Good morning! We have a full day ahead of us, so we’re diving right into this early edition of Dawg Bites ere we get wrapped up in a busy Wednesday that features non-stop recruiting news, capped off by a men’s basketball game tonight. Here is what you need to know before we get started:
Unless you’re logging onto Dawg Sports from the cave in which you’ve been sequestered without human interaction or internet access since Blair Walsh’s field goal was blocked in the Outback Bowl (which, honestly, I couldn’t fault you for if you were), you are aware that today is National Signing Day, the high holy day of college football recruiting. The morning comment thread is scheduled to open at 7:45 a.m. Eastern, 15 minutes before coverage formally begins at GeorgiaDogs.com. We’ll be here throughout the day, bringing you updates and analysis regarding the Georgia Bulldogs’ recruiting class as the letters of intent roll off the fax machine in Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall, while SB Nation’s recruiting hub will keep you up to speed on the national scene. If you’re too impatient to wait, though, From Hedges to Hardwood is on the scene live right now.
Some top prep players remain uncommitted, though Georgia picked up a commitment from Sheldon Dawson on Monday. One such key target is Cordarrelle Patterson, who will announce his college choice at 10:30 a.m. Central (11:30 a.m. Eastern) on the Blue Dragon Sports Network, while Josh Harvey-Clemons and Avery Young will end the suspense on ESPNU at 9:15 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Eastern, respectively. In the meantime, if you’re late to the party and you can’t tell the players without a scorecard, Doug Gillett has a primer to get you up to speed.
Of course, Georgia recruited well even prior to Mark Richt’s arrival in Athens, as Ray Goff and Jim Donnan both sent multiple players on to the NFL. One such standout was Kendrell Bell, who has accused Coach Donnan of duping him twice in connection with a Ponzi scheme and the former Bulldog skipper’s subsequent bankruptcy. The more we hear about this deal, the happier I am that we rid ourselves of Coach Donnan.
Speaking of former Georgia standouts who moved on from Athens to the NFL, this news is so cool that all I have to do is state it directly, and it will leap out of the screen and tackle you to the ground with its sheer unadulterated awesomeness: Jeff Owens will be hosting “The Jeff Owens Radio Show” on Nationwide Sports Radio.
Fresh from their most impressive performance of the season, the Gym Dogs are ranked fourth nationally in the NCAA women’s gymnastics rankings. No. 1 Utah, No. 2 Arkansas, and No. 3 Florida appear on Georgia’s schedule on February 3, February 10, and February 24, respectively.
Finally, 51 University of Georgia student-athletes made the fall SEC academic honor roll. The Bulldogs’ total is the third-highest tally in the league, and it includes 29 football players.
Go ‘Dawgs!