UGA blog finds new home
Morning all. As I’ve said a couple of times this week, we’re converting this blog over to a WordPress platform and it will be a permanent move the first of next week.
Those of you who are regulars probably know that I’m not what you’d call techno-wizard when it comes to these things. But from what I understand the technology offered in this new format should make the blogging and commenting experience better for all. Of course, I’ll be learning as we go along, too. But I’m hoping to provide more pictures and video and things like that which should bring the blog more to life.
Of course, this blog is nothing without all you guys so I want to heartily invite (read: beg) you to come over to the new site by CLICKING HERE ON THE NEW ADDRESS and save it in your browsers. As of Monday, Feb. 23rd, this will be the permanent home of the UGA blog you so love or, in the case of some of you, love to loathe. If you’d prefer to copy and paste or just memorize, the new address is: http://blogs.ajc.com/uga-sports-blog/.
See at the new place!
AJC > Sports > UGA > Blog > Archives > 2006 > February
February 2006
Milner takes leading role
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With Leonard Pope gone, Mark Richt was looking for some leadership out of Martrez Milner this winter.
The coach said Milner has delivered.
The senior was singled out as one of the leaders during mat drills. While that could go a long way in helping solidify an offensive line that will need all the help it can get in protecting a young quarterback, Milner’s hands may be the one thing Georgia is going to need the most.
With only Mohammed Massaquoi as a proven threat at receiver, Milner could be worked more and more into the offense.
Permalink | Comments (57) | Categories: Football
Choosing SEC superlatives
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Well, it’s late in the basketball season and it’s pretty clear that Georgia is not going to place any players on the All-SEC team and maybe none on the second- or third-teams. But it looks like it’s going to be quite a race for Player of the Year in the league.
Tennessee’s Chris Lofton is obviously a great candidate and I think it will be between him and Alabama’s Ronald Steele, LSU’s Glen “Big Baby’ Davis and possibly LSU’s Darrel Mitchell. As we head down the stretch toward the SEC tournament, who do you think should be Player of the Year? And is there anybody on Georgia’s team worthy even of honorable mention or second- or third-team All-SEC mention?
Permalink | Comments (24) | Categories: Basketball
SEC second-best? Maybe not
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Big East is clearly the most powerful basketball conference in the nation this season and could have as many as half of its 16 teams receive NCAA tournament bids. But having seen every team in the SEC play this year, I’m not sure that it’s not the second-best league and may deserve to get six teams in.
Tennessee, Florida and LSU all have the ability to go deep in the Dance. You can never count out Tubby Smith’s Kentucky teams and Arkansas (18-8, 7-6 SEC) and Alabama (15-10, 8-5), both of which are playing well late in the season, are making good arguments to be included. East teams such as Georgia, Vanderbilt and South Carolina and Ole Miss in the West are formidable foes for any team on any given night and all are in the mix for possible NIT inclusion.
The thing that sets apart the SEC is the defense and I think that is going to be brought out in the NCAA tournament. Even Georgia’s Mike Mercer admitted, “that’s what the SEC is all about. It’s a rugged conference and it’s all about defense, not necessarily scoring. You go to the ACC if you want to see scoring.”
How many SEC teams do you think will get in and where do you think the conference is on the collegiate basketball totem pole?
Permalink | Comments (23) | Categories: Basketball
Too much spotlight on Stafford?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia coach Mark Richt will discuss the upcoming spring practices with the media today. You can bet topic No. 1 will be the quarterbacks, closely followed by the off-the-field trouble Georgia can’t seem to stay away from.
It’s doubtful anything new will be said on either topic.
But that won’t stop the speculation when it comes to the quarterbacks. It will be interesting to see how guarded Richt will be when it comes to answering questions about hot shot freshman Matthew Stafford. There is a feeling around the athletic department that Stafford has gotten too much publicity lately. Especially considering there are three other quarterbacks who have been in the program for at least a year.
So Richt may try to play it closer to the vest than usual when it comes to talking about Stafford. That will lead to more reading between the lines and more speculation, which is what the offseason is all about.
