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With the 2009 class now behind us, Bulldog Breeding Grounds will begin to focus on what Georgia fans can expect out of the 2010 class. At this time last year, Georgia already had three commits, so the verbals should start soon as the staff begins to prioritize their prime targets in state.
Just like last year, this class will be very small in numbers. By my count, without factoring in the unknown attrition, there are 14 available scholarships for this year’s class.  Players will transfer, be kicked off the team, and turn professional between now and then, so this number should grow in the coming months.Â
Defensive coordinators throughout the SEC just cringed. For the next year, at least, they will have to cover AJ Green and Marlon Brown. And, by the way, the second best quarterback in the country, Aaron Murray, will be throwing to them.
With Greg Reid and Jawanza Starling announcing for opposing schools and rumors circulating throughout the day of Brown to Ohio State, it was looking like a bad day for Bulldog fans, but Brown saved the day at his 3:45 presser with his announcement that he would be donning the red and black. Brown is an explosive 6′5″ wide receiver that should make an immediate impact between the hedges and should play a lot as a true freshman. Coach Richt, at his press conference today, said he was waiting on a call from someone, and if that person called him that he would have to leave. Well, it looks like Richt eventually got that call as Brown announced his intention at 3:45 to play between the hedges.
Although he didn’t even take an official visit, it still stands to be mentioned that Bobby Massie committed to the Ole Miss Rebels today. Massie had a Georgia hat on the table, but by passed it for the chance to play at the Grove.
Stephen Hill, in what may go down as one of the biggest look-at-me stunts in recent history, signed with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets this morning. The 4 star receiver prospect said yesterday that he was thinking about Georgia again because of the impact he felt he could have in their offense, and he called Coach Rodney Garner to tell him that he was considering signing with the Bulldogs. This was after he opened up his recruitment a week ago, too, saying the same things before committing to Georgia Tech.
The next two prospects to send in their letters of intent, Dexter Moody and Washaun Ealey, have been committed for well over a year. That hasn’t stopped Bulldog fans from worrying, though, as rumors swirled of them possibly changing their commitment earlier this month.
10:08 – Washaun Ealey, a top 15 running back prospect from Emanuel County Institute, faxes in his letter of intent.
10:13 – Dexter Moody, Ealey’s high school teammate, sends in his intention to play for the Bulldogs.
With these two letters of intent on record, the Dogs are just awaiting signatures from two more commits – Abry Jones and Mike Gilliard. Aaron Murray, Zach Mettenberger, and Dallas Lee all enrolled early, so they don’t have to fax in letters of intent.
Bulldog fans are also heavily awaiting the huge decision from Memphis’ Marlon Brown. Brown paired up with AJ Green would be a scary sight for opposing defensive coordinators.
The 6′5″ receiver prospect will be making his intentions known at 3:45 PM. Brown will be deciding between Georgia, Ohio State, Tennessee, and Ole Miss, and each fan base fully expects him to pick them, so it should make for an incredibly interesting announcement.
It’s National Signing Day, the day when football fans nationwide are either ecstatic or crushed, and all over the decisions of a couple 18 year olds. Â Georgia fans can relate well to this as just last night two of the Bulldogs’ top prospects, Jawanza Starling and Greg Reid, each made it known that they would not be lacing them up between the hedges.
Today, the fax machine at the football office receives it’s fair share of use as each signee faxes in their signed scholarship papers and intent to play at the university. Â Many future Bulldogs couldn’t wait to get in their papers as 10 signees had their papers in before 10 AM.Â
7:57 AM – Brandon Smith, a cornerback and one of the top prospects in this class, was the first to get his papers in.
7:59 AM – Just two minutes later, defensive end prospect, Montez Robinson of Avon, Indiana, sent his papers in.
8:09 AM – In arrives some more help in  the sceondary as Jordan Love sends his papers in.Â
8:15 AM – More help in the secondary with Shawn Williams’ papers arriving.
8:20 AM – Derrick Lott, an athletic defensive tackle prospect, faxed his papers in.Â
8:22 AM – Chris Burnette, an offensive guard from Troup County, faxes in his papers. Now he can go back to his quest of becoming Valedictorian of his class.
8:24 AM – Another position of need receives incoming help as Arthur Lynch of Dartmouth, Mass., sends in his signature.
