Ten at 10: Georgia on a lot of RBs other than Isaiah Crowell
THE TEN AT (way past) 10:
1. Isaiah Crowell is Georgia’s number one target at tailback but he’s not the only target. In fact, the Bulldogs are in on a few big-name backs across the South. One prospect in particular to keep an eye on is Mike Bellamy of Punta Gorda, Fla. Bellamy is a lightning-fast, 5-foot-10, 175-pound back who currently has “high interest” in Georgia and Florida. The Bulldogs also have offers to Hogansville’s Quan Bray, James Wilder Jr. of Tampa and Aaron Green of San Antonio, Texas, all four-star prospects and Top 25 national recruits. But Bellamy is the their best shot, by all accounts.
2. Speaking of Bray, he plays quarterback at Callaway High School, but everybody is recruiting the 6-foot, 175-pound athlete as a running back. Everybody, that is, except Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets have offered him as a quarterback.
3. Speaking of Wilder, the son of the former NFL star by the same name is not just an elite running back. Bill Buchalter of the Orlando Sentinel rates the Tampa-Plant star as the top defensive end in Florida for 2011. In fact, some recruiting analysts think Wilder (6-2, 222) could be a star at linebacker at the next level. But generally he’s expected to play running back and most think he’ll end up at Florida. One projection has Wilder going to Gators, Crowell to Bama and Bellamy to Georgia. Stay tuned.
4. It is gradually becoming evident what the disconnect is between Georgia and Clarke Central offensive tackle Alan Posey (6-6, 310). The Bulldogs simply have a lot of other tackles above Posey on their board. Dalton’s Watts Dantzler (6-7, 315), who visited UGA for junior day last Saturday, is their top target (Dantzler’s father, the late Danny Dantzler, was a UGA letterman). Georgia also appears to lead for tackle Xzavier Ward (6-7, 255) of Colquitt County. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs have also entered the sweepstakes for four-star tackles Bobby Hart (6-5, 270) of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Antonio Richardson (6-6, 310) of Nashville, Tenn.; and Brandon Shell (6-7, 310) of Goose Creek, S.C. It’s not likely the Dogs would sign many more than two or three tackles. Pepperell’s Kyle Harris is an interior lineman on their radar screen.
5. Speaking of Dantzler, he visited Ole Miss this past Monday. That’s a new school for Dantzler, who recently named a top five of Georgia, Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee and Vanderbilt. He’s also supposed to visit North Carolina, Duke and Wake Forest this spring. So clearly that’s a list that remains in flux. The biggest threat to the Bulldogs is Tennessee, in my opinion.
6. Scout.com’s Chad Simmons reports that Georgia has already offered scholarships to five players for the class of 2012 : Carver-Columbus CB Deion Bonner, Buford OL Vadal Alexander, Pepperell DT Dakota Ball, Jacksonville WR/CB Chris Black, and Seffner, Fla., RB Matt Jones. At least those are the ones Simmons said he knows of. “There could be others,” he told me.
7. I discovered something interesting about Wilcox County’s basketball team when I was getting an update on Nick Marshall from football coach Mark Ledford on Wednesdsay. Marshall is actually related to three of the other four starters on the Patriots’ top-ranked boys basketball team. Quez Mahogoney is his half-brother and Lonnie Outlaw and Makail Grace are his cousins.
8. DawgPost.com publisher Dean Legge had an extended interview with Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari following the Wildcats’ win over Georgia Wednesday night. I don’t think I’ve ever heard an opposing coach gush about a opponent like Calipari did coach Mark Fox and the Bulldogs. He apparently toured UGA’s facilities the day of the game, calling them “incredible” and Stegeman Coliseum “a gem.” Finally, he said, “if we lose our guys and all their guys come back, they’ll be picked higher than us.”
9. The NCAA is still deliberating Southern Cal’s fate for rules violations and offensive lineman Seantrel Henderson is still deliberating whether or not to sign his letter-of -intent with the Trojans, according to numerous reports. Henderson, the top tackle in the country, committed to USC coach Lane Kiffin on National Signing Day but decided not to sign pending the outcome of the protracted investigation into the football and basketball programs, which is currently before the NCAA infractions committee. The question is what happens if he doesn’t like the outcome. Most figure his fallback schools are Ohio State and Miami. But Florida five-star signee Ronald Powell is a friend and is trying to convince Henderson to join him and the Gators. . . . In a related item Kiffin told ESPN’s JC Shurburtt he thinks recruits should not be allowed to sign after National Signing Day. Shurburrt gets Kiffin’s opinion on a lot of things in the extensive interview.
