Rico Johnson: UGA gets commitment No. 19
UGA’s newest recruit, Rico Johnson, cried after was he was offered a football scholarship at Saturday’s Mark Richt Camp.
They were tears of joy.
“That was my dream school; I always wanted to go there,” Johnson told the AJC. “I told myself if I ever got an offer from Georgia, that would be the school I would go to.”
Mark Richt picked up a new commitment after losing two earlier this week (AP photo)
The 5-foot-11, 171-pound Johnson is a wide receiver and defensive back from Swainsboro High School. He picked UGA over offers from Appalachian State and Marshall. He was virtually unknown to recruiters because he was ineligible to play last season as a junior after transferring high schools.
On Saturday, Johnson earned an offer on the spot after a dazzling performance, including being clocked at 4.25 and 4.28 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
Toward the end of camp, UGA coach Mark Richt called Johnson over to speak. “He said ‘How would you like to be a Dawg?’ It made me cry. I went over and talked to my coach and my mom. Then I went back over to Coach Richt and gave him my full commitment to be a Dawg. He gave me a hug and said ‘Welcome to the Dawg family.’”
Even though Johnson is a little-known recruit, he was a big commitment for UGA – the Bulldogs had a rough week after 5-star RB Derrick Henry and WR Kyrin Priester de-committed earlier this week. UGA needed to regain some momentum, and got it with Johnson. He’s the reigning Class AA state champion the 100-meter dash.
UGA now has 19 commitments for its 2013 football recruiting class.
“I knew I had a great day at camp, but I didn’t know I was going to get an offer,” Johnson said. “What a day.”
UGA commits for 2013
- QB Brice Ramsey, 6-3, 190, Camden County HS
- S Tray Matthews, 6-2, 205, Newnan HS
- DB Shaq Wiggins, 5-10, 160, Sandy Creek HS
- DB Steven Nelson, 6-0, 185, College of Sequoias JC (Northside-WR HS)
- DT Chris Mayes, 6-4, 295, Mississippi Gulf Coast JC (Spalding HS)
- DT DeAndre “Moose” Johnson, 6-3, 311, Northgate HS
- WR Tramel Terry, 6-0, 185, Goose Creek, S.C.
- LB Johnny O’Neal, 6-1, 230, West Laurens HS
- OL Aulden Bynum, 6-5, 250, Valwood HS
- LB Ryne Rankin, 6-1, 231, Orlando, Fla.
- LB Reggie Carter, 6-1, 220, South Gwinnett HS
- ATH JJ Green, 5-9, 178, Camden County HS
- DB Reggie Wilkerson, 6-0, Citron, Fla.
- OL Josh Cardiello, 6-4, 280, Buford HS
- OL Brandon Kublanow, 6-3, 290, Walton HS
- WR Uriah LeMay, 6-1, 200, Matthews, N.C.
- WR Reggie Davis, 6-1, 155, Tallahassee, Fla.
- OLB Naim Mustafaa, 6-4, 235, Alpharetta HS
- WR-DB Rico Johnson, 5-11, 171, Swainsboro HS
CHECK BACK ANY MINUTE FOR ANOTHER COMMIT …
- POINT GUARD U? Georgia Tech picks up one of the top 15 prospects in the USA
- UGA regains momentum with football commitment No. 19
- State’s No. 1 kicker chooses Tech over Auburn, others
- Rough week: WR recruit de-commits from UGA
- SURPRISE! Robert Nkemdiche, nation’s No. 1 recruit, picks … Clemson
- 4-star linebacker commits to Vanderbilt, switches to Tech, then decides to “re-open” his recruiting
- HEARTBREAKER: UGA’s top recruit de-commits from the Bulldogs
- Top Alabama recruit shoots down … the UGA rumors
- UGA edges out Georgia Tech in rare head-to-head battle for in-state recruit
- Steve Spurrier strikes again: Two Georgia commits in two days
- Nick Saban finally lands a Georgia QB for Alabama
BEST OF THE REST
- Hmmm … Florida and UGA agree to NOT host recruits for annual showdown
- UGA football signee forced to delay enrollment
- Mark Richt has a little secret
- Nick Saban on his Georgia recruiting success: “Well, I still have a home in Georgia”
– By Michael Carvell, AJC Recruiting Blog
- So much is happening so fast. Have you missed anything over the last few days? Catch up with our feed by CLICKING HERE
- BOOKMARK the NEW AJC Recruiting homepage here
Got an item? mcarvell@ajc.com
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571 comments Add your comment
Game Changer
June 17th, 2012
9:09 am
SS Mark Richt is sinking.
