Georgia lands commitment No. 17 in Memphis athlete Sheldon Dawson
Sheldon Dawson is built in the mode of Brandon Boykin and "did it all" for Ridgeway High in Memphis, according to coach Duron Sutton. (Photo courtesy of Memphis Commercial Appeal)
Georgia conducted its first successful flip of the recruiting period on Monday as Sheldon Dawson announced his intention to sign with the Bulldogs on Wednesday.
“I have committed to Georgia,” Dawson, a 5-foot-11, 178-pound athlete from Ridgeway High School in Memphis, Tenn, said Monday night. “I did it about an hour ago.”
Dawson had been committed to play for his hometown team, the University of Memphis, since July of last summer. But he re-opened his recruitment after the school fired head coach Larry Porter. He chose UGA over Ole Miss and he also considered Arkansas and Cincinnati.
“It just felt like a better fit for me,” Dawson said. “It was like a do over for me, a place to start over. I started from scratch and that’s the place I wanted to go.”
Dawson becomes commitment No. 17 for the Bulldogs. Georgia hopes to secure at least five recruits more during the national signing period, which begins Wednesday. Several of those targets are currently committed to other schools, including Cedar Grove offensive lineman Brandon Greene (Alabama), Sandy Creek wide receiver JaQuay Williams (Auburn) and Tucker defensive end Josh Dawson (Vanderbilt). They’re also awaiting word from outside linebacker Josh Harvey-Clemons of Valdosta, offensive lineman Avery Young of Palm Beach Gardens and wide receiver Codarrelle Patterson of Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College.
Georgia was one of the first teams in after Porter’s dismissal and Dawson took an official visit to Athens in December. The Bulldogs have pretty much led ever since, despite a late push by Ole Miss and new coach Hugh Freeze.
Dawson’s original commitment to Memphis was considered a major coup for the Tigers. He is the consensus No. 1 prospect in Tennessee. 247Sports.com gives him a four-star rating and considers him the No. 8 cornerback in America while Scout.com also has him has as a four-star and considers him No. 11 in the nation at the position. Rivals.com and ESPN both rate him with three stars. Dawson had well over 20 offers and almost all were from BCS schools such as Ohio State, Tennessee, Louisville, North Carolina, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State and the like.
Georgia’s biggest selling point for Dawson is the opportunity to play both ways. He’s expected to play cornerback or safety for the Bulldogs but has been told he’ll be given the opportunity to return kicks and may also get some snaps on offense. Dawson reportedly has 4.4-second, 40-yard speed and is an almost identical physical match to the recently-departed Brandon Boykin, who won the Hornung Award playing two ways for the Bulldogs.
“Everybody on the team said I remind them of Brandon Boykin,” Dawson said.
“You’ve already seen how they would use him,” Ridgeway coach Duron Sutton said. “You’ve seen the way they use that Boykin kid on offense and defense. I think they feel like he would be a perfect fit for that role.”
Dawson is scheduled to make his formal announcement at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday with teammates at his school.
GEORGIA 2012 COMMITMENTS
- DT John Atkins (6-4, 300), Thomson
- P Collin Barber (6-2, 191), Cartersville
- QB Faton Bauta (6-3, 225), West Palm Beach, Fla.
- OL Mark Beard (6-4, 290), Coffeyville (Kan.) CC/Adamsville, Ala.
- ATH Sheldon Dawson (5-11, 178), Memphis, Tenn.
- DL James Deloach (6-3, 260), Jenkins Co.
- DE Leonard Floyd (6-4, 215), Dodge Co.
- RB Todd Gurley (6-1, 195), Tarburo, NC
- FB Quayvon Hicks (6-2, 245), Pierce Co.
- OLB Jordan Jenkins (6-3, 245), Harris Co.
- RB Keith Marshall (5-11, 190), Raleigh, N.C.
- PK Marshall Morgan (6-3, 195), Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
- OL Greg Pyke (6-6, 315), Baltimore, Md.
- TE Ty Smith (6-3, 228), Colquitt Co.
- DL Jonathan Taylor (6-4, 315), Jenkins Co.
- OT John Theus (6-6, 292), Jacksonville, Fla.
