ESPN: Tech is the second-worst at keeping in-state talent
Jonathan Dwyer: One of the exceptions who proves the rule. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
One of the charms about ESPN is that the Worldwide Leader has enough correspondents to satisfy every 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 cop.
Georgia Tech, Cook writes, is the nation’s second-worst program at attracting high-end in-state players. (Only Arizona keeps Tech from being No. 1.) Cook’s rationale: Over the past five years, the Jackets have landed only two of the 74 Georgia recruits ranked in ESPN’s top 150.
Wait. It gets worse.
Neither of the two — Jonathan Dwyer and Morgan Burnett — was landed by Paul Johnson and staff. Those two were signed by Chan Gailey, who last coached Tech in 2007. Only one Tech signee under Johnson, Cook writes, has cracked the ESPN 150, and that was Vad Lee of North Carolina.
More from Cook (link requires registration): “Over the last five years, Alabama and Auburn have combined for 10 blue-chip preps out of the Peach State, while Florida and Florida State have combined to sign nine.”
As has been noted a time or two in this space and others, Tech under Johnson hasn’t been shopping at the same ritzy store as do the big SEC programs — so we can’t say Cook’s findings are a shock. Still, there’s something about seeing the chilling number (2-for-74) that drives the point home. Thank goodness for Arizona, huh?
By Mark Bradley
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746 comments Add your comment
George Stein
January 31st, 2012
6:04 pm
What’s the individual’s name, Rocketman?
lance manion
January 31st, 2012
6:04 pm
In the meantime, any word on the UGA thug who was arrested for beating his girl friend? Did Richt bail him out yet? I’m sure he will miss a few plays in the beginning of the cupcake first game. Wow, maybe that best describes the difference between the two programs.
RocketMan
January 31st, 2012
6:07 pm
Anna Watson
Mama Says
January 31st, 2012
6:09 pm
I took the time to look up these numbers. You can judge the impact for yourselves.
Total school enrollment, per SEC and ACC
Fl — 51,474
Al— 31,747
GA — 35,520
Fl ST– 40,838
AU— 25,078
TECH — 20,487
I my view not only is Tech limited in grades it is limited in comparative resources and spots. This in turn means less appeal. So there is more going into recruiting than who the coach is. No other coach at Tech has ever recruited good when compared to the big schools, it’s like asking a player if they want a Taurus or a Hummer. Just because one is better for you does not mean that is the one u pick
gtyj
January 31st, 2012
6:18 pm
ESPN is about like Mel Kiper, Jr. All they do is bump gums. Kiper makes all of these predictions on these great HS players, where they will go in the draft, then ends up with egg on his face most of the time. You recruit your needs. Sure it is nice to say we got this 4 star or this 5 star player or players, but how many of them pan out. Look at UGA. Based on recruiting rankings over the last 5 years, for the most part they have signed stellar classes with all the ESPN 150 players coming in. How many SEC titles have they won? How many Championships have they played for? I believe none. Look at FSU & Clemson. Based on ratings of players excellent. Should be playing for Conference Championships each and every year. All that good. Should be playing in top tier bowl games. Don’t see to many they have played for. Recruit your needs and forget about ESPN so called rankings of players.
Dude
January 31st, 2012
6:18 pm
Mama Says
too high- that is grad and undergrad
rlm
January 31st, 2012
6:20 pm
Hey these guys are afraid they might have to study. Most know they can not make it at Tech. Most football players are bozos who are just not that educated.
Nobis
January 31st, 2012
6:24 pm
Rocket man………..I know a kid….HAHAH SURE you do. PROOF when you make those claims.
Tech doesn’t have all the Special Admits UGa does and that is a FACT. In 04 UGa had +90% Special admits on the football team. It has dropped to 73% now.
Mama Says
January 31st, 2012
6:25 pm
I am just saying. The numbers shown by the schools are reflective of school/enrollment size. Either way Tech is much smaller than those who we tend to compare them to. Statistically wouldn’t we get less major talent than they do
Columbus
January 31st, 2012
6:26 pm
DUH! Richt has put a major dent in the in-state talent leaving GA, making UGA the place to go for in-state players and ALSO bringing in some of the best players from other states. TEch’s problem is that wishbone offense and UGA whipping them since Richt arrived. Richt is the man…..