Whitehurst, safety, return specialist, 4.4 speed Chattahooche High quality competition
UGA CAN ONLY OFFER ONE DEFENSIVE SCHOLARSHIP TO A WHITE KID OBVIOUSLY.
How many white kids were invited to UGA for this weekend which is one of the most important in recruiting? UGA IS A GODDAMN EMBARRASEMENT TO ALL INVOLVED
THE Dixie Redcoat Band
June 17th, 2012
9:10 am
UGA had LSWHO on the ropes for the first half.
A person SMART enough to know......
June 17th, 2012
9:13 am
Thomas Brown ….is a Moron that can’t read!
Did I say Bobby Jones played golf for Tech? No
Read what I said fool.
A person SMART enough to know…… June 16th, 2012 11:46 am
“And a SILLY NERD Created The Masters you Moron Jack-wad.”
____________________________________________________
Pardon me, Bobby Jones golfed not 1 golf ball for Georgie tek – not ever. He was never on the Georgie tek golf team and not once represented Georgie tek in golf – never.
_______________________________________________________________________________
After retiring from competitive golf in 1930, Jones founded and helped design the Augusta National Golf Club soon afterwards in 1933, and also co-founded the Masters Tournament.
That sure sounds like a Tech Nerd CREATED the Masters to me.
A person SMART enough to know......
June 17th, 2012
9:16 am
Richt made the boy Cry! LOL
Beat out App State and Marshall?
Big get I guess.
Just Saying
June 17th, 2012
9:18 am
We May have gotten a “sleeper” on this one!!! Go to Rivals and compare Rico’s speed to the top WRs who have their speeds listed. He is about 0.3 seconds faster than the average (4.2 vs 4.5) and out of about 800 WRs listed only one has a 4.34……..all the rest are over 4.4. I think Rico was a great catch and we could take the risk after already having commitments from #3-4 star WRs.
dmr
June 17th, 2012
9:19 am
1. Good for Rico. 2. You really do not lose a recruit until Signing Day. 3. Every year there is going to be a Number 1 running back or defensive back or whatever. Georgia signed the #1 running back the last two recruiting classes. Henry must do what is best for him, but Georgia still is loaded at the back position. Georgia needs to focus on OL and DL for the rest of the 2013 class.
Game Changer
June 17th, 2012
9:27 am
@justsaying
I will beat you that the kid does not run sub 4.4 on electronic time. He is very small and runs 4.5 and higher but what does that matter. CMR, I can justify this offer if we put out a silly time and trick the fans and even the kid himself for that matter. At 5′6″ 150lbs and the fastest time in the 40 for any high schooler in the U.S. he would have already received a full ride track scholarship. Dont buy in the the BS being thrown out of Athens, GA Butts Mehre. By sometime today or tomorrow the UGA sports information dept will give Chip Tower his next article to publish in over 3 days since the silly firing of a very good and qualified womens golf head coach. I am sure that by the time Chip Towers writes the article he may been running D Green times of 4.15 in the 40. To much BS outta Athens, GA. sad weekend so far out of Athens, GA.
A person SMART enough to know......
June 17th, 2012
9:31 am
The BEST thing about this Pick-up is that he WANTS to be a DWAG.
He could be a 2 star and be better than all the 4 stars cause he wants to work hard to be a Dwag.
RHall55
June 17th, 2012
9:32 am
Lets’ see if UGA finishes in the top 5 in recruiting this year; if not, time to make a change w/ Rodney Garner!! Loses too many in-state top players and loses out on top notch OL!! Tired of incompetence!!
Priceless
June 17th, 2012
9:39 am
“I will beat you”
I bet you won’t
A person SMART enough to know......
June 17th, 2012
9:50 am
Happy Fathers Day to all the Dwag players and recruits.
Game Changer
June 17th, 2012
9:59 am
@UGA Coaches
We do not need to offer Jordan Davis as a TE. WE NEED DB, OL, LB NOTHING ELSE
Was Brandon Kublano the only White Player all weekend in Athens, GA. being a part of the recruiting weekend? Nothing like seeing your future for the next four to five years close up.
Paddy
June 17th, 2012
10:23 am
bitter//daws insider………why did you chop my head off. I said he was 5′11″ If you can’t read don’t post!!!!!!!!!!!!What a Maroon.
RedandBlackDAWG
June 17th, 2012
10:28 am
Whamo,
What part of the article did you not understand. He was not allowed to play last year, thus the lack of ranking by any of the services. Why is that so hard to understand?
McDawg
June 17th, 2012
10:42 am
another midget
A person SMART enough to know......
