AJC > Sports > Football Recruiting > Blog > Archives > 2008 > December > 15 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USUGA says Branden Smith can be “another Champ Bailey”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Branden Smith, who is ranked as the state’s No. 1 prospect by the AJC and was named Georgia’s Gatorade Player of the Year, made his final recruiting trip this past weekend.
Smith took an official visit to UGA, where the coaches said he could be “another Champ Bailey.” The Bulldogs told Smith they wanted him to start at cornerback, return kickoffs and punts, and make spot appearances on offense at wide receiver.
Did Smith like what he heard? “Oh yes, it was a great visit. I thought it would be a great visit, and it met all my expectations. I really like those guys, always have.”
Did Smith consider committing to UGA? Or any school after he returned home on Sunday night? “No, I’m not going to do that until Jan. 4.” Smith reiterated on Sunday night that he does not have any favorites among his four finalists of UGA, Florida, Alabama and FSU.
It was UGA’s biggest recruiting weekend of the year. The Bulldogs entertained some of the Southeast’s top uncommitted prospects, including Smith, Carver-Columbus linebacker Jarvis Jones and safety Ray Ray Armstrong of Sanford, Fla.
UGA also welcomed around a half-dozen prospects who have already committed to the Bulldogs, including offensive lineman Austin Long of Memphis, defensive back Jordan Love of Glen Allen, Va., Chestatee linebacker Chase Vasser, Early County safety Shawn Williams, Valdosta linebacker Mike Gilliard, Buford offensive lineman Dallas Lee, and Northside defensive tackle Abry Jones.
“I got to know all those players, they were all really cool,” Smith said.
Smith, who is a senior at Atlanta’s Booker T. Washington High, said his recruiting host was UGA freshman sensation A.J. Green.
Sunday was a whirlwind day for Smith. He first toured the UGA lockerroom, where the Bulldogs had a No. 1 jersey hanging. Georgia coach Mark Richt promised Smith months ago that he could wear his high school number at UGA.
“That meant a lot to me. I mean, it’s not going to be a ‘dealbreaker,’ the reason why I would pick or not pick a college. But it would be cool to have ‘No. 1’ in college, if it worked out that way.”
The next big event was meeting with UGA offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, who showed film clips of Champ Bailey playing both ways for the Bulldogs. “Coach Bobo said he would love to have some specially-designed plays for me, you know ‘quick screens’ and stuff like that,” Smith said. “Yeah, I’d love to play some both ways in college. That sounds good to me. If there’s any way I can help my team win, I want to do it.”
Smith concluded his visit by meeting one-on-one with Richt. Usually the final meeting is when the college coaches press for a commitment from any visiting prospects who have been offered scholarships.
“Coach Richt didn’t put a lot of pressure on me,” Smith said. “He just told me ‘to make the right decision’ and ‘to go with my heart.’
“I wasn’t surprised that [Richt] didn’t pressure me. Through the recruiting process, I’ve gotten to know Coach Richt and find out what type of person he is. He really seems laid back and is a great Christian man. He didn’t seem to be ‘pressing’ any of the players there.”
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Permalink | Comments (23) | Post your comment | Categories: Alabama, FSU, Florida, UGA
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By tt44
December 15, 2008 12:15 AM | Link to this
Come on to the Bulldog Nation, great things to come!
By SQUAWKER
December 15, 2008 1:19 AM | Link to this
Great Chip. Thanks for the update. Keep the recruiting insights coming! How many more spots do we have to fill?
By coach422002
December 15, 2008 1:46 AM | Link to this
a recruiting talk about Champ Bailey.I know I am a coach too. Look at the school’s education program and check out your major.See who your position coach is and see his results over the years sending players to the NFL. Out of the final 4 on your list. Bama has it all just for you.Coach Saban will get you there to the next level.12 National Titles and will be 13 soon.I would suggest you privately commit to your school of choice so they will have a spot for you.You can still announce on Jan. 4th.
By Columbus Dawg
December 15, 2008 6:15 AM | Link to this
Young man I would not put much stock in the tide. Saban won’t be there long. He may even leave them on probation. Saban will have a long year in 2009. Those inbred rednecks beat UGA for the first time in four or five trys and they are al of a sudden world beaters. What a joke. Alabama is about to fall back to the mediocre team that they have been since Stallings left. Saban was lucky Parker Wilson showed up for his senior season. He will miss him very badly. I would not be surprised to see the decent juniors on that team go pro. Cody, Coffee, and Arenas are probably all gone. The tide flounced around with too many teams this year, that will equal losses next year. Saban will never win a MNC at Bama. Won’t be there long enough.
