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
dbc
January 31st, 2011
4:30 pm
Lost in all this recruiting hype is who CMR has to coach them. I heard some exciting rumors a week ago, such as Grantham bringing in his own D-line coach, Garner being gone, Bobo becoming recruiting coordinator and QB coach. The one that really had me excited was talk of a guy like Friedgen becoming OC. That’s the key to this whole thing. McGarity knows it and hopefully so does CMR. The D will be light years better, but the O needs to be re-vamped into something resembling modern-day football. I hope some big announcements are waiting in the wings, but as time goes by, that hope is disappearing. Anyone else heard anything?
Sexy Mark Richt
January 31st, 2011
4:31 pm
I will win many games this year
Believe me when i say that
DawgInLex Eats Idiots Sandwiches
January 31st, 2011
4:31 pm
He really does.
Better Memory Than Most
January 31st, 2011
4:33 pm
Richt has never done anything with top 10 talent? Let’s review…
National Championship? No.
Top 10 teams? Yes, 5 of them.
SEC Championship? Yes, 2 of them. 2002 and 2005
Final AP polls:
2002 3
2003 7
2004 7
2005 10
2006 23
2007 2
2008 13
juice sourcer
January 31st, 2011
4:34 pm
8 other SEC teams in the top 25 recruiting. This only means that Georgia is keeping up with the Jones’s with one recuiting class. Nothing to get excited about.
Play that same broken record
January 31st, 2011
4:35 pm
That u inbread rednecks been playing for 30 years.
Always a Dawg
January 31st, 2011
4:35 pm
Despite all the negative hoopla from almost every sports writer, Francis the Talking Mule Tarkenton, all our rivals and too many UGA fans, Mark Richt and Co. proceeded to recruit one of the finest classes ever . . . regardless of how it turns out for the remaining few. I am so proud of them doing this and look forward to a super 2011 and 2012. What kind of sauce would most of you like with your crow?
dbc
January 31st, 2011
4:37 pm
Interesting article from College Football News, “Dream Team Won’t Save Richt.”
http://cfn.scout.com/2/1044133.html
Mark Richt has never ever won A SEC Title
January 31st, 2011
4:39 pm
with a class that HE recruited.
TMC DAWG
January 31st, 2011
4:39 pm
All the top 10 recruting classes in the world are not going to change anything. It is COACHING people. Trying to put the square peg in the round hole is not working. Football is about the offence and defenseive lines. We are weak in both areas. We must get the run the ball mentality or we will see the same results that we have. I am not sold on Bobo nor should anyone else be. This is where something seems to happen with Richt. We come out or spring ball with no direction. Then about midseason after 3 losses the coaches finally figure who the best players are and where to play them. THAT IS COACHING PEOPLE
DawgInLex real name is
January 31st, 2011
4:40 pm
Frances !
Mark Richt coaches his players down, not up
January 31st, 2011
4:42 pm
NICE !
LOL
January 31st, 2011
4:44 pm
This is hilarious!!! To even insinuate that Richt can win a National Championship as a head coach is FUNNY! I don’t care who you are!!!!
mcdaviddawg
January 31st, 2011
4:45 pm
If only Richt knew what to do with top recruits.
WIN WITH RICHT
January 31st, 2011
4:45 pm
When the Dawgs won the Sec title in 2005, those were the players that Richt recruited.
FanSince59
January 31st, 2011
4:50 pm
Potentially great new recruits, but the same old coaching staff. I’ll wait to see what happens on the field once the season starts. I figure the fist two games will tell the tale.
BiggdawgK
January 31st, 2011
4:51 pm
I looked at my window just now and nearly dropped the stack of money I was counting. The pig that was flying by startled me that much.
Einsteindawg
January 31st, 2011
4:51 pm
NOTICE TO ALL TECHIES (on this blog): Sign up for Dungeons & Dragons finals ends at 5 PM.
cantondawg
January 31st, 2011
4:58 pm
Hello everyone. I am a stupid fool. I have no idea what I’m talking about, and I am an embarrassment to my family, my alma mater, and my maker. I am going to go flip fries this evening because I am a piece of garbage. And I live with my parents. And I like men.