10. Georgia Tech has offered defensive end Clay Burton of Venice, Fla, according to JacketsOnline.com. Burton (6-3, 230) is the younger brother of 2010 Florida signee Trey Burton. So Burton doesn’t have the option of following big bro to Gainesville as the Gators haven’t offered. Clemson supposedly leads and he also likes Notre Dame, Purdue, Rutgers and Stanford. Georgia is also recruiting him.
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137 comments Add your comment
big fat dawg
March 4th, 2010
10:32 am
First! Go Dawgs! I’m gonna drink a beer and celebrate.
South Ga Dawg
March 4th, 2010
10:32 am
UGA WILL HAVE A BIG YEAR IN RECRUITING AFTER THEY SEE THE POTENTIAL THIS TEAM HAS.
Go Dawgs!
March 4th, 2010
10:35 am
Go DAWGS!! First
Go Dawgs!
March 4th, 2010
10:35 am
dangit!
chris
March 4th, 2010
10:36 am
WOW! Some descent reporting from CHIP. That must have tasted awful sour Chip.
Ric Flair
March 4th, 2010
10:40 am
Don’t these kids know that Athens, Ga is the center of the universe? I can’t believe they would seriously consider going anywhere but U-G-A. Kind of like picking between WWE and WCW, if you know what I mean.
Woo!!!!!!!!!!!!
Big D Dawg
March 4th, 2010
10:44 am
Next….. if you can’t be first, next always works.
CPJ
March 4th, 2010
10:44 am
South Ga Dawg, that is what UGA will always and only have, potential.
ASHEVILLE DAWG
March 4th, 2010
10:49 am
Thanks for the news,Chip.
stirring up trouble
March 4th, 2010
10:52 am
Bray will either end up at Alabama or GT….The Dawgs lost him a while back……Crowell is a Bama Lock and Georgia ends up with 3 of the other 8 on their board…….
Mark "where's my hair club for men" membership?
March 4th, 2010
10:56 am
Wow, so ga dawg, do you really think. Every recruit is Joe Namath wrapped in Herschel Walker and in athens poopy smells like flowers, and in mirrors in athens I’ve got hair and on the tv’s I don’t pick my nose every game.
Magic Man
March 4th, 2010
11:03 am
UGA made up a lot of ground with Bray on his visit for Junior Day this past weekend. UGA is in it big-time, he is high on them. By all accounts, Wilder will go to UF. Green will be staying in Texas.
Many scouts think Posey fits better at OG than OT, which may be another reason why UGA hasn’t offered him. But, the main reason is as you say, we have others rated higher. UGA is the favorite for Dantlzer, despite what you say about Bama leading for all players in Georgia that they have offered.
Crowell is far from a Bama lock. He really likes UGA, Bama, FSU, and Auburn. He will not be committing until signing day, there is a long way to go. Anyone who thinks he is a Bama lock is clueless.
collegeballfan
March 4th, 2010
11:09 am
Glad to see UGA recruiting OL types. You can never have enough of those guys.
DirtyDog
March 4th, 2010
11:15 am
Yeah Kiffin, you wouldn’t have signed the #1 player (Bryce Brown) last year if recruits couldn’t extend their recruiting past NSD. We all know that he hung his hat on this single accomplishment for well over a year……what an idiot.
stirring up trouble
March 4th, 2010
11:16 am
Crowell wants to get in school early and The guys in Columbus will tell you that he has befriended Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson…he likes the Power Game at Bama. The coaches are still very cool to UGA and some past issues with other players.
I know Bray and he may like UGA but he will not attend UGA. He likes GT offering him a chance to play QB and he has family and friends who want him out of the state of Georgia….he had a cousin recruiting by UGA and UGA left him hanging at the last minute about 6 years ago. He really likes Alabama and has some internal influences and a former youth coach who played at Alabama. He is attending camp at Alabama and said to a couple of coaches that he would commit if the camp went well.
Wilder may very well end up at FSU…50 25 25..FSU-Fl-Miami…., Green is a Texas guy…
AceDawg
March 4th, 2010
11:17 am
Calapari is obviously a good coach, probably about like Harrick in more ways than one! Hard to believe him through the smoke and mirrors he puts up to last as long as he can before leaving another program on probation.
Pete
March 4th, 2010
11:19 am
“If we lose all our players they’ll beat us” is high praise? I assume you’re being sarcastic, haha.
GatorMania
March 4th, 2010
11:20 am
Two James’ high on Gators list: James Wilder and James Vaughters. Both would look great in the orange & blue!
