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
Sick Naban
January 31st, 2012
7:33 am
Hey you can’t keep up with me. I typically offer 200 studs then cull. I take 35 – 50 a year and cull again over the summer. I am the master at screwing young men to fill my trophy case. I am very short and need to stand on the shoulders of 5 star high school kids. I am Sick Naban a giant in my own mind and the Crown Prince of Aladamnbama.
Columbus Dawg
January 31st, 2012
7:47 am
Anyone who would even consider Nick Saban for their college head coach is of little or no integrity. The man is a cheating P.O.S. and everyone in the nation and beyond knows this (even a whole lot of idiot Bama people know this too, but rings at any cost are what is important in T-Town), ESPN’s college football pundit ratings falling because no one except the tobacco juice dribbling Tide fans care to hear about how the University of Alabama has the greatest, blah, blah, blah. ESPN will not take Saban’s …out their mouth long enough to even take a breath. Alabama WILL get caught by NCAA again, and when this occurs they will be holding tractor pulls in Bryant-Denney.
Mean while this season will be no different than 2010 when Bama lost three games. Saban will leave ahead of the next sanctions, so Bama is pretty much done. If any of you toothless wonders think for a minute that Saban cares one bit about leaving your little dust bowl as one of the heaviest penalized programs in history, you are even more stupid than I thought, and I’m not sure that is even possible.
If you were going to give the United States an enema, you would have to go in through Alabama. I have never been to Arkansas, so can not compare, but Alabama is almost third world, so football is all they have, until they take that away.
jeff
January 31st, 2012
7:54 am
Recruiting is not as important as people think. How high was last years recruiting class. How High Was Boise States? Who won the first game last year? Does Chris Peterson get all the 5 star recruits? How was Kellen Moore ranked? Think many teams had wished they had gone after him?
Hal
January 31st, 2012
8:06 am
The SEC fans should get down on their knees and thank ESPN for that big TV contract and all that free advertisng you give us throughout the year with special TV programing that just seems to come out of nowhere. It’s just like no other conference has ever played football and has no history but the SEC. Of course ESPN is protecting it’s investment with the SEC. The NCAA just doesn’t make the connection but that is no surprise is it.
tony
January 31st, 2012
8:10 am
If Nick Saban is a cheat then the ncaa is a cheat. If the ncaa is corrupt, then why bother to watch college football. I would take Saban over Mr Richt any day of the week.
Recruits does matter. There’s no way Pete Carrol, Nick Saban or Urban Meyer would of won those championships with Vandy recruits.
Bama teeth
January 31st, 2012
8:29 am
Bama cheats
Dogs Rule
January 31st, 2012
8:34 am
Georgia’s bringing in a bunch of new dream team recruits to stockpile with last year’s group. With all these stars, the dogs should win the SEC east easy again and this time, they will beat lsu for the title–take it to the bank!
Columbus Dawg
January 31st, 2012
8:35 am
There is no one here defending the NCAA, that’s for sure. The NCAA knew full well that Cameron Newton was not eligible under the current 2010 rules, they just were not going to enforce it. The slime ball Slive made sure of it. So yeah, I would say that the NCAA is corrupt. As a Dawg, I can not stand Urban Meyer, but he is not a cheat. Nick Saban and Pete Carroll are, period. Meyer made his complaints known about the lack of control that the NCAA and SEC were willing to exibit, and along with other reasons decided to exit UF. I hate to say it, but you will have to add Spurrier to the list after NCAA pounds him later next month. UGA will win a championship under Coach Richt, and other than a couple of STUPID NCAA secondary violations, will have won it fair and square.
Funny, true story regarding Jordan Jenkins, good friend’s daughter had assigned parking spot next to Jenkins at Harris County High. All this school year at least once a week told Jenkins,”Tuscaloosa is a dump, you need to go to UGA”! Looks like Jenkins agreed!
Columbus Dawg
January 31st, 2012
8:46 am
Come on Bradley, you allow any and everything out of the idiot Bammers, anyone who responds truthfully can’t post?
