UGA

By tony

January 29, 2007 04:16 PM | Link to this

You would be the first one running your mouth if Georgia was in the top 5 recruiting classes. Don’t give me this crap about checking back in two years. I’ll bet if someone did some research, they would find some quotes of you claiming what a great recruiting class UGA had a few years ago. What a hypocrite!

By Gator

January 29, 2007 04:20 PM | Link to this

Chip you amaze me. Over the last few seasons when UGA was in the top 5 in recruiting you were all over it. Now that hardly anyone has them in the top 10 you try to brush it off as meaningless. Tell us this, would you rather be ranked in the top 10 in recruiting than not be in the top 10? Who really wrote this article, you or Carter Strickland?

By David

January 29, 2007 04:25 PM | Link to this

Are the January enrolles in UGA counted in the so-called recruiting rankings? I agree that the rankings are really just a fun thing and really does not matter at all. David

By Allen

January 29, 2007 04:26 PM | Link to this

Hey tony, why don’t you do the research for yourself before you start calling someone a hypocrite?

By reality check

January 29, 2007 04:28 PM | Link to this

Chip is right, recruiting gurus are very inaccurate as predictors of success. Look at the list of the Super Southern 100 for 2001 and see for yourself how many never played a down for the schools they selected. The best predictor of quality of a class is the total number of players signed and enrolled regardless of how many stars they have.

Chip has been very consistent in his position, Tony. Calling him a hypocrite is uninformed and off base.

By Brandon

January 29, 2007 04:32 PM | Link to this

This class is a great class and I am proud we have them. We needed certain players and we got them.

By Spike

January 29, 2007 04:38 PM | Link to this

Hey Tony… You need some decaf.

By godawg

January 29, 2007 04:43 PM | Link to this

I think this is a great class based on the fact that we got players to fill current and future needs in areas we were really hurting for players.

Hey, eight O-linemen may not look that glamorous or garner a glitzy ranking but it WILL pay big dividends down the road.

The JUCOs in this class will give us immediate help and may well be the difference in a good season and a mediocre one in 2007.

By 77bulldog

January 29, 2007 04:46 PM | Link to this

This class looks pretty solid. It’s a good class but not a great one. Chip is right though. Check back in a couple of years and we’ll see how good these players have been once they play games in Georgia uniforms. It’s the same every year for most every team. Sometimes the can’t miss players do miss and those who weren’t considered as such become great players. I just hate that Florida and South Carolina seemingly have had better recruiting classes than UGA this year.

By tony

January 29, 2007 04:48 PM | Link to this

Apology accepted Allen & Reality Check.

http://media.www.redandblack.com/media/storage/paper871/news/2007/01/11/Sports/Bulldog.Talent.Not.Enough.To.Grab.Football.Title-2625012.shtml?sourcedomain=www.redandblack.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com

I thought Chip was going to wait two years to tell us about how good the recruiting classes were. Read about how GREAT Spurrier and Fulmer’s recruiting 07 classes are from your boy’s own article dated 1/11/07. Geez!

By lvdawg1

January 29, 2007 04:55 PM | Link to this

Why don’t you ask West Virginia, Louisville, Boise State, BYU, TCU, etc. how much weight we should give recruiting rankings! They would all destroy most teams in the top 20 in recruiting over the last 5 years when none of them were!

By mike

January 29, 2007 05:06 PM | Link to this

Tony

is that the correct link? that article is not by chip. there is a quote from him at the end. i’m thinking that quote was made due to the fact the UF currently holds the football and basketball national championships. i could be wrong though.

By Dawg fan Fan

January 29, 2007 05:08 PM | Link to this

Wow. Uh, Tony… uh… did you, uh… did you bother to read the name of the author on that link you put up? It’s not so much Chip Towers as it’s some dude that’s still working for the Red and Black. By “working for the Red and Black” I mean it’s some kid in college. By “some kid in college” I mean it’s Phil Kisubika. By “Phil Kisubika” I mean it’s NOT CHIP TOWERS. This crazy non-Chip Towers impostor that you’re trying to pin everything on was so stealthy as to put his name at both the top and the bottom of the article you cited. However, I will believe you if you tell me that Chip did this just to throw good readin’ Dawg fans like me off, and the whole thing is a conspiracy. Or perhaps Chip went back to school to holla at some co-eds. I dunno. I just know that the Red and Black usually just puts the name of the real person that wrote the article on the top and bottom. See your link for evidence of such tendency.

This crazy impostor did quote Chip in the article you cited. It’s one line and it says nothing about recruiting. Nice work.

