Recruiting mavens weigh in on Tech, UGA and recruiting itself
Josh Harvey-Clemons of Lowndes: With whom will he sign? (AJC photo by Phil Skinner)
If you follow college football, you cannot ignore recruiting. Even if you think it’s overblown, attention must be paid. As Jamie Newberg, the ESPN recruiting analyst, said Monday: “Those stars [rankings for each recruit] do mean something. You just have look at the national champions the last 10 years to know that.”
Then this: “But then you look at a guy like [Virginia Tech's] Frank Beamer — he’s never in the Top 10 [of recruiting rankings] but he gets the guys who does what he wants … Paul Johnson has done a good job in that way, too.”
Paul Johnson, as we know, coaches Georgia Tech, and Tech is often seen as an afterthought on National Signing Day. The SEC schools load up on five-star guys and the Jackets make do with lesser lights, and when you look at the rankings — and we all do — Tech is never in the Top 10. But here’s Newberg on this Tech class, rated the nation’s 57th-best by Scout.com: “This is a typical Tech year … They find a way to get it done.”
Newberg mentioned two Tech commitments — and here we stipulate that commitments aren’t binding until somebody signs something; Wednesday is National Signing Day — to buttress the point: Francis Kallon, a defensive lineman from Central Gwinnett who committed to Tech before ever playing an organized game, and Travin Henry, a receiver from Cook County who committed Sunday night.
“Kallon is one of the best stories I’ve ever known,” Newberg said. “And I watched tape of Henry last night, and I thought, ‘Holy smoke! Where did they find this guy?’ He’s big. He can be another Stephen Hill or Demaryius Thomas.”
Georgia, as we also know, is rather different: The Bulldogs do pursue the big names, and if there’s any consensus on this class it’s that it’s good on big names. Georgia has garnered promises from the top players in Florida (offensive lineman John Theus) and North Carolina (running back Keith Marshall) but has, as of this writing, only 16 commitments. Which could, suggested Chad Simmons of Scout, be the reason for the disparity in the Bulldogs’ ranking.
Both Scout and Rivals.com have Georgia 21st nationally. ESPN tabs the Bulldogs fifth. “I’m not exactly sure how ESPN goes about it,” said Simmons, “but one thing that could put Georgia down is that they have only 16 commitments. Miami has 32, Alabama has 27, South Carolina has 25. It’s strictly a numbers game on the top end.”
According to Tom Luginbill, the former Tech quarterback who is ESPN’s national recruiting director, numbers are the least of it. “The difference between us and everybody else is that we don’t look at it as a mathematical equation,” Luginbill said. “We dissect the current rosters of the teams — where they’re devoid of talent, what they need to do to address needs and have they done it? … Our way doesn’t allow us to fall back on a numerical head count.”
In ESPN’s considered opinion, Georgia has filled needs nicely. Luginbill mentioned defensive tackles John Atkins of Thomson and Jonathan Taylor of Millen as fits “in the zero technique [meaning nose tackle]” for Todd Grantham’s 3-4 defense. And the addition of Marshall and Todd Gurley should offer depth at tailback, a position at which Georgia ran thin in 2011.
Ran thin? Despite the presence of Isaiah Crowell, the crown jewel of last season’s banner class? Well, yes. Crowell had one of the strangest rookie years in the history of humankind — he was named the SEC’s top freshman, but his absences, due to suspension and injury, left Bulldog fans wanting much more.
Said Simmons of Marshall and Gurley: “These two guys are high school All-Americans. They’re going to push [Crowell] to make him better. I don’t think he maybe he worked as hard as he should have. Marshall is the No. 1 running back in the country — he has the same type of notoriety as Isaiah, the same type of offers.”
The widespread belief is that Georgia could still spring some Signing Day surprises. “It’s a good class right now, but they have to add some pieces,” said Simmons, and he mentioned linebacker Josh Harvey-Clemons of Lowndes and offensive lineman Avery Young of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., both of whom are uncommitted.
Said Newberg: “It leads to a very intriguing Signing Day for Georgia.”
You’ll recall that Georgia’s class of 2011 was so loaded it was christened the Dream Team, and many of those heralded signees have yet to make a splash. Is another banner crop needed so soon? Yes, Newberg said. “The SEC is so competitive you can’t afford a down year. Alabama is recruiting at such an unbelievably high level, you’ve got to at least stay with them.”
If you follow college football, you must take heed of recruiting, and for that reason Signing Day is the single biggest date on the college football calendar. But I’m guessing you knew that already. I’m guessing you’ll stay tuned.
