TE Jay Rome loves Georgia visit, 4-star likes GT and RDA4 finds a home
There was a lot of recruiting activity over the weekend, with both Georgia and Georgia Tech hosting large groups of official visitors and coaching changes happening all around. I didn’t get home until late Sunday night, so I wasn’t able to do any reporting yet. But here’s a quick rundown of things I’ll be following up on today:
(1) AJC Super 11 TE Jay Rome of Valdosta reportedly loved his official visit to Georgia and may be close to committing to the Bulldogs, according to Scout.com’s Chad Simmons. Rome was one of 18 official visitors in Athens. We’ll catch up with at least a few of them.
(2) Likewise, four-star DL Darian Cooper of Hyattsville, Md., apparently really liked what he saw on an OV to Georgia Tech, according to JacketsOnline.com. He’s still going to take visits but raved about what he saw and heard in Atlanta. Tech had about 15 visitors in town.
(3) JacketsOnline also reports that coach Paul Johnson offered a 2011 scholarship to Chattahoochee PK Ammon Lakip, who made a 50-yarder Friday night in the Class AAAA championship game at the Georgia Dome. They weren’t initially going to offer a kicker so that’s a significant development.
(4) Scout reports that two Georgia players committed to Cincinnati over the weekend: RB Ralph David Abernathy IV of Westminster and DE Silverberry Mouhon of Norcross.
(5) 5-star DE Ray Drew of Thomas County Central went from his OV at UGA to NYC where he’s doing a media tour as part of the U.S. Army All-America game. I’ll be talking to Ray while he’s in the Big Apple so check back for that report.
Also, we’ll be discussing the recruiting ramifications of the coaching carousel, which kicked into full gear over the weekend with Will Muschamp going to Florida, now possibly taking Kirby Smart with him, and Al Golden leaving Temple to become Miami’s new head coach.
Let me know what you’ve seen and heard over the weekend and what you’d like to find out this week.
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189 comments Add your comment
GT Sambo
December 13th, 2010
9:35 am
What is the deal with the revisionist history on Muschamp’s defenses? Texas’ defense ranked near the top 10 in the country the last two years in yards allowed. His 2007 team at Auburn also ranked in the top 10 in yards allowed. I am somewhat surprised that he would bring Kirby Smart over, as that would put two high profile defensive minded coaches on the same team. I would think his OC hire would be much more critical.
Fire Paul Johnson
December 13th, 2010
9:39 am
Great points Wrecks. I had overlooked the fact that we already gave a scholarship to a kicker LAST YEAR. Unbelievable.
Is the PK position going to become yet another ongoing issue with this program? Coach Johnson whined frequently when he got here about the depth issues that resulted from probation, but he apparently hasn’t learned his lesson.
Yes, Coach Johnson is a genius– at coaching service academy football. I’d imagine he didn’t have to worry too much about field goals against all the Miami Ohios and North Texases he beat up on at Navy.
GT Sambo
December 13th, 2010
9:39 am
Paddy,
I agree with you that Golden has done a phenomenal job at Temple. Miami is lucky to have him. As you point out, the Miami job is not what it once was. However, if Golden is successful, it could easily be a stepping stone to a better job.
Jesse Stone
December 13th, 2010
9:41 am
So Fire Paul Johnson and the Wrecks clown are the same person having a conversation with themselves.
RRTDawgs
December 13th, 2010
9:42 am
Hey Chip do think UGA has a somewhat a better shot at Stephone Anthony now and will could Ja Juan Story consider other schools like UGA .
Jesse Stone
December 13th, 2010
9:42 am
The Miami job is not what it once was, but still better than Rutgers. I wonder if Greg Schiano is still kicking himself for turning down Miami a few years ago to stay at Rutgers?
Bo
December 13th, 2010
9:47 am
Chip,
I’ve heard that Quan Bray may be a silent commit to UGA after this weekend.
Also, I’ve heard that Jonathan Jenkins wants to play at UGA but admissions may be a problem.