So Tony I think we both learned something here. You learned that usually the author puts his name on the article, in this case at the top and the bottom, and you also learned that Phillip Kisubika is NOT the alter ego that Chip Towers goes by. I learned that you’re an idiot. That was a neat lesson.

By godawg

January 29, 2007 05:13 PM | Link to this

tony, don’t you wish there was a “Remove Post” button on the blog?

By jack

January 29, 2007 05:16 PM | Link to this

Coach did a BRILLIANT job getting those JUCO guys. Otherwise, HE knew we were short of size and experience, and all you should also know, we would have lost a lot of Staffords ability for time to throw the ball…not to mention opening holes for our stable of RBs. You wait and see, you will all be doing the Sunday morning QBs thing, calling to the talk shows and swearing you were all for this move soon as the wins start piling up. Great job Mark!!!

By Perry

January 29, 2007 05:29 PM | Link to this

Ranking recruits is an inexact science like the NFL combine. Is it just ironic that the top college teams always have the best recruiting classes? USC and Ohio State’s coaches are just that much better than everyone else?

By Gator

January 29, 2007 05:39 PM | Link to this

you know ur screwed when Tech is taking ur recruits

By StAugDawg

January 29, 2007 05:42 PM | Link to this

Would someone please tell me what David Pollack and David Greene’s ratings were? I don’t remember them really blowing anyone away but they seemed to do alright…

Whether Chip’s blogs were touting our Top 5 or whatever it really doesn’t matter until the kids produce on the field. CMR had a down year and we won 9 games, we’re in the toughest division of the toughest conference and we’ve played for the SEC championship 3 times since CMR arrived! Gator fans can mock my statement of playing in the SEC championship if they want, but Auburn had as much of a right to play for the National Championship when they rolled thru the SEC a few years back but got hosed by the BCS and you have to win the conference to get the shot!

Let the kids be kids and quit blowing so much smoke up their a$$!

By Jay

January 29, 2007 05:53 PM | Link to this

The fact that uga is fourth in the sec east in recruiting this year and has a worse class then south carolina makes me laugh…a lot.

By **By Chip Towers**

January 29, 2007 05:59 PM | Link to this

Whoa, there, Gator. Hold up, Tony. I don’t know where you’re coming from but my attitude is VERY consistent when it comes to recruiting. You would never hear me “running my mouth” period when it comes to anything about Georgia but especially recruiting. To answer somebody’s question, David Greene and David Pollack were both 3-star recruits, but does that say more about them, about Georgia’s coaching or about the people doing the rankings? … And what the link to a college kid’s student newspaper column has to do with anything I have no idea. We were talking about Florida owning both the basketball and football national championships in the hallway at Stegeman one day and of that I said, ‘It’s the Gators’ world and the rest of us are just living in it.” Now I don’t know how in the world that helps you reach your conclusions but all I intended to say is UF is on top at the moment… . I actually didn’t know Georgia wasn’t ranked in the Top 10 but, considering there are 119 D-I schools, I guess its doing OK in the eyes of the “gurus.” But, you know what, how often is Auburn ever in the Top 5 or 10 of those rankings and it seems to always field a pretty good team… . Whatever the case you’ll never catch me “running my mouth” no matter where Georgia or anybody else ranks. I can promise you that.

By ConyersDawg

January 29, 2007 06:02 PM | Link to this

Tony let me start by saying, nevermind I won’t even go there. You have already embarrased yourself.

Chip, what I love about you is balance and always something to get us writing.

Solid not great is almost acurate. The game of football is won in the trenches and the Dawgs have landed the best o-line in history(forget about stars) and Caleb King (please don’t make me post his youtube highlight again. Caleb is the best back in Ga. since Garrison Hearst. Ask recruit experts or opposing coaches. Caleb is dynamic!

Several of the coaches have said Walter Hill is the best athlete in the state not named Eric Berry. 6’4 200lb folks and can snatch the ball out of the air. Did I mention he can grab a penny off the top of the backboard.

Aaron White was just ranked the #1 TE in the country! So that’s Ward last year #2 and White this year and the #1 TE for 2008 has us as a favorite.

Wardaddy’s - Greenlee (best in 10 years) Bean (5* last year)- Sturdivant (NC player of the year)Vance and Strickland. We have more butthese guys will be impact! Watch out for Boling, very athletic.

This class has impact players is my point. Don’t look at those stars. Look at how the coaches went out and met the needs we had.

Rennie Curran will be a star folks!

Are we landing skill players with all the stars? no. But we are loaded and will get our fair share.

2008 will be probably be the greatest class ever.

