Recruiting trail 2011

Just got this from a friend, thought ya'll might like it

Here are some UGA Football Recruiting Nuggets...


Georgia’s All Over Marshall


Nick Marshall is the top quarterback in Georgia and the University of Georgia wants him bad. He has the skill set they are looking for, he is an in-state kid, and his upside is extremely high.

Georgia has made it known to Mark Ledford at Wilcox County, 2010 signee Lonnie Outlaw (Marshall’s cousin), and Nick himself that he is very high on their list. He is mobile, he has a rocket arm, and he would give UGA a lot of options under center.

I feel UGA has pulled into the lead here, but the school to watch closely in both football and basketball is FSU. The Dawgs are on track to have a stellar in-state haul in 2011 and Marshall would be a key to that success.


Will UGA Offer Harris?


Georgia has been showing a lot of interest in Pepperrell OL Kyle Harris lately.

UGA’s interest has really picked up in recent weeks. There are some concerns about Harris on the field and the biggest one is his size. He is around 260 pounds right now and his strength is his mobility at guard, so can he keep that mobility and agility after adding 30-40 pounds? That is a question a lot of schools are asking themselves right now. Alabama is another school very interested in Harris, but they have not pulled the trigger yet either.

Either way, Georgia has really increased their interest in Harris. His body looks like it could handle maybe 290 pounds, but more than that is a question. On top of that, if he got 290, would he lose one of his biggest strengths in mobility? Georgia is looking hard at in-state kids in 2011 and Harris appears to be very high on their list at offensive guard.


More Than Just a Signee


Sure, Lonnie Outlaw does help Georgia with Nick Marshall because of their relationship, but he also could help them on the field in two years. Outlaw needs to add weight and work on being a polished receiver, but he has very good length and is a super athlete. He was never on the academic plan to be a Division I athlete, so he was not ranked with the guys that were, but he is one of the better wide receivers in the state.

He is a long strider and it takes him a bit to get to full speed, but he will be an immediate weapon inside the red zone at UGA if he gets stronger at GMC. I think he could really surprise some people with his production at GMC these next two years, so UGA did not sign Outlaw just to get an in with Marshall, but they signed him because he could be productive between the hedges in 2012 and 2013.


Dawgs Hard After Dickson




After all the other recruits left Athens on Saturday, Mark Richt, Rodney Garner, and Todd Grantham met with Xzavier Dickson’s father for a good amount of time. Xzavier Dickson and Amarlo Herrera were out on the UGA practice fields racing in the 40 yard dash while Mr. Dickson was hearing all about how the UGA staff wants his son to be a Bulldog.

Alabama was the first school to offer Dickson and that has stuck with the Dickson family. They have been over to Tuscaloosa more in the past year than any other college town. The Dickson’s getting to Athens over the weekend was huge. It definitely pulled the Bulldogs closer to the Crimson Tide.

I still give the Tide a slight edge in this one, but there is no doubt in my opinion that Xzavier loves UGA. He still admits that in interviews (his dad has cut interviews off for now by the way) and he talked to two different prospects (not Corey Moore) during Junior Day about how it would be cool to play football at Georgia.

Grantham really sold Dickson one being an outside linebacker that blitzed off the edge and dropped into coverage a little bit too. UGA is recruiting him to play the same position that Bama is.

UGA got the recruit and father on campus and they are now working on getting the mother into town. The visit to Athens this past weekend was huge for Georgia and it really swung things in recruiting. There is no doubt that Dickson is a MAJOR target for Georgia in 2011. He fits perfectly in my opinion in the new 3-4 scheme. Alabama ran that scheme when they offered him in 2009, Georgia did not. As soon as Grantham took over, Griffin was one of the first schools he stopped at and then offered Dickson one day later. That is how much Grantham likes him.


Could Bellamy be a Bulldog?


Georgia has been into Charlotte High School quite a bit over the past six months. Bryan McClendon not only coaches running back, but he recruits that part of Florida for Georgia and that could not have worked out better.