By Mark Bradley
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246 comments Add your comment
Tim Dawg
January 30th, 2012
8:59 pm
Ga. offers to late every year earn your money and sign these guys !!!!!!!!!!!
marseilles mutt
January 30th, 2012
9:01 pm
Is it just me, or does anyone else think that Will Adams, the longtime Tech OL commit has gotten in the middle of UGA and AU’s dog/cat fight over the JuQuay Williams WR, who is his teammate? Kind of a package deal maybe?
As soon as UGA offered, along comes the Barn, and then Adams heads to the “loveliest village” over the weekend with Williams.
Think both Tech and UGA are both about to get reamed on that one. Any thoughts, insights…anyone?
Mr. Thomas Anthony Jones, SR
January 30th, 2012
9:03 pm
Pay the players!!!!
Saban Never Sleeps
January 30th, 2012
9:05 pm
@ marseilles mutt – no worries on that one. The Lee County trailer crew are having their own troubles once the Casino in shorter was shut down and they can no longer pass out the cash cards.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
January 30th, 2012
9:14 pm
Ring Team…now that is funny. The only way UGA gets a ring will be from a box of cereal. You leg humpers talk a great game but you play like sheet and it’s documented. UGA is on the same level as the auburn cow college folks for mouth. Alabama has more NC trophies in the past three years than UGA and Auburn combined has in the past 30 years…More UGA football news and rumors at CryMeARiver.com
Delbert D.
January 30th, 2012
9:15 pm
@ marseilles mutt – regarding your post about keeping kids in state and “El Presidente Adams” setting the bar much higher, the most popular major for the football team has a 2.0 GPA entrance requirement. I don’t think South Carolina or Alabama can accept any lower than that. Adams may still be pursuing the University of Virginia model, but evidently not in all areas.
http://www.fcs.uga.edu/hace/rpm/
Brett
January 30th, 2012
9:15 pm
Richt should try her out at linebacker. Y U C K
http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/training-day/201201/college-footballs-strongest-cheerleader
Facts
January 30th, 2012
9:16 pm
Saban Never Sleeps
January 30th, 2012
9:05 pm
@ marseilles mutt – no worries on that one. The Lee County trailer crew are having their own troubles once the Casino in shorter was shut down and they can no longer pass out the cash cards.
From word down in Lee County, the Trooper Program is now handing out vouchers for “future use” at Victory Land Dog Track.
KB
January 30th, 2012
9:17 pm
Saban rules, The state of Georgia produces many 4 star athletes , far more Georgia could sign on a yearly basis, . Rivals has 25 4 and 5 star recruits from georgia, Bama is signing 4 of them, Of course Georgia would like to sign them all, but can’t happen. its no big coup , some kids want to leave the state, some grew up and have family in Alabama. Richts doing just fine , he 3-1 vs bama and has on 1 more SEC championship than bama since he arrived in Athens.Bamas had a nice run the past few years , congratulations , why don’t you act like you been there before? its been many years ncaa probation, vacated games and bowl bans for bamas return to relevance.
Mr. Thomas Anthony Jones, SR
January 30th, 2012
9:17 pm
If you paid the players, they would make better about where to play. That way a player could fly his parents and family in to see him play. Present system helps crooked coaches like Sabin, and hurt players ad honest coaces!!!!
Mr. Thomas Anthony Jones, SR
January 30th, 2012
9:18 pm
Players should be ableto transfer at will. The coaches change the jobs at will. Athletes are people too.
Jim
January 30th, 2012
9:20 pm
KB
You’ve played Bama once since Saban took over and we know what happened that game. Quit living in the past. Your program is so far below ours it’s not even close.
BG
January 30th, 2012
9:21 pm
GO DAWGS!!!
Saban Never Sleeps
January 30th, 2012
9:26 pm
@KB – Why dont you Leg Humpers keep your pie hole shut about Bama and contain that envy and maybe the Good Folks at Bama will not have to flash those 2 NC rings at you as often. Nice how you use selected memory on head to head. Try 36-25-4..that is over one decade of smack down for you leg humpers. Lucky you have not played since the 2008 total beatdown at the blackout.
Facts
January 30th, 2012
9:29 pm
I think we have UGA’s 2012 Homecoming Queen. She is wearing a UGA cheerleader Uniform, can outbench 1/2 of the UGA incoming freshmen, can out squat the other half, consumes a 3500 calorie diet a day and still maintains that muscular frame while serving as “team of one body guard” for CMR after games.
Columbus
January 30th, 2012
9:30 pm
Avery, UGA baby! Come START for 4 YEARS and lead UGA and yourself to Championships. National Chamiponships. For Richt. Its his time. WE NEED YOU to get there brother! We love you Avery and always will. Come to UGA. It is the ONLY place for you. A PERFECT MATCH.
Ckgator
January 30th, 2012
9:51 pm
See you in Gainesville, Mr. Avery. Coach Muschamp is on the verge of something very special and you’ll be a big part of it.