Roy
January 31st, 2012
6:28 pm
Let’s face it who wants to play for a second tier team if you want to be the best you need to play with the best players in the country. Go SEC!
Bigeasy830
January 31st, 2012
6:30 pm
Mr. Bradley, you and i had a long argument about who should be coach of Tech before they hired Paul Johnson, I wanted Chris Hatcher, I think you did also but our main argument was about Coach paul Johnson’s scheme. I said no Blue Chip talent especially on offense wanted to be in that system because those 4 and 5 star kids have visions of the NFL dancing in their heads. And it’s all about playing in a pro style system that will make you more attractive to the Pros. You were right about one thing Coach Johnson can definitely coach but i was right about another thing, those 4and 5 star recruits just don’t wanna play in that system. Tech’s team got worse as Chan Gailey’s talent graduated. Now Tech is a welled coached team with sub-par talent. You can win most games in college football with talent alone, just look at my UGA Bulldogs. 2 seasons ago when GT and UGA played, it was such a bad game I turned the TV off. One team UGA had loads of talent but terrible coaching and GT had great coaching but no talent.
Free Fried Fish and Hushpuppies
January 31st, 2012
6:31 pm
Watching this team flounder never gets old.
See what I did there?
Mama Says
January 31st, 2012
6:32 pm
Come on Columbus
Even though I am a Tech fan I would have to say. Ga has beaten Tech the majority of the time. Only recently, against this offense, have you had major problems stopping Tech.
Tech cannot recruit because it is not the “state” school.
Compare the schools state by state, u will see that is the case in most instances
@gtyj
January 31st, 2012
6:32 pm
Don’t you find it odd that what little success GT had over the past 5 years were tied to the recruiting class in 2007. How many games you think PJ would’ve won in 2008 and 2009 without Dwyer, D.Morgan,M. Burnett, Nesbitt, Roddy Jones and company? Who has PJ brought in to replace this talent? Even UGA has won 10 or more games 3 times the past 5 years playing in much more difficult conference.
Mama Says
January 31st, 2012
6:35 pm
Tech was worse under Gailey folks, why do you rely on this Gailey recruiting argument ?
Rick James
January 31st, 2012
6:35 pm
@Vince
January 31st, 2012
5:49 pm
I think that S. Carolina has more commits from the state of Georgia than UGA. Now, not only do we make Auburn and Alabama great, we are also the main supplier of talent to S. Carolina !!!!!!
————————————————————————————————————————————
Just because SC has more commits from Georgia does not mean that they got the best nor does it mean that they got players that Georgia was targeting.Georgia took the number one prospects in four states.Florida,Georgia,Tennesee and North Carolina.Not a bad job..
GTBob
January 31st, 2012
6:39 pm
I thought you had a coach that split a national title in 1990..He seemed to recruit well enough to get that done.
Aside from that season he went 20-26 and only had one 8 win season. It’s certainly possible to pull off a good season every once in a while at GT, its just too hard to win or recruit consistently.
Interesting
January 31st, 2012
6:43 pm
I get the feeling MB has been sitting on this article for a few weeks. He needed something of a last minute stab at GT. Its amazing his other team favorite team has only filled 70% of their scholarships and he wants to critize this team for state prospects. I believe a lot of schools in the south have out done UGA and Tech this year. Home talent leaving to a lot of other schools.
SuperB
January 31st, 2012
6:59 pm
Hey “yellow jacket:” As a UGA grad., one of the best-looking (and sexy) girls I ever met was a GT coed (and ME major.) Wow!!!!!**** But…………..Georgia just has some nay gorgeous girls it’s insane!!!!
Hoopster
January 31st, 2012
7:25 pm
Seriously, do you people not see how skewed this study is? It’s a horrible study and horrible journalism to cover it. Bogus on both fronts.
