The Lady Sportswriter

Georgia Recruiting: Who Will Sign 2012 OLB Josh Harvey-Clemons?

2012-01-26T09:07:00.001-05:00

Don't you just love recruiting? I mean, it was just a few weeks ago that Josh Harvey-Clemons, the No. 1 outside linebacker prospect in the State of Georgia (according to Rivals) was rumored to be all Dawg.

However, just a glance or two at Twitter, the AJC, or your nearest subscriber message board, and you'll get the idea rather quickly that Clemons is no school's to lose and every school's to gain.

Now, I'll never admit to having any true insiders info on what any prospect will do in the end, but I've followed recruiting long enough to know that where 18-year old boys are concerned, it's all about where they feel the most comfortable. And, as of right now, no one has heard anything lately about that from Harvey-Clemons.

Who they have heard from, however, is his grandfather—Mr. Woodrow Clemons. Mr. Clemons has had plenty to say about each of the schools in his grandson's hemisphere and here is just a smattering of what he's said lately.

About Louisville: "If Louisville doesn’t respond, and Josh talks to Miami and wants to go down there, I will take Josh down to Miami myself this weekend. That will be decided tonight and Josh will make that decision. I don’t know what’s going on with Louisville. Apparently, they think it’s a 'done deal' and they've given up."

The Cardinals have apparently given up their pursuit as Harvey-Clemons is now slated to take a trip to Miami instead. A school that Woodrow Clemons didn't feel was all that interested in his grandson...that is until their ACC foe, Florida State started flashing their Jimbo Fisher around.

About Miami: "After the US Army game, they started calling and coming down. We told them we weren’t interested in an official visit. But since FSU got back into the picture, they've decided to make a last effort. It might work. We’ll see."

Something tells me that Miami's interest is more a "keep away" tactic against Florida State than anything and if this thinly-veiled attempt doesn't impress the grandfather, then you can bet his grandson will likely follow suit.

I figure Miami has about as much of a chance as Louisville, at this point.

And, finally, about Florida State, they are taking advantage of two things here, proximity and current relationships. Several current and former Seminoles attend the church where Mr. Clemons attends has held his membership for better than 50-years. And it's obvious, Mr. Clemons likes Jimbo Fisher and the 'Noles—coming away impressed after their official visit last week.

"It went surprisingly well at Florida State. They had a lot of questions to answer. I was curious to why they didn’t pursue Josh as hard as all the rest of the schools earlier. They explained that it wasn’t from a lack of interest but that they didn’t want to get the reputation of acting like a used car salesman like a couple of the other schools. Coach Fisher wanted to get Josh down there, show him what they’ve got, and let that speak itself. We were impressed."

Wow...used car salesman, huh? I wonder who that particular statement was aimed at?

As for Georgia, they appear to be in the running, but at this point it's anyone's guess how much in it they are, at least that's according to Roy Hart (Clemons' uncle).

"Coach Richt said 'Tell me Roy, how do we look with Josh?'" Hart said. "I said 'Coach, you're in the running. Nobody really knows except for Josh. He’s not saying much. He hasn’t made up his mind so nobody knows except for him.' Then Coach Richt asked if Georgia was still looking good and if they still had a opportunity to get him. I assured him that they did."

Again, nothing from Josh-Harvey Clemons.

Nada.

So, where will the Bulldogs be come Signing Day? I'm sure Bulldog fans are hoping they will land on top of Clemons' head via a 'red and black Georgia' cap, but right now, that young man is preparing to go to Miami—to meet Ray Lewis.

For what it's worth, on a more credible note, Gentry Estes of 247 ($) reported the following yesterday, in the words of the aforementioned Mr. Clemons.

"The distance, whether it's Georgia, Florida or FSU, that's not really a major factor. ... I think it will be family-based. I think it will be based on the family's general consensus as to where he might be better suited. If he picks one of those three, I think he'll be OK. ... All three head coaches and programs have been very attentive to Josh and the family. No major complaints about any of them."

Soooo...he's saying there's 33.33333333333333 percent chance that it's going to go Georgia's way, right?

Again, I say, don't you just looooovvvveeeee recruiting?

2012 Senior Bowl: Brandon Boykin Talks About Being "Aggressive" and A.J. Green

2012-01-25T16:03:00.002-05:00

Former Georgia DB Brandon Boykin continues to make serious noise at the Senior Bowl this week and his stock is certainly on the rise in Mobile.

Here, today, is a clip from an interview Boykin did with Pro Football Weekly.

2012 Senior Bowl: Former Georgia DB Brandon Boykin Makes a Good Impression

2012-01-24T15:11:00.000-05:00

It looks like the NFL scouts are getting an up close and personal look at former Georgia cornerback, Brandon Boykin and, so far, they like what they see:

He showed dominant cover skills despite his size and was competitive throughout practice.

He displayed outstanding quickness, explosive closing ability and rare recovery speed to deny double moves during the one-on-one period. He has what all great players at his position need: great confidence.

Against Dwight Jones, he slipped after an aggressive jam, got up and still undercut Jones' comeback route to knock down the pass.

His strong return skills give him even more value as a possible late first-round or early second-round pick.

Read more: http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2012-01-23/senior-bowl-dish-day-1-of-practice-reveals-a-lot#ixzz1kPHMkO3V

It likely didn't hurt that Boykin showed up in-shape and looking the part of a guy whose ready to play hard at the next level. He has already interviewed with several NFL teams, including the Atlanta Falcons, and has been identified as one of the players helping himself a lot with his performance in Mobile thus far.

He is one of four Georgia Bulldogs in attendance this week—Cordy Glenn (OL), Ben Jones (OL), and Drew Butler (P) are the others.

As for Glenn, his size is catching the eye of more than one scout and his weigh-in on day one showcased a guy who is big, but not sloppy. He will need some fine-tuning in order to handle the responsibilities of playing on an NFL offensive line, but scouts see a lot of potential and that is making him a very attractive first-round option for some teams.

Glenn's former line mate, Ben Jones, however, arrived looking a bit soft around the middle and while he has been impressive in pass protection, there have been some reasons for concern where assisting the run is concerned. Jones doesn't appear to have the drive needed to knock defenders off the ball and it's questionable as to whether or not he's got the body or the strength to be anything more than a reserve at the next level—particularly early on.

Still, though, given the prospects at center this year, Jones still figures to be worth a gamble for many teams and figures to be the first center taken.

Georgia Recruiting: Chester Brown Decommits, What's the Status of 2012 OL Avery Young?