Go Gators!
Tampa Gator
January 30th, 2012
10:06 pm
Columbus I see you have been smok’n win Crowell again.
Nobis
January 30th, 2012
10:09 pm
First the Dream Team now the Ring Team being lead to the promise land by 35:55minute MURRAY. Hahahah Championships for sure are just around the corner as usual.
Facts
January 30th, 2012
10:11 pm
Nobis
January 30th, 2012
10:09 pm
First the Dream Team now the Ring Team being lead to the promise land by 35:55minute MURRAY. Hahahah Championships for sure are just around the corner as usual.
Not sure to Laugh or use Spell Check/ Grammer Check on that post!
Facts
January 30th, 2012
10:12 pm
Tampa Gator
January 30th, 2012
10:06 pm
Columbus I see you have been smok’n win Crowell again.
He must be hangin with some UF players and their known proficiency for the weed
Nobis
January 30th, 2012
10:15 pm
Facts gets beat up by cheerleaders. http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/training-day/201201/college-footballs-strongest-cheerleader
Facts
January 30th, 2012
10:16 pm
http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2012/01/briarwood_christians_crenshaw.html
Some kids just want to be part of a winning program it seems.
Facts
January 30th, 2012
10:17 pm
Nobis
January 30th, 2012
10:15 pm
Facts gets beat up by cheerleaders. http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/training-day/201201/college-footballs-strongest-cheerleader
Unlike you, I have a college education and I know how to avoid fights, and unlike UGA players I do not strike women. Must be a UGA thing.
Nobis
January 30th, 2012
10:20 pm
Facts
Sanders Comming Ain’t MAN enough to hit that chick.
TheAntiMe
January 30th, 2012
10:39 pm
Wow, Mark, that was just plain mean of you making Taylor Kingsweat it out for his “FIRST!!!” kudos like you did.
When I think of Isiah Crowell, the word “frail” just for some reason comes to the forefront of my memory banks.
Paul in NH
January 30th, 2012
10:44 pm
SugarHillDawg
January 30th, 2012
7:55 pm
230 gr, as long as Tech lineman cut block like cowards y’all will NEVER get stud linemen. What 6-5 or 6-6 kid wants to have to learn to chop block in college when that’s when they HAVE to master the way they block in the pros??
———-
You have it. No offensive linemen cut block in the NFL. Certainly not the 49ers on this run
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oe-fBSn8mfw
Paul in NH
January 30th, 2012
10:56 pm
Jim
January 30th, 2012
9:20 pm
KB
You’ve played Bama once since Saban took over and we know what happened that game
———–
Who was that guy impersonating Nick Saban in Tuscaloosa on 9-22-2007? Whoever it was saw UGA beat ALA 26-23
Facts
January 30th, 2012
11:16 pm
Paul in NH
January 30th, 2012
10:56 pm
Jim
January 30th, 2012
9:20 pm
KB
You’ve played Bama once since Saban took over and we know what happened that game
———–
Who was that guy impersonating Nick Saban in Tuscaloosa on 9-22-2007? Whoever it was saw UGA beat ALA 26-23
Got to love people who want to go back to Saban’s first year at Alabama to make a point….we can proudly say that we did not lose to a UCF team in the Liberty Bowl and the same team that beat UGA in the Outback bowl was pounded one year earlier in the Captiol One bowl by Alabama, and this was UGA’s best team in over 5 years.
Oh yeah by the way, a number 1 ranked UGA team was embarrassed at home by Alabama during a BLACKOUT Game….correct?
Facts
January 30th, 2012
11:36 pm
Total Wins (Since 2008)
Team Wins 2008+2009+2010+2011
Boise State 49 12+14+12+11
ALABAMA 47 12+14+10+11
TCU 46 11+12+13+10
Oregon 43 10+10+12+11
Oklahoma 41 12+8+12+9
BEATING THE BEST: Alabama is 17-6 against the Associated Press Top 25 over the past four
seasons and is 9-4 against AP top 10 teams. The Crimson Tide is 3-1 vs. top 25 teams in 2011.
Alabama went 5-3 against the AP Top 25 last season.
Alabama vs. AP Top 25 Opponents (since the start of the 2008 season)
cdpridg
January 31st, 2012
12:05 am
Jim….another bammer moron….hahahahahaha!!
aladawg
January 31st, 2012
12:08 am
Saban and all the dim wit fans in Alabama suck. Ever heard of Paul Findbaum just listen to his radio talk show and you will all see how ignorant and backward these inbred fans are.
Real Problem
January 31st, 2012
12:09 am
Georgia is having a great year recruiting…..well it depends on how you look at it. Take out Alabama, LSU, Florida, South Carolina, Arkansas maybe Auburn and then we finish with a Top 5 class. Here is the REAL PROBLEM….those teams are all in the SEC. UNTIL we out recruit the big boys we are going to just be fair, maybe good, but not great.