By Hunk Erdown

January 29, 2007 06:07 PM | Link to this

,,,

By midniterider

January 29, 2007 06:19 PM | Link to this

i think everyone is over looking the fact that besides the class this year we have i think 18 redshirts comming in as well who look pretty good

By Hunk Erdown

January 29, 2007 06:19 PM | Link to this

I’ve loved rabbit hunting all of my life. Several years ago I decided to get me some beagles of my own instead of always waiting to be invited by someone who had them. It seemed logical to me that to get a good pack of dogs in the shortest amount of time that I would find breeders and buy the best dog form as many of them as I could. I found eight different breeders and bought the best dog I could from each one of them. I knew they were the best because I went hunting with each breeder and his pack of dogs. I wasted a bunch of money learning that just because a dog is the best in one bunch doesn’t mean he will be that good with a different pack. There are different kinds of dogs when it comes to hunting, and they establish their own “pecking order”. Try to run 8 “lead dogs” together and it just don’t work. There are jump dogs, trailing dogs, lead dogs, etc. You have to work and be able to recognize not only a dogs talent but also his temperment. There are some dogs that you can’t even put in the same pen together… they’ll kill each other fighting. Same thing with a football team… they need to mesh as a unit and use there talent and personalities in a way that benefits the team. I’d rather have a dog that I can train than one that i don’t know how he’ll hunt with the big dogs. I’d like to see UGA recruit some boys that have been hauling hay or cutting pulpwood all summer than someone thats been told he is a “star” and had someone’s camera up his butt to see when he scratches.

By Todd

January 29, 2007 07:14 PM | Link to this

I don’t even know how to follow that comment, Hunk Erdown. I can’t tell if I’m ready for football season or huntin’ season!

By Hunk Erdown

January 29, 2007 07:21 PM | Link to this

Sorry Todd, just trying to ‘splain it so that some of our red neck buddies could get the idea.

By Sautee Dawg

January 29, 2007 07:29 PM | Link to this

Thanks Chip Thanks for the topic. Hats off to them HOOP HOUNDS, Coach Felton has really got this bunch of kids believing they can win no matter who the play. As far as recruiting goes, I think our class is strong this year with all the help coming in on the Off/def lines.One thing people don’t think about is 5 star recruits are not going to come to a school where they have 18 top recruits that were redshirted from last year. Thats a sign that they too may be redshirted or if they do see the field it’s on a limited basis. We have some very talented players that shirted this past year and all of them were top prospects. I think our coaching staff has done a fine job recruiting for the 07 season.

By Buck Cochran in the NW

January 29, 2007 07:42 PM | Link to this

Chip, everything that people, and you, are saying is IMO right; however I think the points being missed. We got what we needed this season and we don’t have a class ranked in the top 10. I happen to believe that the rating services help produce the preceptions and preception is reality. If anyone doesn’t think that SOS turned the corner in Columbia this recruiting season then I don’t think they are being objective at all. With the Dawgs, the preception spread early on that top players were going other places and the word spread. The tragdy is that it all started with the hugh mistake Martinez made with Eric Berry. When Berry was quoted as saying he was going to the Vols because he didn’t get any respect I wrote it off as a kid with an attidue but then I realize that I WAS WRONG ABOUT ERICE BERRY!!! He didn’t get the respect from Ga. and he chose Tenn. then his buddy said I want nothing to do with Ga. and went to Tech. Berry is his best buddy and he knows what happen. So , IMO, we have a good class that could have been the best class MR had had since he’s been in Athens. As it is, there’s a PRECEPTION among a lot of H.S. players that is negative. So far our ‘08 class is shaping up to be one of the best but we have a lot of demons to slay and turn that preception around in our favor. I promise you, as never before, we had better beat SC. …..I don’t remember when Berry commited to Tenn. but it was just about that time that our recruiting came to a dead stop……..CHIP, I’M NOT GETTING INTO ANY DETAILS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED WITH BERRY BE CAUSE, AS WHEN I WAS A REPORTER I SET MY OWN STANDARD REQURING 2 SOLID SOURCES BEFORE i WENT PUBLIC. ON THIS STORY, I HAVE ONE HARD A MARBLE SOURCE AND TRYING FOR A 2ND. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK WITH YOU BUT DON’T HAVE YOUR EMAIL. YOU HAVE MINE WOULD YOU GET IN TOUCH OR SEND ME A PHONE NUMBER WHERE I CAN CALL YOU?

