RB Isaiah Crowell says Alabama now leads Georgia
Isaiah Crowell now has a favorite school, and it’s not housed in the home state.
The five-star running back from Carver-Columbus confirmed Tuesday that Alabama is now in the lead for his services. Crowell was in Tuscaloosa this past weekend for the No. 1-ranked Crimson Tide’s 31-6 win over Florida. And he was impressed with what he saw.
“It was a great experience,” said Crowell, an AJC Super 11 selection and the No. 1 tailback prospect in state. “It was nice to be around the players and coaches and see how they get focused and prepared for a game. And they played a great game.”
Crowell also confirmed that it’s down to Alabama and Georgia for him. For the longest time many have felt the Bulldogs had the edge because they could offer more playing time earlier.
But the Bulldogs’ 1-4 start compared to Alabama’s current status as defending national champions and the country’s No. 1-ranked team is too stark a contrast to ignore.
“Well, they’re losing a lot of games and have a lot of people have been getting in trouble,” Crowell said of Georgia. “There’s just a lot of things going wrong. I do want to play right away but I also want to be where it’s disciplined and they win championships.”
Nevertheless, Crowell hasn’t given up on Georgia. He still plans to come back to Athens for a visit and won’t make a decision until after the season.
Like, right after it.
“I think we’re going to win the state championship, so I’m going to make my announcement right the championship game,” he said.
Carver (5-0) is undefeated and ranked No. 1 in Class AA. It could be argued the Tigers are the best overall team in the state.
Meanwhile, Crowell is solidifying his status as the top back in the state and one of the top few in the country. Despite being dogged with a number of injuries, he for 886 yards and 9 TDs in five games.
This past week he played barely three quarters but finished with 144 yards on seven carries and scored three touchdowns.
“Well, my toenail came off,” Crowell said matter-of-factly. “I’ve got turf burns on my arms from the LaGrange game. I have an ankle sprain.”
Asked if he expected to miss any playing time, Crowell said, “No, sir. I’m good.”
Yes, sir. He is.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
392 comments Add your comment
The Ohio State Buckeyes
October 5th, 2010
9:47 pm
Well their you UGA knuckleheads go again! This kid can make his own decision plus what division is this? Also Saban will prepare you for the NFL…..This is a pro coach who was on Bill Belchick staff in Cleveland in the 90’s….See what I mean…
Georgia you need to get an Ohio coach like Florida and Bama… Stoops is from Ohio….Tressell The weak link is from Ohio you get my drift.. see my angle…
Realist
October 5th, 2010
9:47 pm
Cantondawg, notice I said he needs to hire a decent defensive coordinator. Read my man. And Georgia doesnt have a defensive coordinator right now they way their getting their butts handed to them.
Thomp
October 5th, 2010
9:49 pm
For richt to get out of his hole he has to be able to coach up kids… He has proved that he can’t.
We should just shut-up and enjoy the long death spiral ride all the way to the cellar of the SEC.
One of the top revenue programs has never taken the necessary risks to be great and I don’t think it will now. We wii find out if Greg McGarity has the balls to do his job!
Mediocre is as mediocre does…
ryan
October 5th, 2010
9:50 pm
Man i am not going think about recruiting any more its to stressful what ever happens will happen I’m not going to cry about it
Archie Bunker
October 5th, 2010
9:51 pm
Now that is just funny. A lot of people being arrested…Hahahaha…Oh yea, Ugag didn’t want him anyway right…Take a pass on him, he’s slow anyway. right dog?
Douglas
October 5th, 2010
9:52 pm
I’m a UGA alumni….stop giving him a hard time. I can’t blame him: do I want to go to a school that is winning NCAA championships and has the best college coach around or do I want to go to a school where the Head coach looks completely lost and I don’t know if he is going to be there in a year or two? Some of you Georgia fans are just plain delusional, ignorant, or both. You certainly do not have any common sense.
Lowndes25
October 5th, 2010
9:53 pm
Valdosta cat, there are a few reasons for that:
1 – FSU’s close proximity to Valdosta is always going to play in their favor.
2 – Relationship with high school coaches. Coach Mac is very good friends with Jimbo Fisher and it shows. Coach Rance Gillespie has a great relationship with Coach Richt (going back to his days at Peach County) which is why Malcom Mitchell and Jay Rome are so high on UGA.
