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DEL.ICIO.USZach Mettenberger recruits for UGA in Hawaii
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Oconee County quarterback Zach Mettenberger, who has committed to UGA, recruited for the Bulldogs in Hawaii over the past week.
Mettenberger played with several of the nation’s top prospects in the Hawaii All-Star Classic. Two of his teammates on the Mainland team were defensive end Montez Robinson of Avon, Ind., and wide receiver Randall Carroll of Los Angeles.
“That was the best thing about the all-star game, I got to make friends with other guys from all over the country,” Mettenberger said over the phone from Honolulu.
“I got to talk a lot with Randall and Montez. I know they both are taking a look at Georgia, so I told them about all the positives about going to Georgia.”
The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Robinson took a recruiting trip to UGA last month, but was committed to Auburn at the time. However, Robinson later backed away from Auburn after coach Tommy Tuberville resigned. Alabama and UGA are considered to be the frontrunners for Robinson, who also said he may consider Auburn again.
Why is an Indiana player so interested in the Alabama colleges? Robinson is an Alabama native.
The 5-11, 170-pound Carroll is committed to Southern Cal, but looking around at other schools. He talked about making an official visit to UGA last month, but never made it. Carroll is again considering a recruiting trip to Athens, this time in January.
Wide receiver is one of UGA’s top priorities for the remainder of its 2009 recruiting class, with coach Mark Richt publicly announcing that he would prefer to sign “at least two.”
The Bulldogs have one commitment at the position with Rantavious Wooten of Belle Glade, Fla., but Florida and LSU are trying hard as possible to change Wooten’s mind. It will go likely go down to National Signing Day for UGA to know for sure it has landed the speedy Wooten.
Georgia’s No. 1 target at wide receiver is Marlon Brown of Memphis. UGA had gained a lot of momentum with Brown after his official visit for the Alabama game, but now there is a lot of pressure on Brown to remain in Tennessee after the Volunteers hired Lane Kiffin. On the same day Kiffin was introduced as coach, he flew to Memphis for an in-home visit with Brown, according to the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Back to the all-star game: Mettenberger completed 7 of 11 passes for 67 yards to lead Mainland to a 22-8 win over Hawaii/Polynesia at Aloha Stadium, site of the NFL’s Pro Bowl.
The 6-5, 225-pound Mettenberger said the game and intense practice sessions were a positive experience. “It gave me an idea on what college ball would be like.”
“The speed of the game was much faster. There were like 15 guys that ran 4.4s [in the 40-yard dash]. In high school, you maybe had two of three that were that fast.”
“So I had to make much quicker reads on passing plays. And I had to get used to throwing over much taller offensive linemen. We had guys on our O-line that were 6-8 and 6-7. In high school, my tallest lineman was around 6 feet.”
“So I had to go through some adjustments, along with picking up a new offense in three days. But I felt pretty good about it all by the end.”
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Permalink | Comments (20) | Post your comment | Categories: Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, FSU, Florida, Kentucky, LSU, Other schools, South Carolina, Tennessee, UGA
Comments
By lawdiggitydawg
December 14, 2008 2:57 PM | Link to this
Great work Mett, congrats on the victory! Both those guys are probably long shots, but it would be sweet to land either or both of them.
By GT student
December 14, 2008 4:33 PM | Link to this
yes go to uga where your talent is utilized lol
By tom
December 14, 2008 4:34 PM | Link to this
Incredible! Another positive story on UGA recruiting. Is the world coming to an end?
By jp
December 14, 2008 8:03 PM | Link to this
Some how I feel Mett is going to be our starting future QB and not necessarily Murray because of his size and arm strength. I doubt both stay at UGA depending on who wins the starters job. Mett is one heckuva player and I’m glad along with Bulldog nation he chose us.
By Brian Jones
December 14, 2008 8:20 PM | Link to this
Come on guys join me at the second best school in the state it was techs first year in a new system and they had all fr and so so we wont beat them while you are hear but the girls are better looking. I am first here to say the tide has changed not saying tech will win national champ. but johnson will cause richt his job. The tech team can only get better the uga team had its chances glory days are over until about 10 mor years and the switch will happen agian this jullian burnett kid will be best player to step on field when uga and tech play for next four years and he only got two stars good thing these recruiting guys have no clue this kid is ligit and will break someones neck watch and see
By kevin
December 14, 2008 8:30 PM | Link to this
Please tell me why GT student is reading the UGA recruiting blog. I have one idea, so he can read what real athletes plan to do on signing day. Get a clue GT student. You will never get the talent that UGA has or has coming in so enjoy your victory. What did it finally take 7-8 years. UGA baby, we will always rule this state like it or not!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Sports Fan
December 14, 2008 8:47 PM | Link to this
Hey gt student. UGA had 18 season ending injuries going into the game against the nerds from Atlanta.