Do you have anything on those?
1eyedJack
December 13th, 2010
9:49 am
I was hoping to see a couple of high profile commitments this weekend, but I guess they are going to wait until the All-Star games and make the big announcement on TV.
voice of reason
December 13th, 2010
9:53 am
GT Sambo, go read the Austin Statesman newspaper which is the hometown longhorn paper for the Texas fans take on Muschamp. Most Texas fans will admit that their schedule is pretty easy outside of just a couple tough games. A lot of them commented that Muschamp’s defenses were great against the cupcakes and average teams but not so much when playing better competition. Muschamp’s overall defensive numbers look pretty good until you go back and see how he fared against better teams. If you don’t believe me go back and look at Texas games the last few seasons. When Muschamp was at Auburn Georgia hung over 40 on him one year. His greatest success came at LSU and of course saban was there to help him out.
Dawg1
December 13th, 2010
10:03 am
Muschamp and Smart at Florida looks deadly to me. Florida hasn’t made a bad coaching hire in a while. Texas planned for Muschamp to be their ‘next’ coach. Smart was ’smart enough’ to not to go to UGA. He wants a head coaching position, so I’m not sure what the upside is – except to prove that Coach Saban isn’t the hands in the puppet so to speak.
As far as Georgia is concern; it’s pretty simple. If CMR turns it around this year, then he is likely there for a while. If he doesn’t, UGA will have another coach. Muschamp wasn never on the radar anyway, since he was supposed to be the next head coach at Texas. If Smart goes to Florida and does well – well then that’s a ‘clue’. If he goes to UF and doesn’t do well, then that is also a ‘clue’.
Florida is going to be Florida and win a lot of games; we cannot control that. What UGA can do is control it’s own destiny. We’ll know a lot more about the direction of this program a year for now. Better that Florida go through what they are going through now verses at the same time.
GDS’EWWW
Just me
December 13th, 2010
10:08 am
The comments from doggie fans are hilarious. Before FL hired Muschamp all you heard from doggie fans was that Muschamp was the greatest coach ever. First, he was your choice for D Coordinator and instead you got Grantham (loser). As recently as 7 to 10 days ago, he was your first choice to replace Richt.Now that he is the FL coach,, you are saying “he wasn’t that impressive”, “bad hire for FL”. hahahaha…
Reality: He was the top rated assistant coach in the country. I’m no FL fan, but I’m guessing his teams will dominate uga just like the previous coach did. Looks like a great hire for FL.
Rut Roh
December 13th, 2010
10:09 am
MIami did a better job replacing their coach. Muschamp won’t be a flop, but I don’t think he’s got the goods for Meyer-like success. Don’t think he’ll be Zook, either, though.
Golden, on the other hand, is a great hire. He’s actually the guy I wanted at UGA if Richt moved on. The only concern for Miami fans is going to be when JoPa retires. Golden is going to be the next coach at Penn State, guaranteed.
Outside Observer
December 13th, 2010
10:10 am
The scholarship offer to another placekicker is actually not a good decision in my opinion. With a scholarship already invested in a freshman kicker who never really got on the field, it seems like CPJ is giving away scholarships that could be used to better help the team. Also, are the quotes from the d-lineman the only decent things to report so far about all the recruits from the weekend? Maybe you are saving them for tomorrow and today is just a teaser…
GT Sambo
December 13th, 2010
10:11 am
voice of reason,
That’s a great idea. Let’s look at actual stats (of which you provided NONE, by the way). In a loss to UCLA, Texas’ defense only gave up 291 yards (25 yards below UCLA’s season average). In a loss to Oklahoma, Texas’ defense gave up 373 yards (-105 OU season average). In a loss to Iowa State, Texas defense gave up 335 yards (+25 the ISU season average, this is the one really bad game for the defense). In a loss to Baylor, Texas’ defense gave up 328 yards (-150 Balyor’s season average). In a loss to K. State the defense gave up 270 (-110 K.State average). In the loss to Ok. State, the D gave up 532 yards (actually -5 the Ok. State season average). In a loss to Texas A&M, the D gave up 366 yards (-70 the Texas A&M average). So that means that the Texas D gave up less than the team’s season average in 6 of 7 losses, and also the Texas offense outgained the other team in 5 of 7 losses (and in the A&M game the yards were almost identical).