2012-01-24T09:10:00.002-05:00

The Georgia Bulldog fanbase is reeling bit this morning after the sudden decommitment of Chester Brown, the three-star rated prospect out of the Bradwell Institute in Hinesville, GA.
Brown, long thought to be a lock for the Bulldogs stated that his decision was not based on anything Georgia did, but rather some personal issues that arose with his family. As you can imagine, tongues are wagging as to what those reasons were—exactly.

While the message boards are heating up with a myriad of theories (some even suggesting that Georgia's current immigration law might have something to do with it) but, one thing is clear, Brown didn't want to leave Georgia and still hopes to return one day—if possible ($).

"I promised UGA that if everything works out like I am hoping and praying, that after a year at whatever college I go to, hopefully I will be able to transfer...I not really sure about that plan, but if everything works out I can do that. I still have love for the Bulldog Nation."

That said, grades nor a perceived lack of playing time seem to have factored into Brown's decision.

So, where does this leave Georgia as far as solidifying the offensive line is concerned?

For one, they are still in the mix for both Avery Young (FL) and Brandon Greene (GA), but neither is a lock.

Young, who most recently took a visit to Miami, is said to have been very impressed by what the Hurricanes had to offer ($) and commented that his time in Coral Gables "...opened my eyes to a lot of things I hadn't seen before."

He also reiterated his love of fishing and noted how Miami would put him right near the docks, and that is a big plus.

The State of Georgia has some pretty good fishing locales, but I don't believe the campus at the University of Georgia they can compete with Coral Gables—fishing wise. That said, it's clear that Young will make his decision on more than just where he can cast a line and, hopefully, Young still sees the Bulldog's lack of depth as a positive.

Young isn't expected to make his decision until National Signing Day.

Another target for Georgia has been Brandon Greene.

Greene is currently committed to Alabama and I don't see that changing, personally, unless Saban's class size starts to work against him and Greene is asked to wait to sign in next year's class—which is always a possibility with the Tide.

However, if Greene's own words are to be believed, Georgia has absolutely no shot at a last-minute flip.

"Yeah, I’m a 100-percent Bama, man," Greene said. "I’ve just been thinking about it for a long time and that’s where I really want to go."

Why did Greene visit UGA? "It was really just to take a visit. Everybody kept telling me I need to visit another school to have something to compare to Alabama, so I did it."

What was Georgia’s sales pitch? "Honestly, I really wasn’t even listening. I just went there to go on a visit. I’m 100-percent Alabama." [emphasis added]

What if UGA had offered earlier? Or at least before Alabama? Would that have made a difference? "Everybody keeps asking me that. I don’t even know. I can’t answer that."

That's seems to be a change of tune from this past fall when Greene commented that an earlier offer from the Bulldogs might have made a difference:

"It would’ve been harder to decide," Greene said. "Parts of my family are Georgia fans and they are always like ‘Go to Georgia.’ The pastor at my church is a big Georgia fan. But I didn’t have a Georgia offer at the time so I didn’t think about it. If I did, it would’ve been a more difficult decision. I’m not saying my decision would’ve been different but it would’ve been harder to decide."

Now, if rumors are to be believed, Greene's adamant reiteration that he's all Bama could have a lot to do with not wanting to ruffle the feathers of Tide head coach, Nick Saban. In which case, he's putting on a serious act but, at the same time, still listening to Georgia's pitch.

Either way, I don't see Greene setting foot in Athens unless he gets word that the Tide have no room for him in Tuscaloosa.

As of right now it appears that Georgia will be looking to land Young and will make their presence felt with him in this final stretch towards signing day.

Whether that will mean the difference between him putting on the 'red and black' or some other school's colors is anybody's guess.

Georgia Recruiting: Is Brandon Boykin's Exit the Key to Landing 2012 ATH Sheldon Dawson?

2012-01-23T09:29:00.002-05:00

Sheldon Dawson is rated a three-star prospect by Rivals and has suddenly become the name du jour around the recruiting world thanks to his re-entry into the prospect market. The long-time Memphis commitment began to waiver on his allegiance after the Tigers fired their head coach, Larry Porter, and the Bulldogs appear to be heavily in the mix for his services.

According to Dawson's high school coach, the 5'11, two-way, dynamo is looking to play both ways in college and after seeing the way the Bulldogs used Brandon Boykin last season, he's intrigued by the prospect of doing something similar.

"From the outside looking in, I really feel like Georgia is the team to beat right now," Sutton said. "He took a visit over there around the Christmas holidays, and he really enjoyed himself...I think you've already seen how they (Georgia) would use him. You've seen the way they use that (Brandon) Boykin kid on offense and defense. I think they feel like he would be a perfect fit for that role.

Dawson has been a very versatile player at the high school level, playing wide receiver, corner, running back, and punt return specialist, but projects as a corner at the next level.

That said, with Georgia's recent challenges at tailback, it wouldn't be a bad idea to add a guy who has some experience at that position, even if you don't need him, because you just never know when you'll need that extra depth.

Here's a quick look at some of what Dawson offers as a running back.

While it doesn't look like Dawson is a power guy, he does look tailor made for plays in space—something we currently see a lot of with Carlton Thomas.

In any event, Dawson will offer a lot of versatility for any school that can sign him and, for the moment, it looks like Georgia is in good position to be in that bunch.

Georgia Football: What's The Deal With Sanders Commings? (UPDATED)

2012-01-21T17:16:00.001-05:00

UPDATE: Commings was released on bond via the 'Double "O" Bonding Company' of Athens at 4:50 this evening.

Unless you live under a rock—or actually spend your weekends doing something other than following the off-season actions of college football players—you have heard the unfortunate news that Georgia defensive back, Sanders Commings, was arrested last night.

Commings was taken into custody by the Clarke County Police last night and charged with simple battery/family violence. His bond is currently set at $1,000.00 and, as of this posting, he remains in custody—with no access to visitation.

In the State of Georgia, simple battery is defined as "...intentionally causing harm to another person or touching them in an insulting or provoking nature." It is considered a misdemeanor unless otherwise stated or elevated by additional circumstances. You can read more about those circumstances by clicking the link, but Commings' situation does not apply to any of them—as far as we know.

From a football standpoint, this couldn't come at a more unfortunate time of year as National Signing Day is just around the corner and the coaching staff is spread out like "Country Crock" trying to nail down the guys who will make Georgia's future BCS fortunes easier to come by.

Richt has already made his statement regarding the matter, but you can bet he's not interested in going through another situation like this one at this point in hie tenure.

If you recall, he last encountered something similar with Montez Robinson and, while Comming's situation doesn't appear to be heading in that direction, you have to wonder what the tolerance level for such things will be given the direction the team has been headed over the last year or so.

