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 > 2007 > February > 05
Monday, February 5, 2007
Remembering the class of ‘96
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
National signing day is right around the corner and I’m sure more than a few of you are looking forward to it with excitement. Or, to hear some of you lately, with dread.
In anticipation of the big event, I decided to go back 10 years and revisit Georgia’s class of 1996. Let’s review.
The big news that day was the last-days flip of Brooks County defensive lineman Marcus Stroud. He had been committed to Florida for weeks before deciding to sign with the Dogs in the 11th hour. So big was his change of heart it landed Stroud on the cover of SI ripping off a Florida T-shirt to reveal a Georgia shirt underneath. I’d say that turned out pretty good for the Bulldogs.
Georgia got another one away from Florida in Jim Donnan’s first class. Lineman Brad Register, whose father, mother and sister were Gators, decided late to sign with the Dogs. It seemed a big deal at the time but probably wasn’t in the end.
The other big “gets” in that class: Champ Bailey (All-American, NFL All-Pro), RB Patrick Pass (NFL), OL Jonas Jennings (NFL) and LB Orantes Grant (short NFL stint).
In all, Georgia signed 22 players that day. Four (18 percent) never made it to campus (WR Michael Bryson, WR Eric Hall, RB Ronnie Bradley, DL Cletidus Hunt) and two played a year or less (QB Mike Usry, LB Rich Robich). Fourteen players (63 percent) redshirted that first season. Eleven (50 percent) lettered for four years. One left early for the pros (Bailey).
Those numbers are fairly typical for most recruiting classes, so keep that in mind as you eye the Bulldogs’ latest list of recruits.
So what about this year’s class? Which commitments/signees are most likely to end up in the NFL? In your opinion, which, if any, are most likely not to ever make it to school? Do you see any potential busts in there? How about dark horses? How many will redshirt? How many do you think will be solid four-year players who contribute significantly and graduate?
Here’s the list to help you out:
JUCO SIGNEES
Name Pos Ht Wt Hometown
Scott Haverkamp OL 6-5 298 El Dorado, Kansas
Corvey Irvin DE 6-4 275 Milledgeville
Vince Vance OL 6-7 300 Milledgeville
Jarius Wynn DT 6-5 275 Milledgeville
COMMITTED/NOT YET SIGNED
Name Pos Ht Wt Hometown
Justin Anderson OL 6-5 320 Chatham, VA
Neland Ball DE 6-6 216 Jackson
Clint Boling OL 6-5 261 Alpharetta
Drew Butler K 6-0 196 Suwanee
Vance Cuff DB 5-11 170 Moultrie
Rennie Curran LB 5-10 202 Snellville
Bruce Figgins TE 6-4 238 Columbus
Logan Gray QB 6-2 185 Columbia, Mo.
Antwane Greenlee OL 6-6 302 Columbus
Ben Harden OL 6-4 290 Chatham, Va.
Walter Hill WR 6-5 200 Gainesville
Justin Houston DE 6-3 228 Statesboro
Caleb King RB 5-11 186 Norcross
John Knox DB 6-2 191 Statesboro
Tanner Strickland OL 6-4 315 Nashville
Trinton Sturdivant OL 6-4 280 Wadesboro, NC
Israel Troupe WR 6-0 200 Tifton
Aron White TE 6-4 213 Columbia, Mo.
Charles White LB 5-11 209 Blythewood, SC