June 17th, 2012
10:46 am
McDwag……….not a dwag fan but Brent Grimes had the Speed and Hops to get to the Pro Bowl being a Midget. Plus the kid WANTS to be a dWag and that counts for a lot.
who let the tards out?
June 17th, 2012
10:47 am
Why in the world does Richt&Co. still insist on signing midget defensive backs? I see that we have only one DB recruit who is over 6′0″. What gives? Oh, also… you guys STILL need to learn the difference between “to, too and two,” and “their, there and they’re.” Come on, guys. Damn.
Paddy
June 17th, 2012
10:50 am
McDawg……. Why is 511″ 175 lbs a midget? Sounds about right for a kid starting his Sr year in HS!
Sounds like Whamo & bitter//dawgs insider have the same reading disability!
#dawg
June 17th, 2012
10:53 am
gamecock in ga,”REALITY”ya’ll don’t own us & ya’ll don’t own the east! WE”RE NOT THE IDOTS & DON”T HAVE UNREALSTIC EXPECTATIONS,THAT WOULD BE YA’LL!
LOL who let the tards out?
June 17th, 2012
10:55 am
UGA does seem to have more than it’s fair share of tards!
A person SMART enough to know......
June 17th, 2012
10:56 am
Brent Omar Grimes is an American football cornerback for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football at Shippensburg University. Wikipedia
Born: July 19, 1983 (age 28), Philadelphia
Height: 5′ 10″ (1.78 m)
Weight: 180.8 lbs (82 kg)
Salary: US$ 10,281,000 (2012)
2010
In 16 games(16 starts), Grimes recorded his best season as a starter with the Atlanta Falcons, Finishing with 81 Tackles, 5 Interceptions, including one that sealed a Falcons Victory at Tampa Bay (12/5), and 23 Passes Deflected (Best in the League). Grimes was named to the 2011 Pro Bowl
Glsjunior
June 17th, 2012
10:58 am
The third FBS team also got a commit, DJ Juste from Port Lucie, Fl god forbid the AJC would report it.
ryan
June 17th, 2012
11:01 am
If i was Bama right now i would be nervous about Ruben Foster from what i have been hearing he is thinking of decomitting both Tunsil and Foster had awesome visits from what i heard .
M. Mond
June 17th, 2012
11:01 am
Of course Bobby Jones played golf at GT……
http://www.yellowjacketinsider.com/sports/men/golf/images/facilities/museum-101610_dj-059.jpg
Gamecock in Georgia
June 17th, 2012
11:04 am
Rico I would cry too if I knew I would be on a losing team for the next 4 years…
No other majors offers for this kid.
hmmmmm.
ryan
June 17th, 2012
11:12 am
We see what happens this year 9 starters returning of defence O-line is better Marshall , Crowell , Malcolm in the backfield JSW and Jay Rome you haters can bash this Rico all you want unknowns lots of times turn out great it not about stars it competing and working hard .
Paddy
June 17th, 2012
11:17 am
A person smart……why do so many folks call this kid a midget? 5′ 11″ is about right for a slot receiver or cb. I guess folks just ike to troll
ryan
June 17th, 2012
11:18 am
Gamecock talk is cheap see what happens on the field this year that’s i am going to say our games have always been close and they can ether way .
Paddy
June 17th, 2012
11:22 am
Gamecock in Georgia…….He didn’t play last year because of transfer rules. Give it some though before you post about no major offers. Maybe even read the article.
A person SMART enough to know......
June 17th, 2012
11:22 am
M. Mond…….I never said Bobby Jones played or didn’t play golf for Tech. I said he created the Masters and THOMAS BROWN said bobby Jones never played.
Thomas brown is an IDIOT.
Bobby Jones was on the 1922 Tech golf team but don’t confuse Thomas Brown with facts.
http://www.ramblinwreck.com/genrel/090800aaa.html
GOLF (5) Greatest golf players in Tech history
Stewart Cink (1992-95)
David Duval (1990-93)
Bobby Jones (1922)
Matt Kuchar (1997-00)
Larry Mize (1978-79)
A person SMART enough to know......
June 17th, 2012
11:26 am
Paddy………….I understand the MIDGET cause WR’s are averaging 6′4″ in the NFL, but if the DB has Speed, Hops, and Ball Awareness he will play.
kingdaddy
June 17th, 2012
11:27 am
Paddy,
it’s just the pot calling the kettle black. The trolls are coming out from under the bridge to take cheap shots at this kid. ALL TROLLS ARE JEALOUS AND INSECURE,THEIR FEET STINK AND THEY DON’T LOVE JESUS…
A person SMART enough to know......
