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
oleyeller
January 31st, 2012
9:28 pm
And I can promise you that was not Supersize.
JB
January 31st, 2012
9:28 pm
Super, keep it in perspective. It’s a game.
JB
January 31st, 2012
9:29 pm
oleyeller. I know him. He lives in the augusta area……But I’ve NEVER heard him say a bad word about Tech. NEVER. You may be right.
lance manion
January 31st, 2012
9:34 pm
OK, dawg fans. You are bragging about your recruits, lets take a look at some of the recent ones. Most of these recruits were four or five star players. I’d rather have Tech’s three star kids. Most of them, stay out of jail. By the way, UGA fans, you really lead in this category too.
Alec Ogletree – theft by taking
Montez Robinson, simple battery, family violence, criminal damage,
Zach Mettenberger, sexual battery
Jordan Love, obstruction of a police officer
How embarrassing.
oleyeller
January 31st, 2012
9:43 pm
JB the real Super is a night owl, I’ve rarely seen him show up until after 10:00. Anyway we communicate a good deal and he is not changing his colors or support.
GaTechFanForever
January 31st, 2012
9:45 pm
Interesting twist on the stats. If this is a referendum on Paul Johnson at least give him his coaching due. He has done very well for someone has hasn’t had the cream of the crop. Imagine if he had UGA’s talent. The BIG question is whether the recruiting is limited as a result of CPJ or all the challenges the GA Tech presents such as high academics, ACC, relatively small state school with limited majors, small TV, small radio, small newspaper coverage (see AJC google shortcut links laid out by the AJC). I for one am VERY thankful we have one the BEST gameday coach’s at GA Tech.
lance manion
January 31st, 2012
9:48 pm
Hey forever, I’m with you. Good crop of kids coming in and there will be a few more. I too am a life long Tech fan, and really like our coach. You hit the nail on the head. Good points made….
GaTechFanForever
January 31st, 2012
9:57 pm
PS Remember this is the same ESPN that does not have Francis Kallon and Thomas in the ESPN top 150. Both are ranked with a score of “80″ and 4star. Interesting that starting at ESPN #88 – #150 all players have 4stars and score “80″. I guess one more grading point these guys would be at least #87. A score of “81″ could put a guy ranked #55 in the country. I think I’ll take my chances with these two guys. Kallon is a beast and Thomas lead his high school team to an AL state championship with his 4.3 speed. GO JACKETS
GTBob
January 31st, 2012
10:01 pm
Don’t they work? You know, the smart ones.
The smart ones work when they want to work.
GaTechFanForever
January 31st, 2012
10:02 pm
If only we could get players who have a signing holding a baby jacket.
oleyeller
January 31st, 2012
10:03 pm
GTfan, don’t forget the wide receiver at 6′3 and a 4.5, 40 signing on. May be the next D. Thomas. A real sleeper.
greta
January 31st, 2012
10:04 pm
Hey Dan -
Have you considered asking if
Georgia Southern would swap coaches?
CPJ is sloppy and arrogant
CPJ – Insults the challenged, (the grads you represent don’t)
Insults our graduates (Including CEO of large retailer explicitly)
same breath – nice
You (cpj) represent us, we pay your large sloppy salary. enjoy while it last.
And now these violations while under scrutiny – did someone say sloppy? arrogant? cant blame this on a player.
Hey CPJ, A response and apology are not expected – arrogant and above your head.
Responsibility can not be delegated.
lance manion
January 31st, 2012
10:05 pm
Forever, again, excellent points. I follow Tech closely and you really are spot on. I have four season tickets since 1985. Been a fan as far back as the early to mid ’60s. Johnson is a good fit for Tech and we are doing fine. That said I would love to see 9 or 10 wins next year!
GaTechFanForever
January 31st, 2012
10:08 pm
Oleyeller, I saw highlights of him playing defense. He will not be shy throwing the blocks. He can really catch as well.
Direct Hit
January 31st, 2012
10:10 pm
Gatechfanforever, Part of PJs job description includes recruiting, overseeing the entire team . Bad special teams , bad defense , One dimensional offense . It all fall on PJ. If he had Georgias talent. If he had the experience or the know how to recruit that type talent. Where would he have learned it. Ga. Southern, Navy, or maybe while he was an offensive coordinator at Hawaii they had recruiting battles with San Jose State.Kallon is a project and for a staff that has shown zero propensity for developing talent makes him a reach.
oleyeller
January 31st, 2012
10:11 pm
GT.Fan, he also played tailback in the shotgun and just ran around people.
oleyeller
January 31st, 2012
10:14 pm
Unlike Stephen Hill, he could also catch the ball when it was thrown at him. In addition I also saw a one handed catch in the highlights.