Hope that answers your questions a little…I would get into things more deeply but this public forum is not the place.
bwell
October 5th, 2010
9:55 pm
Thats a poor pist excuse, he want to come to Georgia then come don’t let the loosing record or arrest record affect your decision. IC can make a change and be an instant hit with Georgia, WE NEED HIM AND PLAYING EARLY WILL BE AT GEORGIA, everything will work out for Georgia. Don’t back out now.
AlabamaKnowItAll
October 5th, 2010
9:56 pm
The Dawgs have a history of getting 5 STAR recruits and not coaching them up…..(etc. Caleb King and Ealey)…If I were a RB, I would run as far away from Athens as I could…Why would Crowell sign with a sinking ship that is in disarray instead of a TRADITIONAL powerhouse that is the REIGNING CHAMP? CMR has placed many people in the LEAGUE but has FAILED to deliver a National Title….The KID wants to WIN and UGA hasn’t done that in a few years now…
Come on across the state line CROWELL and maybe you can be our NEXT Heisman winner…RTR
dap01
October 5th, 2010
9:57 pm
I wonder how many over the limit Saban will sign this year. I wonder who will not have a scholarship until next January. Saban is a man of limited integrity. He can coach but he is on the slippery side of shady.
YoMama
October 5th, 2010
10:01 pm
I’m s Double Dog (2 degrees from UGA), but if I were Crowell, I would go to Bama. Be coached by a 26 year old former receiver (McLendon) who knows nothing about RBs (by the way, the same job Richt had Kirby Smart doing, if you can imagine!) or go to a school that appreciates the running game? Bama would never pass twice from the 2 yard line against a line like Colorado’s. Please!
Good luck, Isiah. You deserve better than McLendon and Bobo.
HSV Tider
October 5th, 2010
10:04 pm
Straight Jacket has a serious case of the whines- man up and accept that Saban and Alabama are at the top of the mountain again, and will be for a while.
About your blubbering about “oversigns”, you might consider the fact that academic risks are prevalent throughout college football, that the top recruits are coveted by everybody, and only the foolish don’t factor the non-qualifier factor. Bama had Alfy Hill declared ineligbile after practice had started because the NCAA declared a credit previously allowed to be disallowed for credit. So be it.
But one more thing about the medical scholarships- in your haste to make an ill-considered point, ponder the fact that athletic scholarships are one year deals (check it out of you dare) and also consider that the kid offered a med scholarship (NCAA reviewed and approved, mind you) can always transfer out and play elsewhere if he wants- or he can take the med scholarship and complete his education at Alabama. What’s wrong with that?
Charlie Kirschman was never top level SEC material when he was signed by Shula- Kirschman got his ride because he was a teammate of Tebow, who played Shula like a violin to add drama to his decision to play at Florida. Kirschman played a little, stayed dinged up a lot, and was offered a non-football ride so he could finish.
I sense a lot of sour grapes and envy in your posts, but not a lot of context. And I sense that your program, I would guess between Georgia-east and Georgia-west (the orange and blue type), both of whom haven’t fared well lately.
But no matter, and too bad. What you’re seeing in Tuscaloosa will give you the vapors for a decade or so. Keep your crying towel handy. You’re going to need it.
ryan
October 5th, 2010
10:04 pm
I guess the one thing that could be in are favor if Bama over recruits they going to get Dee Hart and the could get a another RB for 2012 so there is some hope .
Don
October 5th, 2010
10:06 pm
Lowndes25, there are few things more pathetic than grown men who pretend they have inside sources on where the top high school prospects are headed. Earlier today I saw you post elsewhere that Georgia led Alabama on Crowell. Crowell just called you out. You don’t have any more idea about where any of these kids are going to school than anybody else does.
El Gato
October 5th, 2010
10:10 pm
Carver Columbus as best HS team in state……Get Real. Camden County would beat them like a rented mule. State Championship……you have to beat Buford again…and this time it will not be due to home cooking.
BamaGradInGa
October 5th, 2010
10:10 pm
Come to Bama IC, and you will play a significant role as a freshman in 2011… probably not as a starter like you will be at UGA… but you will get plenty of touches on a national stage almost every week, including at Penn State in front of over 100,000 fans. Then as a sophomore in 2012 you will likely be the starter when the Tide plays Michigan at Cowboy’s Stadium in front of over 100,000 fans. That is not to mention the other prime time games Mal Moore lines up for 2013 and beyond, and of course the potential SEC championship games and BCS bowl games. The national exposure you will receive at Alabama cannot be matched at Georgia. This will especially be true with the new scheduling policy of the new Georgia AD. The Dogs are going back into their below the Mason-Dixon Line shell, where I believe they were for 40 years prior to that trip to AZ State a couple of years ago. If you are truly Crimson Tide material, what will be most important to you are the championships. If you can say this and it comes from the heart, then please attend the University of Alabama and be part of the process. We will be proud to have you.
