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
3:56 pm
Names?
GTBob
January 31st, 2012
3:56 pm
I have seen you get in kids with a 2.5 and 800 SAT
Are you sure? That would actually violate NCAA requirements.
Hey Bratworse...
January 31st, 2012
3:59 pm
31-17, 9 out of 10…DAWGS STILL RUN THIS STATE That is all you need to know my friend.
Wreckmaniac
January 31st, 2012
3:59 pm
This will bring out every Tech badgerer in the country.
Dude
January 31st, 2012
3:59 pm
Mark B. What state are you from? Why did that state allow its top sports columnist to leave?
George Stein
January 31st, 2012
4:00 pm
True, GTBob. I believe the NCAA minimum SAT score is 820.
gt4ever
January 31st, 2012
4:00 pm
GTBob and George,
You guys are funny! George I wouldn’t put names on here… You don’t have to believe me. I really don’t give a damn…
GTBob
January 31st, 2012
4:00 pm
Compare PJ to mark Richt when
I will compare the two when Richt has to figure out how to win with recruiting classes that average in the mid 40s. He has never had to do any serious coaching and if he ever does it will be ugly.
George Stein
January 31st, 2012
4:02 pm
You’re not interested in facts, gt4ever.
George Stein
January 31st, 2012
4:02 pm
My comment at 4:00 assumed a 2.5 GPA.
BiggDawgK
January 31st, 2012
4:03 pm
tired of this.
Anti tech bias?!!! Are you serious? If there was a negative story to run about Georgia the AJC would have it as the lead for a week. I wouldn’t be happy but their job is to sell papers and generate hits on blogs so I would understand.
cpj and the trade school is a stumbling bumbleing rambleing wreck right now and a heck of a pitiful joke. Do you think the AJC should ignore the fact teenagers are outsmarting coach fish fry and the moron can’t make a statement without lieing and proving what a hypocrite he is?
Bama Teabagger
January 31st, 2012
4:04 pm
I have ZERO respect for georgia tech college or anyone in the ACC for that matter. What a weak arse conference!
Bama and prolly even auburn would mow them down like a canadian goose gettin taken out by a 12 gage!
GTBob
January 31st, 2012
4:05 pm
The AJC is pretty negative overall but can you really blame them? None of the teams in Georgia in any sport are any good.
DDPO
January 31st, 2012
4:05 pm
This article could also be entitled “In-State Talent Fails To Qualify at GT”…
Bama Teabagger
January 31st, 2012
4:10 pm
As Trace Adkins sang-
Lord have mercy, how’s she even get them britches on
That honky tonk badonkadonk!!!
Glass House Rocker
January 31st, 2012
4:11 pm
History proves that It is easier to attrach” football players” to some institutions of higher learning than others. See Jan Kemp -v- UGA. Was the final score Jan Kemp $2,500,000 – UGA 0?
Nobis
January 31st, 2012
4:11 pm
Bama Tea….No ACC team would have a redneck like you as a fan. See some colleges actually EDUCATE students instead of trying to be the minor league for the NFL.
Bama Teabagger
January 31st, 2012
4:12 pm
Hey GTBob,,,you are a wet noodle. Just because you guys suck and that trend is getting worse don’t lump everyone else in the state in your misery
Brad
January 31st, 2012
4:12 pm
Why is there no mention in this article that the study only included teams from 18 states, and if a school in one of those states signed nobody they just omitted them? The headline is HORRIBLY misleading. Plus, we won’t know which of Paul Johnson’s recruits will end up playing in the pros since this is basically the first year any of them were draft eligible. Stephen Hill is going to be drafted this year, and guys like Omoregie Uzzi, Rod Sweeting, and Orwin Smith should make it next year as seniors. Then you have some underclassmen like Lou Young and Jeremiah Attaochu who have a pretty good shot as well. BS article by a BS journalist
Nobis
January 31st, 2012
4:13 pm
Bama tea..the ACC is more worried about educating students over being the minor league for the NFL. College is for an EDUCATION not sports.
WDE Cam4Heisman
January 31st, 2012
4:14 pm
You stupid Bammer, all you Updykes are all alike, ready to teabag some unsuspected fan or poison a tree/vegetation.
Hate you & your stupid Rammer Jammer bullcrap – meanwhile I say, War Damn Eagle!
Bama Teabagger
January 31st, 2012
4:14 pm
Brad…..who? That is pathetic. Sounds like a bunch of Somali pirates!