By Carter S,
December 15, 2008 7:01 AM | Link to this
We would love to see you in Athens. But, pray about it and go with your heart. He has blessed you with a lot of talent. God Bless!
By Ben
December 15, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this
Branden- don’t listen to the haters. Fans of opposing schools are going to denegrate the leading school no matter what. Go with your heart. We would love to see you playing for UGA, but I will root for you wherever you go. Good Luck!
By Branden Smith
December 15, 2008 3:50 PM | Link to this
i really dont appreciate all the hate coming from Bama fans
By bank walker
December 15, 2008 8:18 PM | Link to this
Neither do I Branden. I’m glad that some of these Georgia recruits are noticing the lack of teeth and class that the Alabama fans posses.
By ATLwatcher
December 15, 2008 10:29 PM | Link to this
Man coaches will tell you anything these days, but it is a posiblity u he can start. But just dont get big head.
By tideontherise
December 15, 2008 11:07 PM | Link to this
The tide is back. Saban says hes staying. UGA is weak. Play for a real winner who will make you a man. Pretty obvious who that is. Roll Tide. Now, you got some hate.
By DAWGinDalton
December 15, 2008 11:39 PM | Link to this
Branden… Congrats on being a highly regarded recruit.
Please stay in state and play for the DAWGS. If you do want to play on Sundays one day, Georgia is the place to play. Lets compare your 4 final teams. Georgia has 41 players on NFL rosters, while Alabama has only 24. Florida has 35 and FLA ST has 39. Also, Georgia has more wins since 2001. UGA-81, FL-76, FL ST-66, and AL-62. Lets look 4 years ahead when you will be a Senior. Mark Richt will still be @ UGA and your head coach. Saban will be with his next team and big contract. Bowden will be retired. Meyer will be in the NFL just like Spurrier and Saban have done when they had success.
Branden good luck with your choice and go Dawgs!!!!
By DAWGinDalton
December 15, 2008 11:43 PM | Link to this
Branden… Congrats on being a highly regarded recruit.
Please stay in state and play for the DAWGS. If you do want to play on Sundays one day, Georgia is the place to play. Lets compare your 4 final teams. Georgia has 41 players on NFL rosters, while Alabama has only 24. Florida has 35 and FLA ST has 39. Also, Georgia has more wins since 2001. UGA-81, FL-76, FL ST-66, and AL-62. Lets look 4 years ahead when you will be a Senior. Mark Richt will still be @ UGA and your head coach. Saban will be with his next team and big contract. Bowden will be retired. Meyer will be in the NFL just like Spurrier and Saban have done when they had success.
Branden good luck with your choice and go Dawgs!!!!
By DAWGinDalton
December 15, 2008 11:49 PM | Link to this
Branden… Congrats on being a highly regarded recruit.
Please stay in state and play for the DAWGS. If you do want to play on Sundays one day, Georgia is the place to play. Lets compare your 4 final teams. Georgia has 41 players on NFL rosters, while Alabama has only 24. Florida has 35 and FLA ST has 39. Also, Georgia has more wins since 2001. UGA-81, FL-76, FL ST-66, and AL-62. Lets look 4 years ahead when you will be a Senior. Mark Richt will still be @ UGA and your head coach. Saban will be with his next team and big contract. Bowden will be retired. Meyer will be in the NFL just like Spurrier and Saban have done when they had success.
Branden good luck with your choice and go Dawgs!!!!
By bjohnDawg
December 16, 2008 1:43 AM | Link to this
Brandon,
Hope you become a Dawg. But no matter where,have fun, study hard.And keep making your family proud!
By Marco Polo
December 16, 2008 8:25 AM | Link to this
haha uga fans are funny! one saban is staying for a while sorry to tell yeah he can build a powerhouse very easy and leave a legend. And talking about juniors im sure your all team (besides A.J. green) is going to the NFL in matt and moreno so good luck next year. BTW arenas is staying so is cody and coffee sorry agian The only person the might be leaving early is Andre smith but we have the number one tackle from last year and this year coming to T-TOWN so Branden come on to the city of legends baby. and lets not forget blackout saturday when you guys got killed i thought you all would still be in hiding from the shame of that oh yeah florida killed you oh yeah tech raped you too damn uga is looking good next year hahahahahhahahahahahahhaha
By bank walker
December 16, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this
Branden, take notice to marco polo’s writing skills. Do you really want to learn that in college. He can get by with that chicken scratch @ a job in bammer, but we expect alot better on this side of the Chattahoochie.