Rut Roh
December 13th, 2010
10:13 am
Just Me you are severely misinformed about the general sentiment of Dawg fans regarding Muschamp. There were only a scattered few who banged the drum for him to come to UGA. The jury is out on him. He’s a hot-head who’s style just doesn’t seem, to me, to lend itself toward long-term success as a HBC. And, the truth is, his latest effort as an assistant coach was FAR from impressive. That’s just a fact.
Riley
December 13th, 2010
10:14 am
@Just Me – I don’t think he was a bad hire, but most of us were bracing for Petersen or Mullen…someone who could potentially dominate the landscape for a decade or more. There’s still a lot to learn about Muschamp as a head coach so there’s a bit more optimism from Dawg fans. People that say he’s a bad hire are going too far though. He’ll have plenty of opportunity to be very successful with all the talent he’ll get at UF.
AlpharettaDawg
December 13th, 2010
10:14 am
@Outside Observer. I like your argument here, but just think of how invaluable kickers are. What if midway through the year your kicker gets the shanks and you have to resort to someone who has no experience? Im not saying take a kicker over a 4-5 star athlete, but kickers change games (for better or for worse), and having two is a good option in my opinion.
dawgster
December 13th, 2010
10:17 am
Dawg 1…great comments, i agree pretty much,,.I think a lot of people will get down on Coach Smart if he takes the fla job and turned down the dawgs last season, although i understand there were some things he wanted to happen that the staff was not willing to do…He may have burnt that bridge from last season, but you are right, if something with Coach Richt should occur, Smart might get a call if he does well at fla, and he should, but i’m not so sure he will go, Saban will have a lot to say about it…In my opinnion though, i think Smart is a good coach, but Saban is the reason that Bama defense is what it is, his footprints are all over it, and whoever the DC is there would do well as long as Saban is the HC…I still am not convinced that Coach Smart would be the right choice for the dawgs should Coach Richt leave…I’m hoping we don’t have to cross that bridge and feel good about our chances next season and beyond…I’m sure if it comes to it, our AD, Mcgarity will know what to do..I have confidence in his ability to make sure we have the right people here…Next year is going to tell us what and where this program is going…I think Coach Richt have earned the right and respect to turn the program around…go dawgs
WrecksNEffect
December 13th, 2010
10:20 am
re: AlpharettaDawg
Over the yrs. GT has signed guys like Chris Reis, K. Brooking, Vance Walker, Gary Guyton that were “under-the-radar” Recruits that became big-timers and went on to the NFL.
With GT’s current depth issues, I’d rather CPJ roll the dice on finding the next one of those guys for GT rather that giving a scholly to a PK 2 yrs. in a row.
Time for a Change!
December 13th, 2010
10:21 am
Dan Mullen is coming to UGA after the 2011 season!! I hate to say it, but Richt & Booboo are done at UGA!!! McGarity and Mullen have history together at UF!!
JMar
December 13th, 2010
10:26 am
Silverberry Mouhon is an awesome awesome name.
Paddy
December 13th, 2010
10:27 am
Jesse Stone…I don’t believe Schino is kicking himself about not taking the Miami job. Those two coaching jobs seem about egual. Rutgers is dropping a ton of money into facilities right now. The problem Schino had with Miami’s offer a while back was that the administration was adament about not paying good money for assistant coaches. They would compete up to a point on the HC salary. The assistant coaches are faced with “below the Mendoza line” offers. Head coaches need great assistants and Donna Shalala would not bend on that subject. So, good or great assit. coaches tend to stay away from the Miami program.