GT
January 31st, 2012
8:46 am
It amazes me that a college that bases itself on providing educated leaders for the next generation can be so lacking in their feel for a recruit’s character as we see in Georgia. The smell is generally there before recruiting, seldom reported by the press depending heavily on the copy handed them by the school. Football and its writing should be light, it is entertainment, not rocket science, but every year the fog of battle distorts the real value of these players, many uncoachable even if Georgia was top heavy with great coaches which they are not. I think the difference between an Alabama or LSU and now Arkansas and South Carolina is they actually go watch the player in high school and see with their own eyes what he has or doesn’t have. Other SEC coaches let Georgia use up its bullets on a Crowell while they have a Honey Badger salted away off the radar. Football since the time of Bobby Dodd and Vince Dooley, Erk Russell is a game for clever men, poker players, that eat and breath the fun culture of trickery. The lonesome end or fumbleroskey, blood trickling down the face of a bald man, if you ever watch a practice with these guys it was a father playing with his pups. That is missing in Georgia, God knows Richt has tried to instill it, with uniforms or swimming parties but the charisma is just not there. Smart has got it, Miles is eaten up with it,not sure yet about Muschamp but Dooley was a little nerdy when he started and I think Irk got him back to being a fun guy, or maybe being married to Barbara helped. Bobby Dodd was the best, watching him play checkers at Bitsy Grant Tennis Center every day trash talking his opponent was about as entertaining as it gets. These guys would have done it for free and look at the character of their players, ad they became men and lived great lives, food for thought.
Big Crimson 75
January 31st, 2012
8:51 am
I really like what I see from our new 2013 recruits!!
Especially Ruben Foster — Troup Co. LB — think Trey Blackmon with brains!!!!
Watch out. Roll Tide
blue
January 31st, 2012
9:00 am
Simmons needs to learn the definition of the word “notoriety”.
joe
January 31st, 2012
9:03 am
I still get a chuckle every time I see the term “Dream Team”….hahaha. What a crock!
Ricky Tidwell's Mama
January 31st, 2012
9:03 am
HEY!! Jaw’ll hear about Clumpson’s new recruitin’ target? Kerry DeBall? He’s out of Quebec, is 7′ 11″, tips the scales at 614 lbs, can run down the hill at Death Valley without stumblin’, and likes to play offense, defense, special teams, water boy, and the Gatorade-over-the-coaches-head position. He has a 1.2 GPA and rides a Tiger orange and white mo-ped with a horn that plays Hold That Tiguh. But please keep this quiet….he’s Clumpson’s secret commit…..Yeeeeeee Hawwwwwwww! Slap that Rock!!
BigTimeTechFan
January 31st, 2012
9:08 am
A top ten class is a top ten class, I really don’t think there is much difference in 1 or 10. Key is what you do with the ones you get. Look at Miami they are in top 10 only because of numbers of players.
Also Texas normally beats Bama and LSU in recruiting and they have not been all that the last 2 years
Then there is big group where the 20th rated class is not that much different then the 50th rated class. In there is all about team needs
I agree, UGA got a nice class,
Jonathan Taylor and John Atkins at DT – unreal
Marshall and Gurley at RB – unreal
Faton Bauta at QB – he’s sleeper of the class
John Theus a little overrated but Blake Tibbs very underrated
If I had my pick at GT, I would take UGA’s class over Bama’s
GT has very nice class committed, he’s correct about Travin Henry, dude stood out at Dawg Night, was one of the best players on the field and UGA said they were going to offer him but didn’t, only reason was he did not have national name and it may hurt their recuiting ranking.
From what I’ve seen Travin is Bigger, Taller, faster, hits harder then Josh Harvey-Clemons who is 5 star. I don’t get it.
blue
January 31st, 2012
9:09 am
LHarding Dawg
January 30th, 2012
6:13 pm
The four going to Alabama were ineligible for Georgia, they could’nt make the grade. Good luck to them over at Bama.
So that’s your story, dude? How, pray tell, did they have offers from UGA if they were ineligible?
Nobis
January 31st, 2012
9:18 am
Is all this following young boys lives got you feeling Sanduscky Like? call 800-Man-Love..LOL
Freddie Blassie
January 31st, 2012
9:20 am
I wanna be a MAVEN; maybe even a BUFF (If I don’t make MAVEN). But definitely MAVEN would be swell.
True Dawg Fan
January 31st, 2012
9:25 am
Bamaman
January 30th, 2012
6:40 pm
Clearly you didnt watch the video of Matthews and Foster. Matthews baisically rated him out that he was flipping to UGA. go ahead and take Robert N. His HS coach played for bama and has pushed him there the whole time (Even didnt give Robert our coaches phone number saying he “forgot” too.
So you take Robert and we will take Foster and Matthews.
And FYI only reason you have gotten some of our best talent lately is bc Satan has been spinning negative stories to recruits about UGA since they were in 10th grade. See Jordan Jenkins as the prime example.
Look at the bottom of your class its complete crap, you have some big names this year but from top to bottom you can see the huge disparity. but thats what happens when you try and offer every 4 and 5* in the country and see what happens.
