Signing Day 2010: UGA Recruiting Bios

Last updated: 4:21 p.m.

Demetre Baker

Ht., Wt.: 6-0, 200

Position: Linebacker

Hometown: Orange Park, Fla.

High School: Orange Park

Highlights: Was a four-star prospect by Rivals.com and was ranked as the 23rd best outside linebacker in the country.

How he’ll fit in: Should be an outside linebacker in defensive coordinator Todd Grantham’s 3-4 defense. He has the speed to be a rush end and should be able to drop back in coverage when necessary. He is still a bit new to the linebacker position, so most do not think he has hit his potential yet.

Brent Benedict

Ht., Wt.: 6-5, 273

Position: Offensive tackle

Hometown: Jacksonville

High School: Bolles School

Highlights: Was considered one of the top 15 players in Florida and the No. 10 offensive lineman in the country by Scout.com.

How he’ll fit in: Benedict, despite coming off an injury, may be as athletic as any offensive line prospect in the country. With Georgia’s tremendous depth on the line, he’ll have to beat out some veterans to earn playing time in his first year on campus. That’s not an unrealistic possibility though. The two-deep line, with exception of Vince Vance, all return, but the play of the line has been substandard at times.

Michael Bennett

Ht., Wt.: 6-3, 186

Position: Wide receiver

Hometown: Alpharetta

High school: Alpharetta

Highlights: Bennett rushed for almost 700 yards and accumulated almost 1,100 all-purpose yards as a senior and was an honorable mention all-state receiver.

How he’ll fit in: Bennett has nice hands and good control of his body as he goes up for the ball. Though not quite as tall as Kris Durham, his game likely will resemble the pre-injury play of Durham. Because he does not have blazing speed, he’ll likely benefit from single coverage, often against a team’s second- or third-best cornerback. His ball skills and toughness should give him a chance to excel in that role.

Brandon Burrows

Ht., Wt.: 6-3, 240

Position: Defensive end

Hometown: Marietta

High school: Walton

Highlights: During his junior year, Burrows had 10 sacks and forced six hurries.

How he’ll fit in: Coming off an injury that kept him off the field during his senior year at Walton, Burrows likely is headed for a redshirt year where he can continue to rehab, add some bulk and be ready to contribute in 2011.

Marc Deas

Ht., Wt.: 6-1, 185

Position: Safety

Hometown: Kissimmee, Fla.

High School: Osceola

Highlights: Deas is a Florida AAAAA all-state player.

How he’ll fit in: Deas played quarterback and linebacker in high school, so he’ll be learning a new position. He’ll be solid against the run from his first practice but will have to learn coverage techniques.

Jalen Fields

Ht., Wt.: 6-5, 250

Position: Defensive end

Hometown: Dalton

High school: Dalton

Highlights: Fields is a Rivals.com top 250 players in the nation, and the No. 18 outside linebacker.

How he’ll fit in: Fields is big and relatively fast, but where he’ll end up playing is a question. Initially it was thought coaches might redshirt Fields and add some weight to him and move him inside. In the new 3-4 defense, Fields might not grow into the single nose tackle. Either way, he’s seen as a raw talent who likely will spend a year developing before finding the field.

Kenarious Gates

Ht., Wt.: 6-5, 300

Position: Offensive tackle

Hometown: Grantville

High school: Greenville High School

Highlights: Gates was a three-star player according to Scout.com and the 90th best offensive tackle in the country. He was a Kentucky commitment until Tuesday afternoon.

How he’ll fit it: Gates is quick on his feet for such a big man, but is still learning to play. That could be a good thing. He is considered a player with a bigger upside than his recruit ranking would indicate.

Jakar Hamilton

Ht., Wt.: 6-2, 196

Position: Safety

Hometown: Edgefield, S.C.

School: Georgia Military College

Highlights: Hamilton is a Rivals.com four-star prospect, who has been timed at 4.4 in the 40-yard dash.

How he’ll fit in: Hamilton might be as game-ready as anyone in this class. As a junior-college transfer, Hamilton has more experience than anyone else in the class, and the safety position is one in which a hard-hitter with good instincts can step right in. With Reshad Jones entering the NFL draft, Georgia needs toughness at the position.

Kolton Houston

Ht., Wt.: 6-5, 270

Position: Offensive lineman

Hometown: Buford

High school: Buford

Highlights: Won three state championships with the Buford Wolves. He was  the No. 6 offensive guard in the nation according to Scout.com

How he’ll fit in: Houston needs to work on his blocking techniques, but his tenacity, strength and footwork position him as one who might contribute early. Houston figures to be a guard, but can play any of the five positions. He comes from Buford, one of the state’s most fertile programs for collegiate players.

Ken Malcome

Ht., Wt.: 6-0, 212

Position: Running back

Hometown: Decatur

High school: Southwest DeKalb

Highlights: Malcome, a four-star prospect, ran the 100 and 200 meters in track.

