Recruiting Roundup - 25 days til NSD

We're about knee-deep into the home stretch of recruiting season. Things are going to start to happen fast. Before I get to today's post, a quick note regarding yesterday's in terms of player development. One thing CMR and staff can absolutely sell is playing time, which is what most kids want. That's one of the few advantages of being 6-7 I guess, you can easily say that competition is at a premium on your campus. But in order for that to truly stick, the Georgia coaches have to also smooth over any reservations about going to a coach clearly on the hotseat. 


With that said, here we go. For those of you with just enough curiosity, here is a rundown of some guys we're targeting. No real order. I'll single some of them out in subsequent posts.


Isaiah Crowell - our #1 target; the nation's best running back is an absolute playmaker that can take it the distance with any touch; from Carver-Columbus HS where we seem to have smoothed things over recently

Sanford Seay, CMR's latest commit

John Jenkins - arguably just as important as Crowell, Jenkins is the space eater at DT we need and he's ready to play in 2011, guaranteed. Once an Oklahoma State commit out of Mississippi Gulf Coast CC, things have recently opened up.
Jay Rome - Five star TE out of Valdosta has been rumored to be close to committing for a while. Also rumored to be recruiting for CMRs staff pretty heavily. An overall TE talent, can block and stretch the field. Also considering Bama and Tennessee (late comer).
Malcolm Mitchell - Rome's teammate, can play DB or WR, but probably plays on the defensive side of the ball in college. His play at the Under Armour game was impressive, natural athlete. He's another one Bama looks to steal from the state. Committing Jan 20th.
Damian Swann - Scheduled to announce at today's US Army All-American game. Athletic DB that really likes Georgia. Played all over the field in HS, but probably sticks to corner at the next level.
Ray Drew - If Dickson holds for Bama, Drew will be the kid to take some of that sting away with his LOI. Superb pass rusher that is just as amazing off the field as on it. Has kept things pretty close to the vest, official visits to UGA, Auburn and LSU. May get in two more before NSD, Clemson and either Tenn or Florida.
Jeoffrey Pagan - Like Drew and Dickson, another big athlete that can get after the QB. Was once a Florida commit but Georgia got the first visit when things opened back up. Clemson may lead with just about every other school within driving distance to Asheville close behind.
Sanford Seay - Similar to what was reported a couple days ago, Seay officially committed to UGA Thursday with Bobo and Ball at his school. He had plenty of offers, UGA was late to the list but was his biggest and the one he had waited patiently on. 


Quick note on Dickson and Bray - I think they are definitely still in the mix. It's hard to imagine Coach Richt snagging a commitment from the mighty Saban right now, but with recruiting these days there is just no telling. My impression the other night on television is that they both wanted their moment to shine. However, I don't think either is 100% solid. And of course, now rumors are rampant as to the hidden agendas and true meanings.


But in the end, they're just 17 year olds that thousands upon thousands of college football fans are fixated on, for whatever reason. There's 25 days until things can actually be counted on. Decisions until then aren't worth much at all. 


Except maybe some brief elation...and grief.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Today's link is a really good read if you want to have a clearer picture of what this process is like for these kids. It's simply a collection of quotes from kids as they look back on their decision process, lumped together into more general categories. It's by ESPNs Gene Wojciechowski, The Little Blue-Chip Recruiting Handbook.