By War Eagle

January 29, 2007 08:03 PM | Link to this

As of TODAY in SEC recruiting according to Rivals.com 1. Florida 2. Tenn 3.LSU 4. South Carolina 5. Auburn 6. UGA

By Drew

January 29, 2007 08:13 PM | Link to this

Recruiting is an inexact science, and yes, it’s certainly nice to be rated highly, but every year, many of the top guys don’t pan out. CMR and the staff has consistently done a nice job of recruiting. Also, OL recruits doesn’t tend to excited the masses. It’s not just about one year’s worth of recruits. Perhaps we all need to relax…the class appears to be a good one and good grief, can’t we have a little bit of confidence that they will be coached well?

By Big Dawg

January 29, 2007 09:04 PM | Link to this

ConyersDawg

Solid not great is almost accurate.

Great Topic Chip

Conyers when it comes to filling holes it is a Great Class. As you said, which is what I have been saying all along, we got the # 1 recruiting class of offensive lineman. We also got some potentially great players at other positions of need as welli.e. Jarius Wynn, Corvey Irvin, Neland Ball, Charles White, Vance Cuff, John Knox etc. One of the problems is illustrated by several players we were after i.e. Eric Berry, Morgan Burnett, Chris Liittle, Allen Bailey and Hanks all of which were promised by other teams that they would play immediately and that they would be able to play at their position of choice, well IMO these coaches are lying to these kids and they should be ashamed of themselves even though I know they are not as most of them think this is the only way to compete. Even if these kids had chose us they would have had a hard time getting on the field and getting any meaningful playing time.

By Buck Cochran in the NW

January 29, 2007 09:57 PM | Link to this

Big Dawg, you probably know something I don’t, but untill I see a little evidence I have to disagree. Lets take the Hanks kid. He went with ‘Bama because Saban told him he could play WR, which he played in H.S. and would have the chance to play early. How do we know that’s not the truth? When Saban was at LSU he didn’t have the reputation you’re talking about. SOS has never had that kind of rep. Urban, I thing he lost a kid that came from Utah with him but I’m not aware of any others. Talk about the Dawgs. One thing that’s been said repeatedly is that we’re loaded at CB. Hanks says he wants to play WR. We offer him WR or CB. He took WR. Where’s any bad guy in that situation. Talk about depth, I think we’re very light at WR or recerving positons period untill we have some people who will catch the ball. We may have numbers of warm bodies but I don’t see players until I see them catching the ball. Bailey wanted a shot at MLB, why not? If he’s not makinmg it he’s got a good example to switch to DE and that’s Miller. Wasted 3 yrs. of playing time and now has figured out if he’s going to play on Sunday he’d better switch. Playing early? Times are changing and the trend is toward playing a lot more kids in heir freshman yr. than ever before and there’s going to be more of that….There’s nothing wrong with making adjustments alon the way and maybe the Dawgs should give that some thought.

By Bulldog bob

January 29, 2007 10:31 PM | Link to this

have on both lines! Besides our basketball team needs and deserves our support this time of the year.

By BadgerDawg

January 29, 2007 10:35 PM | Link to this

TYony is correct, Chip is a hypocrite. Here is my proof:

http://www.accessatlanta.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/accessatlanta/radiotalk/

By Bulldog bob

January 29, 2007 10:43 PM | Link to this

I think we have addressed our needs on both lines and that is where we lacked the most depth this past season. I am happy with this class.

By Gen Neyland

January 29, 2007 10:56 PM | Link to this

Ahhh, Grasshopper,

Recruiting is but a game within the game. Label with stars but look to the heart. For it is there you’ll find the winners…

Go Vols

By Takais Brown - Ballin'

January 29, 2007 11:22 PM | Link to this

War Eagle…nice try douche bag. Georgia is still ahead of Auburn on Rivals. Honestly, I did not think that Auburn losing it’s accreditation would effect the “students” so quickly. I use the term student very loosely as we all know Auburn is only composed of people that could not get in to Georgia or Alabama.
Aubie had a nice run when Saban left, but guess what…don’t hurt your neck looking up in the standings. UGA has built a solid foundation under Coach Richt and they know how to develop talent. They currently have the 3rd most players in the NFL, and being that the state of Georgia never comes up short on high school talent, I don’t see that trend ending anytime soon. Listen, I love recruiting rankings as much as anybody. I check scout and rivals everyday, but its all garbage. Any class in the top 25 has a hell of a lot of talent and its all up to the coaching staff from there. Georgia got exactly what they needed this year and now its on the recruits to perform. Following recruits is addicting, but don’t forget about the run the Dawgs are making to the tourney. Also, we got Perno’s boys playing the defending national champs in the classic city in two weeks.