How he’ll fit in: With a stockpile of tailbacks returning, Malcome isn’t likely to earn playing time as a freshman. Where he ultimately fits in might be one of the more interesting stories of this class. While Malcome doesn’t have tremendous speed, his downhill running style and field vision made him a star in high school. He could play on special teams and might also convert to fullback.

Hutson Mason

Ht., Wt.: 6-3, 190

Position: Quarterback

Hometown: Marietta

High school: Lassiter

Highlights: His senior year was one long highlight reel as Mason set state records in passing yards (4,522) and touchdowns (54).

How he’ll fit in: Mason figures to redshirt in the fall unless he can elevate himself to at least No. 2 on the depth chart. While he has two (perhaps three) quarterbacks ahead of him, none have played meaningful minutes, and the leading candidates to start at quarterback are two redshirt freshmen.

Dexter Morant

Ht., Wt.: 6-7, 240

Position: Defensive end

Hometown: Manning, S.C.

High school: Manning

Highlights: The lanky defensive end was offered scholarships by Florida, Tennessee, Clemson and South Carolina.

How he’ll fit in: If he shows he can be a pass rusher at the end position, Morant could bulk up a little and be a candidate to be on the two-deep depth chart. He needs to get stronger but his height and long reach could bat down many a pass in the near future.

Alec Ogletree

Ht., Wt.: 6-3, 215

Hometown: Newnan

High school: Newnan

Position: Defensive back

Highlights: Considered by some to be the No. 1 prospect in Georgia and the No. 3 safety in America.

How he’ll fit in: He was atop Georgia’s list of “must gets”for some time because of his size, strength and speed. He might look more like the hybrid hard-hitting Thomas Davis than Reshad Jones by the time he has finished at Georgia, and that would be just fine by Georgia. In the new 3-4 defense, Ogletree might get a look at outside linebacker, where his speed would really stand out.

Alexander Ogletree

Ht., Wt.: 5-10, 205

Position: Linebacker

Hometown: Newnan

High school: Newnan

Highlights: Zander, at times, was the best defensive player on his team, and that includes his brother Alec, a much more sought-after prospect.

How he’ll fit in: In the best case scenario, he emulates the play of Rennie Curran, who also was told he wasn’t big enough to play linebacker in the SEC. Don’t rule out that Zander might contribute this year, either on special teams or as a reserve in the new 3-4 defense.

Lonnie Outlaw

Ht., Wt.: 6-5, 180

Position: Wide receiver

Hometown: Rochelle

High school: Wilcox County

Highlights: Outlaw helped lead Wilcox County to the 2009 Georgia Class A State Title Game.
He caught 41 passes for 829 yards and six touchdowns in 2009, and scored 10 touchdowns on 22 catches for 417 yards receiving as a junior.

How he’ll fit in: Outlaw likely will go to Georgia Military College first because he wasn’t taking enough college-prep courses, and then he probably needs to add some muscle to his frame before arriving in Athens.

Derek Owens

Ht., Wt.: 5-9, 180

Position: Cornerback

Hometown: Jacksonville

High school: Andrew Jackson

Highlights: Owens played receiver and defensive back and was considered one the state’s better two-way players.

How he’ll fit in: The Dogs like his size as a cornerback, but Owens lacks lock-down corner speed and still needs work jamming receivers off the line. That doesn’t bode well for him seeing the field soon. He might be a candidate to add some muscle and move to safety in 2011.

Garrison Smith

Ht., Wt.: 6-3, 250

Position: Defensive tackle

Hometown: Atlanta

High school: Douglass

Highlights: Smith was the No. 6 defensive tackle in the country, according to Scout.com and Rivals.com, and chose Georgia over Florida.

How he’ll fit in: Smith should be an ideal middle cog in the new 3-4 defense. He’s a bit undersized, but his frame should be able to add 20 pounds before the 2010 season starts. With Jeff Owens, Geno Atkins and Kade Weston all moving on, the defensive tackle depth chart is waiting for some young players to fill it. Smith could work his way into the rotation early.

T.J. Stripling

Ht., Wt.: 6-6, 215

Hometown: Decatur

High school: Southwest DeKalb

Position: Defensive end

Highlights: He was considered the No. 4 player in Georgia by Rivals.com, and the No. 4 weakside defensive end in the country.

How he’ll fit in: Stripling needs to add some bulk to his frame, which shouldn’t be a problem. He’s built a lot like fellow signee, Dexter Morant, but was rated even higher. As Georgia looks for some pass-rushing ends, Stripling will get his chance immediately. If he performs and gets a little bigger, he likely will earn playing time this year. If not, he might be a redshirt candidate.

Mike Thornton

Ht. Wt.: 6-1, 280

Hometown: Stone Mountain

High school: Stephenson

Position: Defensive tackle

Highlights: Was one of the top three players in Georgia, according to the AJC and was a four-star prospect by both major recruiting services.

How he’ll fit in: Thornton rounds out Georgia’s defensive line class nicely. He’s strong, breaks down protection well and is good against the run. He should compete for playing time quickly.