Permalink | Comments (67) | Categories: Football
Should D.J. Shockley have transferred from UGA?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Former UGA quarterback D.J. Shockley says he wonders whether he should have transferred years ago. He says his lack of playing time at UGA hurts him in eyes of pro scouts. What do you think of his decision? What are his pro football prospects?
Permalink | Comments (87) | Categories: Football
Is NIT good enough?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With an official RPI of No. 97, it’s pretty clear the only way Georgia makes it to the NCAA tournament this year is by winning the SEC tournament. And the chances of this young team winning four SEC games in four days to that is next to impossible.
But coach Dennis Felton and his players have already said that they would be thrilled with an NIT bid. Of course, they’ve got some work to do before even that could be solidified. But how about you? Would making the NIT this season be considered a success considering from whence Georgia has come (8-20 last year) and what it has had to overcome (the Jim Harrick scandal).
As an aside, do Dogs fans think the new AD at Georgia Tech will have any effect whatsoever on the ongoing rivalry?
Permalink | Comments (22) | Categories: Basketball
Sending a stronger message
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With the two-game suspension of Ian Smith for his public intoxication arrest Saturday morning, Mark Richt seems to be sending a slightly stronger message to his players. In the past, the Georgia coach would just give a one game suspension in this type of situation.
Richt is trying to send a signal that penalties are going to be harsher this offseason than last. You get the feeling the coach is fed up with having his players appear on the police report every other weekend. As well he should be. While these guys are just 18 to 22, they must make better decisions because of who and what they represent.
Whether Richt’s tougher attitude curbs the problems will be found out in the coming months.
Permalink | Comments (48) | Categories: Football
NIT still possible?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia basketball suddenly finds itself at a crossroads. The Bulldogs just lost two freshmen forwards — Kendrick Johnson and Terrance Woodbury — to injuries for the rest of the season. Meanwhile, coach Dennis Felton had to suspend Mike Mercer and Billy Humphrey for a game for teams rules violations. As a result, Georgia was whacked by Vanderbilt 72-55 on Saturday.
So before you know it, Georgia has lost three in a row is in danger not only of missing out on any postseason possibilities but even of finishing with a winning record.
Can the Bulldogs get their ship righted in time for Thursday night’s televised game against South Carolina? Is the NIT still a possibility? Do recent developments wipe out the progress Georgia seems to have made to this point?
Permalink | Comments (15) | Categories: Basketball
Durham gets his due
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia is honoring former basketball coach Hugh Durham in Athens this weekend. He’s being roasted tonight at a dinner at Athens Country Club and a tribute is being held in his honor at halftime of the Vanderbilt game Saturday night.
It’s about time.
Durham is the Bulldogs’ winningest coach of all time with 298 victories and his 633 career wins are 25th in college basketball history. Bob Knight, Eddie Sutton, John Chaney, Lute Olson, Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Calhoun and Jim Boeheim are the only active coaches who have more victories.
I, for one, am glad to see Durham get some recognition. Basketball people around the country often said that Georgia could never do better than Durham in terms of his coaching ability, competitiveness and willingness to stay put. They argued that great coaches will use Georgia only as a steppingstone, as Tubby Smith did, or it’d get stuck with a bad coach (Ron Jirsa) or a dirty one (Jim Harrick). Dennis Felton is definitely a good coach but, eventually, the Bulldogs may have to fight to keep him here.
It’s interesting to think what might have happened with Durham at Georgia if the athletics board would have chosen to roll-over his contract in the early 1990s. Do you think the Bulldogs would have been better off over the long haul if he had stayed until he retired, which he just did after last season at Jacksonville University? Or was change just inevitable and it was time to move on? When you think of Durham as a basketball coach, do you think of his Final Four run in 1983 and SEC championships or some of the bad stuff that happened during his tenure? In short, what will be his legacy?
Permalink | Comments (38) | Categories: Basketball
A long, strange trip
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
One of the more interesting tales from the recruiting circles was how Ole Miss ended up with Brent Schaeffer.