WrecksNEffect
December 13th, 2010
10:27 am
For all those that think the Muschamp hire is good for Florida………..
Think about it this way………..
24 months ago Florida had this Triumvirate leading their FB program:
C.U.Meyer (a guy I have never liked but he wins games)
Dan Mullen
Charlie Strong
Now Florida has these guys leading their FB Program:
Will Muschamp
Major Applewhite
DC to be named later
From where I sit it looks like life for the other HCs in the SEC-East has gotten a whole lot easier.
There’s no way that the Coaches in that 2nd group match the talent of the Coaches in that first group, because of that Florida moves back to the pack in the SEC-East rather than being the clear-cut front-runner.
GT Sambo
December 13th, 2010
10:27 am
Time for a Change!, I root against UGA just as much as any Tech fan, but don’t you think that you should let the 2011 season play out before you bury Richt and Bobo. What if UGA goes 10-2 or 11-1 (losing to GT, of course), would you still expect McGarity to fire Richt?
Roaddawg80
December 13th, 2010
10:29 am
Just Me
Muschamp was nevered offered the DC job at UGA. Nor was he even talked to. Know your facts. There were only two official offers. First, Kirby and then Grantham. We didn’t settle for Grantham for he was Saban’s first choice when he was at Miami. I guess that alone makes him prestige, Right!
SteveW
December 13th, 2010
10:30 am
I thought Grantham did a good job until the Tech game. He was totally clueless on how to stop Tech, and that was with an extra week to prepare. We won’t have the talent in place to be really good on D until 2012.
We need two shut down CB’s, end of discussion. I think Bean, Geathers, or Thornton will be the force we need inside at NT.
We also need a couple of outstanding WR recruits.
And 4 things stand in our way of displacing South Carolina next season: Garcia, Lattimore, Jeffrey, and Gilmore. The Gamecocks have 3 1st rounders in those guys. They’re good!
Paul in RDU
December 13th, 2010
10:30 am
Chip – Doesn’t Lakip also have offers for scholarships in soccer? Since GT doesn’t have a varsity men’s soccer team CPJ offering him a scholarship may be a moot point.
AlpharettaDawg
December 13th, 2010
10:33 am
@Roaddawg Wasn’t VT coach offered (Bud Foster)? Correct me if I am wrong…
GT Sambo
December 13th, 2010
10:34 am
SteveW,
Maybe teams haven’t “figured out” the GT offense like all the Tech haters keep saying.
GT Sambo
December 13th, 2010
10:38 am
SteveW,
And listing Garcia as an impediment to UGA is laughable. USC clearly won in spite of Garcia, not because of him. If anything, UGA should hope that Connor Shaw doesn’t get more reps, because he has the ability to give UGA (and the rest of the SEC) fits if he continues to develop. At this point I think we can safely say that Garcia has reached his ceiling.
Arthur Redding, Jr.
December 13th, 2010
10:39 am
Chip,
Some of the best high school running backs I have seen this year are small, very quick, very fast running backs, ie., Travis Richmond of Peach County, Colquitt County’s RB’s, and others.
Yet I’ve heard very little talk about them as recruiting targets. I think there’s a lot to be said for having a Truman Holliday-like option in the backfield at UGA and other major college programs.
What gives? Are these backs considered to be simply too small?
Bart
December 13th, 2010
10:39 am
Hope UGA or Auburn get some recruits off Peach Co,Sandy Creek,and Carrolton…..They have a few
Roaddawg80
December 13th, 2010
10:40 am
alpharetta Dawg-
He may have been offered. I don’t think anyone actually will know that. However, it was said that CMR just went there to talk to them. He as alot of respect with that program and long tenure of friendship from his days at FSU. IMO I don’t think he was ever offered the job. Know one could ever report that he asked permission to talk to him.
Will
December 13th, 2010
10:41 am
Kirby and Muschamp do NOT run the same 3-4 defensive schemes. No chance Kirby goes to UF.