With so many young players on the team (both currently and on the way), you don't want to send the wrong message about discipline or the much talked about and touted "Georgia Way".

My feelings on this particular matter will be reserved until more information is filtered through to the public. However, from a personal standpoint, I don't hold any good will towards a man who puts his hands on a woman. Where I come from, real men don't do that sort of thing—period.

At any rate, lets do hope that this isn't going to be the beginning of a string of negative media for the Bulldogs. Things had been fairly quiet for a good while and I was beginning to enjoy the silence.

College Football: Yuri Wright's Tweets Aren't The Issue

2012-01-20T11:05:00.001-05:00

Maybe I'm in the minority here, and I apologize if this offends the good sense of some of my readers, but I don't have an issue with what Yuri Wright said in his Tweets.

Yes, I have read them. Yes, I did find them to be unruly, completely unnecessary, and despicable in nature. But...I've heard worse from 35-year old men–after a few beers and a half-day of football.

Or worse, have you visited a message board lately?

No, the issue with Wright, for me, wasn't that he had those thoughts, but that he wasn't smart enough to not express them on Twitter. That's why his swift fall from grace came about.

Some have already argued that he did have a "lock" on his account (now completely deleted by the way)–which in the Twitterverse is supposed to denote some level of "privacy"–but in a world where your cellphone can pinpoint your location, a little, teeny-tiny, lock sitting next to your name means nothing.

That said, did this kid deserve to be placed on notice by the world of college football that his behavior won't be tolerated? I don't know if I agree with that–completely.

Again, I feel a need to say, I do not condone Wright's statements. But, I'll go out on a limb and say that there is probably more than one male athlete at Don Bosco Prep (Wright's now-former institution of learning) who thinks/acts in a similar manner.
That said, those athletes will likely save their ill-mannered behavior for after they get a scholarship.

Will that make them any better than Wright on a character level?

It's the hypocrisy of this that gets me.

Should Yuri Wright be disciplined for what he did? Absolutely, he should, but that discipline shouldn't be in the shape of a lost scholarship so long as we're willing to excuse the behavior of philandering golfers, drug indicted football players, steroid using baseball players.

Oh, am I shooting too high with the pro references? Okay, I'll stick with college football.

How many chances did Stephen Garcia get at South Carolina?

Jeremiah Masoli at Oregon?

Michael Dyer at Auburn?

I'm sorry, in the grand scheme of things, a 17-year old with a potty mouth and bad judgment seems like it should be the worst of our worries.

Now, to be fair, I do get that you have to start somewhere with sending a message. But, so long as college and pro level indiscretions are forgiven and forgotten in the name of inflated stats and championship rings/banners, the message is one that rings hollow.

Yuri Wright's punishment will mean only one thing to high school prospects looking to score a big-time scholly: save it for later.

And, honestly, I don't see the victory in that.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Georgia Football: Aaron Murray Still Has Plenty Left to Prove in 2012

2012-01-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

I saw a curious statement from Aaron Murray in regards to the grade he received from the NFL Draft Advisory Committee. Said Murray when asked about his round projection ($)—had he decided to bolt for the pros this season—it was "Not as high as it will be next year."

When you consider that statement in conjunction with the following one made by Murray, in reference to what he will decide to do after next season, "I can’t predict what’s going to happen,we’ll see how next season goes.", it's pretty clear that 2012 could end up being Murray's swan song—especially now that Orson Charles is gone.

If there is anything Murray has seemed to lack over the last two years, it would appear to be a "signature win" for Georgia. And while he beat both Florida and Auburn in 2011, his biggest tests were truly against Boise State, South Carolina, LSU, and Michigan State.

All losses.

If Murray hopes to lose any questions regarding his ability to take Georgia to the next level, he'll need to start doing more to smooth out the rough edges of his quarterback personality. For one, I would love to see him trusting his teammates more.

Georgia has multiple options on offense yet Murray often locks on to just one and appears willing to live and die with that guy's ability to catch the ball. He did it in 2010 with A.J. Green and Kris Durham and again in 2011 with Orson Charles and Malcolm Mitchell—and it didn't seem to matter if those guys were heavily covered, either.

Murray, at least in my opinion, simply hasn't done the best job of scanning the field and quickly assessing his options through the air. Now, how much of that is attributable to breakdowns in pass protection is, of course, debatable.

But, even giving him the benefit of the doubt leaves questions about his repeatedly poor decisions to hold onto the ball too long or fail to take advantage of running lanes when they do open up for him—lanes that, in some cases, have the possibility of producing a first down.

And there continues to be the questions as to his feeling the need to do too much after he makes a mistake. In each one of Georgia's most high-profile games this season, Murray either fumbled or threw an interception. He never seemed to recover from those mistakes quickly enough to get back to being effective and that made him a less reliable quarterback in the pocket—in my opinion.

That's a dangerous thing to be when your running game is questionable and the offensive line is shaky.

Now, it goes without saying that there is more to consider than just Murray's play where the success—or lack thereof—of the Georgia offense is concerned.

The running game has to get better, the offensive play calling needs to become less predictable, and the overall approach the offense takes to playing the second-half of games (i.e. playing not to lose) must change. But even when taking all of those things under consideration, Georgia's offensive success will begin and end with Murray, in the eyes of many, and 2012 needs to see him finally becoming the consistent, championship-level, quarterback, so many saw him being when he arrived at Georgia in 2009.

Georgia Recruiting: AD Greg McGarity Clears Up A Misconception

2012-01-17T09:18:00.003-05:00

Let me preface this post by saying I am not now, nor have I ever been, a college scout. I've never worked in a college football athletic department, and I am not well-versed in all the intricacies of the NCAA's rules and regulations.

My understanding, as it pertains to the topic of college recruiting, is limited to what I've learned from those who do know the ins-and-outs and what I've gleaned from being an avid follower of college football over the last decade or so.

That said, I was intrigued to read some comments on the matter, offered by Georgia AD Greg McGarity, in an article published by Gentry Estes on yesterday. The response you'll read below is his answer to a question regarding a possible increase in the staff the football team has available for recruiting.

Here’s a misconception about what that person does. That person cannot evaluate any recruit. That person’s job is not to basically look at film and determine who’s a great prospect. That’s illegal. He cannot do that. What this person does, he basically gets the tapes … the information in, and he gives it to the position coach. He makes no determination on whether that makes it to the next step or not. It’s basically a clearinghouse. And also that person when you have official visits on campus, they facilitate that. But I think there’s a misconception out there that this position is a person that’s evaluating talent. They cannot do that. It’s not allowable under NCAA rules [emphasis added].