Bama Teabagger
January 31st, 2012
4:16 pm
You guys are a bunch of pillow biting wet blankets. Know what the difference between a pig and the GT Homecoming Queen is?………pigs don’t have acne
Nobis
January 31st, 2012
4:16 pm
DDOP………..That is the REAL title for sure. The state of Georgia’s Government/Public School Educational is a JOKE for the most part.
GTBob
January 31st, 2012
4:17 pm
Hey GTBob,,,you are a wet noodle. Just because you guys suck and that trend is getting worse don’t lump everyone else in the state in your misery
What teams in the state can Georgia really get excited about? The Falcons are about the closest thing and they keep fizzling in the playoffs. UGA and Tech are never going to compete for anything substantial in football and basketball is dreadful for both right now. The Hawks are ok but no one really expects much from them come playoff time either. The Braves have been a disappointment. Please tell me which team in 2012 is destined for great things.
Chilidawg
January 31st, 2012
4:18 pm
It is a challenge for Tech. Their academic requirements are higher than most schools (that’s good), and their coach displays an attitude that may turn off many possible recruits. Their offense is also a nonstarter for some skill players, and often is not as effective when an opponent has more than a week to prepare. In the last two years Tech’s record has leveled out and one could question whether this could be a result of recruiting or a result of their opponents becoming familiar with their system. I have on occasion felt that Paul Johnson did not care who he had on his offensive team because he felt he could teach them to do what he wanted. This has led me to think the system is the cause for sucess
Nobis
January 31st, 2012
4:18 pm
Bama Tea…What sounds like Somali pirates?
Bama Teabagger
January 31st, 2012
4:19 pm
Georgia Southern!
Harvard Crimson
January 31st, 2012
4:22 pm
Tbagger you are a fool! Much like all of Georgia’s schools (Emory included…for people who can’t get into Harvard) are a disaster. Georgia Southern is a redneck 13th grade for farmers kids; probably the only way these guys can keep their kids from intermarrying
Dawglasville
January 31st, 2012
4:22 pm
The first four years:
8-4, bowl loss, Coaches 25, AP 22
13-1, Sugar Bowl win, conference champs, Coaches 3, AP 3
11-3, bowl win, division champs, Coaches 6, AP 7
11-2, bowl win, coaches 6, AP 7
How do your coaches first four years stack up against this? I don’t know which coach is better. There are too many variables. But let’s not let something trivial, like facts, get in the way of anyone’s argurment.
Dale from Yale
January 31st, 2012
4:24 pm
Amen HC…glad I don’t live there. NYC or die!
GT fan
January 31st, 2012
4:25 pm
the tools are out
January 31st, 2012
2:54 pm
GT fan (or whatever handle you are now using) Richt owns Johnson and you are under selling the might of the SEC and over selling the suckfest that is the ACC. If GT played division 5-A high school football here in Georgia they would be lucky to win 10 games a year.
Im sure you will repeat your same lie under a new name any minute now. Good luck.
…. “I’m underselling the MIGHT of the SEC?” LOL, no that’s rich!
Let’s see:
UF 7-6 (3-5) Worst record in 40+ years
Vandy 6-7 (2-6)
UK 5-7 (2-6)
UT 5-7 (1-7) Was that the Vols’ worst SEC record ever?
AU 805 (4-4) FINALLY, a .500 MIGHTY sec team
Miss St 7-6 (2-6)
and should I even put down the Ole Man’s? Okay, okay
Ole Miss 2-10 (0-8)
WOW!! Sorry “tools are out” I see were I undersold the MIGHT of the SEC.
And you know I didn’t put down LSU or SC b/c your Dawgs lost to both of them.
You know I’m right, even though you’re not mature enough to admit it, GA simply didn’t beat anything of MIGHT in 2011, and you don’t know if your Dawgs were really very good. At this point, 4 Ls vs. “good” teams says NO.
@gtbob
January 31st, 2012
4:26 pm
Its the head coaches job to recruit and attract players to their program. Richt will never have a Mid 40’s recruiting class because he knows how to recruit and attract players that want to play for him.Then has the ability to develop them. Pj doesn’t do either.
GTBob
January 31st, 2012
4:26 pm
How do your coaches first four years stack up against this?
Those 4 years are impressive. Paul Hewitt had a pretty impressive first 4 years for GT basketball. Unfortunately, the years after that matter too.
Nobis
January 31st, 2012
4:26 pm
Dawglasville…try the FACTS when CPJ & Richt were at similar schools. the FACTS of the last 4 years are basically the same 34-19. Richt’s First 4 years are a long time ago. Like the last UGa MNC was a long time ago.
PAC
January 31st, 2012
4:27 pm
Poor teck. It must be miserable as a fan to put up with that crap year after year.