According to Dennis Dodd at Sportline.com, Ed Orgeron, along with two of his assistants, took a private plane to Florida to visit Schaeffer’s parents. No big deal, really. Well, they also took a private plane to visit Schaeffer in California. Again, not that big of a deal.
What’s stunning, and a little bit sick and frightening, is that they did it all in the same day.
But Orgeron, who knows a thing or two about recruiting after stints at Southern Cal and Miami, got the Tennessee transfer and put together one of Ole Miss’ best classes ever.
Permalink | Comments (62) | Categories: Football
Time to replace Stegeman
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia coach Dennis Felton got a little mad at me and another reporter for the way we reported before the Tennessee game his comments about being bothered by the lack of attendance at basketball games and the way he answered a question about whether he felt like he got enough support from the athletic administration. The truth is, and I know this for a fact, Felton and athletics director Damon Evans actually get along very well, exceptionally. Evans has done as much as he possibly could for basketball in his short tenure and given Felton almost everything he asked for. Felton knows and appreciates this and they’re friends over and above that.
I think what may have gotten lost in translation on this story is that Felton truly wants the best for Georgia basketball and he’s going to push the envelope when it comes to trying to get it. And the bottom line is this: Felton would give his right arm for a brand new basketball arena on the Georgia campus.
It would appear that’s not going to happen anytime soon since the Bulldogs are breaking ground this week on a new $30 million practice and training facility that will be connected to Stegeman Coliseum. From people I’ve talked to, it would probably take at least $100 million to build a new arena. It seems to me if they are spending $30 million on an addition — not including the millions and millions they’ve poured into renovating and updating Stegeman over the years — Georgia would have been better off going for a new arena right now. I’m sure it wouldn’t be easy to pay for but, at the athletics board meeting last week, Evans informed the group that Georgia was one of the most profitable athletic departments in the country, if not the No. 1 program.
It certainly would help the cause if the Bulldogs could start winning big on a regular basis. The women’s team already does and so does gymnastics. What do you think? Is Georgia worthy and/or capable of building a state-of-the-art basketball facility? If not now, when? Will Stegeman do? How much longer can the Coliseum, built in 1964, last?
Permalink | Comments (52) | Categories: Basketball
What Ball will bring
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Barring any unforeseen hiccups, Georgia should hire Virginia Tech’s Tony Ball in the next day or two as running backs coach. What changes the former Virginia Tech assistant might make with the running game could be interesting to watch.
Ball, while he has coached wide receivers, is a former running back. Georgia’s running backs were coached by Kirby Smart last season. Smart was a defensive coach who was just spending a year on the offensive side of the ball. While he did a good job (Georgia did finish third in the SEC in rushing), another offensive mind such as Ball’s could help the Bulldogs’ rushing against the better defenses of the SEC.
He may also help improve the patience and the vision of the backs through teaching simply because he knows whereof he speaks.
Permalink | Comments (50) | Categories: Football
Big wins needed for big dance
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Can Georgia do it?
That is the question. As coach Dennis Felton said Monday, making the NCAA tournament this season after last year’s debacle would be “nothing short of miraculous.”
And suffice it to say, getting there won’t be easy. The Dogs (14-9, 4-6) are at Kentucky on Wednesday, then they have Vandy and South Carolina in Athens, are at Missississippi State and Florida, then close the regular season against Arkansas at Stegeman Coliseum.
How many of those do you think they have to win? How many do you think they can win?
Permalink | Comments (37) | Categories: Basketball
Dogs still looking for love
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Got a story running in tomorrow’s paper about fan support for Georgia basketball. Or the lack of it.
Despite a much-improved team, the Bulldogs rank 10th in SEC attendance. Coach Dennis Felton said he’s been disappointed by the numbers and the passion of those fans who have come out.
It’s not a new problem at Georgia. Hugh Durham, Tubby Smith and Jim Harrick had winning teams that often seemed underappreciated by the fan base.
Do you think the current Bulldogs — vastly improved from a year ago and with an outside shot of making the NCAAs — are not getting the support they deserve? No. 11 Tennessee plays in Athens Saturday — do you think fans will help create a big-game atmosphere?
