UGA targets Drew, Jenkins bond in Miami, talk about playing together (updated)
Very few people know where Ray Drew is going to go to college, but John Jenkins claims he does.
The duo hit it off in Miami this past weekend. Drew, a five-star defensive end from Thomas County Central, and Jenkins, a 6-4, 340-pound noseguard at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, both just happened to be on official visits at the University of Miami this weekend.
Despite having not met previously, the two highly-sought-after prospects — who each have Auburn, Georgia and Miami among their finalists — ended up spending the majority of their time together in Coral Gables. Jenkins said they discussed at length the possibility of playing together in college.
“He and I really clicked,” said Jenkins, back at school in Gulfport, Miss., Monday. “He knew about me when I got down there and we just ended up hanging out together and talking a lot. He was just saying how he’d like to play where I play at. He said he wanted to be where I was playing nose so he can make some plays. We were talking about playing playing on the same line.”
Drew lists Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, LSU and Miami as finalists. Jenkins said he will decide between Auburn, Florida, Georgia and Miami. He will have visited Miami, UGA and Florida on consecutive weekends before national signing day (he visited Auburn in December).
I asked Jenkins if Drew was trying to recruit him toward any one school in particular.
“It wasn’t like that, but I do know where he’s going to go,” said Jenkins, who will be visiting UGA this weekend. “I don’t want to reveal his situation or anything like that, but he knows what he’s going to do. He took me aside and told me his thing.”
Drew said he likes Jenkins both personally and as a football player.
“When you’ve got a four-man front with four down linemen, you’ve got to have two big men that can flush everything to the outside and guys on the outside that can push everything inside,” Drew said. “We were talking about how we could help each other out that way. I need to find another big D-tackle.”
Don’t count out Miami as a possible destination. He said he was “blown away” by the Hurricanes on his visit.
“It was beautiful,” he said. “The hotel I was in had this big balcony. So when I woke up in the morning, I looked to right and there was the ocean, I looked to my left and there was the city and straight ahead was South Beach. Pretty nice.”
He was also impressed with new coach Al Golden. “He seems like a very driven, high-energy guy,” Drew said. “He wants to get Miami back to where they used to be.”
I asked Drew about his sudden interest in Miami, which he previously had not listed among his finalists.
“Miami has always been a school that I’ve looked at; I just never really said anything about it,” said the 6-foot-5, 250-pound U.S. Army All-American. “It’s been in the process for a while. The majority of my father’s family lives in the Miami area, so it’s a place where I feel like I could feel at home.”
Drew now has taken official visits to Auburn, Georgia, LSU and Miami. He has an official visit planned for Clemson this weekend. It’s his fifth and final official.
Even if Drew does know where he’s going to sign, he said he’s not about to announce it anytime soon.
“If not signing day then a few days before,” he said.
For what it’s worth, Drew did tell me he plans to attend the announcements of fellow AJC Fab 50 members Malcolm Mitchell and Jay Rome in Valdosta this Thursday.
“I plan on being there,” he said. “I know those guys and I’m just interested in seeing where they go like everybody else.”
Meanwhile, Jenkins came away from his Miami trip impressed.
“It was a cool weekend,” he said. “I got to meet the coaches and got a chance to see what they had in mind in terms of a plan for me. And I had a chance to see the city, which was great. The weather was beautiful.”
Asked what he expected from his visit to Georgia this coming weekend, Jenkins said, “I’m just expecting to see how well I fit in around there. I’m just going to see what my family thinks and see if they see what I see. I don’t have any high expectations. I just want to go in on an even keel and absorb everything and see what turns out.”
College Recruiting By Chip Towers
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376 comments Add your comment
sandman053
January 17th, 2011
5:46 pm
Well said Richmond Dawg…
Anonymous 'Cos
January 17th, 2011
5:49 pm
Good story!
I only hope they are Dawgs come NSD. We need these two on defense, especially Jenkins. Maybe the Junkyard Dawgs will be back next year after we have the right players for Grantham’s defensive scheme. Getting excited yet? I am.