8:28 AM – Our possible future starting right tackle’s signature arrives with Austin Long faxing over his commitment to play between the hedges.
8:43 AM – Chase Vasser, an extremely athletic linebacker prospect, from Chestahatee High School finally gets to sign, as he’s been committed for over a year.
9:08 AM – In arrives the shifty receiver Bulldog fans have been craving, as Rontavious Wooten, a lightning fast jitterbug in the open field, sends in his papers.
Despite having the last in-home visit and official visit for Greg Reid, it wasn’t enough for Coach Richt as Reid announced his intention to sign with the Florida State Seminoles tomorrow. Reid would have been an outstanding addition, along with stud corner Branden Smith, to add to the Bulldog secondary next year, and he likely would have competed for a starting position as a true freshman. The one silver lining is that he won’t be playing in the SEC at Alabama or Florida, which finished just behind Florida State with Georgia.
Unfortunately, the Reid announcement wasn’t the only bad recruiting news coming out today. On the eve of National Signing Day, Jawanza Starling, a five star safety prospect from Tallahassee, Fla., cut Georgia from his list of schools under consideration for his signature. Starling, who has kept his recruitment as close to the vest as any big-time prospect in recent memory, narrowed his choices to USC and Notre Dame.
These two announcements were huge losses for the staff as both figured to contribute immediately as freshman in a struggling secondary unit.
With these two losses, the Dogs will only be awaiting the announcement of one prospect Wednesday – Marlon Brown. Brown, an immediate impact wide receiver prospect, will decide between Georgia, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Ohio State with each fan base believing that he is theirs to lose. Brown grew up a Tennessee fan, but without a proven quarterback or head coach, it’s hard to believe that he will be a Vol. Also, Marcus Hall, a recent Ohio State commit, said recently that he believed Brown was down to Ohio State and Georgia. Working in the Bulldogs’ favor is Brown has said publicly that he would love to play with freshman quarterback Aaron Murray. In addition, Brown and his grandmother possess a strong Christian faith, which has created a tight bond with Coach Richt. Brown seems to prefer to the Southeastern Conference, as well, so I’d be surprised if his signature isn’t coming through the football office’s fax machine tomorrow at some point.
The only other two prospects the Bulldogs are still courting, Orson Charles and Kwame Geathers, won’t be announcing or signing Wednesday, and their recruitment should continue for at least another couple weeks.
National Signing Day is Wednesday for stud high school prospects nationwide. Â
And no team could benefit more on Wednesday than the Georgia Bulldogs, as they are awaiting announcements from three major players, all of which are ranked as four or five star players.
Below are our assessments of where the Dogs stand with each of these players as the big day approaches.
Greg Reid
Reid, an outstanding cornerback from Lowndes High School, was the Defensive MVP at the Under Armour All American game, and he should make an immediate impact wherever he lands. The former Florida commit only stands 5′8″, but he is an absolute ballhawk in the secondary and makes exceptional breaks on the ball. Reid, a former Florida commit, is deciding between Florida State, Alabama, and Georgia on Wednesday, and he has visited each of the three schools within the last three weeks. While he had self professed “great” visits to Florida State and Alabama, I believe the early playing time available at Georgia and the influence of his great friend, Mike Gilliard, will be too much for the other two schools to overcome, and Reid will sign the dotted line with the Dogs.
Prediction: Georgia
Marlon Brown
This stud wide receiver prospect from Memphis, Tenn., would be a nightmare for opposing defensive coordinators if paired with All-SEC freshman AJ Green. Brown is set to decide between Georgia, Ohio State, Tennessee, and Ole Miss. However, it’d be shocking if he chose Ole Miss. Brown just returned from his Tennessee visit this weekend, and he grew up a Vol fan, so the allure of Knoxville will be strong on Signing Day. However, Lane Kiffin is unproven, and he knows the Vols have noone to get the ball to him, so I believe this is a Ohio State & Georgia battle. Ohio State and Georgia have pretty early playing time available, and each offer him a premier program and the chance to compete for conference championships. Brown’s grandmother seems to love Coach Richt, though, and Brown has become fast friends with future Georgia star, Aaron Murray, so look for Brown to sign with the Dogs on Signing Day, helping them fill one of the final missing pieces in what is shaping up to be an incredible class.