So how many people do you need in that role? You’ve got your 10 coaches. You’ve got your strength staff. I mean, how many people do you really need to show a family around? … They are basically a clearinghouse that is basically making sure that information when it comes in is provided to the coaches. They can’t be there looking at tape and say, ‘Gosh, look at this play this guy made right here.’ And he can’t make cut-ups to show a coach, ‘Hey, these are the best plays.’ He can’t do that – by rule. So I think there’s a misconception out there that if you have a large recruiting staff, you’ve going to be able to cover all of this area. Well, they can’t recruit on the road, they can’t leave campus to recruit and they can’t evaluate tape. So what are they really doing?

Did you know this? I'll readily admit that I didn't.

When Charlie Cantor left Georgia, he left under a cloud of suspicion. Cantor, for those who don't remember, was Georgia's recruiting assistant for three-years (2008-2010). He resigned last summer to "pursue other opportunities" and McGarity offered no further explanation as to why he would no longer be kept on staff.

That said, many have started to wonder why Georgia's recruiting staff is so small (there are currently only two dedicated recruiting assistants). After all, when you look at the recruiting staff size of Alabama (six)—their recruiting assistants are labeled "football analysts"—it makes you wonder how Georgia is satisfied with having just one guy as a clearinghouse.

On the other hand, perhaps the question that should be asked is why one school should need so many if the only job of this individual is shuttling tapes and offering tours?

Those who would like to see Georgia in the same conversation as Alabama will criticize McGarity's statements and wonder if he's just not trying to protect the bottom-line at Georgia—particularly when it's well-known that the president of the University is all about academia—but I'm one who feels that if Georgia's going to win, they need to do it the right way. And one thing I'm certain about were McGarity is concerned, is that he knows how to keep the damage to a minimum where the NCAA is concerned.

If the recruiting assistant isn't doing anything of major importance, there's no point to hiring more of them just to appease a fanbase who may or may not understand what they're asking for—plus as far as I can tell, Richt and his staff are headed towards another very strong recruiting class this year.

For me, the proof of how well Georgia can do against the likes of an Alabama, an LSU, or any other BCS school, does not lay in the size of their recruiting staff, but in the way prospects are developed once they arrive to the program.

Sure, some might argue that hesitancy to spend money in even the smallest of areas sends a message that Georgia is willing to maintain the status quo—which if it isn't netting SEC Championships or BCS appearances isn't good enough—but money doesn't always buy championships. It's still going to come down to production on the football field by the players you recruit and develop.

It always comes back to coaching and that's the bottom line.

The Dark Side of College Football

2012-01-17T07:52:00.000-05:00

This is a guest post contributed by Florine Church of bachelorsdegreeonline.com

Baseball may have been America's national pastime once, but today football is king. No doubt attention spans are shorter, and the relaxed pace of a 9-inning ballgame isn’t for everyone. But the exodus of fans from the gentlemen's game was certainly hastened by the Steroid Era. People who had loved baseball because of its purity and resistance to change felt betrayed by players who had shattered decades-old records by cheating. For many, college sports remain the only place to see pure competition. Though baseball and basketball seem clean enough, college football unfortunately has an ugly side seeping through that in recent years has become increasingly difficult to ignore.

Sleazy recruiting
Recruiting is easily the ugliest aspect of college football. Recruiting violations are popping up more and more. Coaches pepper players as young as 13 with text messages and phone calls, or treat them to alcohol and strippers. Agents arrange rides in Ferraris and gifts for family members. And it doesn’t get any better when college players head for the NFL draft. They are met by more greedy agents looking to capitalize on football stars by any means necessary.
Health damage
For a game that has been played for a century and a half, it is only recently that steps have been taken to prevent dangerous head injuries to players. In fact, it took the NFL instituting policies penalizing helmet-to-helmet hits before colleges started getting serious about protecting players. Still, two former college footballers recently sued the NCAA alleging the association did not do its due diligence to crack down on coaches teaching players to hit with the helmet, or to provide for injured student athletes.
De-committing
At least some football players do it for motives other than just a love of the game. In a practice tactfully referred to as "de-committing," players who had previously pledged to attend a certain university renege on the promise and go somewhere else. In layman's terms, they bail for a better deal. Part of the problem is coaches try to lock high school players in so early that the team's management or competitiveness may have changed by the time a player gets there. But students aren’t the only ones to blame; players can have promised scholarships revoked if a new head coach chooses not to honor prior agreements.
Steroid use
Although coaches and officials claim a decline in steroid use in the last decade — writing it off as "a problem in the 90s" — some allege the problem persists in Division I football. In 2005, former BYU player and later NFL-er Jason Scukanec claimed up to 15 Brigham Young players had doped and that the story was the same for teams around the country. The same year, USA Today reported steroid usage among high school athletes had more than doubled from 1991 to 2003. It is naïve to think a 'roiding high school star would not try to find a way to pass NCAA drug tests in order to maintain a high level of performance in college.
Keeping the status quo
As the recent events at Penn State have made abundantly clear, football is a sacred cow. An assistant coach saw a young boy being raped and his first move was to call his dad for advice on how to proceed. He knew exactly what Joe Paterno knew: don't rock the boat. The venerable head coach was aware of the molestation, and apparently even he was afraid to come forward. He knew perfectly well it meant heads would roll in Penn State's multi-million dollar athletics program. When he was fired for sitting on the information, students at Penn State rioted, proving once again that you don’t mess with college football.
Soaring revenues
With heads firmly buried in the sand, some still contend that to allow college football players to see some of the revenue that schools and promoters are reaping off their work would hurt the "integrity" of the game. It is true that footballers with scholarships get free room and board, which can be worth as much as $40,000 per year or more. However, compare that to the average pay for the CEOs of football bowl games: $500,000 per year. The Texas Longhorns team is worth $129 million. Meanwhile, many of the players' families who are poor hope and pray that their son will make it to the NFL (a 1% chance) so he can finally be paid for his work and send some money home. If he doesn’t, he'll find all that time he spent playing and training hurt his chances of landing a job in the non-athletic world.
Coach meltdowns
Every so often, a college football coach goes over to the dark side. It's that moment when the pent-up aggression from watching grown men smash into each other for three hours gives way to rage. Upset that a journalist had referred to one of his players as "fat," OSU head coach Mike Gundy went on a long, screaming tirade. Florida Gators coach Urban Meyer warned a reporter to "be very careful" and threatened to fight him. Coaching legend Woody Hayes went to the dark side when he punched an opposing player for intercepting his quarterback at a crucial point in the game. Hayes never coached again.