RRTDawgs
January 17th, 2011
5:52 pm
From what i have been hearing is that UGA is still recruiting Dickson and also went to Thomasville to check on Drew so relax Jenkins and his family and coach will be in Athens .
rincon dawg
January 17th, 2011
5:54 pm
heres a name for you Daniel McCullers hes a nose guard at georgia military college and is an impressive 6-6/402 lbs. Bama and uga have shown interest he will be available next Jan.
Delbert D.
January 17th, 2011
5:57 pm
Jenkins is a very good fit for the 3-4. Drew wants to play DE, not OLB. He’s a major addition for a 4-3 school where DEs are key skill players.
K Conley
January 17th, 2011
5:58 pm
This blog is such a joke. I blame the AJC for allowing this crap more than anything. People posing as other people as well as people making absurd accusations. I’m a UGA fan and I would never make an accusation against another program short of seeing money change hands with my own eyes. People, make this a productive blog and not some silly accusatory forum. Also, please stop posing as others that we enjoy hearing from on the blog. We actually were able to pull some info. from this site at one time. It’s sad to see that it has come to this. Chip, I actually believe that this blog will be too much for a true fan to visit. Sorry to see that for you.
Vick=Dog killing Thug
January 17th, 2011
5:58 pm
The baloney is deep today… and it’s not even fresh baloney….
7576DAWG
January 17th, 2011
6:02 pm
If I was CMR I would let Drew pick where he wanted to play. Drew is a key recruit for this years. And more important he would be on the field from day one.
just a fan
January 17th, 2011
6:03 pm
here is a link to all the pay for play that has gone on at Auburn
http://theclevelandfan.com/ohio-state-buckeyes/3-buckeye-archive/7274-the-fall-of-bobby-lowder-and-the-fallout-at-auburn
and this is a little bit from the article
The Bowden interview linked above can be found in numerous places on the web in basically this same form. I attempted to verify with Davis the accuracy of the transcript, but have not as yet received a reply. So, as with anything sourced this way, take it for what it’s worth. If it helps give it credibility, know that USA Today reported on Davis’ account of the interview in a 2003 article. Here’s part of what Bowden told Davis in 2001 about the way it worked at Auburn when he was head coach there (1993 to mid-season 1998):
We paid then $12,000-$15,000 to sign. We sign about four every year that we pay.(Former assistant coach Rodney) Garner paid most of the players. He was paid when he was a player at Auburn.(Stacey) Danley is the assistant compliance guy, and he was paid when he was a player. I broke the rules. I said pay it off, and it will never happen again.
(Asst. coach Wayne) Hall said “OK, but you will change your mind.” Katherine came to Auburn as my assistant, but she worked for Colonial. We were real close. I told Lowder “We have cash all over.” Lowder said “I told Wayne not to collect more than we had to have to pay the players.” Wayne had a safe in his house where he kept the money. Within two weeks of me being hired they told me about paying Jelks.
Nothing was done without Lowder knowing. I will go under oath and say that Lowder looked me in the eyes and said, “I didn’t want Wayne to collect more money than we needed to pay the players.” I was hiding a dirty secret. We were paying (star running back and current Washington Redskin) Steve Davis and his cousin the fullback.
It took about two years to get it all cleaned up. Most the guys we were paying weren’t any good and weren’t helping us win games. Steve Davis was the exception.
Here is how it works, fifty to 60 men give $5,000 per year. Wayne would collect it. These are all good men. They didn’t ask questions. The coach tells them that everybody cheats so we have to. My first two years we went 11-0 and 9-0-1.
Big L
January 17th, 2011
6:04 pm
Just to be honest, the Crowell kid bothers me. He acts like a prima donna. Goes on a recruiting trip to a game where two teams, Auburn and Georgia, are fighting hard for him, and he wears an Alabama hat. He ain’t stupid, he knew what he was putting on. He likes being a smart ass and that can become trouble for a kid who will end up in a bar scene with that attitude. I for one am pulling for Ken Malcolm, the bruising horse runner, to win the job and produce.