F-105 Thunderchief
March 4th, 2010
11:23 am
Go easy on yourself, Chip. 10:22 is not really way past 10. Noon would be.
Sweet Home Alabama
March 4th, 2010
11:25 am
Mutts dont get to excited about who you are going to sign just yet.the TIDE is still putting their wish list together,we will pretty much sign whoever we want.Dont be mad at us for being the Top Program in the Nation.We plan on staying their a long time.
MUTTS IT is ok to be mediocre ,WHEN your goal is beating the NERDS YOU got serious problems son.
ROLL TIDE ROLLLLLLLL
stirring up trouble
March 4th, 2010
11:26 am
Gator Mania….UF has one major issue…the lack of Scholarships available this season will be in the 10-12 range unless they cut some loose or a mass exodus occurs to the NFL…
UF will more than likely have to be very specific on who they sign in 2011….its a numbers game this year.
So GA realist
March 4th, 2010
11:31 am
UGA WILL HAVE A BIG YEAR IN RECRUITING AFTER THEY SEE THE POTENTIAL THIS TEAM HAS.
dude – UGA was ranked preseason #1 and they still got outflanked by FL and Bama
Tim
March 4th, 2010
11:32 am
I’ll be interested to see how much all this change for these kids over the next several months. At this point, with signing day still 11 months away, I wouldn’t really consider anyone a “lock”. Kids will be kids, and I’m sure their favorites will change week to week.
JD
March 4th, 2010
11:32 am
There is such a disconnect with Georgia recruiting! AJ Johnson is the top linebacker in the State but Georgia has him rated #4 or #5 on its recruiting board for linebackers. Alabama and Clemson has him #1.
Pago Flyer
March 4th, 2010
11:34 am
The DAWGS always have a Top Ten recruiting class..so…nothing happens.
Your Recruiters Best Friend
March 4th, 2010
11:34 am
A return to the early enrollment is becoming very voque again. We will see the number of early enrollments go from 9% to about 18 to 20% in 2011. Players are wanting to get in class, get in the weight room and off season conditioning program and get the accustomed to the daily routines.
The number of recruits responding to the early enrollment and early commit lists with the Junior Day and Camps is making the attitudes return to the 1995-1998 time frame when the numbers jumped up.
Another factor is the NFL and the Salary Adjustment the kids are getting the advice to get into school and be ready to compete right away.
DORE
March 4th, 2010
11:35 am
not disagreeing, but what, exactly, leads you to say Crowell is the #1 RB on UGA’s board?
Tim
March 4th, 2010
11:36 am
stirring up trouble – you’re right. Crowell will be a huge battle between UA/UGA. Would not be surprised to see him at Bama. Hope we can pull him in though.
Bray will most likely not be at UGA, which doesn’t surprise me. I’d put my money on GT. I’d say Wilder is a FSU/UF guy, doubt he leaves the state. Going to be a stud!
GatorMania
March 4th, 2010
11:37 am
trouble, actually if you check the roster at UF, there are quite a few seniors this year. This team will feature 4 seniors along the O Line and 3 seniors along the D Line (just the starters alone). 2/3 starting linebackers will be seniors. That’s what alot of people don’t realize is how veteran a team this will be. Expect them to sign 18-20 players this year which allows them th be a little more selective.
Georgia Dawg Homeboy from LG
March 4th, 2010
11:41 am
stirring up trouble….I know you have the right info..I also know the Bray kid and everything you said about him is true….Alabama and Tech…..My Dawgs get the passive “yeah I like Georgia alot” quote but he is not coming home to play…..I know his cousins story and he and his family are pushing him hard for Bama……..they like Saban and his staff………I also believe the Crowell kid is going to commit early and enroll in Bama in January 2011….he is giving up other sports next year to focus and his attending classes this summer to get out early.
Georgia Dawg Homeboy from LG
March 4th, 2010
11:43 am
Gator Mania….
They also have 5 Grey Shirts to add to the list and 3 JUCO players will resign…..I think that is where the low number is coming from..
Flo-Ri-Duh!
March 4th, 2010
11:51 am
Threats against Chp Tower may have payed off – temporarily. He actually had an article that wasn’t biased against UGA. That’s all we ask for – just report the facts, don’t embelish or lie to create controversy.
GatorMania
March 4th, 2010
11:55 am
LG…no greyshirts this year and no JUCO players in this last class. We did have I think 10 or 11 early enrollees and plan to have about that many in this next class if things fall the right way. Will sign a big time QB along with areas of need 3-4 OL, 3-4DL, 2-3 LB, a running back and 2-3 WR’s and a couple of ATHs.plus 1-2 other positions.