- WR Blake Tibbs (6-2, 185), M.L. King
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140 comments Add your comment
13-1
January 31st, 2012
7:58 am
“Coaches don’t guarantee u a National Championship! If ur a true Dawg fan u would’ve noticed that UGA had lot of players leave the program, & depth was the issue”
_____________________________________________________
1. Not having one of the right coaches absolutely guarantees you of NEVER HAVING A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.
2. Are you talking now about the 24 KICKED OUT OF THIS PROGRAM BY MARK RICHT, 24 Over-Signed, 109 vs his 85-Scholarship Limit if he signs 19 tomorrow ?
3. Depth is the ISSUE, you say.
4. Whose fault is THAT ?
5. Oh, I see, it’s not Mark Richt’s FAULT, no. Nothing like that.
6. The problem IS coaching.
bucket
January 31st, 2012
8:03 am
CMR and staff have a great chance to close strong this week with some bigtime recruits still deciding. (Or are they silent commits? Time will tell!) Hunker Down Dawgs!
bucket
January 31st, 2012
8:06 am
Why is it not an NCAA violation to offer a recruits girlfriend a job?
Vampire Bill
January 31st, 2012
8:08 am
Great pick up and good start to the signing day. Stop the hate you fools… Go DAWGS
Joey
January 31st, 2012
8:08 am
Old Dog, you are beating a dead horse, I’m afraid. Richt ain’t going anywhere, and the new contract practically guarantees he won’t make changes to his staff (buddies).
Making a change would mean Richt would be acknowledging that he has a problem, and listening to his post-game remarks, and radio shows, he believes UGA’s only problem is player execution. The coaching is fine.
That plus McGarity said in an interview that he would NEVER mandate personel changes of any his head coaches.
So, no changes – in schemes or assistants.
For 4 or 5 years, at least . . .
13-1
January 31st, 2012
8:10 am
_________________________________________________________
Destin Dawg October 20th, 2011 7:30 am
“Grantham just has the fire we NEED !! Richt needs to back his players and coaches…. I’ve supported CMR.. but he lost me here… Grantham will quit… then you Koolaid drinkers will be left with CMR and Bo BO… we need to show up strong on offense ( Richt’s side of the ball )…. we’ll see ???”
__________________________________________________________
Now, you are up in arms because someone OTHER THAN YOU, has something to say such as the blog posts by
Old Dog.
Excuse me, Old Dog is saying anything that you have not already said, now is he ? I bet you Old Dog goes to the games, while you have repeatedly stated here :
YOU DO NOT GO TO THE GAMES – DESTIN DAWG
13-1
January 31st, 2012
8:13 am
“UGA’s only problem is player execution.”
__________________________________________________________
Which players are they trying to execute ?
Jimmy Crack
January 31st, 2012
8:16 am
13-1 what is your major malfunction? What investment in UGA do you have, season tickets? If that is the case, I can see your disappointment, but all these comments repeating over and over…It seems a little obsessive, like putting a picture of CMR on your dartboard. Do you do that?
Also, what is 13-1? Boise State? That college with the best coach on the planet that recruits all-world sh*tty kickers?
13-1
January 31st, 2012
8:22 am
“UGA’s only problem is player execution.”
___________________________________
Mike Bobo and Mark Richt, both, after EVERY LOSS, have BLAMED PLAYER EXECUTION.
Let’s see now. 11 walk-ons given Scholarships. 5 carry-over since they were not seniors last year when he ran off 24 Scholarship Recruits in one year, Mark Richt did.
To each, this blog replied en masse :
“GOOD RIDDANCE.”
Now, Saban over-signs and Mark Richt, well he just doesn’t run off players that don’t fit in and over-sign with 109 Scholarships SIGNED to play here if he signs 19 tomorrow, 24 Over-Signed.
If the players remaining are too tired, not in condition to play, they will make more mistakes. If the players remaining do not practice the plays and have a game plan that takes advantage of that which they are capable of performing correctly, this is the fault of the players in execution ?
Or, it is the coaching ?
Linus Van Pelt
January 31st, 2012
8:31 am
I’m sure that you’re comprehention is restricted by your dislike for Georgia and your need for material for your dry comedy.But the article also stated that he turned Arkansas(3rd best team in the SEC)and Cincinnatti which is a pretty good Big East team..