RichmondDawg
January 17th, 2011
6:08 pm
Not to speak to the truth of falsehood of these accusations, but crooked boosters are program killers. Look at the teams in the top 25 the last 25 years. Most of them have ended up getting in some kind of trouble because of these self-important idiots who think that because they give money and are alumni that they are part of the team. The team is the kids and coaches, not a bunch of crooked ‘bidnessmen’
AmericusDawg
January 17th, 2011
6:08 pm
i have an outstanding source guyz and gals. Drew , Jenkins, and Rome will be wearing the Red and Black come NSD. GO Dawgs! GATA!
7576DAWG
January 17th, 2011
6:10 pm
K Conley
I totally agree. The problem you have is Chip can not eliminate the 13 year old that know nothing about anything , the redneck’s that are just being … redneck’s , and the lonely mentally challenged adults, who are starved for any recognition and attention.
DawgByte
January 17th, 2011
6:14 pm
Big L -
You’re not alone in being concerned about this Crowell kid. I think he could have a massive ego with a bit of thug going on. I didn’t like the way he was jiving around in the huddle during the Under Armor game. It was like he was listening to music or something. It didn’t look like he was taking it seriously.
I can smell a Jasper Sanks in the wood with this kid.
RRTDawgs
January 17th, 2011
6:18 pm
Sounds good Americusdawg i think we are good shape when they got together and started talking its a good sign .
BHEADdawg
January 17th, 2011
6:20 pm
these kids know that Richt is going to be in their corner for life, not just for the 3-4 years they play at georgia. if he were to leave next year, these kids know that UGA is just going to pony up and get the next best coach (unlike al golden), and that they’ll be taken care of. I wouldn’t doubt if richt “retires” at the end of this year and holds office in the BM bldg like one urban meyer.
Brooksdawg
January 17th, 2011
6:22 pm
I do think we GA will close strong–Crowell, Jenkins, Drew, and Rome…I think Mitchell will go to Bama…GA redshirted some strong players last year on both sides of the ball…not all is lost if we miss on a couple here and there..
bennie
January 17th, 2011
6:22 pm
Wow at some of the ignorance here..
What Miami lacks in fanbase showing up to the stadium and wins (though it seems Georgia has met them in that category here as of late) it makes up for with proven shots of players into the NFL.
Even during it’s most down times it has free-agents that weren’t even DRAFTED starting for teams like the Colts and Packers.. If you think kids don’t notice that..
Miami has already undergone a coaching change. The question is, how much more of the garbage that Georgia has fielded the last two years can the athletic director handle before he cleans house?
bennie
January 17th, 2011
6:25 pm
And this is coming from someone who’s made the commute to Athens many a time to watch the Dawgs get down..
Just sayin’. Like Georgia, it’s a hotseat on the bus to the NFL. Matter of fact.. More Canes in the NFL than Dawgs..
Not to mention life outside of school down there as opposed to Georgia..
DawgZeppelin
January 17th, 2011
6:29 pm
It is only good news if Drew pull Jenkins off to the side and told him where he is going. Forget about Dickson, Barnes is bigger and a step faster then he is.
Review: Naruto Manga Chapter 523— Sword Talk with Fishboy | Blog
January 17th, 2011
6:29 pm
[...] UGA targets Drew, Jenkins bond in Miami, talk about playing … [...]
BigTimeTECHfan
January 17th, 2011
6:32 pm
oh man, Vaughters vistited Stanford, now may open things up: has
1. Stanford (for now)
Then
UGA
OSU
Florida
What happen to Tech?
RRTDawgs
January 17th, 2011
6:37 pm
That great news about James Vaugters just think having Jenkins and him oh boy go dawgs .
BHEADdawg
January 17th, 2011
6:40 pm
I agree with the “fakeness” of this blog but remember one thing- it’s the AJC. They’ll do anything to get eyes to their webpage. I think that charging for blogs would really validate Chip’s and others work.
It’s absurd to think that every single poster could be the exact same person, and that needs to end. Scout, Rivals and even espn carry more ethos than AJC.
hamm
January 17th, 2011
6:41 pm
when did you hear that about vaughters??
sandman053
January 17th, 2011
6:43 pm
Yeah this is the first I’ve heard about Vaughters. Any substance to this?