By SamoanDawg

January 29, 2007 11:26 PM | Link to this

This is a great class guys. It’s not the most clamour type of class but it’s the best we have so far. To have success on both side of the ball, we must address the lines. It does not matter how good our skill players are, but if we don’t have the best linemen, we will not win too many games. I don’t care what anybody says, or where we’re rank at on recruiting, but I LOVE this class b/c of the linemen we’re getting, plus the addition of coach Stacy Searels. We’ll win heaps of games this year.

Go Dawgs!

By feverdawg

January 30, 2007 12:55 AM | Link to this

are you people smoking crack. what would make you think UGA is having a down recruiting year. This is a very solid class from top to bottom. It will be one of the top ten in the country, IN THE COUNTRY, and now somehow thats a down year. I’ll be the first to admit that I follow the recruitig classes a little more vigorisly than I should, and you can really get caught up in it. although it is a good way to get to know the incoming players. But as anyone who really watches recruiting knows for as many 5 star* recruits that turn into all americans double the amount that dont pan out. So relax UGA fans you can rest at night WE ARE HAVING A GREAT YEAR IN RECRUITING.. Everything is going to be ok. For everbody else on this blog, and for some reason like to read and post on the UGA site. Good luck to you in recruiting, and we’ll see you on the feild next year

And for whom it me concern:

I would never go to sanford stadium no matter how bad it could possibly get, and BOO a member of the University of Georgia program. I guess there are different strokes for different folks

By Mikey

January 30, 2007 01:46 AM | Link to this

QUOTE: “Aubie had a nice run when Saban left, but guess what…don’t hurt your neck looking up in the standings.”

Auburn had a nice run against Saban himself. (3-2) Saint Nick’s recruiting class is currently rated 27th to Tuberville’s #10.(Scout.com) I don’t expect to be looking up at Bammer any time soon.

Seriously, are y’all really excited about a bunch of JUCO linemen? I always thought of JUCO’s as a sort of band-aid to patch up with until a team can get some real players. Weren’t they in junior college to begin with because they either couldn’t make the grades or weren’t good enough to get in a big-time school?

By Buck Cochran in the NW

January 30, 2007 04:50 AM | Link to this

Solid class? outstanding class? I don’t know but we did fill our needs on the interior line positions so maybe that where the classification of solid falls into place. I’ll decide my classification come KO> time when I see how many perple are “SHIRTED”. Preception! Most people felt that we would get the majority pf in state players we wanted. I don’t think that happen this yr. The key for the Dawgs in ‘07 are our receivers. If they can’t catch we’ll be in for a long year.

By Mark

January 30, 2007 07:28 AM | Link to this

UGA covered every need they had with this class. They were already deep and talented and now have dealt with issues in both interior lines. Yes, catching the ball could be an issue but Shawn Bailey returns from injury. Other than that, I challenge anyone on this blog to point out another area on this team that lacks talent and depth. Next years class (08) is already shaping up as one that just may finally put us over the top. And that “all world” reciever that we covet is already on board for 08.

By 82DAWG

January 30, 2007 08:20 AM | Link to this

Average Class No better. In addition the real disaster is that UGA let all the top in state talent go to their rivals. If UGA had taken care of business in the state of Georgia, no one would have said a word. But they did not. To make matters worse, every day a new headline trumpets one of our rivals getting a top commitment while the ones on our short list eliminate us.

The bottom line is that unless you sign the top talent, you can’t play with the big boys on a yearly basis. To say any different is ludicrously naive and stupid. Do all four and five star guys become stars - No. Are all two and three star guys destined for mediocrity - No, again. There will always be the Jasper Sanks, Jaime Harris, Marquis Elmore disappointments and the Tim Jennings, David Pollock surprises. However, the percentage of four and five star recruits that excel far exceeds the percentage of two and three star guys that excel. It is simple mathematics, the more blue chip recruits you sign, the better your odds are of consistent success at the national level.

Now, many of us remember quite vividly how Tennessee came into Georgia in the 90’s and won a national championship off the players they signed from our state. Names like Cosey Coleman, Deon Grant and Jamal Lewis. This is why not signing the top talent in Georgia burns me up. I would like to know why this is happening. Is it grades? What? Are we losing contact with the High School coaches? What is the problem? For every blue chip athlete that signs with another team there is a rival school we have to play that has player form our back yard that can beat us.

No Chip, recruiting this year was no better than average. And if we want to compete on a national level every year, we cannot have average recruiting classes like this.

By 82DAWG

January 30, 2007 08:25 AM | Link to this

Mark,

If you are refering to that “All World” receiver as Israel Troup, he is expected to be drafted highly in the Baseball draft.