VIDEO: Soooo, Keith Marshall and Malcolm Mitchell are Pretty Fast...

2012-01-16T20:57:00.000-05:00

Aaron Murray decided to have a little more fun with his camera today as he recorded footage of Georgia Bulldog 2012 enrollee, Keith Marshall and, current receiver, Malcolm Mitchell racing each other. At the point we see in the video, the two are tied 1-1 and looking to break said tie with one more race—that's Chris Conley being commentating.

As you can see, neither guy was willing to give an inch but Marshall won out by a hair.

All I can say is, don't pull a hammy boys, we'll need you both come spring.

Georgia Football: Branden Smith Hopes to Make A Name for Himself

2012-01-15T10:55:00.003-05:00

With Branden Boykin gone, the heir to the "return man's throne" should fall to Branden Smith. After all, he certainly has the credentials to pick up where Boykin left off, and while I'm not predicting multiple 100-yard returns or game-changing plays from the rising senior, I do feel that he'll be entering 2012 with a sense of urgency and purpose that will rival or usurp that of any other player returning

"It's not all about me anymore - it's about my daughter. I was just thinking about what's best for her and not what's best for me, and right now that's getting my degree and sticking it out one more year," Smith said. "I really think and know that I can increase my draft status from here. Right now, everybody doesn't really know my name, know who I am. This is the year everybody will know who Branden Smith is." (Anthony Dasher, UGASports.com, 1/13/12)

I'm not sure what type of information Smith received from the NFL Advisory Committee but, had he made the jump, and been offered a contract—even as an undrafted free agent (or UFA)—he stood to make at least $390,000, as a rookie, next season; more than that if you consider a possible signing bonu.

That said, Smith likely saw the benefit of returning and having more of an impact at his position and, possibly, taking advantage of an opportunity to showcase his versatility.

Smith was limited last season due to a lingering concussion, but his freshman season showed that he has the ability to be a threat both on offense and special teams. He didn't see as many opportunities for that this year with Boykin on the field (and probably as a precautionary measure on the coaching staff's part as well due to depth chart issues), but you can bet he'll be in their ears to get more of a chance in 2012—particularly in light of what Boykin was able to do in his senior season.

Boykin, who was likely set to be a late fourth or even fifth-round selection in the draft last year, raised his stock significantly this season by showing off improved coverage skills and closing out the season strong in the Outback Bowl. His stand-out performances certainly caught the attention of NFL scouts and he now could go as early as the second round.

You can bet Smith considered how he might do something similar in 2012, especially given his potential as a return specialist.

Even more, Georgia will have plenty of momentum heading into next season thanks to a defense that returns nine starters, and you can bet that with all the potential NFL prospects on their roster, people will be watching closely. There is no better time than now for Smith to break out and establish himself as a truely valuable defensive back—especially playing alongside the likes of Sanders Commings, Bacarri Rambo, and Shawn Williams.

He's certainly saying that he's motivated to do just that but, as with anything, seeing is believing.

Georgia Recruiting: 2012 RB Prospect Mike Davis Makes His Final Decision

2012-01-14T01:21:00.002-05:00

According to a report by Keith Niebuhr of Rivals.com, Mike Davis broke his silence tonight and declared himself a South Carolina Gamecock—not likely to the surprise of many.

"You know, some people don't know, South Carolina stayed on me all the time - even when I was committed to Florida. I actually was silently committed. I did it [not long] after I de-committed from Florida. My family already knew about it. Everyone is happy for me. My whole family is happy."

Davis, whom many felt Georgia still had an outside chance of landing—particularly since he was set to take his final, official, visit with the Bulldogs a mere week before signing day—said he was "sick of the recruiting process" and was simply ready to let his destination be known—finally.

Still, that won't keep some from wondering about the timing of Davis' announcement; would he have been as gung ho about announcing his destination tonight had Gurley not chosen Georgia? After all, it was only a week or so ago that he was quoted as having Georgia as his leader.

I guess we'll never know for certain.

That said, both schools have to be satisfied that they've secured quality players who will fit well into what they want to do offensively.

Next up for Georgia, trying to nail down the rest of their 2012 class.

Georgia Recruiting: Todd Gurley Will Be A Georgia Bulldog in 2012

2012-01-13T14:06:00.000-05:00

In what turns out to be a very lucky day for Georgia, Todd Gurley—the balleyhooed back out of Tarboro, NC—selected the Georgia Bulldogs as his school of choice today when he announced his decision live from his high school.

Gurley, whom many felt was Georgia's to lose, up until yesterday's published ESPN Diary, will be the second big-time tailback in Georgia's 2012 class. Keith Marshall, a good friend of Gurley's, was the first and is already enrolled and, according to Gurley, was not a factor at all in his decision on whether to sign with Georgia or not.

He said in the end it came down to his relationship with both coach Mark Richt and running back's coach, Bryan McClendon both of whom he stated made Georgia feel "like home" to home.

As for when Gurley knew it would be Georgia, he said he knew it as early as yesterday and when he woke up this morning, he knew Georgia would be his pick—location never was a factor in his decision.

If not for the scandal at North Carolina, Gurley feels he would have ended up a Tarheel but felt that "God closed those doors for a reason".

Gurley was happy to get the recruitment process over and is excited to get to campus and compete and will, hopefully, make it down for the spring game this year. He's also going to try and see if he can sway other prospects to the Dawgs as well.

According to Gurley, he and Keith Marshall are "like brothers" and he's already developed a relationship with Georgia kicker, Marshall Morgan as well.

Since Gurley has stated that he has no plans to redshirt, what can Georgia fans expect to see from the confident, highly talented, young tailback? Well, to be honest, what Gurley brings to the table should be clear to any one who has watched his film or seen him play in person. He's got power, speed, and great vision and will be tough to bring down once he's got a good head of speed.

Just take a look at this quick clip:

And while some may debate whether he or Mike Davis would be the better fit for the Bulldogs, it's very clear that the Georgia staff was serious about bringing Gurley into the fold and made him their top priority from day one.

Running backs coach Bryan McClendon did a brilliant job of staying in touch with Gurley and never once waivered in the message that Georgia wanted him to be there and, despite the late charge by Clemson, it became clear today that Gurley received that message loud and clear.

Now, Bulldog fans need only wait and see how the rest of the class fares. Gurley is committment No. 17 for 2012, but Richt has stated the Dawgs intend to sign the maximum (27)—and there are plenty of big names still left on the board.

Today was another good recruiting win for the Bulldogs and, very likely, the end of the tailback search for this class—unless Mike Davis suddenly decides to bring that photo he tweeted to life (see link below).