—————————————————————————————–
Pretty good Big East team? (snicker) Comprehention? (snicker)
If you are sincere, the Great Pumpkin will bring you a championship.
bitter dawgs fan
January 31st, 2012
8:37 am
If your a person to smart———-then hopefully your smart enough to close your trailer door
——————go fix some grits and bacon——–400 pounds of white trash
Guydogbob
January 31st, 2012
8:53 am
BAD DOG IS STUPID, STUPID, AND AGAIN I SAID STUPIC. GO BACK AND BE A FAN OF THE TECHSTERS; THEY ARE STUDID ALSO.
13-1
January 31st, 2012
8:55 am
Boise State ?
You bringing up Boise State ?
13-1 is us for 2012; yeah I have seasons’ tickets and go the games including away when I can talk her into going.
As for Boise State, they have all-world kickers ?
Our kicker missed 14 and made 21.
That is 40 percent of his kicks he missed. Our kicker. 2011.
Their kicker is WORSE than that ?
I find that hard to believe.
I do know, however, that Boise State RAN US OUT OF THE GEORGIA DOME. I bought a Bust Boise Smach t-shirt for $ 20 bucks at the game. Did you go ?
Then, of course, another coach on the list above of 22 ending with Mark Richt, for best won/lost win percentage in the Mark Richt era, his contemporaries, beat Boise State – TCU Gary Patterson.
So, Non-AQ Boise State right after Aaron Murray tweeted that he was going to the dome to kick some Boise State behinds, blew him out of the water on the field.
Then, TCU did what we could not do to the Non-AQ.
TCU another Non-AQ with Non-AQ coach.
Let’s delete these 2 Non-AQ coaches from the list of 22.
Let’s dream up ways to not consider Nick Saban and better coach than Mark Richt in the Mark Richt era with his 3 NC and his FAR SUPERIOR won/lost win percentage all his years and LSU and at Alabama combined, FAR SUPERIOR to Mark Richt. And, of course, Nick Saban
BEAT 2 teams finishing top 5.
While Mark Richt and his little QB have LOST 41 % of their games in total together and have 9 losses in a row vs teams finishing top 25.
Not Finishing top 5.
Finishing Top 25 with 9 consecutive losses at 0-9
41 percent of 27 games AM & CMR together LOST.
And, you want to talk about Boise State who beat us like a DRUM ?
Oh, I see. You weren’t there. You just turned the TV channel to something else.
Van Gorder
January 31st, 2012
9:09 am
Do you really expect to compete with the big boys in the SEC with Conference USA talent? Hate to see the Bulldogs going down the tubes this fast. UGA may have to drop down a level and play Ga. Southern and Furman to have any hope for a championship.
1eyedJack
January 31st, 2012
9:12 am
I’ll take him. Welcome aboard Mr. Dawson. Great to be a Georgia Bulldog!!
PR
January 31st, 2012
9:17 am
Go Dawgs!!!
RxDawg
January 31st, 2012
9:17 am
Sweet! Brandon Boykin the sequel right here folks. Welcome abaord Dawgson and go Dawgs!
PR
January 31st, 2012
9:18 am
By the way… all the people on here talking about his offer list. Yes, he was committed to Memphis, but he has a very impressive offer list on ESPN… and Scout.com lists Dawson as the #1 overall player in the Smokey Mountain State. Kid can play…
A person SMART enough to know......
January 31st, 2012
9:21 am
Is all this following young boys lives got you feeling “Sandusky” Like? call 800-Man-Love..LOL
13-1
January 31st, 2012
9:25 am
“UGA may have to drop down a level and play Ga. Southern and Furman to have any hope”
________________________________________________________
I guess you don’t have seasons’ tickets ?
That is exactly who we are playing. Every game all season 2012, just like 2011, all the regular season a game against Furman.
Student Athlete
January 31st, 2012
9:45 am
I will be impressed when they flip someone from Alabama or LSU or Auburn….
Mehta S
January 31st, 2012
9:54 am
taking recruits from lowly memphis? Ga is getting desperate. Why not steal alabama or lsu recruits instead??? Hello???
Ten at 10: UGA gets first DB in Dawson, needs more O-linemen | UGA sports blog
January 31st, 2012
10:05 am
[...] With the commitment of Memphis defensive back Sheldon Dawson on Monday, the Bulldogs now sit at 17 public commitments heading into national signing day. It does not [...]
timthebrave
January 31st, 2012
10:23 am
Welcome to the dawg nation…Go dawgs!
how2fish
January 31st, 2012
10:48 am
Welcome to the Bull Dog Nation young man best of luck in the classroom and on the field! Go Dogs !