By JaxDawg

January 30, 2007 08:33 AM | Link to this

Chip, have you heard anything on Antwane Greenlee? Is he waivering, or can some of us who follow recruiting too closely focus on whether or not Israel Troupe will choose baseball over the Dawgs?

By SamoanDawg

January 30, 2007 08:38 AM | Link to this

Mikey.. we have a good class period. You can dog us out all you want about our JUCOs, but every major football programs have to go the JC route sometime. Question is, why would any big time football school recruited a kid or a JUCO player if they didn’t think they could compete/contribute at the next highest level of amateur football? It really doesn’t matter what their backround is, whether they’re straight out of high school or JC.

Son, don’t listen don’t listen to these “other” fools here. Just strap up and go knock some heads.

By godawg

January 30, 2007 08:43 AM | Link to this

Off topic, BUT……

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee junior Chris Lofton will try running on his right ankle Monday for the first time since his injury, and coach Bruce Pearl said he will make a game-time decision Wednesday on whether the Southeastern Conference’s leading scorer plays against Georgia.

The Volunteers (14-7, 2-4 ) have lost five of their last six games, including the last two since Lofton sprained his right ankle on Jan. 20 in their lone victory in this stretch over South Carolina. Lofton still leads the SEC with 21.5 points per game.

Pearl said during the SEC teleconference call that they would try to get Lofton moving for the first time since spraining his ankle to see if he can run a little bit.

“Then Tuesday we’ll see what the pain and swelling looks like, then make a game-time decision on Wednesday,” Pearl said.

The swelling and pain in Lofton’s ankle have diminished, but Pearl said they haven’t really pushed Lofton’s ankle yet.

“As far as the ligaments, they were stretched in the ankle … as he turned it. He got down pretty close to the floor and so how quickly they tighten … will have a lot to do with how fast he’s able to respond now once we begin to push it,” Pearl said.

I think the prudent thing to do is to sit him out one more game. :-) WOOF!

By 82DAWG

January 30, 2007 08:48 AM | Link to this

I think they should shut Lofton down for the season. Ligaments are tricky things. You can never be too careful.

By 2N4YEARS

January 30, 2007 09:06 AM | Link to this

If you’re having a good recruiting year, then you have reason to be excited. It gives you hope (even if it’s false hope) for that ‘breakout’ season. I guess it always feels better to know that you have that top-rated talent on YOUR team. With that being said, as long as you’re filling YOUR needs is what’s REALLY important. Over the last couple of years GEORGIA’s had speed to waste sitting on the side line. We’ve had three highly touted running backs, several speedsters that only returned punts or kick-off’s, and were always trying to find someone healthy enough to play on the O-Line. The RB’s had no holes to run through, the QB’s didn’t have enough time to set & throw, the receivers lots of times didn’t have time to finish their routs, and so on & so on. FACT: Recruiting & signing a 4-star O-Lineman won’t get you the same ‘rating’ as a 4-star WR or QB. And ask yourself this question: When’s the last time Rutgers had a Top 25 recruiting class? How about Wake Forest? Now look at Miami. And FSU. Yeah, coaching always plays a part in wins & losses, but so does talent. Does anybody remember where David Pollack was rated coming out of HS?? That’s what I thought. The DAWGS will be FINE!

By gdawginkalamazoo

January 30, 2007 09:25 AM | Link to this

Chip, This is a great class. Why do we need to be top 10 top 15 or even top 50. We are getting some sorely needed players. As we saw last year doesn’t matter how many QB’s or RB’s we have if we don’t have an OL blocking for them on a consistent basis. I’ll consider it an excellent class for taking care of business. Regarding the “big name” recruits we have so called missed out on? Our coaches aren’t telling these kids what they want to hear. 1) play where you want 2) play from the get go. We have done well the past few years recruiting we have a solid foundation to work with now.

By Youngdawg

January 30, 2007 09:35 AM | Link to this

Recruiting rankings are highly subjective…I wouldn’t put much weight in them. As examples of virtual nobody’s in the recruiting world that have been some of the best players on the Georgia team in recent past years…David Pollack (3-time All American, Bednarik, Lombardi, Hendricks, & Lott Trophy Winner), David Greene (Winningest College QB of All Time), Thomas Davis (All American), and Tim Jennings (All SEC - NFL). Heck, we’ve even had several “preferred walk-on” players who gained scholarships and ended up being major contributors…Brandon Coutu, Tre Battle, Verron Haynes, J.T. Wall. Tying your emotions to the whim of 18 year old High School seniors is a bit ludicrous, don’t you think? If anything, I like to take note of the least regarded guys in our class and wait for them to make the biggest impact! The current class will take care of glaring needs and will produce enough talent for UGA to continue to remain in the upper echelon of college football.