Anything is possible, right?

Georgia Recruiting: Is Todd Gurley Really Still Georgia's to Lose?

2012-01-13T09:42:00.000-05:00

The college football world will once again come to a complete standstill as they await word on where four-star tailback prospect, Todd Gurley, will be playing his college ball. Currently, there are four schools said to be in the mix: North Carolina, North Carolina State, Clemson, and Georgia. However, most are quite certain that it is really a two-school race between Georgia and Clemson.

While Georgia has appeared to be the front-runner for quite some time, there was reason to rethink that assumption after Gurley made the following statements about Clemson in his ESPN Diary yesterday:

My last school is the Clemson Tigers, a school I always wanted to play for after watching C.J. Spiller run there and break records. That was something I dreamed about and now that I have the opportunity to go there, it's just crazy to have my dreams come true. My Clemson visit was the best out of all the schools I visited because the time I had with the players was so much better then every other school, so that's a plus in my book. Even though they offered me late and stopped recruiting for a while, I didn't really care about that because that's just the business of it, so it didn't affect me too much.

You can see why there is suddenly a ton of skepticism about where this young man will land.

Has Clemson closed the gap enough that Gurley could now slip to them? Or has Georgia done enough to remain at the top of his wish list?

I'm hoping that Gurley found a lot more than good food at Georgia because the Bulldogs could certainly use a tailback of his caliber next season to go along with, hopefully, a more focused Isaiah Crowell and an eager Keith Marshall.

For what it's worth, and it's worth a ton to me, my good buddy Socrates is still confident that Gurley is going to land with Georgia, despite the recent Clemson chatter. He gives a brilliant breakdown as to why and you can read his well-stated rationale over at the Leather Helmet Blog. I encourage you to check it out.

As for me, I still feel he will select Georgia.

Yes, I've read all the different sites and tweets offered up by everyone from Todd Gurley himself to the noted gurus of the recruiting world and, for me, it still comes down to something very simple—friendship and comfort level.

For as much as Clemson may have been his "dream", it's also very clear that the relationship Gurley has with Keith Marshall as well as the coaching staff at Georgia is playing a big part in all of this as well. That said, the statements Gurley made look to me to be more about causing confusion ahead of his anticipated announcement moreso than a declaration of a flip in the making.

Just my humble opinion.

That said, I'll still be tuned in at 2 p.m. like many others just to see if my gut is right.

For those looking for a place to watch the decision live, look here. And fingers-crossed this one goes the way of the red and black once again.

Georgia Bulldogs: TE Jay Rome's Season of Discontent

2012-01-13T05:30:00.000-05:00

When Jay Rome selected Georgia as his college of choice last year, fans just knew the 2011 season was going to be something special. And while the season did end up being special, it didn't have anything to do with Jay Rome.

Rome was forced to accept a redshirt season his first year with the Bulldogs and he wasn't exactly happy about it.

"I thought I was going to get to come in and have an opportunity to play this year… Being a competitor, I always would like to be on the field, I’m not going to sit here and tell you that I’m glad I redshirted. I wish I could play. But I think my redshirting is what’s best for the team at this point...it was pretty upsetting to me at first." (Gentry Estes, Dawgs247, 1/12/12)

Not to split hairs, but note that Rome said he felt his redshirting was "best for the team", not necessarily best for him.

The fact that Rome arrived on campus with Orson Charles, Arthur Lynch (a player who also had to take an unexpected redshirt during the 2010 season), and Aron White all ahead of him did make depth at the tight end position a touch crowded.

There was no way to guarantee that Rome would see the field as much as he might have liked and, even if he did, there was little reason to believe that he would be the primary, secondary, or even tertiary target for Aaron Murray. That said, the coaches likely felt it was best to put a year of distance between Rome and Lynch in anticipation of the departures of both White (graduated) and Charles (NFL)

Lynch, who had zero catches last season, figures to be the guy in 2012.

Still, some might question why Rome didn't get more of a chance at playing, despite the logjam at his position. After all, it wasn't like Georgia was teeming with consistently great receiving talent last season as Marlon Brown and Rantavious Wooten (injury) were virtually non-existent, and Tavarres King was stronger late in the season than he was early.

Heck, even Orson Charles suffered through some low-production games—how much of that can be contributed to an inconsistent running game and poor protection is debateble—so why not give Rome a shot?

That's a question only the coaching staff can answer but, for my two cents, Bobo wasn't as interested in warm bodies on the field as he was in execution of the plays he called. And, since Georgia isn't known for tossing out four and five receiver sets, or even many two tight end sets, Rome would still have been relegated to sitting behind Charles and White—waiting for his opportunity to get in the game.

However, with the depth chart at tight end now 1/2 as imposing as it used to be, 2012 figures to see a highly-motivated Jay Rome wrecking shop on the field and getting his opportunity to show exactly what all the fuss was about when he signed in 2011.

Finally.

Todd Grantham: "My desire is to be at Georgia"

2012-01-11T20:48:00.003-05:00

With one statement, the 'will he' or 'won't he' drama that launched a thousand retweets on Twitter (well, it sure seemed like a thousand) ended.

“This time of year there are a lot of rumors involving coaching openings. Because of the terrific recruiting class we are assembling and the juniors that have communicated to me their desire to come back to Georgia I felt it important to address some of these current and any future rumors. I’ve had discussions with Coach Richt and (AD) Greg McGarity and we are on track to finalizing details on a contract extension. My family enjoys Athens very much. I love the passion and excitement of our fans. We have the program headed in the right direction and I want to be a part of bringing Georgia a championship. My desire is to be at UGA for a very long time. Go Dawgs!”

Todd Grantham
Jan. 11, 2012

There you have it, folks, Todd Grantham has no intentions to leave Athens—at least not this year—and Greg McGarity doesn't sound like he's going to make it easy for him to do so should he decide to bolt before the next three-year contract ends.

And the Bulldog Nation breathes a collective sigh of relief.

Catastrophe averted.

Georgia Recruiting: Dawgs Turn Up the Heat on 2012 TE Prospect Sean Price

2012-01-11T16:22:00.000-05:00

Orson Charles, in what should have been a surprise to no one, has decided to forego his senior season in order to give the NFL a try. Though Charles remained quiet about the grade he received from the NFL Draft Advisory Board, it has long been the opinion of many that he will be a first-round choice of any team looking for a player with his coveted skill-set.

That said, Georgia has already made strides to shore up the depth at his position by offering current USF commit, Sean Price, of Citra, FL a chance at a scholly—should he choose to pull the trigger.