Dawg Gone
January 31st, 2012
10:51 am
@Mehta S you are a troll and a dumb troll…we don’t have steal Bama recruits, about a third of them leave after Saban lies to them or get “grey shirted” and then leave .
Dawg Gone
January 31st, 2012
10:53 am
@Van Gorder I beat we beat the brakes of you bunch this year, just like last year.
Athens Tider
January 31st, 2012
11:09 am
Looks like a good get, Dawgs. Congrats.
A person SMART enough to know......
January 31st, 2012
11:41 am
Judging by the Uniform the kid used to wear he will love the UGa Power Ranger Unis.
Bad Dawg
January 31st, 2012
11:51 am
Alot of emotional nutcases on here already. I can name 6 or 7 head coaches in the SEC that are better in than Richt. He is paid the 11th highest salary in college football but his teams since 2008 (which was a disappointing year) can’t finish inside the top 20. Not to mention the all the talent in the state of Georgia. Richt is a fine man but I think the team needs a better head coach. If you disagree that is fine but at least respect my opinion as well as others who post here.
bobby
January 31st, 2012
12:34 pm
A GOOD SIGNING. AT LOOKING AT THE KID HIGHLIGHTS HE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE A VERY GOOD IF NOT GREAT PLAYER.
Chip Towers
January 31st, 2012
1:58 pm
RED DOG 77: Yes, it’s spelled with a U-N-G but pronounced HornING
@sportsguru95
January 31st, 2012
5:27 pm
@ Bad Dawg – Auburn, Alabama, Florida, LSU & Texas r the only teams with Good Coaching, because they r the only schools in the country that have won that has won r played for national titles in the past 7 years! So I guess the other 100 or so schools have bad coaching! What’s happen @ Texas, Mack Brown forgot how 2 coach! U pull out all those stats 2 make urself look like u know what ur talking about! Talk football, & stop all that ish! If u could do a better job apply for the job! Stop going 2 the Game! Why r u so stressed out over a program that don’t compete with the Big Dawgs! I’m sure Bama fans have some room for a Bad Dawg on their band wagon! Dude u sound like a keyboard Coach! This is not the Blame Blog!
BromoDawg
January 31st, 2012
5:40 pm
It will be interesting to see if Avery Young signs with UGA…Faton Bauta played at Dwyer, the biggest rival of Palm Beach Gardens HS and each school is just 2 or 3 miles apart from each other. I wonder if they are friendly with each other as Palm Beach Gardens is a close-knit community.
Bad Dawg
January 31st, 2012
5:51 pm
sportsguru95, My apologies sir, could you please provide me a link to the blog rules so I can know what to post and when to post it? I’m guessing I have to say Mark Richt is the best and UGA is better than all the other schools and that would be ok. Get real man, there is a difference between dreams and reality.
Bad Dawg
January 31st, 2012
5:52 pm
fyi, I’m a dawg fan not an Alabama fan! Go Dawgs!
JimDog85
January 31st, 2012
8:50 pm
Sounds like a great pick-up. If he can be anything like Boykin, that will be great.
But… I just gotta say it – isn’t the #1 player in Tenn something like being the tallest midget in the circus? At least he was smart enough not go to that awful orange school.
Welcome Sheldon and Go Dogs!
Disgusted Dawg
February 1st, 2012
12:12 am
Can we flip a great coach and ditch Richt. Another great recruiting class, another future flop.
Ten@10: UGA gets first DB in Dawson, now needs more O-linemen – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Columbia Christian Radio
February 1st, 2012
12:42 am
[...] With the commitment of Memphis defensive back Sheldon Dawson on Monday, the Bulldogs now sit at 17 public commitments heading into national signing day. It does not [...]
aw
February 1st, 2012
7:44 am
Sheldon is a great kid. A nice pick up for UGA. Yes, he was committed to Memphis, but he was there biggest recruit. Ole Miss wanted him bad, but realize that when UGA came in to the picture he was probably gone. Just hope Richt does not waste him like he has Marlon Brown. Good Luck Sheldon!