p.s. Saban’s daughter is a freshman at UA this year, I believe. And his wife really likes small town living in the South. So don’t listen to any rumors about Saban leaving before his contract expires. It is wishful thinking. Yes he has a history of leaving for other jobs, like most do in the coaching profession. But he has always moved to a more prestegious job (the Dolphins being a mistake that he admits). There is no more prestigious job in college football than where he is now.
benadawg
October 5th, 2010
10:13 pm
You can jump to the bama bandwagon like so many idiots around where i live…..my god can someone explain how you could want your state to lose to another stae……F-em
Lowndes25
October 5th, 2010
10:14 pm
Don, glad you remembered my post. I would caution you to wait until NSD before saying I don’t have any credible sources though
bigtime
October 5th, 2010
10:16 pm
Crowell doesn’t want to play at 12:21 every saturday, thats why he’s going to BAMA. By the way Straightjacket would you rather be put on a medical scholarship or PROBATION ? People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw rocks.
ryan
October 5th, 2010
10:18 pm
Lowndes25 do think if Bama adds a couple of RBs before Crowell makes his choice could that push him are way .
Lowndes25
October 5th, 2010
10:22 pm
Just to prove the point that Dawg fans need to step back from the ledge when it comes to Crowell’s recruitment here is a post from a Bama Mod on another website:
Yeah I heard earlier that Crowell had name Alabama as his leader, but IMO it is nothing for Alabama fans to get excited about. No matter what happens with Georgia Crowell will not decide till late. This will be a long battle for the highly ranked running back from Carver.
Gatorbred
October 5th, 2010
10:22 pm
Smart kid. It’s a no brainer between those two schools.
fayncdawg
October 5th, 2010
10:24 pm
Can’t say I blame him at the moment. I wish him the best wherever he goes. Hope to see him play on Sunday in 3-4 years!
Bama Fan #2
October 5th, 2010
10:24 pm
Dee Hart is a very good running back but he will play up north for the snow birds (Michigan)
Bama would take the kid but we want Crowell. RTR
Don
October 5th, 2010
10:27 pm
Lowndes, I remember your post because I laughed when I read it. You mentioned what 2 or 3 recruits were allegedly thinking about visits they made last weekend. I guess you have them all on speed dial. Either that or you’re completely full of it.
Exactly how are we supposed to evaluate your alleged sources on national signing day? Maybe you could list the top 10 or 15 uncommitted prospects in Georgia and tell us where they’ll end up.
Blackoutanyone?
October 5th, 2010
10:27 pm
Lowndes25… sources? like the one who told you UGA is in on LaMichael Fanning? Watch the recent UGAsports.com video on Fanning? Check it out some great reporting. The guy is basically begging Fanning to reconsider UGA and he states “I’m committed to BAMA.. and that says it all.” You try to pass yourself off as having insider info when in really your just a hommer.
dawgster
October 5th, 2010
10:32 pm
Lowndes25…i do hope we have some others we are talking to also and not put all eggs in one basket…What bothers me about the interview is the “arrests” comments..You are right he has not mentioned that before and i’m sure that was put into his head while at Bama..Another thing is that we have no way to counter what he saw at Bama-Gator showdown..i’nm assuming he may be coming to the Vandy game….I just hope we can start winning and along with some other recruits, we can close the deal with him…I would think that Jarvis Jones would be a big help here…but i do understan why the kid would be in awe of Bama…that is going to be hard to overcome…but you know what they can’t sign everybody…I still hope we have a backup…and i do think he was the dawgs to lose, but our season woes may be turning these guys off…Again, i don’t think he will or can at this point but i would like to see our AD address the rumors about Coach Richt…until he does i’m afraid we are going to be on the bubble with many recruits…go dawgs..
ryan
October 5th, 2010
10:32 pm
I just hope this will be a Hershal Walker choice just like when UGA was terrible back in 79 he decides to be the instate hero and take us back to prominence .
Blackoutanyone?
October 5th, 2010
10:34 pm
ryan.. good for you. Now if you can change the mind set of most UGA fans you’ll be on to something. Bear Bryant once said Florida was a sleeping giant in reference to all the high school football talent down there. I think Georgia is very much a sleeping giant. Bama must recruit against AU for instate SEC talent. UGA really doesn’t have an in state competitor for HS recruits. In two years when they fire Richt maybe they’ll hire someone who can hire a great staff and close off the boarders. I just think UGA fans need to have higher expectations and demand championships.