Direct Hit
January 31st, 2012
10:19 pm
Oleyeller, And you think this 1aa staff will turn him into anything?
GTBob
January 31st, 2012
10:19 pm
Kallon is a project and for a staff that has shown zero propensity for developing talent makes him a reach.
Pretty much every player coming out of high school is a project.
oleyeller
January 31st, 2012
10:22 pm
Direct Hit, look up the record of Ga. Tech coaches in the first 5 years of duty. I think you will find Paul Johnson right at the top. As far as developing talent. I would chose him over CMR any day as a teacher of developing talent. CMR recruits stars who fail who never gets coached up to the next level. P.J recruits based on his needs and develops them to the next level.
1 4 GT
January 31st, 2012
10:25 pm
I’ll guarantee that troll is not the real Supersize that order mutt!!!!!!!
oleyeller
January 31st, 2012
10:26 pm
Direct Hit, I think if I am not mistaken. This one show pony you are referring to has 2 top wide receivers in the NFL right now all graduating under P.J. I believe a couple of them are pro bowl material. Obviously this staff did something right. Where are your pro bowl receivers?
Dawglasville
January 31st, 2012
10:36 pm
oleyeller – sorry to impose but I’m pretty sure that Hines Ward will be in the HOF. Oh, and AJ Green had a pretty good rookie season.
Dawglasville
January 31st, 2012
10:38 pm
lance manion – How is Honey Boy Wilson?
oleyeller
January 31st, 2012
10:48 pm
Douglasville, Hines Ward is without a doubt the greatest wide receiver ever to come from this state. Class and talent is at the top of the NFL. If I had a vote in the hall of fame he would be at the top of my list. I did not keep up with A.J. Green this year, hope he made the all star team with the Tech no talented receivers.
Dawglasville
January 31st, 2012
10:57 pm
I have a bit of a man crush on Hines (even after the DWTS crap). Any wide out who is not afraid to bow up and break Ed Reeds jaw is alright by me. AJ broke Collinsworth’s rookie record in Cincy and lead all rookie’s in most catagories except for td’s. (Julio). That said, Once guys leave UGA I don’t go too much out of my way to follow players. I might catch some games after my boys are in bed. That said, Calvin Johnson is a freak (wish he would haved played with David Green) and Thomas had a great year. Tech has always done a good job putting guys in the NFL.
oleyeller
January 31st, 2012
11:08 pm
Dawglasville, thanks we have just not had enough of them. It’s scary to think of Green and Calvin on the same team.
oleyeller
January 31st, 2012
11:10 pm
You now have Stafford and Johnson on the same team. Looks pretty darn good.
TheAntiMe
January 31st, 2012
11:14 pm
While it’s arguably possible to get by with lesser recruits using a gimmicky offense like the triple option, there is no such cover for defense. It was more than obvious this past season that Tech could not stop anyone on defense due to the pronounced lack of talent compared to their opponents.
Tech Engineer
January 31st, 2012
11:24 pm
Chan Gailey was bringing in NFL type players, and his recruiting was getting better every year. Then he was fired, and Tech’s recruiting has not been very good. ADRad is in over his head.
Supersize that order, mutt
January 31st, 2012
11:27 pm
Thanks to those of you who defended me. That post made earlier under my name was DEFINITELY NOT ME.
Supersize that order, mutt
January 31st, 2012
11:31 pm
Anybody who would post under somebody else’s name and use what is pretty much public information about the REAL person to attempt to confirm their identity is pretty damn immature and, as far as I am concerned, a worthless POS
oleyeller
January 31st, 2012
11:32 pm
TheAntiMe, you hit the nail on the head. I do not worry about the offense. This style of offense will score points on anyone. If anyone cares to look, the great teams were always based on defensive ability. Just recently LSU and Alabama, Back to Bobby Dodd, his thoughts were if you could not play defense you will not win consistently. Our coach will not focus on anything but outscoring the opponents. That’s a Kentucky philosophy. It worked at Ga. Southern, but in the big boys league you better get some studs that can play defense and get yourself a defensive coach that can keep up with the game.
oleyeller
January 31st, 2012
11:33 pm
Good to have you back Super.
Supersize that order, mutt
January 31st, 2012
11:34 pm
thanks oleyeller, and thanks again for defending me
Supersize that order, mutt
January 31st, 2012
11:37 pm
oleyeller, I don’t think CPJ ignores the defense, but he DOES emphasize the offense. Who knows how he will ultimately turn out, but I think Groh is doing as good as he can with the material he has, and, reading between the lines, I think he is very instrumental in at least trying to recruit the material he needs. I think he has had some success, and I see a lot of potential in the material he has already been responsible for recruiting, as well, as the commits he has gotten this year. If DT signs with us tomorrow, I think we can thank Groh for getting him, and I think it’s going to be fun to watch him develop.
