Recruiting Season Is Winding Down. Long Live Recruiting Season!

by MaconDawg on Jan 11, 2008 8:41 PM EST in Football

We're now less than a month away from National Signing Day, and the recruiting picture grows clearer by the day. Jefferson County offensive/defensive lineman A.J. Harmon has emphatically denied that he will still consider committing to Clemson, declaring that he's 100% committed to Georgia. Ditto for Griffin defensive end Toby Jackson. And Fayetteville, NC tight end Dwayne Allen.

I suspect the coaches have put the word out. All aboard who are coming aboard. It's also worth noting that Lakeland, FL center Ricky Barnum, who had been considering the 'Dawgs, has now committed to Florida. The Urbanator will also fly to Ohio this weekend to point and stare at highly touted offensive tackle Zebrie Sanders.

In short, it looks like we've got a full class, barring unforseen calamity or an opening the coaches are not talking about. We may add one more, but I would put the odds at less than 50%. We will likely have fewer scholarships to offer next year with only 14 seniors on the roster, and Coach Richt has historically shown remarkable restraint when it comes to over-offering on high school talent.

We can't take them all, but this year we've definitely taken our fair share. I'll be back tomorrow with some information on some of our 2008 commitments and 2009 targets from this past weekend's high school all-star games. In case you missed it, Rivals already has out its list of the Top 30 players in Georgia for next year, for the hardcore recruiting junkie. Have a safe weekend and remember, if you don't get help at Dawgsports, get help somewhere.

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Zebrie

I would like to have him, but even more I don't want him going to the gators or another rival.

by fotodog on Jan 11, 2008 10:50 PM EST reply actions

more Zebrie and a question

The AJC is reporting that Zebrie was going to commit to florida, but Urban told him "thanks, but no thanks", because they don't have anymore slots.
I think he is facing the same situation at UGA and is considering FSU or UCLA now.

MD,
What do you know about "grey-shirting" players?
My uncle who is a Bama grad/fan says that they will sometimes bring a kid in on an academic scholarship for a year until an athletic scholarship opens up. I was wondering if UGA could kinda do the same with an instate kid that qualifies for the HOPE Grant, e.g. smart kids from a fairly well-to-do family goes tuition free for a year, but has to pick up most of room & board, but then next year, he gets full-ride athletic treatment.
I know this isn't a good option this year for us to use since I believe there may be less slots next year, but just thinking aloud.

by fotodog on Jan 13, 2008 6:15 PM EST reply actions

Firstly

Kids don't have to come in on academic scholarship[ to greyshirt. A kid could just be a normal student and do it.

Secondly, often times Academic Scholarships count towards the football total. Alas, I cannot recall the exact wording I saw used, bu it was something like "all institutional scholarships count towards a team's limit". I took it to mean "offered by the university/university system".

HOPE didn't count for that at first (being offered by the state), but I think that might have changed. Nebraska used this to great success for years with all these county-based farm scholarships, and were able to field an unusually large pool of walk-ons (who bubbled up into scholarship player status on occasion, particularly after several years in the program). We're not going to grey shirt anyone is my guess, and I'd prefer not to start the practice.

A note on Florida - they have slots but none for an OT, with two committed (Patchan, Barnum). We have no slots, period. And it appears that if we can find one (and the possibility is real), that slot might now go to Omar Hunter.

That actually makes sense, I think, but it's an academic question at this time.

by peacedog on Jan 14, 2008 8:24 AM EST reply actions