True Dawg Fan
January 31st, 2012
9:26 am
Bamaman
January 30th, 2012
6:40 pm
Clearly you didnt watch the video of Matthews and Foster. Matthews baisically rated him out that he was flipping to UGA. go ahead and take Robert N. His HS coach played for bama and has pushed him there the whole time (Even didnt give Robert our coaches phone number saying he “forgot” too.
So you take Robert and we will take Foster and Matthews.
And FYI only reason you have gotten some of our best talent lately is bc Satan has been spinning negative stories to recruits about UGA since they were in 10th grade. See Jordan Jenkins as the prime example.
Look at the bottom of your class its complete cr ap, you have some big names this year but from top to bottom you can see the huge disparity. but thats what happens when you try and offer every 4 and 5* in the country and see what happens.
This is a GA newspaper
January 31st, 2012
9:27 am
So shut the $%&* up about Alabama. They ain’t unbeatable. Get a life.
True Dawg Fan
January 31st, 2012
9:27 am
Big Crimson 75
January 31st, 2012
8:51 am
Foster will flip sorry. He will 100% be a dawg. Watch the video on ESPN of him and Matthews his BF who is committed to UGA already. Matthews rats him out basically that he will be flipping to the good guys.!
1eyedJack
January 31st, 2012
9:28 am
I was going to pay Coach Satan and Coach Fishfry a compliment, but after reading a page of these posts I changed my mind. Screw ‘em and the mule they rode in on.
This is a GA newspaper
January 31st, 2012
9:29 am
UGA beats LSU in title game and beats USC for the NC. Go ahead and mark it down.
True Dawg Fan
January 31st, 2012
9:30 am
blue
January 31st, 2012
9:09 am
They arent inelligable dont know what he is talking about but watch out for 1-2 of those 4 to flip to UGA tom (BG and possibly Geno) They can have Lee if he is that butt hurt about getting offered after his junior year.
As for them offering Ramsey, hahahahahahahhahahaha he wouldnt flip unless Richt is gone so…….. Keep Dreaming bamatards.
This is a GA newspaper
January 31st, 2012
9:30 am
#1 defense in the nation will reside at Athens next season.
This is a GA newspaper
January 31st, 2012
9:31 am
A building will be named after Coach Grantham. CMR will take on the playcalling and let BoBo coach the QB’s.
True Dawg Fan
January 31st, 2012
9:32 am
This is a GA newspaper
What else would bama fans have to do if they didnt spew there sell indulged garbarge everywhere?? Bama finishes 3rd in the west next year mark it down.
True Dawg Fan
January 31st, 2012
9:33 am
Mark your filters s u c k
Bobo is Not the Problem
January 31st, 2012
9:36 am
Sillly Goose — my sentiments exactly. People who get geeked up about recruiting have too little going on in their lives. It is a total crapshoot and pretty irrelevant. Wake me up on opening day.
Bobo is Not the Problem
January 31st, 2012
9:36 am
Oh, and FIRE MARK RICHT.
Bobo is Not the Problem
January 31st, 2012
9:37 am
And what’s the latest on the Richt contract extension? Silence is telling me it’s not forthcoming. Which is EXACTLY is as it should be, if you are not going to do the best thing for this program and FIRE HIM.
Gary
January 31st, 2012
9:40 am
CPJ and VT get it done by playing in the ACC. We have to contend with a regular season or Dome meeting with LSU or Alabama. Alabam was stacked last year and stands to grab 10 to 15 of the top 100 players in the nation before signing day ends. I do not know how any team will be able to battle that level of depth in the next three years. They will have guys on the bench better than most of the players on the teams they are competing against. The fact is Saban, as much as I hate him and his tactics, is stacking his team beyond anything any other conference can develop. The biggest advantage most schools will have is that they will not have to play Bama unless they get a title shot. USC and Stanford and Ok State can brag about how good they are but the numbers are clear, they will not have the talent that Bama will put on the field. Even LSU is going to struggle to keep up. I hope my dawgs get to the dome, but I seriously doubt anyone is going to touch the monster Bama is building.
Univ. of Bammer Fightin' Sanduskys
January 31st, 2012
9:42 am
The Dawgs will have a hard time pulling OL recruits with that inbred offensive coordinator and fat body OL coach. There’s no Grantham – like fire on the offensive side of the ball. Those boys need some additude…some swagger!
Bammer fans – don’t y’all have somewhere to be? A NAMBLA meeting perhaps? If you can’t keep it in your pants, keep it in the family!