Lowndes25
October 5th, 2010
10:35 pm
Blackoutanyone?, Fanning showed up to a UGA game with his mother and spent a good amount of time in Athens which shows that he is in fact interested in UGA.
Don, glad I could make you laugh. I have some phenomenal sources and I honestly could care a less if you believe anything I post or not. But just to throw you a nugget, Bama will not land Jadaveon Clowney…he is going to South Carolina and you can quote me on that.
VERY Offensive Line
October 5th, 2010
10:35 pm
Sure would be appealing to run behind that DOMINANT O-Line at UGA
right. this kid is pretty smart and is getting solid advice. Your program in Athens has slipped into mediocracy very quickly. enjoy the slide!
Lowndes25
October 5th, 2010
10:38 pm
dawgster, I am not worried about this interview at all. We take care of things on the field, and recruiting will be fine. And I agree, Jarvis Jones is HUGE factor in IC’s recruitment.
fayncdawg
October 5th, 2010
10:39 pm
Truthfully this is one recruiting year where the Dawgs need to just recruit some solid three-stars and hire some coaches who can coach them up! CMR is in a conference where rival coaches are obsessed with coaching (the Sabans, Meyers, Petrinos, Spurriers, Myles, and probably the Dooleys). It is painfully loud and clear that CMR is NOT obsessed with coaching and he may need to go to a team that doesn’t have a conference full of obsessed coaches (MARYLAND, PERFECT!). Bring in a Kirby or a RichRod. These are two coaches who have the obsession AND have had enormous success coaching three-star athletes (Remember RichRod UWV team that spanked the Dawgs in the ATL Sugar Bowl were nothing but two and three stars. Kirby’s defense is mostly three stars: Marcell Darius was a three-star. Every starter on the Dawgs D is AT LEAST a four-star). Wonder which D is better?
Bama N Texas
October 5th, 2010
10:43 pm
This just in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mike Leach is the next UGA head coach–I have been listening to his call in show on Sirius and he has said nothing but nice things about UGA. Almost too nice !!! He makes it obvious to some that he would love a crack at this position. Would hate to see him recruiting in yalls state with that Offensive mind. Of course he might have more than one locked up in the mechanics room
fayncdawg
October 5th, 2010
10:44 pm
@ryan
Good coaching will bring the Dawgs back to prominence Not some so-called savior RB. I don’t want IC until we prove that we get the coaches who will coach him up! FIVE_STARS MUST BE MADE READY FOR THE NFL IN THREE YEARS WITHOUT QUESTION! IS FORMER FIVE-STAR CALEB KING READY FOR THE NFL AFTER FOUR YEARS?????
Bama N Texas
October 5th, 2010
10:46 pm
Crowell will be excellent fit at the Capstone. I think he may be faster than TR and HTWMI so he can return punts and kickoffs plus run the wildelephant.
Realist
October 5th, 2010
10:46 pm
Bama N Texas, I just said this earlier on this post that Leach would be a great fit, and Cantondawg said I lost all credibility becasue you have to play defense in the SEC. If Leach can get a good defensive coordinator, he will be a perfect fit. He has more head coaching experience than Kirby Smart, Muschamp. Boise State coach is not leaving. And he is a disciplinarian, something Richt isnt. Great choice to me…..
Bama N Texas
October 5th, 2010
10:47 pm
Barbara Dooley is awesome on Finebaum. Poor little boy up at UT. His mama gonna beat somebody’s butt if they run smack on him.
Bama N Texas
October 5th, 2010
10:49 pm
Realist–listen to his show if you get chance. He slobbers when the word Georgia comes up. I talk to Tech fans everyday out here and they wish he was back. Have to admit it would scare alot of us other fans.
senoiadawgs
October 5th, 2010
10:50 pm
Why would any top rated RB want to come to UGA with what is seeing now and in the last 5 years.
Today he watches backs get killed because the o-line stinks.
He sees the arrests so he knows something isn’t right.
He watches Knowshown get redshirted because he didn’t know the playbook and couldn’t block.
He watches Ealey not play as a freshman to start with because he doesn’t know the playbook and can’t block.
Seriously guys why would any great RB recruit want to come to UGA. He haven’t heard squat about our guy from last year. I am sure it is for the same reasons as above. I guarantee you Richardson and the kid from SC would not have played for CMR as freshman at UGA. If they did it would have been very limited at least for the first half of the season.