Anonymous 'Cos
January 17th, 2011
6:47 pm
I agree…
How did this come to light about Vaughters having Georgia second? I mean, i hope it’s true but i have not heard/seen anything from him to give this comment any validity. I also haven’t heard anything regarding our coaches pursuing him at this time. One can only hope this is true. And i am not claiming to know anything more than anyone else…i just don’t know of this (great) information.
bigtime
January 17th, 2011
6:49 pm
K Conley….Well said, I agree.
That’s good news on Vaughters for you guys. He is an excellent linebacker with great play recognition skills and good range.
This is for the people on here have no class and resort to uneducated, unfounded accusations that parallel gossip at the senior citizen center between two eldery women. I , for one, am glad that many people on here are true fans of the game and come on here to talk football and recruiting. I guess there will always be some people that lack attention and feel they can gain it by being a rumor monger. I’m not goin to call names on here but you know who you are and so does everyone that has read your comments. I wish that Chip could censor stupid and then we would’ve never had to read your ignorance. If you want to talk recruiting this is the right place. All that other garbage belongs somewhere else.
Anonymous 'Cos
January 17th, 2011
6:54 pm
By the way,
K Conley, I could not have expressed the same opinion any better than you did. Very well said, especially “I actually believe that this blog will be too much for a true fan to visit. Sorry to see that for you.” That sadness goes for all the classy, true Dawg fans as well. Keepin’ it real…
7576DAWG
January 17th, 2011
6:54 pm
If a freshman comes to UGA with an attitude it is the job of the SENIORS to straighten him out ,something that was been practically non existent at UGA for years. Our seniors need to show more maturity and leadership.
Jay
January 17th, 2011
6:55 pm
Auburn is losing everybodfy, no way these guys bolt to Auburn, if they do, they arn’t as smart as they should be.
It’s likely down to Miami and Georgia. Golden vs. Mark Richt? Should be a slam dunk for Richt. But the only thing is, McGarity hasn’t supported Richt, where Golden’s AD is 110% behind him.
Richt’s had Georgia in the hunt 6 out 10 seasons at Georgia.
sandman053
January 17th, 2011
6:55 pm
Yep bigtime, you are speaking the truth. I’m a Dawg through and through, but I enjoy the game itself too. I like the interaction among the various fans and Chip’s information. I know you are a Bama fan and respect that, and other than the occasional b*&(-busting that goes on I respect your opinion.
On another note, I notice there aren’t many Gamecocks on the board, but they are our competitor (not to mention beat both bama and UGA this year) so does anyone know how their class is shaping up?
sandman053
January 17th, 2011
6:58 pm
Speaking of leadership, it reminds me of Florida’s class last year. Didn’t they have the #1 or #2 class? Anyway, the Pouncey kid that stayed had to “straighten” some of them out about what it takes to be a Gator. As a Dawg I don’t know what that means, but I think there are gonna be some young kids in Athens that are gonna need “straightening out”. Thankfully we have Thomas Brown to help out in that situation, not to mention some of those big O-linemen.
Jay
January 17th, 2011
6:59 pm
Golden’s record at Temple was 1-11, 4-8, then 5-7, then 9-3. He only has 1 winning season, he can’t win games. Richt only has 1 LOSING season in 25 years, and his teams have finished in the top 10 20x.
RRTDawgs
January 17th, 2011
6:59 pm
Hey Chip do have anything on Vaughters i know UGA had recruited in the beginning but when he committed to Stanford they stopped i am sure if has opened things back up Richt may have started talking to him i hope it is true .
Vandy Dawg
January 17th, 2011
7:00 pm
Dawg Nation do not worry. Drew and Jenkins are both headed to Athens. I am not an insider but I do know a well connected member of our fan base who is always on the money. Skip was all smiles today when we spoke of Drew, IC, JJ, Rome and Mitchell. He can not wait till thursday night. He is planning on being at the announcements in Valdosta. That can only mean good things for the Bulldogs. He also said FSU had a big “SHOCKER” on the way that will favor our defense. That is all he would give up. The coaching staff is pulling the Dream Team together. Coach Richt and Grantham are leading the way as out go to recruiters and making a big impact on our in state talent.
insider not Lowndews25
January 17th, 2011
7:02 pm
Drew and Jenkins to Auburn to replace “Un”fairly on the DL.
sandman053
January 17th, 2011
7:08 pm
@Vandy Dawg: All that sounds terrific to this Dawg. I can’t wait to see the Dawgs play September 3rd!