Bama Ramma
January 31st, 2012
9:56 am
Bama’s cleaning up in recruiting again—#1 class! Saban’s reloading for more title runs to add to the 14 titles in the Bama trophy case! Mark this down—bama wins the SEC and plays usc for the title in 2012!
anonymous
January 31st, 2012
10:04 am
typical silly dawgs fan: predicting a National Title when the game at Suoth Carolina ain’t even been played yet.
anonymous
January 31st, 2012
10:05 am
“South”
True Dawg Fan
January 31st, 2012
10:09 am
Bobo is Not the Problem
January 31st, 2012
9:36 am
Recruiting irrelevant???? wow your dumb
True Dawg Fan
January 31st, 2012
10:10 am
Bobo is Not the Problem
January 31st, 2012
9:37 am
He is focusing on recruiting and he will get his justified extension shortly after. Run along clown UGA doesnt need fans like you. Go jump on the bama train you sound like you would fit in with that bunch of losers.
True Dawg Fan
January 31st, 2012
10:11 am
Gary
January 31st, 2012
9:40 am
Gary they have nothing for next this coming season and will finish 3rd in the west
True Dawg Fan
January 31st, 2012
10:14 am
Bama Ramma
January 31st, 2012
9:56 am
hahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahaha 14??? funny how bamatards include the ones were they finished in the 20s of the rankings and claimed a title simply bc they felt they earned it hahahahahahahaha
Bama doesnt have 14 titles sorry little man.
And the bottom of your recruiting class is a joke, but keep believing rivals hahahahahahaha the most biased recruiting site in the world.
Bama finishes 3rd in the west and once AGAIN sits at home during December
True Dawg Fan
January 31st, 2012
10:15 am
anonymous
January 31st, 2012
10:04 am
SC loses by 14 this year sorry. You havent gotten your new magic 8 ball I see.
D man
January 31st, 2012
10:16 am
I’m a lifelong Dawg fan who’s son choose to go to Bama. I have learned alot about the Bama football program over the last three years. It cracks me up reading this blog with all the back and forth between Dawg and Tide fans. Thruth is, both teams are great at recruiting solid prospects. The biggest differance I see is in the coaching styles between the two schools. Sabans players are afraid of him and Marks players sing cumbaya with him. Sabans men refuse to fail and Marks men get a pat on the head when they fail. It’s obvious to me which style works best to achieve wins and losses. Both coaches do a great job at molding young men into men, but Saban gets results on the field where Mark fails. I still believe Mark can lead the Dawgs to a NC but he will need to grow as a coach before that will happen. Let’s hope it is sooner than later. Thats all I have to say about that…
UGA Insider
January 31st, 2012
10:16 am
I am hearing plenty of surprises tomorrow afternoon. I’m starting to believe this is by design. i talked to a high school coach who says Bobo told him personally the class is full. How does he know that we only have 16 commitments??
ESPN says Tech is the second-worst at keeping in-state talent | Mark Bradley
January 31st, 2012
10:18 am
[...] viewpoint. Just yesterday, ESPN recruiting correspondent Jamie Newberg was lauding Georgia Tech for its success in finding prospects of lesser portfolio. But now comes LaRue Cook of ESPN the Magazine to serve as the bad [...]
True Dawg Fan
January 31st, 2012
10:21 am
D man
January 31st, 2012
10:16 am
Satan also doesnt give a crap about his players or molding them into young men to further their lives. Fell sorry for your son that you let him go to that hell hole. For his sake I hope he doesnt get injured or your tune will change when the medical redshirt gets thrown his way or he gets cut to make room for another recruit. (Granted I dont believe one bit that you have a kid playing for Bama, but playing along).
Saban = Satan
True Dawg Fan
January 31st, 2012
10:26 am
UGA Insider
Well the AJC is r e t a r d e d Sheldon Dawson committed to us last night night, number 11 CB and a great althete that can play both sides of the ball.
Also most of these kids have already told UGA their intensions. JHC , AY, and CP are all Dawgs
Josh Dawson and Jaquay Williams should be as well totaling 22.
Then you have the 2 surprise DBs. We def get one (Plan B) but have a great shot to get the bigger Plan A guy. And if no one else commits Plan B guy will also get a scholly.
Nobis
January 31st, 2012
10:26 am
True Dwag Fan you really need to get a friend. Are you going to respond to EVERY post?
True Dawg Fan
January 31st, 2012
10:26 am
@ Insider
Well the AJC is never on top of things. we landed Sheldon Dawson last night to give us 17 and will be great in the boykin/smith roll.
True Dawg Fan
January 31st, 2012
10:27 am
Nobis
January 31st, 2012
10:26 am
hahahahahaha really internet friends dont count???
You must be new. Run along little troll before you get owned too