Mike Bellamy is one of the top running backs in the country and UGA is very high on his list. It looks like it is going to come down to Florida and Georgia for Bellamy. Some people I trust down in Florida feel Georgia has as good or better chance at Bellamy than UF at this time because of Mack Brown signing in 2010 and the odds of James Wilder committing to Florida at a running back in 2011.

McClendon has gotten in good with the coaches at Charlotte and Bellamy himself. Georgia is a real threat here and I feel Bellamy and Isaiah Crowell are the top two backs on UGA’s board as of now. Quan Bray could be right there and Chevelle Buie too, but if I had to name a top two, it would be those guys.

Bellamy and Crowell could really balance each other out because Bellamy is a burner that works in space while Crowell is a back that is more powerful with break-away speed. His name stays out of the media a lot because he is a quiet kid and he avoids interviews, but do not be fooled here, Georgia is in it big-time.


It Will Be A Fight for Wright


Alabama has come on very strong for defensive lineman Gabe Wright and I still give them a slight edge even though he praised Georgia very much after visiting for Junior Day.

I feel I know Wright as well as any other recruit I cover in the class of 2011 and he is going to have a hard time telling Alabama, Auburn, and/or Georgia no in the end. I really believe that. He loves Bama for Bama, his early favorite was Auburn and he really connected with Tracy Rocker and he then fell in love with Rodney Garner and Georgia after camping there last June.

It is going to be a hard fought battle between these three for him. I am not ruling out Clemson or Florida State totally, but there is no doubt his top three are Alabama, Georgia and Auburn in that order in my opinion.

Can UGA break the wall at Carver and get Wright next February? They are in it, right in the middle of it, and we will likely know around the time we enter 2011. One thing in Georgia’s favor is Gabe’s girlfriend – she is a UGA fan, she got her picture taken with Mark Richt recently, and she wants her man to stay home. Will that help? We shall see.


Dawgs Doing Well In-State on the OL


They wrapped up the top interior OL when getting a commitment from David Andrews about a week and a half ago, so now they will focus on the top two offensive tackles. They are in good shape with each one of them.

Watts Danztler’s late father played at UGA so he has been around Athens all his life and been a Bulldog fan all his life. He is also very close with David Andrews and the two have talked about playing together at Georgia. Yes, other schools are making an impression on the 6-foot-7, 312 pound OT out of Dalton, but none are in his heart like Georgia in my opinion. He is playing it very cool and not tipping his hand at all and I truly believe he is giving each school a fair look, but in the end, it is hard for me seeing him going anywhere other than Georgia.

Xzavier Ward is the number two tackle in Georgia and he has a lot of love for UGA as well. Slowly but surely schools are getting to look at his tape, seeing him in person, and offering him a scholarship, but Georgia offering first, the Dawgs having two of the best (Bobo and Searels) recruiting him, and him being an in-state kid leads me to believe Georgia has the best shot at signing him. I have talked to multiple teammates of his and each one told me they thought he would be a Georgia Bulldog. I do not think he is ready to pull the trigger yet, but I do like Georgia’s chances at this time.


Top Defender in Georgia is High on UGA


Ray Drew is number three in the state of Georgia for me and he is not far behind Jay Rome and Isaiah Crowell. He is that good and will likely be a five-star on Scout when rankings are updated.

Georgia fell behind FSU and Alabama early, but they have slowly risen up his list to the top (in my opinion) over the last couple of months. He has been in touch with Mark Richt a good bit and they have had many conversations over the phone. He then took a visit on January 31 to UGA where he was the only visitor in town, so he got all of the attention.

I felt Georgia was in good shape before that visit, but I now feel they are in great shape. I know someone that is very close to Drew and he a well respected adult down in South Georgia and he feels Georgia is in the lead like I do. The connection Drew has made with Mark Richt is going to be tough for any coach to match in my opinion. The religious side of things, the way Richt runs the program, the FCA program in Athens, and just being an in-state school have Georgia in the driver’s seat at this time.