Price has been a soft verbal for South Florida since last June but, considering his ball skills and capabilities, he has a plethora of options to look into before he truly locks in on the school he'll play for in 2012.

Here is a quick look at Price (No. 21) in action.

The kid obviously has some major next-level talent that could, potentially, fit well into Georgia's pro-style offense.

Instant observations from my amateur scouting eye note his pass-catching ability first and foremost as it is outstanding. You can he's focused and looks the ball into his hands on every play.

Even more, after the catch is made, he knows how to gain major yardage—even after contact—and doesn't look shy about laying a stiff-arm down on any defensive back who dares challenge him one-on-one.

His toughness comes through in spades and you can see why he's got so many offers on the table.

That said, he only plans to take two more visits before National Signing Day and Georgia is set to receive his final—Price will be on campus January 27.

While it certainly seems like Georgia would be a longshot for the Florida native who, admittedly, has stated he would like to stay close to home, you cannot rule out the possibility of Price being intrigued by the status of Georgia's depth chart now that Charles is gone as well as the fact that they stand to put another tight end into the NFL.

Another point worth noting, Price is interested in the grad rate of the school he attends (sounds strange to hear that, right?) as well as the quality of the business school on the campus of whatever program he selects to play for.

Georgia does well on both fronts as the Terry College of Business is one of the top programs in the country and Georgia's APR rate has steadily inclined over the last five-years, under Richt, as well.

Both points should hopefully place Georgia in good position to at least give Price something to think about come Signing Day.

If things fall through on Price, however, Georgia does have three-star (according to Scout) tight end, Ty Smith, in the fold for 2012, and can look forward to seeing what Jay Rome (a 2011 signee) can do next season but, I must admit, it would be nice to add another player of Price's caliber to the mix.

Georgia Bulldogs: Is Todd Grantham Hearing the NFL's Call?

2012-01-11T09:34:00.002-05:00

According to recent reports, Todd Grantham's agent has been approached by the Atlanta Falcons about their defensive coordinator's position—a position left vacant by the departure of Brian Van Gorder.

Grantham, is currently in talks with the University of Georgia on a contract extension and is expected to re-sign with the Bulldogs any day now, but this latest development could make Grantham's agent giddy, particularly if he's looking for a sweeter deal, from Georgia, for his client.

While it's been said that Georgia's athletic director, Greg McGarity, doesn't deal with agents where such things are concerned, one never knows how these situations truly work behind closed doors. And, with Grantham putting forth his best effort to help Georgia secure another Top 10 class, he may not have had much time for hashing out the numbers with McGarity just yet—but you can bet his agent has remain focused and in Grantham's ear the whole time.

Would Grantham turn down a multi-year deal, in the multi-million dollar range, to stay in Athens and coach at the University of Georgia? Especially considering the potential NFL job would be less than 80-miles from his current location?

Remember, former Falcons DC, Brian Van Gorder, was on his way to South Carolina before the Falcons swooped in and changed his mind.

It's an intriguing situation, to be sure, and you can see why some fans are already worrying about the possibility of Grantham bolting at the 11th hour—just as the recruiting season reaches its denouement.

Personally, I doubt Grantham will do more than thank the Falcons for their offer, assuming there truly is one on the table, as Grantham is nothing, if not a man of integrity. I simply can't see him leaving his players or Richt in such a horrific situation as that—especially a mere 48-hours after snagging his biggest recruiting coup to date in Jordan Jenkins.

In my humble opinion, this is nothing more than a story about a good coach being courted because of his immense talents—which, when you think about it, has been a rare occurrence at Georgia in the last few years. Consider it a compliment that someone is eyeing what Georgia has on staff, it's a testament to the brilliant job Grantham is doing.

Either way, I don't see anything coming of this possible flirtation except a faster agreement on a contract extension.

VIDEO: Jordan Jenkins' Verbal Committment to Georgia

2012-01-10T07:57:00.000-05:00

For those who are interested in the video of Jordan Jenkins' decision to sign with the Dawgs and not the Tide, Auburn, or Florida, here it is:

<a href='http://www.foxsportssouth.com/pages/video?videoid=47e6a3ff-b3ae-4766-842e-4aad5feef630&src=v5:embed::' target='_new' title='Five-star recruit picks Georgia' >Video: Five-star recruit picks Georgia</a>

Georgia Bulldogs: Joe Tereshinski's Progress Will Truly Be Felt in 2012

2012-01-10T05:00:00.000-05:00

Photo: Melissa Howard

The overwhelming opinion at the end of a lackluster—better yet downright dismal—2010 season was the Bulldogs needed to get better conditioned for SEC play. They were tossed and punked like two-bit pansies for the majority of that season and looked less than impressive even in the "cupcake" games.

Slow, sluggish, out-of-shape, and whipped at the line of scrimmage were kind adjectives used to describe the play of the line, on both sides of the ball, because the deficiencies were so frighteningly apparent that other team's players started to make fun of Georgia's guys because they simply weren't posing any type of challenge to the opposition in the second-half of games.

Well, Richt finally saw the light and, change to the strength and conditioning program came in December 2010 when Georgia's longtime strength guy, Dave Van Halanger, was ushered out of the weight room—into a cushy office to focus on other aspects of the Georgia football program (i.e. keeping players out of jail and focused in the classroom)–and video coordinator, Joe Tereshinski Jr., took on the challenge of making over the strength program the 'Georgia Way'.

The results were immediate.

While some players weren't feeling the changes and sought transfers, others gravitated towards the challenge and became better players as a result.

That said, there are still many who question how much better the Dawgs truly are when they could be thrown about by the likes of LSU and Michigan State, didn't beat one Top 10 opponent, and still struggled mightily against the likes of Kentucky, Ole Miss, and Vanderbilt (all programs that have struggled to stay comfortably above .500 over the last three seasons).

Well, I'm inclined to buy into the notion that while change is good, it can't all happen in one fell swoop. 2012 is the year that Joe Tereshinksi's critics can officially start bringing out their magnifying glasses and making notes on their respective clipboards because 2012 will net Tereshinski two full full off-seasons under Tereshinki's watchful eye.

As for coach Richt, he's happy with the results thus far and he's already made it clear that the way things were set-up in 2011 is the way they shall remain for 2012.

I'm sure that won't come as good news for those who are still highly disappointed with the second-half collapses the team suffered in their last two games but, in Tereshinski's defense, all of that cannot be attributed to poor conditioning.

There were numerous breakdowns in execution on offense, defense, and special teams, and all contributed mightily to those final losses. And for all the ribbing the elder statesman has received for his methods and overall approach to his new job, there can be no question that he's taken the challenge of rebuilding the strength program seriously and the players under his care have either taken that challenge on or found the 'exit' door of the Butts-Mehre building.