June 17th, 2012
11:27 am
Paddy….also I called Brent Grimes the SPUD WEBB of the NFL. If you have Ball Awareness, Body Control with the Hops he can make the plays.
ryan
June 17th, 2012
11:28 am
Tech had some great golfers i will give them that Bubba Watson did win the Masters this year .
Brown Dog
June 17th, 2012
11:29 am
Game Changer, why don’t you and Tide Roll agree to a neutral site and settle the race question once and for all. But spare the rest of us.
And congrats to a young man who had his dream come true. Roll Tide.
A person SMART enough to know......
June 17th, 2012
11:29 am
KingDaddy…………if their feet stink, then they should Love Jesus. He washed peoples feet.
Game Changer
June 17th, 2012
11:29 am
WHERE IS ALL THE WHITE FOOTBALL PLAYERS BEING RECRUITED AND OFFERED BY UGA?
One white kid the whole damn weekend and his is already commited: WHY?????????????
BUTTS MEHRE IS ON FIRE
A person SMART enough to know......
June 17th, 2012
11:32 am
ryan yes he did…..but that is a great win for a young man with a lot of time left to play. A dWag was saying Bubba is better than Kucher based on that one win. I said they both have a lot of golf left to define their careers. A poster also said tech nerds don’t know golf, but the greatest golf player is a Tech man and Created the Masters. That was the point.
Rick James
June 17th, 2012
11:33 am
@GT Fan
June 17th, 2012
8:14 am
LOL, I will take no pity in laughing at this recruit and UGA fans.
If this were any other team, UGA fans would be berating and bashing him.
This guy has ZERO stars, no offers (App st. and Marshall don’t count) and wait…who is this guy?
170 lbs. 5′11″ WR? Please. He’ll never see a minute of PT at UGA.
—————————————————————————————–
Seriously? You cant laugh at anything regarding Georgia recruiting without also laughing at Tech’s.Let’s see who has the better class in Febuary and contiues to dominate the series.
Paddy
June 17th, 2012
11:34 am
A personSmart…..I guess the same folks that think 5′11″ is small, swear by the “star system”! Lemmings going out with the tide!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Game Changer
June 17th, 2012
11:35 am
@browndog
Screw you, if UGA had less than 20% of the team being black all hell would be breaking out. Marches, speeches, special interviews etc etc. Well Damnit, I want more white recruited. To use the racist statement about this is silly when if reversed the same thing would be called into account.
I will continue promoting the idea that UGA does not offer scholarships to enough white kids out of high school. Regardless of what you or anyone post.
Since you are so damn smart, please share the your personnal view on why we do not offer more whites, I bet you will sound more racist with your claims than me??????????
Brown Dog waiting for your answer:
A person SMART enough to know......
June 17th, 2012
11:38 am
UGa has recruited the White RED Headed kid as of late. Theus is Molly Ringwald on roller skates.
ryan
June 17th, 2012
11:40 am
Tech’s Basketball is loaded i am disappointed in UGA basketball program Fox has not been a great a recruiter at all if we have another bad season i think he is done IMO .
ryan
June 17th, 2012
11:43 am
@Smart person Theus was the top O-linemen last year he may look like Opie Taylor or Molly Ringwald but he is going to be a good one .
1eyedJack
June 17th, 2012
11:46 am
“Theus is Molly Ringwald on roller skates.”
It’ll be funny to watch GT defensive linemen being dominated by a red-headed girl on skates. Oh wait….
kingdaddy
June 17th, 2012
11:46 am
Smart
NFL wrs avg. 6′4″? I doubt that but it doesn’t matter,they probably avg @4.4—4.5 too but you don’t want to talk about that do you but it doesn’t matter, he’s gonna be an SEC CB.
Smart, you ever watch the “Road Runner” Cartoons growing up? “MEEB, MEEB”…
A person SMART enough to know......
June 17th, 2012
11:48 am
ryan MAYBE…but he did look like he was on roller skates in some games against a speed rusher. You have to hope he will be good. I Hope when Gotsis get on campus from Australia he is really read for full speed American Football against Americans. LOL
A person SMART enough to know......
June 17th, 2012
11:50 am
KingDaddy WHY you picking on me? I said if the kid has the Speed, Body Control, Hops, and Ball Awareness he will be fine.
kingdaddy
June 17th, 2012
11:56 am
Trolls don’t love Jesus, that’s why their feet still stank. Trolls like to stank. Their opinions stink worse than their feet. Some things never change. Trolls troll, bears bare, bee’s be and Dawg’s will Dog…
kingdaddy
June 17th, 2012
11:58 am
Smartacus,
Happy Fathers Day my friend…