Permalink | Comments (51) | Categories: Basketball
Brown, Ware must step up
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
While Georgia’s quarterbacks should take center stage this spring, the running back situation should also be closely watched. Kregg Lumpkin looked like the best back at the end of the season — and with a couple more months of healing under his belt — may just take over the No. 1 spot for good this spring.
It could become more interesting in the fall when Knowhson Moreno arrives. Whether he has the breakaway speed the Bulldogs so desperately need remains to be seen. But, while it is doubtful he will be a starter, there is no question he could push Thomas Brown for carries as the No. 2 back. That means Brown and Danny Ware may see their carries shrink if they do not step up their respective games.
Both might also want to hone their pass catching skills. Typically, with a young, inexperienced quarterback, there are a lot of dump passes to running backs. If either can prove they are valuable in this capacity, they’ll have a much better chance of getting on the field.
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Nice guy finishes first
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Really enjoyed watching the Super Bowl this past Sunday. I went in not sure who I was rooting for but it quickly became apparent that I wanted Pittsburgh to win. Why? Mainly because of Hines Ward.
I had the pleasure of covering Ward when he came to Georgia in 1994. I’d like to say I was the first who tabbed greatness for him but that wouldn’t be the truth. His high school coach at Forest Park, Mike Parris, told me while Ward was still being recruited that I’d see him flourish in the NFL some day. Now I’ve known Parris since we both attended Redan High School in the late 1970s but, impressive stats aside, I couldn’t see the type of world-class athleticism in Ward that my friend described, not in this slightly undersized but extremely versatile teenager. But I would get a first-hand look over the next four years as Ward played tailback, quarterback and wide receiver for the Dogs. Parris had said Ward could play virtually any position and, to this day, believes he would have been one of the best safeties in the game. I don’t doubt it now.
But what truly separated Ward was the type of person he was/is. He played football back then with the same smile for which he has become famous in Pittsburgh and he maintained a great attitude despite being moved around like a pawn on a chess board while playing for Ray Goff and Jim Donnan. Plus, he was always very accommodating and open with the press. I remember the day he first opened up to me about his mother, a Korean immigrant, and all the trials and tribulations she’d been through to see that her son was afforded every opportunity he eventually got. I wrote that story, repeated widely during the Super Bowl media madness leading up to the game this past week, for the Athens Banner-Herald his senior year and actually won APSE recognition for it. So I owe him a debt of gratitiude as well.
Pardon me for rambling a bit but it’s always nice to see someone achieve great success whom you know for a fact deserves it. Obviously he’s one of my favorite Bulldogs of all time. To make this a proper UGA blog, I’ll just ask you guys, where does Hines Ward rank on your own totem poles of Georgia greats? Did anybody see this — Super Bowl MVP/NFL elite receiver — coming for him? And did you root for Pittsburgh because of him?
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NFL scouting - for coaches
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
One of the reasons the New Orleans Saints went after Rodney Garner and that other college assistant coaches are getting long looks from the NFL this offseason is the lack of NFL-experienced assistants available. That, coupled with multiple teams searching for assistants, has left teams scrambling.
In the pros, there is a stipulation teams must be granted permission to talk to a current assistant coach under contract. Several times the Saints have approached teams about their assistants (Miami and Tampa Bay, for instance), only to be denied permission.
That has left them with nowhere to turn but the college ranks, where there are coaches able and willing to step into the pro game.
Permalink | Comments (53) | Categories: Football
Sundiata’s gains impressive
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Same team, different week.
Georgia was unrecognizable this past week as the team that lost to LSU and Auburn the previous week. With wins over Alabama and at Vanderbilt this past Saturday, the Bulldogs (14-8, 4-5 SEC) are suddenly back in the postseason picture. Now they have a whole week to get ready for Tennessee, which for the moment looks like the best team in the league. Win that one and suddenly all things are possible.
Trouble is, I’m afraid that horrendous loss to Auburn (0-5 in the SEC when Georgia arrived on The Plains) is going to come back to haunt Georgia. If the Bulldogs are sitting on any bubbles, that one certainly could make it burst.
