Recruiting Roundup: 21 days til NSD

Feels good to get Jordan Jenkins on board. Now let's go back to the offensive side of the ball and take a look at the offensive line.


We lose Trinton Sturdivant, Ben Jones*, Cordy Glenn and Justin Anderson. Returning we have three guys that started (Burnette, Gates, and Lee) as well as a few guys that played (Dantzler, Andrews and the Long brothers). Add in some redshirts (DeBell and Ward) and we still have several spots to fill here.

Avery Young of Palm Spring FL

John Theus is one of the top prospects in the country, at any position. He'll definitely play early, it's just a matter of how soon he starts. I'd be a little surprised if he's not protecting Murray's blind side in September.


Mark Beard is on campus now after transferring via the JUCO route. With his size he'll at least provide some depth for Coach Friend to use as well as challenge some of the less experienced guys. We've also landed commitments from Greg Pyke (Baltimore MD) and Chester Brown (Hinesville GA).


So what's left? I think Friend wants two more and we especially have our eyes on Avery Young out of Palm Springs FL. Young has the size to grow into a true SEC tackle and is good at both run and pass blocking. With some more growth and some toughness at the line of scrimmage he could develop quickly and nicely. Young made his official visit to Athens on the weekend of the Gala. He's considering Georgia, Auburn, Florida and evidently Miami after a surprise announcement last week that he would make an official visit to Coral Gables.


I was in hopes that once Jenkins committed Monday night that we might hear that Brandon Greene was reconsidering his commitment to Bama. Greene's another large OT prospect out of Cedar Grove. He made a surprise visit to Athens last month, but confirmed at last week's UA game that he is true to his word.


I don't know, I'm not taking my eye off that guy yet. And I doubt Coach Richt's staff will either.


**Don't think I mentioned this earlier, but it's recently come out that Ben Jones played practically the entire Outback Bowl with an injured big toe after breaking it on the 2nd play from scrimmage. That's one tough sonofabitch.


Now more than ever, with www.sportsmedicineschools.org you can get the degree you need to help injured sports players.

Humpday Hilarity - of wigs, quills and satire

Last week I gave you our family's #3 favorite YouTuber. This week we get educational with #2. It's a fairly new one for us, but the fact that it mixes satire and some historical lessons helps us click the play button frequently.


Even if you don't like the original song, make sure you pay attention to the lyrics and stay long enough to see the Founding Fathers rock out!

They are TJ and the Revo and the video was put together by Soomo Publishing which develops web resources for the classroom. To enhance your satirical smirk even more, check out Timbaland's video of the song then harken back to 1776 once again, quill in hand.

Come back next week for #1!

Congrats Bama, but...

I can't help but wonder how the 2007 Georgia team feels this morning. Don't get me wrong. I watched every play of last night's game and there's no doubt that Alabama and LSU are the nation's two best teams. And there's also no question that Bama deserves the title after the beating they gave to the SEC champion.


But really the only difference between what happened this season and the way things played out in 2007 is that Bama was afforded the opportunity at a rematch in the national championship game while Georgia went to New Orleans to play in the Sugar Bowl...against Hawaii. Sometimes it pays to have the national media on your side. 


Then again, the thought of Coach Richt cuddling with the likes of Mark May and Herbie turns my stomach a bit. 


As for college football... (sniff, sniff)

Recruiting Roundup: 22 days til NSD

I didn't think it would happen. Top prospects don't just shun Nick Saban. But as yesterday wore on more and more the feeling and the rumors pointed towards a HUGE steal for Todd Grantham.


Jordan Jenkins' commitment is big for all the right reasons. From the plain and simple he can play right away to the we stole him from the clutches of mother Bama. Plus it all happened on television.

Now Coach Richt and staff have a little momentum on the roads as they close out this year's class. Hopefully we can sway some more of the top talent to come to Athens.

Chizik hires Van Gorder's stache

Former Broyles Award winner Brian Van Gorder is on the move again. From somewhere up north...to Athens...to Jacksonville...to Statesboro...to Atlanta...to Opelika.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for me and my family at this point in my career, both professionally and personally, to become the defensive coordinator at Auburn," he said. "I'm looking forward to working at a school with the success and tradition of Auburn, and for a coach like Gene Chizik, who has led the program to a national championship. I'm very appreciative to the Atlanta Falcons and coach Mike Smith for the experience of the last four years. It's a great organization and will have continued success in the future."

The question is: can he correct the wrongdoings of Ted Roof before the moving van refuels?

Jenkins, all Dawg!

I'll try and have video in the morning. For now, here's Jenkins explaining his choice.



And here's a pic of mom...




Mama Jenkins not a scripted helmet kind of lady. She dumped that ish A.S.A.P! 

 - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Monday's Meatloaf - resolving around the pigskin

It's the 9th day of 2012. Do you know where your resolutions are?


I've got a few I have yet to break, completely. Of course, I haven't lost 15 pounds yet and I'm still trying to decide which book to read first. Once that's done I might get around to starting my campaign for president. As long as it doesn't conflict with eating more leafy greens.


