College recruiting

By Gak

September 2, 2008 1:17 PM | Link to this

Jonathan Davis would improve Georgia’s team talent overall. It is possible that he is the best football player in the state and that is not in regard to his size. He probably has as much academic qualifications as many other football student-athletes in the SEC. It would be doubtful that either South Carolina or Oklahoma State would offer him if they had doubts about these qualifications. There has been no denial by either school that this is the case. In the end all student-athletes must pass the rigors of the NCAA academic clearinghouse in order to play in any league. UGA does sign some athletes who perhaps meet NCAA academic clearinghouse qualifications, but perhaps do not meet more rigid UGA academic qualifications. These players usually attend a prep school and re-sign the next year if they don’t eventually live up to these expectations. From an athletic perspective, Jonathan is enormously qualified to play at UGA. The academic question is another matter, but I suspect he could manage the academics if he puts forth the effort. There are at least two athletes that are being given wait and see offers from UGA, contingent upon academic qualifications according to recent news accounts. Also accordng to news accounts, UGA is not the leading favorite for a couple of highly heralded linebackers in both Georgia and Alabama. It is entirely possible that Jonathan is the best of these three, though certainly not the biggest. His statement, “I’d be a good football player for Georgia if they gave me the chance” is probably humbly, but grotesquely understated. Poor character doesn’t seem to be a plausible issue either as no reliable or confirmable matter has been posted with enough specificity of detail to substantiate any such rumor. Serious recruiters of top NCAA talent certainly don’t entertain non-specific, unsubstantiated rumors. Jonathan, if he does happen to somehow make the 2009 recruiting class of UGA, would be one of their most talented signees.

By Captain

September 2, 2008 2:35 PM | Link to this

Come on Gak, where does this new myth of higher standards originate? I am a University of Georgia alum, contributor to the General Fund as well as Athletic Assoc, season ticket holder in football, basketball, baseball, and I have some knowledge of the goings on in Athens. Your assertion that Georgia has more rigid admissions standards than the NCAA’s and that Georgia may sign otherwise NCAA qualified student-athletes and send them to prep school for a year is just wrong. That is not a fact. There are currently football players on the Georgia roster who were on the lower end of the NCAA eligibility scale, several played Saturday. There is no player whose name comes to mind that signed with Georgia, met NCAA standards thus was deemed eligible through the Clearinghouse, yet was rejected by UGA’s admissions department, who then was sent to prep school for a year due to a ‘more rigid’ admissions standard at UGA. Signees who went to prep school DID NOT MEET NCAA ELIGIBILITY standards, that’s why they went to become eligible. If you can name a player who was certified eligible by the NCAA who was then denied admission at UGA based solely on academics, went to prep school,and resigned the following year, please advise me. For the life of me I can’t recall anyone. Let’s stop this ‘higher academic admissions standards than the NCAA’ talk, we are beginning to sound like the whiners at GT.

By Maddog

September 2, 2008 3:59 PM | Link to this

Captain, I’ve also heard something similar to what Gak said. I don’t have all the data, but consider this blurb from the AJC about a possible UGA recruit for the Class of 2009.

*Ridgeland wide receiver Michael Bowman is determined to play for Georgia, which he said told him they would offer if he raised his test scores. However, Bowman admitted he has a “backup plan” in case things don’t work out with the Bulldogs.

“Georgia is where I want to be, it always has been,” Bowman said. “However, I’m not going to prep school. If Georgia didn’t take me, then I’d go to Auburn or LSU.”*

Now I ask you this, if he cannot get into UGA, but CAN get into Auburn or LSU, then wouldn’t it make sense that UGA has a higher “minimum” than the NCAA (Auburn and LSU)?

By Stephen

September 2, 2008 6:30 PM | Link to this

The answer for guys like Bowman and Davis is that UGA doesnt take partial qualifiers. They want full qualifying.

Auburn and LSU take them. That’s how Ronnie Brown from Cartersville went to Auburn…..and others

By mr cassius

September 2, 2008 6:38 PM | Link to this

Here comes khalilah miller swingman for douglass high school girls b ball team, atlantas only blue chipper. look for her too shatter the ga scoring records ,dont let this one get away like mya more did mr lander.

By CoachD

September 2, 2008 6:45 PM | Link to this

I have watched Tucker this summer and over the 1st 2 games. I have seen them compete against Norcross, Camden cty, Stepheson, etc over the summer and they can beat them all. JD is the heart of this talented team. I have seen him do things I have yet to see from other prospects. This size issue is a joke. Put him against the best olineman in the state in an “oaklahoma drill” and I know where my money is going. He will blow them up. He has Knowshon’s motor, tuff as nails and has the proper mental attitude and work ethic to make it. He will play right away for whoever gets him. The young man is a football player, not a kid who plays football.

By gfed2008

September 2, 2008 8:28 PM | Link to this

UGA does take some non-qualifiers…just not as many as most other SEC schools because especially with this class, they have to be very selective.

I believe Stephen that you are talking about the David Irons who went to community college before Auburn as well as Brandon Jacobs. Ronnie Brown didn’t go to community college.

All schools except Ivy League schools and places like Duke have the same admission standards for athletes. SEC schools with the exception of Vanderbilt have nearly identical standards for athletes as perscribed by the NCAA for minimum standards to get into college.

By Gak

September 2, 2008 8:37 PM | Link to this

Capain, Please return to my blog and very carefully read and note the use of the word ‘perhaps’. Nearly everything that is read on blogs is myth unless it is proven as factual by facts. The use of the word ‘perhaps’ gives rise to the possibility that something may or may not be true. What you say certainly seems to ring true, but so does other information that is published on the blogs. I actually do have the same feelings about the academic fidelity at UGA as you. The next time that I write in a blog, I will try to be more emphatic about an idea being merely a possiblity by saying so directly instead of teasing someone with the less conspicuous use of the word, ‘perhaps’. My apologies for the confusion.

By Stephen

September 2, 2008 8:37 PM | Link to this

Yes GFED, you are right…I do seem to remember something about Ronnie and grades, and no UGA, but nevertheless….the option for Auburn & LSU exists for Bowman, where UGA wouldnt if his grades dont improve.

By MOTDawg84

September 2, 2008 11:58 PM | Link to this

Jamar Chaney - denied by UGA, signed with and played for Mississippi State

Jamary Bryant - denied by UGA, signed with and played for ECU

Michael Grant - denied by UGA, signed with and played for Arkansas

Those are some examples

By FB Fan

September 3, 2008 7:44 AM | Link to this

Not sure about the other two, but wasn’t Grant rejected due to character issues?

By Dekalb Football

September 3, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this

How big/tall is Renny Curran?? How fast is Renny? NO DOUBT J.Davis can hang with any and all players one the UGA squad right NOW !!! Time will tell !! Why is his size such an issue when a long list of others (same size or smaller) have proven theirselves in D-1 and the NFL.

It just doesn’t add up.. i think the “size issue” is a disguise. Perhaps, that is since i don’t have facts.

Player of the year,, Mr.Football in Ga.,, come to the Chamblee game, and the Marist game,,, and the playoff games and enjoy the hard-nose football we all love so dearly

By MAD DOG

September 3, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this

Just for the record, the kid has a 22 on the ACT and is just shy of a 3.0 GPA.

By JustMyOpinion!

September 5, 2008 8:21 AM | Link to this

If the kid can play, let him play!