Prediction: Georgia
Jawanza Starling
Starling is a ridiculously fast safety prospect from Lincoln High School in Tallahassee, Florida, that makes receivers think twice about coming across the middle. He has played his recruitment close to the vest, granting few interviews and keeping his official visits very quiet. However, it is believed that he will sign with Florida State, Georgia, USC, Notre Dame, or Florida on Wednesday. I’d be shocked if he signed with Florida or USC due to the incredible depth that each already have in the secondary. Â Therefore, I believe he will fax his signature to Notre Dame, Georgia, or Florida State on Wednesday. While many believe he’s a Georgia lean at this point, I never bet against Bobby Bowden on Signing Day, who has a history of working miracles in the final days, especially with a kid from Lincoln and Tallahassee. Â Although, just last year, five star cornerback, TJ Bryant, spurned the hometown Seminoles to sign with the USC Trojans on National Signing Day, so the Dawgs secondary could receive a major boost come Wednesday.
Prediction: FSU
For a school known for producing quality tight ends, Georgia received very little production from that group in 2008.
That could change quickly in 2009 for the Bulldogs if the coaching staff is able to secure a commitment from Orson Charles, a highly regarded 6-foot-3-inch 230-pound tight end from Plant High School in Tampa, Fla.
Charles, who took his official visit to Athens this past weekend, said Georgia compared favorably with his first two visits.
“I enjoyed it,” said Charles. “I’d give it a 10, just as I gave my Florida and [Florida State] trips.”
Charles’ visit gave him the chance to hang out with former high school teammate Aaron Murray, a freshman quarterback who enrolled early in January for spring practice.
“My favorite part of the visit was getting to talk with coach [Mark] Richt and [tight ends] coach [John] Lilly, and getting the chance to chill with Aaron,” Charles said.
Charles added Murray made sure his former teammate and friend knew he’d love to continue throwing to his favorite target in college, too.
“Aaron just told me how coach Richt said they aren’t scared to play freshmen, and I could start my freshman year,” Charles said. “And he really wants me to go to UGA.”
Also visiting this weekend with Charles were Georgia commits Chris Burnette, a guard from LaGrange, and defensive tackle Derrick Lott of Kennesaw.
While on his visit, Charles sat down with offensive coordinator Mike Bobo to figure out the many ways Georgia plans to use his talents, if he decides to catch passes in Sanford Stadium next year.
“Coach Bobo said they plan to split me out a little in certain situations, and put me at tight end to run routes and stuff,” said Charles.
Working in Georgia’s favor is the relationship Charles has built with Lilly.
“I really like him. We talk, and he’s very down to earth. I mean he’s not really flashy, but he’s a really good person,” Charles said. “We just kind of talk about recruiting, life and everything else, and I really like him.”
However, Georgia fans will have to wait until after National Signing Day, Feb. 4, to find out if Charles will become a Bulldog. Charles plans to visit Tennessee next weekend and USC on Feb. 13.
While Georgia’s numbers aren’t deep at tight end right now, that isn’t necessarily working in Charles’ favor.
“I think if I just come in with my head right to go and just stay level-headed, take everything and learn to play and get after it, I think I should have a very good chance to play early anywhere I go,” he said.
Georgia already has one tight end commit in the 2009 class, Arthur Lynch of North Dartmouth, Mass. When asked if that would have any influence on his decision, Charles didn’t hesitate to dispel the notion.
“No, that won’t affect my decision because I’m a competitor,” Charles said.
When a prospect announces his decision fresh off an official visit, it is usually a great sign for the school he’s returning from. However, that wasn’t the case this weekend, as Cameron Kenney, a wide receiver prospect from Garden City Community College, committed to Oklahoma right after returning from a weekend visit to Athens. Â Kenney, a former Auburn Tiger commit originally from Dacula, Georgia, was down to UGA and Oklahoma before deciding that he couldn’t pass up the chance to catch passes from the reigning Heisman Trophy winner – Sam Bradford.
With Kenney deciding on Oklahoma and wide receiver being a high priority in this class, Coach Richt and staff will be waging an all out recruiting war for Marlon Brown of Memphis, Tennessee. To secure Brown’s commitment, the Bulldogs will have to beat out Ohio State, Florida, Southern Cal, and Tennessee for his services; although, it is looking like Ohio State may be the main competition for the Dogs.
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