By Gatorhater

January 30, 2007 09:42 AM | Link to this

First off - let’s think about what WE DO HAVE…in Matthew Stafford. When your offensive line recruiting efforts have been subpar for 6 straight years now, you go out and sign 8 monsters to protect this guy! They may not be as glitzy and glamorous as the skill-position players but they will protect our #1 asset - the QB. So what that we didn’t land Eric Berry! We have Paul Oliver returning and two outstanding rising Sophomores in Prince Miller and Asher Allen. And ranking 17 year-olds isn’t exactly a science. Jasper Sanks reminds me most of that. It’s like popcorn in a pan - some pop and some don’t. GO DAWGS!

By crs

January 30, 2007 10:14 AM | Link to this

I think the lines are the toughest positions to recruit well because many of those kids you are projecting how big and strong they can get versus a running back or wide reciever you usually know what you have up front. This georgia recruiting class will either be remembered as the class that put us over the top or the class that set us back for some time.

By War Eagle

January 30, 2007 11:50 AM | Link to this

Takais, I am not a douche bag, Auburn has its accreditation back couple years ago, Auburn and Bammer have a higher graduation rate than 9%, which UGA regrister last report.Auburn had twice as many grads playing their Senior year than Bammer or UGA. All three schools are great education institution, its just post like yours that mean absoluetly ZERO.

By tim

January 30, 2007 12:34 PM | Link to this

Actually Pollack was considered one of the top 100 players in the South, at least according to the AJC. Not a good example.

By War Eagle

January 30, 2007 01:55 PM | Link to this

Mel Kiper projected #1 draft selection and their rating out of High School: 5 star-8, 4 star- 12, 3 star- 6, 2 star- 4, There were two 2- star in top 10 selections.

By War Eagle

January 30, 2007 02:03 PM | Link to this

Note on above post>>>2 were not rated because of bad scout pages. Total 32

By War Eagle

January 30, 2007 03:28 PM | Link to this

Luther Davis, 4 star DT who decommitted LSU for Bammer is a non-qualifer, plus he had a run-in with a LSU asst. coach. Saban finds it more difficult to recruit at Bammer than LSU. He will get couple good ones signing day, but has not done as he was expected by most Bammer fans..

By gator the dog catcher

January 30, 2007 03:48 PM | Link to this

Obviously some kids have not peaked out yet and some have hit their peak already. The ones that have hit their peak or close to it may get passed by lesser stars that have more room for developement. Having said that recruiting rankings are usually a pretty good indicator of a teams success so long as the coaching and scheme are there. USC is consistenly at the top of recruiting and at the top of the polls as is Michigan, and Texas. Coaching and scheme does have to fit the player coming in. Look at Lorenzo Booker at FSU who was the number one player nationally a few years back. Some would say that he was a bust, but he went to play for a system that is not as running back friendly as others. Put Lorenzo Booker or Kregg Lumpkin in a system like USC, LSU, or West Virginia and both would be Heisman contenders.

By gdawginkalamazoo

January 30, 2007 04:22 PM | Link to this

gtdc, if it is a good indicator how do you explain your friend Phil’s teams in Knoxville the past 10 years. They have consistently rank in the top 10 if not top 5 in the country.

By auburn suxs

January 31, 2007 11:08 AM | Link to this

What is up war eagle …. been out of the country for a little while , but IAM BACK Hello to all my bulldawg buddies

It is me many poeple try to be like me , but let it be known ,that I was the first..

Lets count the ways you have been wrong all year

1 you said allbarn would win the sec NOT 2 all your sources told you c.King would sign with allbarn Not 3 there is no way UGA will beat allbarn … 37-15

4 let us not forget that you did say you had a place in Destin that you would let BullDawgs any Dawg fan stay in if UGA beat allbarn.

so alot of times you are caught up in lies too. GO DAWGS…

By GATOR MEL FROM PLANTATION

January 31, 2007 12:31 PM | Link to this

the gators will prevail no matter who gets who…it’s called COACHING!!!