WrecksNEffect
December 13th, 2010
10:42 am
Hey Chip,
Could you please warn any prospective Recruits that want to visit GT that there is a HATCHET-WIELDING-MANIAC terrorizing GT’s Campus.
http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/tech-students-escape-injury-774551.html
An excerpt from an article in your own paper:
{The suspect was last seen running through a fire lane toward Fowler Street. He was described as white, 18 to 20 years old, 5 feet, 8 inches tall and wearing a dark jacket, blue jeans and a red Santa hat.}
I just want to get the warning out there to try and prevent anyone prospective Recruit from being maimed while on the GT Campus for an OV.
Roaddawg80
December 13th, 2010
10:42 am
Steve W
I would agree with you except I don’t see Garcia being a first round draft pick. I see a 4th rounder at best. If even drafted.
Time for a Change!
December 13th, 2010
10:45 am
@ GT Sambo — To be honest with you I don’t think there is anyway that UGA will will that many games and as a UGA fan unless he makes it to Atlanta in December next year he should be fired! That would make 7 years in a row with no appearance in the SEC Championship game and that is unacceptable! We don’t have to worry about losing to GA Tech either because all they have to do is show up and GT will find some way to give the game to the DAWGS! I’m done with Richt and his mediocre football! He needs to go and if it weren’t for McGarity being in his first year at UGA it would have happened this year!
BigTimeTECHFan
December 13th, 2010
10:52 am
Jeffry Greene looked pretty good this weekend, Not fully developed yet but will be nice Div 1 Receiver by the time he’s a junior.
The receiver for Sandy Creek is awesome – Chisum, has he signed, got offers?, lean anywhere?
Dawg in Rhine
December 13th, 2010
10:54 am
why would Smart leave Bama for a DC job in Florida? thats a lateral move…..he didnt leave Bama to go back to his home in GA, so why would he make a lateral move maybe even going to a worse school than Bama…lets face it Bama is still better than UF right now.
Chuck
December 13th, 2010
10:59 am
Every coach is a genius when he has great athletes. You think Mack Brown is less of a coaching talent in Texas this year than he was last year? No, he’s lost a ton of players and leadership to the NFL. You think Urban Meyer coached worse this year? He’s a liar a spiritual fraud and a miserable human being in general, but his team didn’t have a great record this year because a talented crop of athletes left Gainesville for NFL positions (even though Denver’s first-round BUST cost Josh McDaniel his job).
Nick Saban didn’t win a title in Alabama this year. Is he suddenly an idiot where coaching is concerned? He’s another liar and sorry individual, but the best part of his defense from his title team (his second with an asterisk) is playing on Sunday now. That’s why the Bammers aren’t celebrating this year, not because of coaching.
Gene Chizek is playing for a national title in January. Is he suddenly a genius? No, one of his boosters paid around 200k to buy a Heisman winner and here we are. Sorry if that’s a sore subject in the barns around Auburn, but you people need to wake up and face the facts. If Bama had bought Cam and the very same info had come to light, you people would be crying like infants day and night. Get over yourselves and GO DUCKS.
The problem in Athens is that the talent level is down, and has been for a few years now. Couple that with coaches like Willie Martinez, Mike Bobo, Searels, Garner, Van Halinger, et. al., and suddenly the program is in a free-fall. Look at championship-caliber teams, college and pro, and they all have coaching staffs loaded with head coaching ability–not one head coach and a band of morons like the afore mentioned gentleman wandering the sidelines in Athens with dazed looks on their faces. Dawgs don’t need Dan Mullen. (Leave Starkville alone already!) They need to quit wasting the talent they have. Honestly, would YOU want to play offense under Mike Bobo if you were a 5* athlete? Me neither…
Tech is a different story. Johnson has a system designed to let lesser athletes compete with the big boys. They don’t need that at Tech. The Jackets can win without gimmicks because they can still recruit guys to play in Atlanta. (Spare me the educational elitism, boys. You’re a far cry from the Ivy league, so find another excuse.) Tech needs better athletes up front and a coach like Hal Mumme or Mike Leach that throws the ball around and scores a ton of points. Laugh all you want, but look what Tubberville has done after Leach left TX Tech–nothing! Leach had skill position players flocking to Tech to put up numbers in that offense. Tech could steal the talent in this state if they would do the same.