Most impressive at Vanderbilt, as was well documented, was point guard Sundiata Gaines. He really seems to be coming around lately and he certainly was everywhere against Vanderbilt. His putback of his own missed jump shot with 18 seconds remaining proved to be the difference as Georgia executed two defensive stops before the final horn. Of the offensive rebound, Gaines said, “I knew it had slipped as soon as the ball left my hand, so I knew where it was going and was able to get there.”
Gaines finished with 13 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 steals. He also had 7 turnovers but coach Dennis Felton said those were OK because he was aggressively trying to get the ball to his teammates. For the season, Gaines is Georgia’s second-leading scorer (10.9 ppg), leading rebounder, assists leader and steals leader. One game past the midpoint of the season, he’s my choice as the Dogs’ MVP and I think he may get some All-SEC recognition. You agree? If not Gaines, who do you think is the Dogs’ best player? Anyway they beat Tennessee and get to .500 in league play? Anyway you show up for the game Saturday and help cheer them on?
Or is Georgia basketball the furthest thing from you mind and all you can think about is what a Damn Good Dog Hines Ward is and perhaps his Super Bowl MVP performance will boost recruiting for next season?
Permalink | Comments (22) | Categories: Basketball
Sundiata’s gains impressive
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Same team, different week.
Georgia was unrecognizable this past week as the team that lost to LSU and Auburn the previous week. With wins over Alabama and at Vanderbilt this past Saturday, the Bulldogs (14-8, 4-5 SEC) are suddenly back in the postseason picture. Now they have a whole week to get ready for Tennessee, which for the moment looks like the best team in the league. Win that one and suddenly all things are possible.
Trouble is, I’m afraid that horrendous loss to Auburn (0-5 in the SEC when Georgia arrived on The Plains) is going to come back to haunt Georgia. If the Bulldogs are sitting on any bubbles, that one certainly could make it burst.
Most impressive at Vanderbilt, as was well documented, was point guard Sundiata Gaines. He really seems to be coming around lately and he certainly was everywhere against Vanderbilt. His putback of his own missed jump shot with 18 seconds remaining proved to be the difference as Georgia executed two defensive stops before the final horn. Of the offensive rebound, Gaines said, “I knew it had slipped as soon as the ball left my hand, so I knew where it was going and was able to get there.”
Gaines finished with 13 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 steals. He also had 7 turnovers but coach Dennis Felton said those were OK because he was aggressively trying to get the ball to his teammates. For the season, Gaines is Georgia’s second-leading scorer (10.9 ppg), leading rebounder, assists leader and steals leader. One game past the midpoint of the season, he’s my choice as the Dogs’ MVP and I think he may get some All-SEC recognition. You agree? If not Gaines, who do you think is the Dogs’ best player? Anyway they beat Tennessee and get to .500 in league play? Anyway you show up for the game Saturday and help cheer them on?
Or is Georgia basketball the furthest thing from you mind and all you can think about is what a Damn Good Dog Hines Ward is and perhaps his Super Bowl MVP performance will boost recruiting for next season?
Permalink | | Categories: Basketball
Rant reveals ‘sweetheart’ offer
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
One of the more interesting aspects of Myron Rolle’s rant about recruiting gurus this week in front of the Knight Commission were the comments about Tom Lemming.
Rolle, in what has become old news, told the panel Lemming, a well-known recruiting expert with 26 years in the business, tried to get him to look at Notre Dame and some other schools because he was seeking a quality education.
“Mr. Lemming had told me, ‘Myron, you’re considering Florida State and Oklahoma. [You’ve got] a 4.0 GPA and 1340 on your SAT — you’re very smart. Why won’t you consider a school like Stanford, Princeton or Notre Dame?’’’ Rolle said.
The bigger bombshell was this: “He told me that if I kept a certain school (Notre Dame) on my list — the U.S. All-American game is played on NBC — that I would be featured in that game and that I would win the MVP if I had an average game,” said Rolle.
Interestingly, NBC and Notre Dame have a long history that includes a contract to televise Irish games worth millions to the school and probably more to the network.