WHAT HAVE UGA WON LATELY
January 31st, 2012
7:26 pm
EVERYBODY WANTS TO GET RID OF CPJ WELL WHY NOT MARK RICHT HE HAVE A QUOTE UNQUOTE DREAM TEAM EVERY YEAR AND THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR IN FIVE OR SIX YEARS THEY’VE MADE IT TO A GAME THAT MEANS SOMETHING AND JUST THREE REMOVED TECH WON A ACC CHAMPIONSHIP NO MATTER WHAT THE NCAA SAYS ONLY WHY JUST MADE IT ANY WEAR WAS BECAUSE OF A FAVORABLE SCHEDULE NEAR THE END OF THE SEASON WHERE IS TECH DONT GET ALL OF THERE HARD GAMES UNTIL THE END OF THE SEASON AND STILL EVERY YEAR THERE ONE OR TWO LOSSES AWAY FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP WHERE IF UGA EVER PLAY THE PEOPLE EVERY YEAR THEY’RE SUPPOSED TO THEY WOULDNT HAVE A CHANCE IN THE SEC. I SAY ALL OF THAT TO SAY THIS NO ONE EXPECT TECH TO DO ANYTHING FROM YEAR TO YEAR AND THATS WHY ITS SO GREAT TO BE A TECH FAN NO EXPECTION SO WE FLY UP UNDER THE RADAR UNLIKE UGA THEY HAVE HIGH EXPECTION EVERY SO THERE OVER THE RADAR SO WHEN THEY LOSE ONE GAME MEANING THE OLD BALL COACH GAME THERE DONE EVERY YEAR AND YOU HAVE WIDESPREAD PANIC SO GOOD LUCK UGA ILL STICK WITH BEING A TECH FAN GO BULLDOGS DREAM 20 12
swarmi
January 31st, 2012
7:27 pm
Good thing Columbus did not only stay in his state….in 1492.
1 4 GT
January 31st, 2012
7:32 pm
Where can I see a picture of this cheerleader???
Direct Hit
January 31st, 2012
7:33 pm
Richt and Georgia hit on almost everyone of the top players they had on their board. They missed a couple but overall have done a good job.
GT = Dumpster Fire
January 31st, 2012
7:34 pm
Can’t recruit, can’t coach, crummy facilities, crummy alumni support = dumpster fire.
georgytech
January 31st, 2012
7:39 pm
Perhaps the “in state talent’ is failing Tech by not having the academic credentials necessary . If they don’t want to play at Tech ,Tech will find someone that will.
FIRECPJ
January 31st, 2012
7:48 pm
Ca we fire these clowns that we called coaches!!!!!!! JESUS GT open your eyes that coach fish fry is driving the rambling wreck into the ditch!
Birmingham Jacket
January 31st, 2012
7:49 pm
I had box seats 1 year ago.
Gave them up.
This regime, Paul Johnson, et. al. is like Obama.
Screw Tech. I’m buying Braves tickets.
FIRECPJ
January 31st, 2012
7:51 pm
Most TECH fans can not see what it takes to win a NC! You idiots support the coach who ever it is! Just bc CPJ is the head man does not mean he is getting the job done! ALL IM GOING TO SAY IS HE IS NOT GETTING THE RECRUTIS THAT UGA IS GETTING. GT IS NOT MATCHING UP POINT BLANK.
lance manion
January 31st, 2012
7:52 pm
Birmingham Jacket, you are a troll. Get lost.
FIRECPJ
January 31st, 2012
7:53 pm
HAHA THATS RIGHT SCREW GT. If they are going to let this BS continue to happen why in the hell should i spend my hard earned money on GT????? Unitl they fire CPJ i will not attend a football game!
Georgia who?
January 31st, 2012
7:53 pm
Enter your comments here
FIRECPJ
January 31st, 2012
7:56 pm
Between Gailey and Johnson they have drove the rambling wreck into the DITCH!
Georgia who?
January 31st, 2012
7:56 pm
This just in tech second worst at everything except bein nerds,number 1 at that!
Buzz 2011
January 31st, 2012
7:58 pm
Better second worse than having the worst sports writer in the country. A one Mark Bradley!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!You are a dawg of a reporter……..
Dawg48
January 31st, 2012
7:59 pm
Heard Saban pulle Dalvin Tomlinsons Scholly today.
Georgia who?
January 31st, 2012
8:04 pm
I agree Bradley sucks!
JB
January 31st, 2012
8:07 pm
Tech recruiting= 10 of 11…. We ain’t beating you with coaching…..just better athletes. You know it. We know it.