The Truth
January 31st, 2011
4:59 pm
Who Cares about a 6-7 team anyway, beat UCF then talk
mike
January 31st, 2011
5:02 pm
If you look at the rosters from the perenial top 5 Texas, Oklahoma, Ohio State, USC, SEC Champions LSU Flordia and Alabama ( Saban ) They recruit not only in their home state but country wide. Look at Alabama commitments they are from 10 different states. Georgia roster is only Georgia South Carolina and Florida. Every state every year has a Dream Team but if Georgia is going to get back with the big boys they must expand their recruiting base. We talk about Alabama and Florida’s recruiting classes the last couple of years and yet only one maybe two freshman start the rest maybe log some time on kickoffs. Sure this will pump up the fan base most gimmics do. But since they allowed freshman to play the odds of any one freshman starting as been and always will be 16 to 1. Richt has lost that drive that brought him to Georgia. I agree with some of the pundits this Dream Team gimmic is just fog putting off the inevitable. Please no more photos of Hershel. The past never accomplished anything for the future
let's get this straight
January 31st, 2011
5:02 pm
@Herschel Talker
The reason Murray was injured was because the coaches allowed the kid to over work his arm. Murray was doing everything possible to get on the field and prove himself. Murray was ready to go way before they were stating concerning his arm problem. Keep in mind that CMR was feeling the heat and almost stated him after the UT blow-out, so his arm was ready then. They may have saved a year of eligibility, but they sacrificed the team this past year. Imagine if he would have had six games under his belt going into this past season.
AltamahaDawg
January 31st, 2011
5:03 pm
Murray was injured. Moreno was by all accounts not ready to play till the end of his RS year, and would have been behind 3 future NFL players on the depth chart. The only thing different would have been those 2 boys would have had some (meaningless) stats from the previous year. And in Murray’s case, lost of his most productive year on the back end. If Moreno goes as a sophomore, he certainly would have gone as a junior. How would some freshman stats on have changed history? The (correct)calculation was that 3 good years are better than 2 and some change.
BiggdawgK
January 31st, 2011
5:04 pm
@cantondawg
So what you are saying is that you a north avenue trade school grad. In the words of mark (I had a fever today and forgot to write a fire mark richt story)bradley. kudos
patrick
January 31st, 2011
5:04 pm
A big recruiting yield at UGA = no news
Over the last three years GT’s recruiting classes have ranked in the 40’s, while UGA’s have been much, much higher –yet:
Since 2008:
GT = 26-14
UGA = 24-15
GT has a conference title and a BCS bowl, UGA has neither
=====================
ummm ACC………….SEC
.
UGA in its worst year in a decade (2009) beat Tech in its beat year in 20 years and now have beaten them2 in a row and 9 of last ten………….see the difference now Gump
Clarke County Police Officer
January 31st, 2011
5:05 pm
I wish those thugs can stay out of jail
BiggdawgK
January 31st, 2011
5:09 pm
I would really loath all the haters if they were not so pathetic. UGA locks down all the in stae talent and now sad little morons like mike are grasping at straws like “golly wiggles you have to get talent from at least 10 states or you’re really ooky”
Get back to the kitchen haters, those fries aren’t going to cook themselves.
mike
January 31st, 2011
5:10 pm
We talk about Lattimore and bringing South Carolina the SEC Championship. He took a physical beating. The last 7 games he did not resemble the first 5 games. Is Georgia recruiting any other back besides Crowell or are we going to run him to death every game. Crowell alone will not work. Remember Crowell had chronic knee and leg problems this year. If he goes down and he will we are back with Ealey and King ( Another early Dream Teamer ) when Caleb if he decide to show up.
Dawg Fud
January 31st, 2011
5:13 pm
people who write “first” are huge dorks
mike
January 31st, 2011
5:14 pm
Big Dawg,
How has those last two trips to Shrevport and Memphis worked out with that incredible in state talent. Understand the team was emotional moved on its visit to Graceland.
Inlet Dawg
January 31st, 2011
5:15 pm
We have done less with more than any other school in the country over the last 5 years and i don’t think that will change.I just don’t see us winning without BIG O-LINEMEN,an offensive coordinator and a line coach.Glad the next staff will have something to work with.
JTH
January 31st, 2011
5:15 pm
Looks promising Mark Bradley. This class might save Richt’s job if he can do something with it. Hope it’s not just another case of great recruiting, poor coaching. We’ll see.
WIN WITH RICHT
January 31st, 2011
5:16 pm
Mike
Richt has recriuted well nationally.Matt Stafford-Texas,Knowshon moreno- New Jersey, Aron White- Missouri, A.J. Green- SC, Marlon Brown- Tenn. But, Ga has such a big popultation and only one other big school Ga Tech, so Ga can do well concentrating on in state guys.
Toco Hills Dawg
January 31st, 2011
5:17 pm
If nothing else, this recruiting success, and I hope it gets better, should remove the negativity surrounding this program. GO DAWGS!!!!
Mel from Atlanta
January 31st, 2011
5:19 pm
Go DAWGS!!!! Perry, get you carpet bag face out of here. How ya doing Ru Ru?