By CHAD NELSON
December 16, 2008 1:52 PM | Link to this
I GO TO WASHINGTON HIGH SCHHOL…AND ALSO PLSY FOR THE SCHOOL BEHIND BRANDEN. HE IS THE FASTES PERSON THAT I HAVE SEEN…I EXPECT HIM TO START AS A FRESHMAN…LOOK OUT FOR OTHER BIG NAME PLAYERS OUT OF B.T.W
By Tommy Saban
December 17, 2008 2:40 AM | Link to this
“i really dont appreciate all the hate coming from Bama fans”
I didn’t see any hate but then again being familiar with the Internet I am wise enough to know there could have been comments that have been deleted .
I am also wise enough to know that if anything was posted that can actually top the mountain of crap about Alabama that Dawg and Auburn fans post it most likely WAS a Dawg or Auburn fan posing as a Tide fan ( LIL hint … just because I signed my name “Tommy” Saban on here doesn’t mean I am Nick Saban’s little brother )
Overall it is real simple . The University of Alabama is a program that won’t be “hoping” to do well over the next five years . The young men that become part of the program will get a shot at something special . Their goals will be something higher than “hoping” they can hold on to a top ten ranking . The only “hoping” you’ll hear is from rival fans “hoping” Coach Saban leaves before their own programs slide further down the pecking order ;-)
By Marco Polo
December 17, 2008 8:16 AM | Link to this
haha im sorry i was in a hurry on my last post but excuse me i can talk fine thank you. But Brandon see all they can do is talk about the people at Alabama but im sure the whole UGA football team is dumb as rocks so give me a break about that your not Duke or Notre Dame here. So lets talk about football. We have the youngest team in the SEC and we have the best recruting coach in saban besides pete carrol and a little better than Urban Meyer. So along we Florida, Alabama will dominate the SEC for years to come. You know what USC did out west? well get ready for that. BTW Julio Jones is only a freshman damn i know why UGA fans are so afraid.
By Bill
December 17, 2008 10:17 PM | Link to this
I really pulled for Alabama in the Championship game. After realizing that after one decent year the true colors of Alabama fans are coming through, I hope that they go back to their deserved mediocrity.
By Tommy Saban
December 18, 2008 12:19 AM | Link to this
Like I said above … hope away “Bill” . “One good season” ? Hold your breath and “hope” that will be the case ” Better yet PRAY .
The fact is even under the poor coaches that were at Bama in the last few years our players found enough pride to still post a 10 win season at least once for every last one of them (except Price who of course never coached an actual game )
If Dubose , Franchione AND Mike Shula can all post a 10 win season in one of the worst periods for Bama in 50 years , all you have got is “hope” for Bama to return to “mediocrity” under Saban . It isn’t going to happen but hey … all you have is dreams , right ? You know what is coming down the road .
Funny that even when Bama has been “mediocre” it has still manged to look incredibly like the best years many other programs will EVER have . Fans from rival schools have been yapping like Chihuahuas and hurling insults at Bama for the last few years but basically play time is over .
Now they are left to “hope” and “pray” Coach Saban will leave because they know what the combo of a top coach ,strong willed players and the University means to the weak minded fans of lesser programs .
They will basically be reduced to watching Bama battle some other team on national TV for things their school will never get a whiff of . And it burns them up ..
By Joe from Athens
December 18, 2008 2:32 AM | Link to this
Branden silently comitted this past weekend at the Gala! He and his mother had a blast! It’s done.
By Tide Rolls On
December 19, 2008 7:54 AM | Link to this
If true that is too bad . Bama would have been a school where he could have received personal daily instruction for his position from the head coach .
Never mind the fact that he would have had a REAL shot at at least one NC during his college career instead of spending his five years hearing the decades long BullDawg battle cry “wait till next year” ( by the time he finishes school Georgia will have recruited at least 5 more kids to be the “next Champ Bailey and probably 3 or 4 more “next Herschel Walkers” .)
I guess it is good that the Tide is supposed to receive at least some visits from LSU’s Janzen Jackson and Ohio State’s Justin Green . Maybe Bama can pair up one of those two with lockdown CB Dre Kirkpatrick on the other side and struggle on ….