Permalink | Comments (89) | Categories: Football
Lineup change sparks spunk
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Talk about a difference. The Georgia basketball team that summarily dispatched Alabama 88-79 looked nothing like the one that gagged at Auburn last Saturday.
Perhaps it had something to do with the lineup shake-up before the game. Dennis Felton decided to start freshman Mike Mercer at the wing position instead of Channing Toney and freshman Terrance Woodbury at power forward instead of Steve Newman. Mercer played 28 minutes and had 13 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals. Woodbury played only 19 minutes but had 8 points and 6 rebounds.
The lineup change also seemed to inspire Toney, who didn’t shoot particularly well but fired off a team-high 14 shots and was 2-of-8 from 3-land. He reached double figures (12 points) for the first time in five games.
Obviously that is a smaller lineup for the Dogs (13-8, 3-5 SEC) but it worked against Bama, which has a huge frontline in Jamareo Davidson and Richard Hendrix. After that horrific loss to Auburn (1-6 SEC) they’re going to need to steal some games down the stretch if they hope to play after the SEC tournament. So should Felton stay with this lineup as Georgia embarks on the second-half of the SEC schedule? Can it win at Vandy’s goofy Memorial Gym Saturday? Is there any way they get to .500 in league play?
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Class offers boost to lines
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia had more hits than misses on signing day and by the end of it will have a top-five ranked recruiting class.
Coach Mark Richt said the class, rating aside, was about filling needs across the board. Georgia got players at just about every position it needed them. The Bulldogs could have used another wide receiver and maybe another running back. They also maybe could have used one less fullback.
But across both lines they grabbed players that should help in consistency. On defense, the linemen recruited are more athletic and could be built into different positions. The offensive line got some much-needed depth with the signing of seven players.
Richt said maybe some of those guys might be ready to contribute in two years.
“We ought to be special three and four and five years down the road because of this class right here,” Richt said.
Permalink | Comments (26) | Categories: Football
Ward becomes final signee
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The final letter of intent has been received by Georgia.
Tight end NaDerris Ward just faxed his letter, roughly about 10 a.m. Pacific time.
Ward could come in and compete for a backup spot behind Martrez Milner. Grabbing Ward out of Oakland, Calif. was seen as a major coup.
The crowd has dispersed at the Butts-Mehre building and appears to be making its way to the Blind Pig Tavern where the hope and beer flow simultaneously from the spigots.
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Dewberry a Dog
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The letter from Darius Dewberry has arrived.
A linebacker, Dewberry could be one of the players that plays right away. He has the size and speed to compete.
Of course, he was a signee last season out of Peach County, but didn’t qualify. After a year at Hargrave Military Academy, coaches hope he has matured enough for a seemless transition.
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Richt talks; Jones, Moreno fax
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia coach Mark Richt just addressed the crowd at the athletic facility. The coach whipped the masses into a frenzy when he held up the letters of intent for Knowshon Moreno and Reshad Jones.
Richt, as he usually does, thanked the group for coming and talked about how important they were in the recruiting process. Shoot, Richt even thanked the custodial staff for their support in recruiting (true.)
Some of the assistant coaches also took questions. One thing that was cleared up was the situation of Prince Miller. He will play on defense, said defensive coordinator Willie Martinez.
Richt, added though, some of those players like Miller and Asher Allen, could be borrowed by the offense.
They are also not anticipating switching any of the fullbacks to linebacker or other positions.
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Speed needed at LB
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Linebacker Akeem Dent just got his paperwork in.
Dent is one of four linebackers in this class. Two of those linebackers will probably play next year, and the other two will redshirt.
What Georgia needs at that spot is some speed. It became obvious against West Virginia that not only were the linebackers out of position, but also did not have the speed needed to keep up with the WVU backfield.
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Waiting on 5
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia is still waiting on five letters to be faxed in.
Tight end NaDerris Ward, linebacker Akeem Dent, linebacker Darius Dewberry, defensive back Reshad Jones and running back Knowshon Moreno.