Honestly, I'm not sure how well those resolutions will go. But I always have my old stand by. Year in and year out, the easiest resolution for me is to give up half of my tv time. I've found that I watch less and less of the tube each year. Mostly due to the fact that there's less and less worth watching. Justified starts it's third season next week. And once Raylan is done bringing justice to the hollers of eastern Kentucky it should almost be time for Walter White to cook up his fifth season in Breaking Bad.


Beyond that it' really about waiting for football to come back into my loving arms.


Today's Ingredients

• Speaking of college football, the last game of the 2011 season is tonight. I think the rematch between LSU and Bama will see a lot more scoring. So I'm predicting LSU 8 Bama 6.
• If you're keeping score at home, that's 7 total safeties.
• Mr. Sanchez has your guaranteed* winner for tonight. Place your bets accordingly.
• Before gym class, 6th grader Bentley Long found time to give Bulldog Illustrated his assessment of the Dawgs' 2011 season and what 2012 looks like.
• Tyler breaks down the conference opener. Meanwhile TheRealDray starts some conversation for the best Hoop Dawgs of all time.
• Travis remembers a name that never has surfaced, depite ALL of those pushups and situps.
• the Senator would be more impressed with the GOP field if they did less to try and impress us.
• Remember Chickumbia's The Whitney hotel? Well, ecdawg finds that Clempson is trying to not be outdone.
• In case you missed it, Stephen Hill has bigger fish to fry than to stay in PJs triple floption another year.
• Good news for UGA hoops and gymnastics supporters this Winter. Stegeman concessions are half price for Bypass Lane users. Plus the service charge has been waived.
• Housekeeping item: sometime between yesterday and this morning my list of Dawg blogs in the margin disappeared. I'm investigating and will have them back up asap. 
• Lastly, it's the first annual January Pledge Drive here at BDB. Button is located in the top right margin there and no donation is too small. But in the event that any ClemPson "recruiters" stop by, please give generously.

Despite all the rhetoric about its imperfections and continued overall failure of its administrative body, college football is still the best sports product on the market. After another terrific season with some wild games and finishes it would be hard for anyone to argue against that.


In the end the same thing that gets people riled up about CFB's flaws also keeps fans coming back for more: emotion. People get emotional about which teams should be in the title game and whether or not players should be receiving monetary rewards for the on-field product that bears their names, numbers. Just as we all get emotional over a 4th quarter sack or an overtime touchdown pass. It's like an especially juicy onion with endless layers; the more you peel the deeper you fall into your own tears.


Yep, college football is one thing that will never get altered by my January 1st resolutions. Pass me a fork and enjoy the game tonight Reader.


Bernie

Recruiting Roundup: 23 days til NSD

Some nuggets from the recruiting road.

Jordan Jenkins
announces tonight.

• OLB/DE Jordan Jenkins is set to announce his decision tonight at 7pm on Fox Sport South's The Next Class. Alabama's been the leader for Georgia's top recruit. But Georgia has closed strong and the Harris Co. defensive could choose the Dawgs tonight. If he does, thank Todd Grantham.
• Then, on Friday Todd Gurley makes his announcement. The running back from Tarboro NC is as difficult to figure out as he is to tackle. He's making a decision between UGA, Clemson, NC State and UNC. Wolfpack fans seem to believe he's Georgia bound. Georgia fans feel we've got a better shot at Mike Davis.
• We'll take a closer look at offensive line later this week. With Mark Beard already in the fold, one big guy to keep an eye on is Avery Young. He says Auburn, Florida and Georgia are his top three, but he recently announced a surprise official visit to Miami on the 20th. At 6'5" and 290+ he's got everything he needs to be a huge SEC tackle. Coach Friend visited him late last week. Let's hope he emphasized the opportunity to play...soon!
• Yesterday Yuri Wright decided he was going to sunny California for his last official instead of Athens. But Lakatos could get some depth from Sheldon Dawson and/or Will Redmond. Both are committed elsewhere (Memphis and Miss State respectively) but have been entertaining plenty of coaches recently, including Gratham and Lakatos last week.

Love moving on

Jordan Love is transferring. After he tweeted his end in Athens, Weiszer was able to confirm it with Claude Felton at last night's basketball game.

The school confirmed Saturday night that cornerback Jordan Love has been granted a release to transfer.

“It’s been real Athens,” Love tweeted Saturday night. “…all good things come to an end….”

Love started one game and had 12 tackles in eight games this past season, with one pass breakup and one forced fumble. He had nine tackles in 2010.

The redshirt sophomore from Glen Allen, Va. could land at Towson (Md.), an FCS program.

Even losing Boykin, cornerback is a deep position next year. And with Damian Swann and Nick Marshall emerging as future corners the writing was on the wall if Love wanted to play more than special teams. 

Georgia-Bama highlights

Great game by Caldwell-Pope. Team showed a lot of fight. But Bama was the bigger and better shooting team last night.