Todd Grantham
January 31st, 2012
4:27 pm
Nothing shocking here. Paul Johnson sux!
PAC
January 31st, 2012
4:28 pm
poor teck. it must be miserable for the fans to have to put up with this crappy product year after year.
GTBob
January 31st, 2012
4:28 pm
Richt will never have a Mid 40’s recruiting class because he knows how to recruit and attract players that want to play for him.
If Richt went to Honduras for a year, UGA’s recruiting wouldn’t change much. The school recruits itself. Richt has little to do with it.
Dawglasville
January 31st, 2012
4:30 pm
Plus, are we really to the point that we are chest pounding about who has the better coach? What’s next? Uniforms? I thought Durham was ten times the coach Cremmins was but I would have much rather had Cremmins success.
Techmate
January 31st, 2012
4:32 pm
Bradley – What a scumbucket! The day before National Sighning Day – really? Couldn’t get up this morning and write something postive? Time to think about an career, little Markie. You are done here. Roll up your “Occupy Atlanta Sports Scene” bedroll and move to the beach to watch sunsets.
ONE LEGAL WIN
January 31st, 2012
4:33 pm
ONE LEGAL WIN FOR TECH OVER UGA SINCE 1990!!! ONE…AND IT WAS BY 3 POINTS WHEN UGA GAVE THE GAME AWAY.
HAHAHAAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHA WHAT A JOKE OF A PROGRAM THE NERDS HAVE.
@gtbob
January 31st, 2012
4:35 pm
The Richt Era,
most wins–
1-lsu–115
2-uga–106
3-florida 105
4-auburn–101
5-arkansas–86
5t-tennessee–86
7-south carolina–80
8-alabama–77 note they have won 98 but had to vacate 21 for ncaa rules
violations.
9-ole miss–62
10-kentucky–59
11-mii st–50
12-vanderbilt—39
against tech 10-1
vandy 10-1
kentucky 9-2
auburn 7-4
south carolina 7-4
tennessee 7-4
ole miss 5-0
arkansas 5-1
bama 3-1
miss st 3-1
lsu 3-4
florida 3-8
how many times has each team finished ranked??
uga 9
lsu 9
florida 7
bama 6
auburn 6
tennessee 5
south carolina 3
ole miss 3
arkansas 2
miss st 1
kentucky 0
vandy 0
only 2 “bad” seasons in 11.
who has the most sec titles–
lsu 4
uga 2
florida 2
auburn 2
bama 1
who has the most division titles?
east-
uga 4
florida 3
tenn 3
sc 1
west-
lsu 5
bama 2
auburn 2
arkansas 2
GTBob Denies CMR owns Tech
January 31st, 2012
4:35 pm
9 out of 10, munch on that a little bit!
You can preach on and on about how Fish Fry is the perfect coach for GT.
Meanwhile, we’ll take all the top recruits in this state, SEC East Championships and 9 out of 10!
Dawglasville
January 31st, 2012
4:36 pm
GTBob – OK. Now we are on the same page. I agree with you about Hewitt and Richt. I’ve made that analogy for years. I’ve also said be careful with CPJ when it comes to giving him a big fat contract. You don’t know what the next 6 years holds. He may or may not prove to be a better coach than Richt or Hewitt. He gives Tech fans hope which is more than they had before he came.
SiddyBoy
January 31st, 2012
4:37 pm
Guess those “in state” guys would rather play with the big boys than get that highly acclaimed degree.
Mr. Thomas Anthony Jones, SR
January 31st, 2012
4:38 pm
Paul Johnson cannot recruit and GT needs Liberal Arts, Rec, PE majors. Tech needs to get into the 21st Century immediately!!!!
just pinched a loaf
January 31st, 2012
4:38 pm
Just took a dump and named it “Georgia Tech recruiting class”.
GTBob
January 31st, 2012
4:38 pm
The Richt Era
Having 5 star recruits handed to you on a consistent basis will get you a lot of wins. Unfortunately though it wont win you anything meaningful. At some point you have to coach and that is where Richt falls apart. If you have a team with Stafford, Moreno, and AJ Green and you can’t even make the SEC championship then no one really cares how many wins you have.
headley lamar
January 31st, 2012
4:39 pm
CPJ against the three legit teams he plays every year ( Not the A She She weaklings )
Va Tech, UGA, and Bowl game his record is ……
2 -10
And one of those two was a three point fluke at UGA
Thats a 16 percent win rate folks
Its amazing he hasn’t been fired. Especially with getting Tech put back on probation. Again.