Direct Hit
January 31st, 2012
11:39 pm
ole yeller , Calvin never played for PJ and Thomas was a Gailey product. Come on yeller boy , give us a list of Pj recruits in the NFL ? Ever heard of AJ green pro bowl as a rookie.? By the way neither Calvin or D.Thomas (not a pro bowl WR) graduated under PJ. Just so you know Georgia the only program to ever produce 3 super bowl MVPS.
Supersize that order, mutt
January 31st, 2012
11:43 pm
@ Direct, since CPJ does a lot of redshirting, he has yet to have many 4th year players on the team to be drafted. Allen was a CPJ recruit (transfer from Louisville) and is now in the NFL.
Supersize that order, mutt
January 31st, 2012
11:44 pm
I should have said he is yet to have many 4th year players who would be in a position to be drafted
oleyeller
January 31st, 2012
11:46 pm
I hope you are correct. It does look as if they are going for more defensive talent this year. If Al insists on running a 3-4 I just hope he has some big 300 lb plus studs in his schemes this year. I just do not see anyone there returning. If you are referring to Dalvin Thomlinson, he is a defensive end. You are correct and he signs this will make this recruitment year a notch above.
Supersize that order, mutt
January 31st, 2012
11:48 pm
oleyeller, IF we get DT, coupled with Kallon and (believe it or not) the Aussie kid. I would say that this year’s recruiting class would be one of the best ever
Direct Hit
January 31st, 2012
11:52 pm
Suoer , Allen was recruited originally by Gailey. so you named 1 7th round pick, everybody redshirts super this is his 5th recruiting class, where are the all acc players, Chan produced quite a few. Pj not so many. Players can leave for the NFL 3 years out of high school redshirt or no redshirt. who has he recruited that matches up with Dwyer, Thomas, Johnson, P. Wheeler, Vance Walker < . Johnson, d Morgan, Morgan Burnette?? just to name a few. Again this is his 5th recruiting class.
oleyeller
January 31st, 2012
11:57 pm
Direct hit, did not think we were talking about who recruited who. Just talent coming out of the two schools. By the way Thomas did play in his final year for Johnson. How many years do you go back here. Just so I get a reference of what you are talking about. I can go back to Joe Guyton in 1917.
Supersize that order, mutt
January 31st, 2012
11:57 pm
Direct, Allen may have been recruited by Gailey, but he didn’t sign with Gailey; he signed with Louisville and transferred to Tech under Johnson. Granted he hasn’t recruited the equivalent of a Dwyer, but I think you will begin to see the accolades coming to a few of his recruits this coming year. And you are crazy to include P Wheeler in your list. Wheeler was the most inconsistent player we had; he played when he wanted to. Was he good when he wanted to? YES, but he sure wasn’t good week in and week out. I was glad when he finished up at Tech
Supersize that order, mutt
January 31st, 2012
11:58 pm
LOL @ oleyeller
Supersize that order, mutt
February 1st, 2012
12:00 am
Hasn’t Omoregie Uzzi made All ACC? I can guarantee you he will get drafted.
Supersize that order, mutt
February 1st, 2012
12:00 am
Attaochu will too when his time comes
it is what it is
February 1st, 2012
12:07 am
fire Andy McCollum and bring back Giff Smith. McCollum was supposedly hired because of his instate recruiting experience being from this state, Hasn’t worked..and while you are at it, fire Al Groh.
oleyeller
February 1st, 2012
12:12 am
Giff is not coming back. I would agree however the defense needs to to play the way it was played under Dodd and O’leary. I don’t know what it would take but with the defense these guys brought to the table, I doubt no more than two losses a season.
1 4 GT
February 1st, 2012
12:17 am
I’ve been on here off and on all day in between doing other stuff. These Georgie dwags amaze me. Some of them have been for hours getting their jollies by piling on GT. I could care less about their school or their sports teams or anything that even remotely refers to Georgie. I will admit to a smidgen of jealousy over their football success, but no where near the apparent obsession they have with denigrating all things concerning GT. I have nothing but total contempt for them that is brought on my their attitudes I see in these blogs on a daily basis. I will grant that some of the dwags seem to be decent guys, but the majority of the mutt leg humping butt sniffing trolls lowers all of them in my mind. I expect that many of the dwags return my contempt. That’s fine. I just wish they would take care of their business, because except for twice (when a headline piqued my curiosity), have I posted on a Georgie related blog. Some of what they post is the vilest garbage. I could go on and on, but I’ll quit for now.