FIRECPJ
January 31st, 2012
8:10 pm
How can you people say this about bradley?? All the guy did was write about the facts that are true! GT sucks at recruting! If GT recruiting was so damn good then we would have played for a national championship by now or not have lost to UGA 10 out of 11. Some of you people are damn idiots and dont know a damn thing about how college football works!
Buzz 2011
January 31st, 2012
8:10 pm
Could be that GT actually requires their student/ athletes to maintain grade standards. Note, your favorite school here in Georgia allow players with “minimal” grade averages who can run fast.. This translates into the quality student/ athlete that GT wants and the lack of quality in the Geogia high school system.Think it over Bradley and see if you can deduce meaning here.
stinger
January 31st, 2012
8:11 pm
Crazy system, Crazy coach…goes for 4 and 10 on his on 10…the guy is an idiot..I’m sure the other coaches love recruiting against him…what an easy job.
lance manion
January 31st, 2012
8:11 pm
Come on Mark Bradley. You still have more time to write another hatchet piece on Tech. Signing day is not until tomorrow. It is truly pitiful when you work for the home town paper and try to make an issue in the final minutes of recruiting by quoting an ESPN story that has little credibility. You did not try to add your research, you just post it like some of the crap the the idiot bloggers here post. That said, I’ve seen you do hit pieces on Georgia State too. Never saw Outlar or Bisher do that. They wrote thoughtful pieces, positive and negative, but never would pull what you do. Your paper is dying, we are all using this stuff you post free of charge and your career (the entire newspaper industry) is in its last days. Guess you can write on Blogspot in the future when this paper retires you. You should be ashamed of yourself.
FIRECPJ
January 31st, 2012
8:11 pm
THANK YOU JB!!!!!!!! i am a tech fan but its the damn truth! TECH can not match up with teams like UGA LSU BAMA UF AUB USC ORG TEX and etc GT does not have the players! POINT BLANK SIMPLE
Buzz 2011
January 31st, 2012
8:14 pm
FIRECPJ…….You are brilliant aren’t you!!! Get on the Dawg train and off the Tech wagon. We will hire Bobby Dodd again next week!!!
bobby
January 31st, 2012
8:14 pm
ALOT HAS TO DO WITH PAUL JOHNSON TAKING AWAY A KID’S SCHLOARSHIP IF HE TAKES A VISIT TO ANTHOER SCHOOL WHILE COMMITTED TO TECH LET’S FACE AIN’T NO BIG TIME RECURIT FROM THE STATE OF GEORGIA IS GOING TO PUT UP WITH THAT NONSENSE BECUASE HE ONLY MAKES THE CHOICE ONCE AND IT’S A HUGE DECISION HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE OTHER VISITS BECAUSE COACH JOHNSON RECRUITS OTHER KIDS THAT ARE COMMITTED TO OTHER SCHOOLS.
lance manion
January 31st, 2012
8:14 pm
FIRECPJ is also a troll who never attended Tech or any college for that matter. You can tell by his semi-literate rants. I’m sure UGA would not claim him either.
FIRECPJ
January 31st, 2012
8:18 pm
14-12 in the past two season.Three straight loses to UGA. 1-3 vs VT 1-3 vs Miami 1-3 vs UGA. the only team he he can beat that out recrutis him is Clemson. Call me a troll write whatever you need to make yourself feel better. FACE GT IS ON THE DOWN FALL WITH CPJ IN CHARGE. AFTER HE LOSES TO UGA THIS YEAR I WANT YOU TO BOW DOWN TO ME ! BECAUSE HIS ASS WILL BE FIRED ! CAN THAT LAST SAT IN NOV. GET HERE FAST ENOUGH!
Twilb Dawg
January 31st, 2012
8:22 pm
Tech fans, your football program is a joke. Your coach is a joke. You will always be Georgia’s little brother.
“Georgia Tech doesn’t deserve to have Georgia in their name” — Joe T. Jr.
lance manion
January 31st, 2012
8:22 pm
Very succinct FIRECPJ. Seriously, I need a translator to read that mess. Based on your writing, you don’t have a college degree, are not a Tech Fan and never spent a dime at Grant Field. No one would bow down to you and your bad attitude. Maybe you can get on the band wagon up at Kennesaw State if they start a football program.