Classy Player -- Appreciates Truth

Haven't seen this posted, so thought I would throw it out there for you guys and gals.


Five already on board
BY DAVID CHING - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. --

For five members of Georgia's 2008 recruiting class, national signing day has already come and gone.

Those five players -- running backs Richard Samuel and Dontavius Jackson, center Ben Jones, receiver Tavarres King and linebacker Akeem Hebron -- are already taking classes in Athens in order to participate in spring practice.

Georgia coach Mark Richt points out that the competitive edge a midyear enrollee gains isn't the only advantage to starting school in January. The extra class hours they'll gain from the initial semester provide a jumpstart for their academic careers.

\"I love the fact that they can get 15 hours (in spring semester) and maybe six in the summer. They might roll into the fall with 21 hours under their belt,\" Richt said. \"Those guys are gonna graduate, even if they don't redshirt. I love that part of it.

\"They just get acclimated to the system and acclimated to their teammates and college life and everything,\" he continued. \"And it does give them a chance to compete in the fall a little bit better than they might've if they weren't here in the spring.\"Of course the players want to be able to compete for playing time as quickly as possible -- and it will be available for one and maybe both of the new Bulldogs running backs.

With seniors Thomas Brown, Kregg Lumpkin and Jason Johnson leaving the fold, only all-SEC freshman Knowshon Moreno and redshirt Caleb King remain among Georgia's scholarship tailbacks. Both Samuel and Jackson will have the opportunity this spring to prove their readiness to play in the fall.

For Samuel, who turns 17 on Feb. 3, the spring will provide his first chance to focus on one position. The five-star athlete from Cass High in Cartersville, Ga., was the Colonels' key player on both offense and defense this season. In nine games, he rushed for 1,429 yards, averaged 159 yards per game on the ground and scored 26 total touchdowns, while also leading the team in tackles (82) from his linebacker spot.

His college position was a source of much debate on recruiting boards, but Richt said his staff saw him as a running back all along.

\"We signed him with the intention of him playing tailback,\" Richt said. \"We did have a conversation, really toward the end of this process, about exactly where we want him. And I told the family, 'That's what we recruited you for and we have all the confidence you can do that. But if linebacker's better for you, ultimately we may get there. But right now starting out, we want you to be a tailback.' \"

That straightforwardness was something Samuel appreciated about Georgia's staff during the recruiting process. He said last fall that his comfort level with Georgia's recruiters -- first offensive coordinator Mike Bobo and later offensive line coach Stacy Searels -- left him at ease with his choice.

\"They're nice and they're straightforward with you. They don't try to hide anything with you,\" Samuel said.

For his part, Samuel said in the fall that he didn't have a preference as to whether he started out on offense or defense. Showing indecisiveness typical of a high schooler, he said his preference for either running back or linebacker would change daily.

In his first public comments about the new freshman, Richt seemed to appreciate Samuel's willingness to play either position.

\"I think Richard's open-minded,\" he said. \"He's the kinda kid that would do whatever it would take to help this football team win, and I think he's very sincere about that.\"

Aside from the five early enrollees, Georgia currently has 20 more members of the signing class expected to sign national letters of intent on national signing day, Feb. 6.

Richt has said he does not expect much change to the composition of the 25-man class, although the Bulldogs may still try to squeeze in one more signee -- possibly Buford (Ga.) defensive lineman Omar Hunter, who is scheduled to visit Athens next weekend.

The Bulldogs will host three already committed players this weekend in North Carolina defensive back Makiri Pugh and a pair of athletes from South Georgia, Bacarri Rambo (Seminole County) and Nick Williams (Bainbridge)

Good post, Buc. I never tire of reading articles about how well our coaching staff handles things.

Same here sadlerdawg. Know that it gets slower this time of the year, or soon after the young \"pups\" sign the dotted line. Just hoping that we can keep this forum alive and kicking. Also, hoping that \"our\" NASCAR team runs a bit stronger this year.

www.scenedaily.com/stories/2008/01/07/sc...ly78.html?from_rss=1

I love to talk Dawg Football 365 days a year.

Agree with you on both \"hopes\", Buc.

averagedawg wrote:

I love to talk Dawg Football 365 days a year.

I just wish we could get 'em to play Dawg football 365 days a year!!