Georgia Tee
January 31st, 2011
5:21 pm
The chances of the dawg’s dream team recruits becoming another litter of felons is much better than their chances of playing a single down for the ole silver and black. The University of Dawgs is the best feeder system in the south for the state pen.
Josh Smith For 3
January 31st, 2011
5:23 pm
@ Dawg_Mike
Agreed. The only player of those you listed who could possibly stand to be redshirted due to TE depth is Jay Rome, but that might not be wise considering how good his size and hands are when receiving and run blocking. If Crowell and Jenkins come to Athens, there should be no reason that both them and Swann will not see some Boise St. game playing time.
greenjacket
January 31st, 2011
5:29 pm
check out ESPN’s reranking of the 2007 classes. GT was ranked 6th. Just goes to show you need to do the evaluations 3-4 years later
bwell
January 31st, 2011
5:29 pm
We are poised to go to the next level THIS YEAR! We will win the Nat’l C’ship this year or next. If CMR and staff play their cards right, plus Murray is season and 4 RB’s with Crowell we are loaded and 2012 recruits are if not better than 2011.
Freehawk
January 31st, 2011
5:31 pm
Recruiting analysts have remarkably short memories. Every class is “the best ever.”
No story here, in a talent rich state, UGA always recruits well. If that is anodyne for the UGA fans, so be it. They are not the story of the SEC East next season, but maybe they will have a winning season again.
Better Dawgs
January 31st, 2011
5:34 pm
Join the wagon boys and girls the Junk Yard Dawgs are back!!! Sorry that your teams are second in this state.
Freehawk
January 31st, 2011
5:37 pm
Wait a minute. Athens has an astute radio man? In that case they ought to get him on Georgia Bulldogs broadcasts.
What I want to know is, how well can these new players drink and drive.
The Truth
January 31st, 2011
5:39 pm
WIN WITH RICHT
January 31st, 2011
5:16 pm
Mike
Richt has recriuted well nationally.Matt Stafford-Texas,Knowshon moreno- New Jersey, Aron White- Missouri, A.J. Green- SC, Marlon Brown- Tenn. But, Ga has such a big popultation and only one other big school Ga Tech, so Ga can do well concentrating on in state guys.
And here is the important question? Did Richt win an SEC title or a NC with any of these guys on this list???? No so you need to change your blog name idiot
Better Dawgs
January 31st, 2011
5:41 pm
Funny how you spend time on a UGA blog. Closet dawg fan you are?
Dan Mullen and the real bulldogs of MSU
January 31st, 2011
5:46 pm
We showed the SEC and the nation who the real bulldogs are and who the mutts. last season we dominated you losers and we will do it in athens this season. GO MSU
Better Dawgs
January 31st, 2011
5:50 pm
MSWho- You better hope that CRM has a good year or you be looking for a new coach in 2012.
bigcalidawg
January 31st, 2011
5:52 pm
“Bamboozled
January 31st, 2011
12:50 pm
Richt has to realize that he cannot redshirt some of the guys who can make a impact immediately. Thats-so-80ish & 90ish. Today’s College football landscape is much different and the big time programs are playing true freshman, not only in the skilled position, but OL & DL, as well.”
Yeah….I totally agree…..especially when it’s kids you know might be 3 and out. Even if they don’t start….go ahead and depth chart ‘em. CMR has tried to stock the shelves, but it hasn’t worked out that well.
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Dan Mullen and the real bulldogs of MSU
January 31st, 2011
5:52 pm
Better Dawgs
January 31st, 2011
5:50 pm
MSWho- You better hope that CRM has a good year or you be looking for a new coach in 2012
24-12 loser
JD
January 31st, 2011
5:54 pm
The situation with Richard Samuel was not misevaluation at all. It was a mistake not redshirting him the first year for 21 rushing plays and a few special team plays. The guy was just 16 when he showed up in Athens in January. He will be 20 sometime in February. Look and see how old King, Ealey, and, Green are at this time. No he did not carry the ball as much in high school as king and ealey, He was just 16 when he graduated……Quit trashing this player for not being 18 years old or 19 years old when he graduated and showed up at UGA. Yes he was wasted. I put some of the blame not having a running back coach for him instead of a receiver in training as a coach. Also Ealey was not ready and King was hurt. Thomas was too small and the kid that was run off last year was not ready. Richt had to use him last year until the others got healthy or out of trouble. One thing for sure about Samuel, His character is way above all those that caused the 6-7 record this year by getting into trouble. Him being on the special teams his first year and returning the kicks was not what you do with a 6′3′ 225 lb. RB or LB. unless the blockers could open up the middle.
WIN WITH RICHT
January 31st, 2011
5:55 pm
The Truth
Since Richt has been at UGA, he has won as many SEC titles as Fla or Aub. And he has won more than Bama!