AJC > Sports > Football Recruiting > Blog > Archives > 2008 > September > 22 > Entry

Central Florida “mad” at UGA for recruiting Miller Grove WR

Central Florida, as expected, is unhappy with Georgia and Tennessee trying to lure away Miller Grove wide receiver Stephen Hill.

The 6-foot-5, 190-pound Hill committed to Central Florida this past summer, and he routinely talks with David Kelly, who coaches wide receivers for the Knights.

“Coach Kelly was like ‘the fans and alums are kind of mad [about Georgia],’” Hill said. “But I think he expected some other schools to come after me eventually, that’s just the recruiting process.”

It is common for major-college prospects who commit early to continue to be recruited by competing schools until February’s national signing day. Commitments are not binding. Georgia recruiting coordinator Rodney Garner went an extra step with Hill, asking for permission to recruit him. It was granted.

Hill made an unofficial visit to Georgia’s game against Central Michigan and plans to return on Saturday to watch the Bulldogs play Alabama. Hill said neither Georgia or Tennessee have offered, but both have hinted at scholarships.

Nevertheless, Hill said it is not automatic that he will switch from Central Florida if he gets new offers. “I’m still with Central Florida, that’s where I want to be,” Hill said. “If other schools offer, then I’d have to talk it over with my parents and we’d make the best decision.”

Ironically, Kelly is a former assistant at both Georgia and Georgia Tech, and he is known for being one of college football’s top recruiters.

[Note: Many of Georgia’s 14 commitments for 2009 are still being recruited by other schools, including Chestatee linebacker Chase Vasser, who picked the Bulldogs last January. He was offered last week by Alabama, South Carolina and Wake Forest.]

Click below to see the following:

All UGA recruiting stories

All Tech recruiting stories

Permalink | Comments (24) | Post your comment | Categories: Tennessee, UGA

Comments

By boohoo

September 22, 2008 1:59 PM | Link to this

why is this news. it happens everywhere to everyone

By Q in AZ

September 22, 2008 2:15 PM | Link to this

GO DAWGSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Q in AZ

September 22, 2008 2:20 PM | Link to this

GO DAWGSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Mikey

September 22, 2008 3:09 PM | Link to this

DKY- How bout them Wildcats???

By Erik

September 22, 2008 3:34 PM | Link to this

So Garner does the ethical thing by asking to recruit him and he’s the bad guy? Did UT ask? Do any other schools do that? It’s well known that the AJC has to create “negative” stories about UGA to appear “balanced”.

By quaildawg

September 22, 2008 3:37 PM | Link to this

Hey Stephen ask to see O’Leary’s resume’!!!

By UGA V

September 22, 2008 4:04 PM | Link to this

If he’d rather go to Central Florida than UGA, who needs him?

By JW

September 22, 2008 8:00 PM | Link to this

Fans who think it does not go on are crazy. Some kids, who commit early are 100% committed and should be left alone. If they know they are set (die hard dawg , or whatever school), they can say it and their wishes should be honored. Other kids are young and can get swayed early, they are impressionable and can make decisions they might regret without having all offers on the table, or knowing what’s open to them. They then look bad for a decommit. I do think Mark Richt is a class act and it shows that he asked to recruit the kid since he was already committed.

By davil

September 22, 2008 8:16 PM | Link to this

The scholarship committment isn’t binding until signing day. If ‘KoK’ Blocking goes on in bars, you know it goes on between football teams and recruits.

B-rad has roaches in his bladder.

By D1 Recruit

September 22, 2008 11:25 PM | Link to this

A lot of coaches will tell you that once you commit it’s like when your daddy became engaged to your mom. He didn’t keep looking. They make you feel bad and threaten to take your offer away if you visit other schools.

It is unfair because we are just kids who want to make the best decison. It’s hard to know who is real and telling the truth. It seems as though they should be confident in their school and not worry just because you talk to or visit another school.

By meatlake

September 23, 2008 8:04 AM | Link to this

Hopefully the kid will choose the school which gives him the best chance to succeed in whichever field (no pun intended) he chooses to pursue after colege. From his perspective, I would think it would be good to have options.

Go Dawgs…

By Jessie

September 23, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this

This is ridiculous. How can you be mad at someone recruiting a kid? If I have more to offer, and if the kid wants to entertain it, then it”s fair game. This recruiting crap is ridiculous. Sure, a mid major can throw out early offers to blue chip athletes. That is their way of luring them from the Big Time conferences. Bottom line is, what’s most appealing to the kid is what matters, not adults sticking their lips out.

By Jessie

September 23, 2008 11:35 AM | Link to this

This is ridiculous. How can you be mad at someone recruiting a kid? If I have more to offer, and if the kid wants to entertain it, then it”s fair game. This recruiting crap is ridiculous. Sure, a mid major can throw out early offers to blue chip athletes. That is their way of luring them from the Big Time conferences. Bottom line is, what’s most appealing to the kid is what matters, not adults sticking their lips out.

By Jessie

September 23, 2008 11:37 AM | Link to this

This is ridiculous. How can you be mad at someone recruiting a kid? If I have more to offer, and if the kid wants to entertain it, then it”s fair game. This recruiting crap is ridiculous. Sure, a mid major can throw out early offers to blue chip athletes. That is their way of luring them from the Big Time conferences. Bottom line is, what’s most appealing to the kid is what matters, not adults sticking their lips out.

By Knightfan

September 23, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this

As a UCF fan, I think Coach Kelly’s comments were just tongue-in-cheek. Are fans upset? Sure, he’s a great kid.. Is this an unexpected/cheap move from UGA and Tenn? Hell no. Anyone who follows College football knows this happens all the time. It’s a non-story. I hope Hill stays with his verbal, but if not.. best of luck to him.

By Dawg & Knight Fan

September 23, 2008 2:07 PM | Link to this

I can’t believe anyone would rather play for George O’Leary than Mark Richt. Especially since UCF can’t find a quarterback to throw him the ball.

By ComNsense

September 23, 2008 4:53 PM | Link to this

What a “non”-story! So they have a problem with UGA but the recruit himself gave them permission….so…..

By Dawgomo

September 23, 2008 6:54 PM | Link to this

Kelly is really a stand up guy, ask him why he left UGA.

By Hudson

September 23, 2008 8:01 PM | Link to this

Let’s play them!!!

By hahahahahaha!

September 24, 2008 9:25 AM | Link to this

So David Kelly is upset, huh? He deserves whatever comes his way after manipulating the M to M program in DeKalb county to legally recruit all of McNair High and Southwest DeKalb’s (Travis Stroud, Rod Perrymond, Larry Mann to name a few) players to Dunwoody. He won one state championship in easily the worst year in the history of AAAA football, then jumped to UGA. Jim Donnan wisely cut him loose after Kelly embarrased himself, his family, and the program (won’t get into the details here). He bounces around and ultimately links up with another slime ball, George O’Leary. These guys are only concerned with personal gain, and they are mad that a kid gets a chance to better himself at a REAL university with a REAL football team? This kid should avoid UCF at all costs

By Knightfan

September 24, 2008 11:12 AM | Link to this

Talking with SEC fans is like talking to a g******* wall.

By Nate

September 24, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this

I didn’t realize SEC cared so much about UCF…

By Nate

September 24, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this

I didn’t realize that the SEC cares so much about UCF…

By JustMyOpinion!

September 27, 2008 6:24 AM | Link to this

Thanks hahahahaha. But what happened at UGA?

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