Coaches are confident Moreno will stick with his plan to sign, and the press conference is set for 1 p.m. At least for now.
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Some will play, some will red-shirt
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tony Wilson, a wide receiver from Mainland High in Daytona, has sent his letter in. Now, coaches can get caught up in some hyperbole, but Mainland coach John Maronto may have gone a little overboard when he compared Wilson to Reggie Bush.
Wilson may make the most immediate impact as a returner.
Three more names came in: Justin Anderson, Akeem Hebron and Brandon Wood.
Hebron was the top rated player in Maryland. Hebron could play right away. He has got the speed but may need to bulk up a little bit. Wood will play defensive end and should be redshirt next season if he gets his grades. He is one point shy on his ACT.
Anderson is an offensive lineman and another candidate for a redshirt year.
Josh Davis’ fax just came in. Davis is another offensive lineman. He originally committed to Ole Miss but changed his mind. Davis is one of the few that Georgia took from another school after he had already committed.
In other interesting news Josh Johnson, who was kicked off the team, will be going to Marshall.
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How did the Dogs do?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Things have fallen into place as expected for Mark Richt’s recruiting class. How would you rate this group?
Permalink | Comments (178) | Categories: Recruit
Moreno confusion grows
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Everyone is waiting on the Moreno announcement. There are conflicting reports that Moreno was to announce at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. or between 4 and 7 p.m. This confusion mirrors Moreno’s recruiting. People have been guessing when he is going to say what for abut three months now.
Meanwhile, the masses are expecting a visit from Mark Richt at any moment. Typically, the coach makes the trip up one floor and thanks all the people who took the day off from work to stand around for six hours and wait to see if an 18-year-old sends in his letter of intent.
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Jones signs up
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Washington DB Reshad Jones has officially declared for Georgia over LSU. Knowshon Moreno, who reportedly chose the Bulldogs too, pushed his official announcement back to 1 p.m.
Unless Moreno pulls a 180, things are just about done.
Oddly, the one name that should have come in first is Darius Dewberry. The linebacker has been at Hargrave. You would think his letter would have been on the fax machine about three days ago in preparation for this day.
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Gamble to try linebacker
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
OK, there are about 150 people milling around the building salivating all over themselves for the next name to come in. Here is the odd thing about this.
OK, one of the odd things about this: While they giggle like school girls in anticipation of every name, none of them knows what these recruits can and will do.
Sure some will become good players, but some will also fall off the map. Tavares Kearney anyone?
Darryl Gamble just came in. That makes 17 players. Gamble will attempt to play linebacker.
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Report: Moreno to Dogs
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
According to the Newark Star Ledger, running back Knowshon Moreno will announce that he is going to Georgia at a press conference set for this afternoon.
The announcement doesn’t come as much of a surprise. Moreno has been pegged for Georgia ever since Stafon Johnson decided to go to Southern Cal.
Moreno has the New Jersey state record in touchdowns.
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Fullback fever
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here is one of the strange things about this class, it has two fullbacks. Fullbacks are a rare commodity in college football and now Georgia has four of them. Des Williams is a sophomore, Brandon Southerland is a sophomore and now Chapas and Munzenmaier have joined the fold.
Prince Miller’s fax just came in. The athlete could either play defensive back or wide receiver. Since the Bulldogs are light on wide receivers he may get a look at that spot.
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Chapas hits wire first
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The fax machine started humming early this morning and Georgia’s class of 2006 started to become a reality.
The first name in was Shaun Chapas, a fullback who is recovering from a knee injury. Chapas will most likely redshirt his freshman year.
Also coming in early was defensive back Quintin Banks, fullback Fred Munzenmaier, offensive lineman Ben Harden, defensive lineman Geno Atkins, defensive end Michael Lemon, defensive lineman DeMarcus Dobbs, defensive lineman Kiante Tripp and offensive lineman Chris Davis.
Georgia also had six early enrollees:
Defensive back Asher Allen, defensive lineman Ricardo Crawford, wide receiver Kris Durham, offensive lineman John Miller, offensive lineman Kevin Perez and quarterback Matthew Stafford.
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