Tide Attorney
January 31st, 2012
12:11 am
While Saint Richt was on a mission trip to Mexico this past weekend Nick Saban was out working him again. 2 verbals after Jr Day from two of the best OL in the USA. No worries puppy dawg fans – not from Georgia. Bwah – no Dream Team from Richt.
War Eagle felon
January 31st, 2012
12:46 am
All high n mighty with ur glass ball we gave to ya and those 2 “verbals”..hell yea!!!!
230gr Full Metal Jacket
January 31st, 2012
12:50 am
Is it even remotely possible for one of these AJC threads to stay on topic??? Newsflash — No one gives a rat’s rear about ‘Bamas PAST record! Or UGA’s! Or any other schools for that matter! This is about guys who have never played a down of collegiate football(yet). About the FUTURE, not the past!! It makes you wonder about our education system sometimes.
War Eagle felon
January 31st, 2012
12:51 am
Tide got 2 verbals…how exhilirating!!!
kb
January 31st, 2012
12:53 am
Jim , you know or remember so little 2007 Saban was bamas coach, Georgia won.
War Eagle felon
January 31st, 2012
12:54 am
Head between legs 2.30 jacket gpa….its about your squimish jackets
kb
January 31st, 2012
12:57 am
Facts, Uga wasn’t ranked #1 in 2008 when they played bama. Fact Bamas still on probation till June of this year. Fact bama vacated all but 2 wins from 2005 through 2007.Fact bama lost to Louisana monroe.
Nicholas natl champ coach
January 31st, 2012
12:58 am
Full Metal and Tide paralegal:.lets get outta here and get a brew and talk about life w/o Trent and Devin!
kb
January 31st, 2012
1:01 am
@saban never sleeps, Whats wrong its no secret bama always cheated.
Preston
January 31st, 2012
2:09 am
Can’t wait for Wednesday! It’s going to be very interesting to see who UGA lands. We need all of them but that’s not realistic so my biggest hope is for the much needed offensive linemen!
too legit to quit
January 31st, 2012
2:36 am
The Recruiting Coor. at GT is just not bigtime D-1, he comes from N.S. State which recruits worse then GT if that is possible. GT and CPJ will hide behind excuses SIGNING DAY, “We don’t care about STARS!” jOHNSON COACHES HIS TALENT UP, it is too hard academically for kids to get in GT. All that stuff but the truth is GT is not doing a good job recruiting in a State that is full of prospects. Everyone is picking them off. The fix is easy, arrogant CPJ needs to release that policy where recruits can’t visit other schools, he needs to get a passing game and hire some high energy recruiter’s who are the opposite of his down-home honest style.
Preston
January 31st, 2012
3:09 am
too legit, CPJ knows that he has to try his best to intimidate kids from visiting other programs because once they get to a real college town with better facilities, they’ll drop tech like a bad habit. I mean, would you rather be in Miami, Athens, Tuscaloosa, Tallahassee……..or downtown Atlanta for your college years? Playing in a stadium rocking with 90,000+ raving fans or the tech stadium that is often likened to a high school? That’s why he does the silly s@#$ that he does and it turns them off quick and they get the 57th best class in the country. Period.
Brian VanGorder's Pornstache
January 31st, 2012
3:17 am
LOL @ all the Tech fans on here pretending to be Bama fans just to troll the Dawg fans. Predictably pathetic.
Stinger2
January 31st, 2012
4:36 am
Jamie Newberg`s comment: Alabama is recruiting at such an incrediably high level. Does anyone except Alabama fans agree with that statement? LOL
East Repeat
January 31st, 2012
6:43 am
I like the cheerleader. My idea of a Damn Good Dawg. Who’s your daddy…..
fayncdawg
January 31st, 2012
7:19 am
Here’s where all you Bamas are failing to see (at least when I read these blog entries). Recruiting is not what makes Bama a great team. IT’S COACHING THAT MAKES THEM A GREAT TEAM! Julio Jones is the only very productive player that was a 5-star recruit! Dawg fans may seem like “oh well you can’t get them all.” I’m one of those Dawg fans that feel that way! Truthfully, I don’t care whether or not they get anymore blue chip recruits. Get to 25 with the last nine being 3-star recruits. I don;t want more blue chip recruits! Recruiting don’t win big games! Good coaching wins big games! Good coaching next season will result in a one regular season loss at the very most (in Columbia) and a solid New Year’s bowl victory! Anything less and well, we might need Saban!
Nauti-dawg
January 31st, 2012
7:24 am
Vols rule…..?….Hahahahaha.