Schools are not going to go away and he is a national recruit, but he is a very mature young man that reads between the lines and UGA’s way of being straight forward with recruits and complying with the rules go hand in hand with what this 6-foot-5, 240 pound DE/OLB is looking for.


Who Leads for Crowell?


The leader has changed a number of times for five-star running back Isaiah Crowell and it will likely change many more times before he settles on one school in February 2011.

Right now, who leads for Crowell, I feel it is Florida State. Yes, FSU, not Bama, not Clemson, and not Georgia. Those three schools are very much in the picture and not far behind the Noles, but I have talked to Crowell and talked to those very close to him and I got the vibe that they visit to Tallahassee a couple of weeks ago put FSU on top.

How long will they stay there? That is hard to know because he is visiting Tuscaloosa again in the near future and the plans are for him to get to Athens and Clemson later this spring.

It is going to fun to cover and watch as Crowell’s recruitment plays out. He is extremely close with Gabe Wright and those two going to the same school is likely at this time, but FSU is not as high on Wright’s board as of right now. Bama and Georgia are two common schools the two have high on their list right now and it could come down to those in the end. If they split and go separate ways, then FSU has the advantage for Crowell right now.

John Lilly, Rodney Garner, Bryan McClendon, and Mark Richt are all working hard on Crowell for Georgia and the Dawgs are still very much in the picture. Crowell is still in communication with Caleb King and they two have grown to be good friends. Some worry about him not making it to Athens this past weekend, but that was made to be bigger than what it was. If it was late January in 2011, then yes, there would be real reason to worry, but it was late February in 2010, so still plenty of time for Georgia to get Crowell on campus.

As of today, I see FSU as the top school for Crowell, but I still have a hard time seeing him sign with them in February. Georgia and Alabama could be fighting this one out at that time.


Could Dawgs Land Top Three WRs in Georgia?


I think that is very possible.

It starts with Christian Conley and Georgia was the first school to offer him, he is an in-state priority, he has been to Athens more than any other college town, and he has a connection with the UGA staff like none other.

I truly believe Georgia is the top school for Conley even though he says all schools are still even. Alabama, Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt, Tennessee, and many others are working him, but I think by mid-summer Georgia has a good shot at landing a commitment from this 6-2/185 WR that ran the 40 yard dash in 4.42 seconds at the Scout Showcase in January.

Zach Witchett is number two for me in Georgia and there is no doubt Georgia is the school is and will be chasing until the end. He, like most Booker T. Washington recruits in the past will play it out, take it slow, and not make a decision until late in the process, but he makes no secret that he loves Georgia. The Dawgs were the first big program to offer him and he is close to both Reshad Jones and Branden Smith, so that only helps their chances. At this time, I expect Witchett to hold out until late in the process, but I like Georgia’s chances with him whenever he decides he is ready to pull the trigger.

Justin Scott is the number three receiver in Georgia for me at this time and his commitment to Stanford Is no longer in play. He has pulled back from that and decided to start over. Georgia was the first school to offer him and they will be on his mind until the end. Georgia Tech is Georgia’s biggest competition right now in my opinion and he really enjoyed his time in Atlanta on January 30 when he attended GT’s Junior Day. Mark Richt and Mike Bobo stopping by Mitchell County in late January was big though – Scott said to me that really stood out to him. He will be at UGA on March 20 to see UGA’s practice and I expect him to leave there feeling even better about the Dawgs.


A South Georgia Athlete to Watch


It has been a little dry period for Charlton County when talking production in recruiting, but they have one in 2011 and two in 2012. The junior is Chris Milton and he already has offers from East Carolina, Georgia Tech, Illinois, and Purdue.

Georgia has been in touch with both Milton and Charlton County Head Coach Rich McWhorter and they seem to be very interested. The Dawgs have watched Milton’s tape and they like him a lot, but they want to evaluate him at corner in June at their camp.