Why do we have some many problems coaching up FR? You see FR all over the country dominating every year and ours have a variety of reasons why they can’t play. Heck just look at Murray. I am sure he was healthy enough at some point. Instead we watched Cox all last year.
UGA SUX
October 5th, 2010
10:50 pm
If I. Crowell watches both teams OL run block then he won’t even have to think twice. UGA OL is horrible at Run Blocking. Bama has 4 OL returning next year. Plus, who would be his coach at uga in 2011? 2012?
StraightJacket
October 5th, 2010
10:51 pm
HSV Tider, you have made a number of wrong assumptions. For starters, I grew up as a kid in Mobile with pictures of Johnny Musso, Terry Davis, Wilbur Jackson, Richard Todd, the Rutledges, John Mitchell, John Hannah, Steadman Shealy, etcetera, ad nauseum on my walls. My family and I have been around Alabama football and game it T-Town since Wallace Wade and Frank Thomas. That’s several generations… just in case you don’t recognize the names.
Don’t patronize ME about “sour grapes” or “envy” with regards to Crimson Tide football.
What I’m talking about is the difference between RIGHT and WRONG. Just because something is “legal” doesn’t mean that it is “right”.
The college experience should be a special time for young people, whether they are “normal” students or College Football players. They should be able to make the decision based on 4 year PLANS, which YES, they should be able to change, if THEY deem it desirable.
They should NOT have to face the possibility of having their scholarship yanked because of a recruiting MISTAKE by the coaching staff, or some BOGUS medical issue.
If you do that, then I say again: DROP THE CHARADE of COLLEGE FOOTBALL, and just call ‘em the Tuscaloosa Dolphins.
Blackoutanyone?
October 5th, 2010
10:51 pm
Lowndes25.. I’ll file this nugget “Bama will not land Jadaveon Clowney…he is going to South Carolina and you can quote me on that”. With this one… ” If Hart commits to Bama this Friday like I hear he is going to do, then you can pretty much kiss your chances with Crowell goodbye. ” As for Clowney real sources indicate he showed up a BAMA a few weeks ago and silently committed. He goes back to SC and word gets out to USC and his “handlers” and now he’s not returning calls or txts from Bama coaches. Who knows what all that means…. but he was at Clemson vs Miami instead of UF vs. AL so something has changed. His heart is SC but his brain is in BAMA.
Realist
October 5th, 2010
10:53 pm
Bama N Texas, It definately would be a game changer. He can score points, something Richt cant do, and he’s not a soft ass. It would make things interesting, and he would also have the state of Texas connections to recruit players there. And he cant do any worse than Richt is recruiting in the state of Georgia, although I think he would do better.
Bama N Texas
October 5th, 2010
10:54 pm
Ohh yeah for all you guys that think TX and A&M have school spirit compared to SEC. FOR GET IT!!!!! I drove thru the middle of AUSTIN the other day and saw ONE car with UT flags flying for the RRshootout that was just played. Being from Bama and knowing how yall roll in GA they would fall flat out seeing the pomp and circumstance that goes on over there. This is a joke out here. News maybe gives 30 seconds on UT football after or before the game–same for A&M. No talk radio about college anywhere except Sirius. sorry to run on
BamaSIG
October 5th, 2010
10:59 pm
You “lie” with Dogs, your going to get………
Bama N Texas
October 5th, 2010
10:59 pm
Cyrus and Clowney and Crowell –WOW!!!! I would be happy with one of those 3
I think 2 would send us to #1 class and 3 to number 14
Don
October 5th, 2010
10:59 pm
Lowdnes25, thanks for clearing things up about Clowney. His coach doesn’t know where he’s headed but you and your great “sources” do. Since he’s said publicly it’s down to South Carolina and Alabama you’ve got a 50 percent chance of being right with your guess. If your guess is right you’ll crow as if you actually knew something, if it is wrong you’ll explain why you right at the time but Clowney changed his mind.
Bama N Texas
October 5th, 2010
11:02 pm
hey all you Bama’s hating on UGA–I remember when I was on Tidesports forums when Shula was still hanging on–when news started coming out about new coaches we hit over a 100,000 posts on sports topic within a few days—so dont forget where we came from and hope they can take out the BARN for us in couple weeks or so
ryan
October 5th, 2010
11:02 pm
I guess Bama is going to get everyone because they will go to be BSC title every year i thought there was a limit how many scholarships a program can get .