RRTDawgs
January 17th, 2011
7:08 pm
I don’t think there going to AU not going to as good Newton and Fairley is what drove that team it will take while for them to get back up .
sandman053
January 17th, 2011
7:11 pm
RRT I think AU will be down this year for sure, but it is also pretty hard to argue with that crystal football (see TX, FL, AL,LSU)
GATAdawg
January 17th, 2011
7:16 pm
K Conley…Thank you. For the people that like to come on here and post fake stuff like the “lowndes25″ guy earlier, we will eventually figure out that you’re a fake. It’s just childish.
Jay
January 17th, 2011
7:18 pm
I think a lot of Todd Grantham. Look what he did with Justin Houston, got the kid to #1 in sacks & tfl’s in Grantham’s first season, outcoached Saban & Smart combined when it came to SEC sacks & tfl’s leader. In his first season. Dallas Cowboys went down the tubes after Grantham left, and Alabama’s D-Line wasn’t as dominant this year as in the past, when Grantham has been Saban’s D-Line outside trainer. Ratliff at Dallas landed a monster $50 million contract while Grantham was there. But Grantham needs to get his body types in here, he knows what he wants, but he has to have the raw material to work with, Tyson’s not big enough to be a 3-4 NT. Need Jenkins in there.
Grantham pulled similar numbers to what Saban did his first year in the 3-4. He’s stout.
Bull
January 17th, 2011
7:20 pm
Believe what you like folks. Just sharing info. And yes as a matter of fact I am a UGA alum football booster and 17 year ticket holder.
bigtime
January 17th, 2011
7:20 pm
sandman053…..Thanks, well appreciated .
VandyDawg…….Malcom Mitchell will be in Tusaloosa. Bama made a very favorable impression on him last weekend. Bama just had a kid (a life long Bama fan) decommit from them that had been committed for 2 years and commit to Auburn so nothing would suprise me. I think he’s going toBama but we won’t know for sure until NSD. It’s the same with all of these recruits. Everything I see and hear points to him going to Bama. I’ve been wrong before though and I’m sure I will be again……
…… I want people to know that I made those comments (6:49) not because I’m a Bama fan but because this is a dang 17 year old KID in high school…..a school that he has to go to and hear about this garbage for the rest of the school year now. That’s not fair for him. These are KIDS , lets keep it about recruiting and football.
RRTDawgs
January 17th, 2011
7:24 pm
Hey sandman053 your probably right but i think UGA has recruited Drew and Jenkins harder they are more comfortable the reason we did not get Bray was because AU hired is uncle what does that say .
Bitter vince dooly
January 17th, 2011
7:24 pm
You people need to get off the crack!!! these her-a- boys are gonners i say!! they have been taken by the crack ho’s on south beach, the only thing that you can fix now is with a penicilian shot foo these her-a- boys.
I dar-e- say i lost many to jimmy johnson yaaw.
PS cant win-nam all, unless you have-a- hershal!!! got to get to my rose’s, hahahahaha
Jay
January 17th, 2011
7:28 pm
Saban was putting the 3-4 in back in 07′ at Bama. When you look at how Grantham’s first year at UGA compares, you see you have the next Saban.
Grantham 2010 vs. Saban 2007
Sc. Defense: 22, 22
Rush Def: 150 ypg, 125 ypg
Pas Def: 185 ypg, 221 ypg
Total Def: 335 ypg, 345 ypg
Interceptns: 1.17 per game, 1.47 per game
Sacks: 24, 24
Fumbl recvd: 10, 5
3rd dwn conv:42%, 40%
Grantham won 3 areas, Saban won 3 areas, and they tied in 2 areas.
Jay
January 17th, 2011
7:33 pm
Demarcus Ware landed a $78 million contract while Grantham was on staff at Dallas.
chilidawg
January 17th, 2011
7:34 pm
@Vandy– maybe Wilder has decided he wants to play linebacker in Athens?
sandman053
January 17th, 2011
7:36 pm
now THAT would drive naganole crazy @ chilidawg