By Dawg 1
December 14, 2008 9:50 PM | Link to this
Must be a slow night at the Varsity, get back to work kid…
No doubt, we had a tough year. Not my style to take away from another school. Tech will be fine, we’ll be better.
I didn’t buy into the National Championship stuff. My argument was that if we did we would be arriving a year early.
If Stafford and Knowshon stay - we’ll be very-very tough. The ‘O’ line and ‘D’ line was crippled with injuries last year. We’ll be much deeper.
We’re very deep at the QB and Running Back position - the team will be fine.
Keep your heads up folks. CMR will refocus. We’ll be picked a distant 2nd or 3rd in the East and will push UF to win it and end up in the BCS and a top 5 year.
Merry Christmas!
By VOLS!
December 15, 2008 10:36 AM | Link to this
Monte Kiffin announces he is coming to Tennessee. We are recruiting in Hawaii as well. Hey we need a QB too..I wonder if Zach or Murray would like to join Lane Kiffin and the Vols. Forgot Marlon Brown, he’s not going to Georgia..
By VOLS!
December 15, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this
Monte Kiffin announces he is coming to Tennessee. We are recruiting in Hawaii as well. Hey we need a QB too..I wonder if Zach or Murray would like to join Lane Kiffin and the Vols. Forgot Marlon Brown, he’s not going to Georgia..
By RealityYech
December 15, 2008 12:40 PM | Link to this
Yech fans are hilarious. One win in 8 years and all at once they’re back in the series. Nevermind the fact UGA leads the all-time head-to-head by a quarter century, LOL!!!
Gotta love those bandwagon Yech fans!!
By RealityYech
December 15, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this
Yech fans are hilarious. One win in 8 years and all at once they’re back in the series. Nevermind the fact UGA leads the all-time head-to-head by a quarter century, LOL!!!
Gotta love those bandwagon Yech fans!!
By KiffinsLoveChild
December 15, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this
Hey dawg fans…VOLS! is right…we need a qb and you’ve got two great ones. Why don’t you throw us Murray. Mettenburger is a lifelong UGA fan isn’t he? Murray’s from FL and plus he had a broken leg. You don’t want a guy that’s had injuries so just let him know you guys already got a guy for qb and that he might as well go to Knoxville. Thanks guys.
By furry bee
December 15, 2008 2:30 PM | Link to this
come join us at tech where your biggest accomplishment will be beating UGA once a decade and playing on blue turf is a yearly tradition. tickle tickle
By Top Dawg
December 15, 2008 4:34 PM | Link to this
The Vols have no chance at Murray. He has stated many times that his commitment to UGA is solid.
By athdog
December 15, 2008 7:05 PM | Link to this
Brian Jones, great post! How long have you been a professor of English composition at GT? Murray broke his leg, requiring a plate, screws & surgery after which the doc said he may or may not fully recover. Richt told him his scholarship was good whether he ever played or not. That’s the kind of class CMR and his program exude. Johnson, the arrogant jerk, can only hope he can win a single ACC (almost athletic conference) championship, let alone two, in his first five years.
HBTD 7 of 8
By athdog
December 15, 2008 7:07 PM | Link to this
Brian Jones, great post! How long have you been a professor of English composition at GT? Murray broke his leg, requiring a plate, screws & surgery after which the doc said he may or may not fully recover. Richt told him his scholarship was good whether he ever played or not. That’s the kind of class CMR and his program exude. Johnson, the arrogant jerk, can only hope he can win a single ACC (almost athletic conference) championship, let alone two, in his first five years.
HBTD 7 of 8
By RealityYech
December 16, 2008 9:32 PM | Link to this
LOL, don’t be a fool a athdog, Jones is no more a prof. as you are a brain surgeon. If he was really a prof. then he’d be smart enough to realize the bees are losing 3 of the best defensive players they’ve had in decades. if not ever. You can score as much as you want, but if you’re giving up scores each time as well, it’s not going to bode well for you :)
I love how the AJC (Tech Buzz) is completely ignoring the MASSIVE loses Yech is losing on D. But imagine that, LOL
By James
December 17, 2008 2:38 PM | Link to this
mettenburger leads the mainland to victory i hawaii? i thought it was renner that led them seeing as how he threw two td passes. iirc one was for 50 yds.
By bigDgator
December 23, 2008 2:17 PM | Link to this
Uga is doing well in recruiting this year, but if UF really wants a kid from Belle Glade you can forget it. I am still trying to figure out how Murray ended up on the wrong side of the tracks. Good pull with that one. Is Tech actually giving you a battle for anyone you are recruiting?