Flo-Ri-Duh!
March 4th, 2010
11:56 am
GatorMania – you may be having a lot of seniors starting for Florida for a while – few of them actually have game experience. They were backups last year – with a couple of exceptions none of them started. That doesn’t mean they aren’t talented – they aren’t as talented as the guys that have moved on. I see Florida losing 3 games this year (not counting a bowl) but we shall see. Then I see Urban Meyer retiring again – for good.
GA Tech Insider
March 4th, 2010
11:58 am
And here we go again; all of the “experts,” already making their comments about where these kids are going, like they’ve had personal conversations with them. As we’ve all seen as recently as this past signing day, it ain’t over until it’s over, my friends, and none of you have a clue what you’re talking about.
Big Larry
March 4th, 2010
11:59 am
We will once again be running this state! We got the best coach in the nation and the best fan support…we will wear out the Nerds again, just like how we crushed them last year!
Daniel
March 4th, 2010
12:03 pm
wow, i wonder who “stirrin up trouble” pulls for? According to him, Georgia won’t get a single player they want, and will be forced to sign a class ranked around where tech usually ends up.
andy
March 4th, 2010
12:04 pm
UGA Should Decide QB ASAP
Big Larry
March 4th, 2010
12:05 pm
We will once again have a top 10 class and our talent will make us the best team in the best conference in the nation…so what’s new?
Tim
March 4th, 2010
12:06 pm
GT Insider – I agree, these are 17-18 year old kids, and even many of them don’t have a clue where they want to go. Or if they do, they’ll change it 10x between now and next Februrary. After each article you read, they name a new “favorite” or “top 5″.
I do think some people know what they’re talking about, but most on here are just guessing. I guess that’s what makes it fun…
Chip Towers
March 4th, 2010
12:07 pm
DORE: Let’s just say I know it as a fact.
NoGaGator
March 4th, 2010
12:08 pm
Georgia Dawg Homeboy-
If it’s UF to which you are referring, they have no grey shirts, nor have they signed any JUCO’s in this past class. UF won’t sign as many as the 28 they did this past year but it’ll still be in the 20-22 range. Since Meyer has been at UF, they’ve never had the full limit of 85 on schollies.
No fruit SUX like a big orange!!!
March 4th, 2010
12:08 pm
Can’t wait til fall to see how this years UGA team looks. Isnt that sad? Its not even spring and I cant wait til fall.
GO DAWGS!!!!!
Henry D
March 4th, 2010
12:13 pm
I think a lot of big time recruits are waiting to see the outcome of the defensive changes, and also to see what happens with the QB situation before they commet.
Henry D
March 4th, 2010
12:14 pm
That would be commit.
norman bates
March 4th, 2010
12:15 pm
What? No BamaStan commentary?
GatorMania
March 4th, 2010
12:18 pm
Flo-Ri-Duh!…Bad news…actually ALL 4 on the OL (Carl Johnson, Mike Pouncey, Maurice Hurt, Marcus Gilbert) have been starters with extensive experience. And that’s not even counting James Wilson, also with starting experience who COULD possibly start. Three of those guys (Pouncey, Johnson, Gilbert) have a legitimate shot at All-SEC. On the DL, ALL 3 have been starters with extensive experience (Justin Trattou, Lawrence Marsh, Terron Sanders). 2 of the linebackers (Brandon Hicks, AJ Jones) have been starters. Also with starting or extensive experience: S Ahmad Black, S Will Hill, CB Jenoris Jenkins, RB’s Emmanuel Moody, Chris Rainey, and or course Jeffrey Demps. And finally, WR Deonte Thompson. ALL of the forementioned players have also started or played in a national championship game. Sorry…
Phoneguy71
March 4th, 2010
12:25 pm
Good lord GatorMania, shouldnt you be on a Gator Msgboard or maybe sniffing “Teblows” jock somewhere?
Uh oh, UGA
March 4th, 2010
12:26 pm
Richt and Co. better be careful snubbing in-state recruits again. Last year they missed out on David Beasley and David Crawford (both teammates of Crowell) because they offered Beasley late in the process. It was pretty embarrassing watching UGA beg them to decommit from Clemson in December and January only to watch them sign with Clemson in the end.
Phoneguy71
March 4th, 2010
12:29 pm
Or maybe help train Spikes’ eye gauge technique: “Push, twist, release” “Repeat as necessary”!