Muschamp had better be wearing his big girl panties. Standing on the sidelines behind the man is not the same is calling the shots. I’m afraid Florida is in for a rude awakening unless they have some better athletes than they fielded this year (including the felon Rainey) waiting in the wings. Jimbo is quietly putting it together in Nole land, so the Florida landscape is about to change. And the fellow Miami just picked up turned Temple into a legitimate program–Temple. No, they aren’t a power, but a few years ago they were a total joke. They guy can recruit and he can coach. Wait and see.
That is all… Happy holidays, football fans.
Ted Striker
December 13th, 2010
10:59 am
If Smart goes to UF, then there’s a back-story within the last 12 months somewhere.
voice of reason
December 13th, 2010
11:01 am
GT Sambo, that is a very weak argument and any sane person would know it. Texas with all of those 5 star recruits on defense should by default hold those teams to below there season average. Especially when their “season average” is skewed by a bunch of cupcakes on the schedule. UCLA was 4-8 for crying out loud. They only scored 7 points against California. But they hung 34 on Texas.
The real measure of a great defense is scoring average and texas finished like 55th in the nation. I believe by the NCAA defensive rankings even UGA finished ranked 30th overall which is a laugher because our defense was horrible. I judge defenses by how they play against quality opponents and so do the Texas Longhorn fans.
RRTDawgs
December 13th, 2010
11:08 am
I think Vandy made a good hire with Auburn OC which singles Scam Newton is one and done and that AU still has a dark cloud so i don’t blame him for leaving .
brick
December 13th, 2010
11:19 am
I never understood how Muschamp is so highly regarded. He wasn’t very good at AU, UGA lit his defenses up, was really surprised when he went to Texas, a good team most of his time there, but his defenses weren’t outstanding considering he got 9 out of 10 kids he wanted every year. I am glad he was hired by UF, he might do well, but with Petrino or Mullins might wouldn’t have been part of the sentence. UF did the rest of the conference a favor. As for Kirby going there, I doubt it, he can’t get that far away from “daddy”.
Chip Towers
December 13th, 2010
11:21 am
Arthur Redding, Jr.: The fact is, there are a ton of good running backs in the state and many of them fitting the description you provide, that is, kind of small and quick. But because there are so many teams can afford to be very picky. Most of those guys will find schools late in the recruiting process after the big guys decide who they want. Kind of a supply and demand situation.
Chip Towers
December 13th, 2010
11:22 am
Paul in RDU: Yes, Lakip does have offers for soccer scholarships. So did Kevin Butler.
Chip Towers
December 13th, 2010
11:24 am
Bo: I’ve heard that about Quan Bray, too, but all I’ve gotten back is silence. . . .
If John Jenkins graduates from junior college he will be eligible at Georgia. That won’t happen until the end of spring semester, his coach told me.
Paul in RDU
December 13th, 2010
11:25 am
Perhaps the fact that Texas had over 3 TO’s a game in their 7 losses had something to do with the number of points they gave up
Chip Towers
December 13th, 2010
11:26 am
RRTDawgs: Stephone Anthony’s interest in Georgia has always been kind of curious. Every time I turn around he’s either in Athens or being contacted by the Bulldogs’ coaches. Yet he seems to rarely mention them in interviews with recruiting sites. Who knows? . . . . WR JaJuan Story is very, very quiet. We’ll see.
Rocy Mountain Bulldog
December 13th, 2010
11:27 am
Muschamp is a great guy, but I hope he losses to his Alma Mater, every single season.
It looks like the Dogs could be headed, for a great recruiting year!