Milton played a little bit of corner in 2009 and finished with two picks in limited action, but he became the first QB ever in Folkston to throw for over 2,000 yards and rush for over 1,000 yards while accounting for 50 touchdowns total.

McWhorter told me he feels Milton could be a top DI corner and his size should help him because he is an even 6-feet tall and he weighs 175 pounds. He has been timed at 4.46 in the 40 yard dash also. On top of that, he is an honor student.

No offer seems imminent at this time, but watch him closely this spring and early into the summer as UGA evaluates him a little closer.


Top Tennessee Recruit Looking at UGA


I named Antonio Richardson the top prospect in Tennessee over Jabriel Washington about a month ago and that surprised some people, but as the tape gets out and the offers come in, it is making a little more sense.

Georgia likes him obviously because they have officially offered the 6-foot-6, 290 offensive/defensive lineman a scholarship. Alabama, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Kentucky are some others, but he will be able to play where he wants when the time for him to make a decision comes.

Tennessee has to be one to watch as I think new Head Coach will do an excellent job there, but Georgia is on his mind. Stacey Searels watched Ensworth play early last season and that stands out to Richardson. I have talked to both Antonio and his father and both like what they know about Georgia.

The possible five-star prospect is nowhere close to committing to anyone, he has never visited Georgia, and is still a little green to the recruiting process, but Georgia is in this one, so stay tuned.


2012 Prospects Getting Offers


Georgia has informed at least five sophomores that they have a spot in Athens and I expect that number to grow over the summer and into the fall.

Here are the five that have offers at this time.

Deion Bonner – CB – Columbus, Ga. – Carver
Vadal Alexander – OT – Buford, Ga. – Buford
Dakota Ball – DT – Lindale, Ga. – Peperrell
Chris Black – WR/CB – Jacksonville, Fla. – First Coast
Matt Jones – ATH - Seffner, Fla. - Armwood

Some others to really watch that I feel could garner tenders from the Dawgs in the not so distant future are John Theus (OT – Jacksonville, Fla.), Brian Poole (CB – Bradenton, Fla.), Trae Elston (CB – Oxford, Ala.), Gray Crow (QB – Ocala, Fla.), Tony Clark (RB – Douglas, Ga.), Alex Jauregui (OT – Suwanee, Ga.) are just a few.


UGA Commitments Working Hard


Chris Sanders, Corey Moore, Amarlo Herrera, and David Andrews have given Georgia four more semi-recruiters for their university.

They have all gotten close very quickly and I do not see any of these guys wavering at all. I will be surprised if any of the four even visit another school as a recruit. They have gotten names and numbers of in and out of state recruits when they were at Junior Day this past weekend and over Facebook. They are recruiting for Georgia and some guys the four commits are already close to are Watts Dantzler, James Vaughters, Xzavier Dickson, and Justin Garrett.

It would not surprise me to see one of these guys have a big influence on a few future Bulldog commitments.

DAWGtm,

Thanks for sharing ALL of this detailed recruiting information. I'm a bit of a \"recruiting-geek\" myself, so I'll admit, I've read this post at least 3 times now. IMHO, we will land a monster 2011 class IF we come out w/our revamped 3-4 defense and contend for the SEC East crown. If we fail to contend again, look for Auburn, FL, UT, SC, & especially Bama to continue to lure Peach State kids away. 2010 is shaping up to be an absolutely CRUCIAL year for CMR & the entire UGA football program. Lots of talking heads saying the Dawgs have slipped from the SEC elite category and I'm afraid nothing short of an early Dec. trip to the GA Dome will quite down the naysayers.

You are dead on Gooooooooose!!!

Here is a piece of \"feel good\" information coming out of Athens. Beats the news coming out on ZM.

dawg-extra.blogspot.com/

Thanks Dawgtm - great info

Goose you hit the nail on the head

Do you guys know if we have a legit shot at James Wilder Jr?