2012 will be the true measure of how far this strength program will go under Joe Tereshinki's leadership and he'll have plenty of new blood eager to see what he can do.

Georgia Recruiting: Jordan Jenkins Spurns Tide, Flips Commitment to Georgia

2012-01-09T19:55:00.001-05:00

The college football world waited with baited breath for the much-ballyhooed announcement of where Jordan Jenkins, the five-star defensive end out of Hamilton, GA would play his college ball. Tonight, that wait is finally over and Jenkins is heading to Athens to play for Todd Grantham and the Georgia Bulldogs.

It was Grantham's hard push in the last two weeks that forced Jenkins into his change of heart as he grew particularly fond of Grantham and began to envision himself playing for him in Athens for the next three to four years.

"Georgia's a great program and I really like what coach Grantham's done with Jarvis Jones and what he did with Justin Houston"

Even more than that, Jenkins saw an opportunity to play early in Athens and he liked that aspect.

This commitment has to be viewed as a real coup for the Bulldogs and, hopefully, is a positive momentum builder heading into the final weeks of the Bulldog's recruiting season—Todd Gurley is set to make his decision on Friday and Georgia appears to be in good position for him as well.

Curiously, though, many will likely wonder what Jenkins meant when he stated his family didn't "feel safe with him going to Alabama" and he didn't want to go to a place where his mom is "worried about me all the time", or he didn't feel comfortable that he could "talk to the coaches".

Those are some interesting statements to make about the school that he admitted had his heart for the better part of two years.

One of the things you start to wonder immediately when you hear things like that are, will the Tide see a shake-up in their staff in the near-future? Will Smart be gone in a year? Saban? What's going on in Tuscaloosa to suddenly raise so many red flags?

Questions will definitely be rising over the next few days as to what exactly Jenkins meant by those statements and, I'll admit, they could mean nothing, but the conversations will take place nevertheless.

As for Georgia, Jenkins will be a welcome addition to a defensive line that was one of the best in the SEC in 2011, but clearly lacked the depth you'd like for the 3-4 and one of Jenkins most coveted assets, his pass-rushing skills, will have Georgia fans salivating at how well he'll play alongside Jarvis Jones in 2012.

It's a phenomenal flip for the Dawgs and, hopefully, a harbinger of even better things to come for this recruiting class.

Georgia Football: Brandon Boykin Wins 2011 Paul Hornung Award

2012-01-09T12:28:00.001-05:00

The Louisville Sports Commission announced today that Brandon Boykin has won the 2011 Paul Hornung Award for being college football's most versatile player. Boykin was chosen from a final four that included himself, LaMichael James (Oregon), Joe Adams (Arkansas), and Eric Page (Toledo).

The award is given annually to the player who demonstrates the most versatility for his team and Boykin was all over the field for Georgia this season as not only their starting defensive back, but as a punt returner, kick returner, wide receiver, tailback, and quarterback.

He showed out and showed up big time in a losing effort in the Outback Bowl where he scored two touchdowns (one as a punt returner and one as a wide receiver), forced a safety, and recorded seven tackles (two tackles for a loss) en route to being named MVP of the game.

His leadership on the field and off led to a secondary that played with a lot more focus and maturity than it has in a good while and he was definitely a fan favorite.

Congrats to Boykin on winning this distinguished honor and good luck to him in the Senior Bowl (January 28, 2012) and the NFL Draft.

Georgia Football: Why Did Jordan Love Decide to Transfer?

2012-01-09T12:01:00.000-05:00

(Let me state this from the outset, I have no insider information regarding why Jordan Love is leaving. This is just my theory based on what I've seen and heard.)

Jordan Love, the talented defensive back for the Georgia Bulldogs, has decided to cut his playing career at Georgia, and the first question any one ever wants to ask is 'why'?

However, given Love's experience in Athens thus far (i.e. his arrest, injury battles, relegation to the scout team, sporadic starting opportunities, and position on the depth chart), you might rethink that question altogether.

When Love signed in 2009, the secondary was looking shaky at best. Senior leader, Asher Allen was exiting, and Willie Martinez (Georgia's former defensive coordinator) was catching a great deal of flack for the way he chose to run his defense—particularly his decision to execute a soft zone in the secondary.

For those who don't know what that is, here's the cliff notes version as I understand it, it relies on speed and recovery skills in a defensive back as they are usually playing off the receivers. There is no emphasis on man coverage at all and if a back is caught out of position, it's a coverage that can easily go for big yardage.

That said, much of the personnel recruited at that time seemed built around one priority—speed—while everything else fell second to that. Love fit that mold.

However, once Martinez was fired at the end of the 2009 season, it was clear that Georgia would be heading in a different direction, defensively, with Todd Grantham and I'm not altogether sure that Love's particular skill set was suited for the physicality or aggressiveness of the 3-4. While his speed was a great asset for special teams or in specific packages where five or six defensive backs were used, he wasn't likely to be the first choice in man-to-man situations because he wasn't as developed in that area as [Branden] Boykin, [Damian] Swann, or [Sanders] Commings.

Now, none of this is to say that he didn't have the ability to perform ably at the job if given the chance, but rather his chance of doing it better than those mentioned above were questionable enough that he wasn't likely to be given the first shot.

Love probably began to see this as well and likely wasn't interested in sitting three deep on the depth chart over the next couple seasons while other guys stepped into starting roles.

Think about it, Damian Swann can only get better after one-year in the system and, even with Branden Boykin graduating, Georgia has some exciting talent coming up in 2012 with Nick Marshall, Chris Sanders, Devin Bowman, and Corey Moore all sure to make a more significant contribution in year two.

Where would Love fit in, other than as a warm body on the depth chart?

Bottom line, Love wasn't likely to see any more significant snaps than he did this season and he decided it would be best to try his luck elsewhere simply. I don't think there's anything more to it than that.

Just my humble opinion.

Landon Collins' Mom Needs a Reality Check

2012-01-06T20:13:00.001-05:00

I only have one thing to say on this matter, really, support your son, mama. I mean, come on, now. I don't care what your allegiances are, who you socialize with, what female/male associates of yours will now berate you in public due to this turn of events, etc., it comes down to your being supportive of your son. After all, it is he who will actually have to show up and spend time with the coaches and players for the next three-to-four years of his life.

It's not about you, it's about him, and you you just did one lousy job of giving him his moment to shine. Even more, you gave the whole state of Louisiana license to treat him like pond scum.

Good grief, if you can't trust your own mama, who can you trust?

The Lady Sportswriter

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