno, Steve Spurrier, Lou Holtz, Bobby Bowden, Bear Bryant, Urban Meyer, Vince Dooley, Pete Carroll and so on.