By War Eagle

January 31, 2007 03:40 PM | Link to this

Hey auburnsux, really missed your bs, glad to have you back. I have wriitten couple nice post about you and no response, NOW I know, playing James Bond 007? I said LSU was the team to beat in the SEC and after Auburn beat them(7-3), I said they were best team in the SEC., I had good sources C. King would sign with Auburn. I was WRONG.While you were roaming the countrysides I said” I hope UGA comes not have a come-out game against Auburn”, well again I was wrong.dawgs kicked our butt good, but we bear #1 Fl. and #3 team LSU, so this should make dawgs feel good. Last, I said of Auburn plays for the national championship I would open up my condo in Destin for the select dawgs which you and Robert was part of the selection. I was 2-2,.500pct.. GLAD YOU ARE BACK, we are eating dawgs up in recruiting???.

By Frank

January 31, 2007 11:46 PM | Link to this

OK. OK. So were still talking about the haves and the have nots. The only thing UGA lacks in this class is one more d/tackle and d/back period. Other than that it’s all peaches (sweet). My prediction for this class. All OL will play except one (too light). It is going to be VERY hard to keep the (2) new linebackers on the bench. Watch and see. As for our (3) recievers, they can play now. TE Bruce, Mr. Figgens. Who in the hell rated this guy. They obviously never saw him play. He will come in and push his way into playing time as a freshman TE. The rest of the def. is my biggest concern. I think some are not going to make their grades. I hope I am wrong. Thats just my gut feeling. So we may get a few off the radar that will just blow all those recruiting guru’s right out of the water.

By auburn suxs

February 1, 2007 07:42 AM | Link to this

I like you war eagle I don’t care what everyone else says about you….

good luck in the recuiting war. We have a stock pile of players that will have a coming out party this year. Our replacement book ends will more than likely be Battle and Howard they are not as big as little monster or big M , but you will see our defense will be faster and have more size inside. Everyone knows what are offense will do. I said it before and I say it again COXs is not a good QB. He will be the down fall of allbarn next year….. GO DAWGS

By jbirdawg

February 1, 2007 09:04 AM | Link to this

I think UGA’s class this year is great. Their needs were primarily OL and a playmaking running back. They have brought in one of the top, if not the top, OL class in the country. They also have Caleb King, who after his JR year was the top RB in the country, and he is a compliment to Knowshon Moreno, one of the best backs last yr, who redshirted. The OL class includes a couple of JUCO guys that will help with class separation. UGA also got the top JUCO DE in the country along with another top JUCO DL and the top rated TE in the country. Anytime a team is going heavily after linemen the star ratings are not going to be quite as high as if you come away with popular skill guys. The negative folks point to UGA not getting guys like Berry, Burnett, and Bailey. Those same folks forget that UGA redshirted 17 players from last year and are very loaded at most positions with underclassmen. The depth chart is not very appealing to DBs, LBs, or DEs. Berry would be looking at competing against Asher Allen, Prince Miller, Ramarcus Brown Bryan Evans, and Paul Oliver. As talented as he is, that is a lot of Rivals rankings stars to look at in front of you. Burnette was looking at Kelin Johnson, Byrd, Reshad Jones, and Banks. Banks and Jones redshirted and by all accounts are major play makers. LB is not going to be an option for Bailey at UGA and the DE pipeline is full of guys too. So while you always recruit for the future, it was apparent that these guys probably wouldn’t see the field for a couple of years at the soonest and maybe longer. Berry may have had the chance to try some slot or returns, but due to the depth chart the opportunity to play soon looks daunting to a recruit. These cycles will happen and when they do you can’t expect to get every big name. This class really filled our needs with excellent players. With that in mind I find this class very exciting.

By jbirdawg

February 1, 2007 09:14 AM | Link to this

when has OSU had a top ranked recruiting class? They are more like Auburn. Not top rated classes but always a top rated team.

By gavol

February 1, 2007 05:05 PM | Link to this

ooooh i can’t wait for next year….tennessee is #2 in recruiting right now but i’m sure yall know that already… eric berry, chris donald, and gerald jones are going to be beasts…oh yeah and lennon creer, brent vinson, the 4.2 40 running kenny o’neal, ben martin, and nevin mckenzie…..i can’t wait, but hey, yall should be ok with your 14 OL recruits, it’s ok OL are always athletes they can play anywhere. yall look for eric berry and gerald jones next year when they blow by uga’s secondary. PS i know Berry’s a cb but mark my word he will play some offense with his 4.3 speed.

By War Eagle

February 1, 2007 10:21 PM | Link to this

Thanks auburnsux, I made a post last month stating what you just post. “Auburn will have to get better QB play to compete for the SEC title next year”.We have a 5 star, # 6 QB in the country from Ark. coming in , so he might pick Cox up or move him out. Auburn will compete, but have tough road games, LSU, Florida, and Ark.. plus Sanford Stadium, but its like home as far as winning.. ITS AUBURN, NOT ALLBARN 007