Georgia Bulldogs: Kansas State Wildcats
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. -- Myles Autry is still on the sidelines. A vicious injury to his knee last fall, with tears to his ACL, MCL and meniscus, has kept the Norcross (Ga.) High School athlete from participating in basketball, track, spring practice and now the summer camp series. And it is killing him.
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Coming out of high school, offensive lineman Avery Gennesy (Southaven, Miss./East Mississippi C.C.) had offers from programs such as Arkansas State, UAB, Southern Miss, Memphis and FIU. But the 6-foot-4, 285 pound prospect ended up going the juco route, and Gennesy is making the most of his second chance.
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Defensive tackle Peyton Newell (Hiawatha, Kan./Hiawatha), the No. 3 player in Kansas, has a top six -- and he said it’s a firm six.
Newell, who claims 34 offers, announced his top six via social media on Saturday. The schools to make the cut, in alphabetical order, are Georgia, Kansas, Kansas State, Nebraska, South Carolina and USC.
Newell, who claims 34 offers, announced his top six via social media on Saturday. The schools to make the cut, in alphabetical order, are Georgia, Kansas, Kansas State, Nebraska, South Carolina and USC.
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The SEC and Big 12 announced an annual challenge on the basketball court, but colleague Edward Aschoff wondered what it would look like if that challenge extended to the football field.
There are already two games on the schedule this season -- between TCU and LSU, and Oklahoma State and Mississippi State. What else would I like to see?
Let me start by saying that renewing the Texas-Texas A&M and Missouri-Kansas rivalries are a given. I'm omitting those matchups, but I'd love to see them.
Let's get started:
Oklahoma State vs. Alabama: OSU narrowly missed out on playing for the national title back in 2011, and both are among their conference favorites again in 2013. When the BCS "snubbed" the Pokes after the 2011 regular season, OSU coach Mike Gundy half-jokingly suggested these two play for the right to play LSU in the title game. It would be fun to see this one finally played out on the field.
Baylor vs. LSU: Straight up offense vs. defense. That's the Big 12 vs. SEC debate at its heart. Baylor just might be the Big 12's best offense, and LSU will put together another strong defense. These are the matchups we want to see. The Big 12 has faltered on the big stage, helping the SEC stretch its run of national titles, but seeing Bryce Petty sling it around against an athletic defense would be a lot of fun.
Texas vs. Arkansas: Arkansas' exit from the Southwest Conference helped usher in the birth of the Big 12 after the SWC crumbled. Texas has bigger rivals like Oklahoma and Texas A&M, but these two played some of the greatest games in college football history, and as an Arkansas native, I've seen up close how much Razorbacks fans detest the Longhorns to this day. The result would be a great game and a hyped atmosphere.
TCU vs. Texas A&M: Texas A&M fans take exception to the idea that TCU was an on-field "upgrade" over the Aggies in the Big 12. The Aggies largely struggled in the Big 12 after some early success and a Big 12 title under R.C. Slocum. Since leaving for the SEC, the Aggies have gone nowhere but up, and ended 2012 as the hottest team in college football. Aggies quarterback Johnny Manziel has a Heisman Trophy. Could he shred the Frogs? Want to prove TCU is not an upgrade? Beat TCU on the field.
Kansas State vs. Florida: Kansas State is perpetually underrated and wins with a bunch of junior college guys, and high school players overlooked by major programs. Florida won big under Urban Meyer, but has been largely overrated since Meyer left and was whacked by Louisville to end 2012. The Gators would be suiting up an army of recruiting stars, but could Bill Snyder, the Manhattan Magician, grab a win for the Big 12?
There are already two games on the schedule this season -- between TCU and LSU, and Oklahoma State and Mississippi State. What else would I like to see?
Let me start by saying that renewing the Texas-Texas A&M and Missouri-Kansas rivalries are a given. I'm omitting those matchups, but I'd love to see them.
Let's get started:
Oklahoma State vs. Alabama: OSU narrowly missed out on playing for the national title back in 2011, and both are among their conference favorites again in 2013. When the BCS "snubbed" the Pokes after the 2011 regular season, OSU coach Mike Gundy half-jokingly suggested these two play for the right to play LSU in the title game. It would be fun to see this one finally played out on the field.
Baylor vs. LSU: Straight up offense vs. defense. That's the Big 12 vs. SEC debate at its heart. Baylor just might be the Big 12's best offense, and LSU will put together another strong defense. These are the matchups we want to see. The Big 12 has faltered on the big stage, helping the SEC stretch its run of national titles, but seeing Bryce Petty sling it around against an athletic defense would be a lot of fun.
Texas vs. Arkansas: Arkansas' exit from the Southwest Conference helped usher in the birth of the Big 12 after the SWC crumbled. Texas has bigger rivals like Oklahoma and Texas A&M, but these two played some of the greatest games in college football history, and as an Arkansas native, I've seen up close how much Razorbacks fans detest the Longhorns to this day. The result would be a great game and a hyped atmosphere.
TCU vs. Texas A&M: Texas A&M fans take exception to the idea that TCU was an on-field "upgrade" over the Aggies in the Big 12. The Aggies largely struggled in the Big 12 after some early success and a Big 12 title under R.C. Slocum. Since leaving for the SEC, the Aggies have gone nowhere but up, and ended 2012 as the hottest team in college football. Aggies quarterback Johnny Manziel has a Heisman Trophy. Could he shred the Frogs? Want to prove TCU is not an upgrade? Beat TCU on the field.
Kansas State vs. Florida: Kansas State is perpetually underrated and wins with a bunch of junior college guys, and high school players overlooked by major programs. Florida won big under Urban Meyer, but has been largely overrated since Meyer left and was whacked by Louisville to end 2012. The Gators would be suiting up an army of recruiting stars, but could Bill Snyder, the Manhattan Magician, grab a win for the Big 12?
Oklahoma vs. Georgia: Mark Richt and Bob Stoops have one big thing in common: Neither fan base truly appreciates what their coach has accomplished. Consider this an opportunity for both to quiet the hot-seat talk. It's been a lot more intense for Richt, who endured a 6-7 season back in 2010, but he's won the SEC East in each of the past two seasons. Stoops has averaged just over 10 wins a season at Oklahoma, and Richt has averaged just under 10 wins. Call this the "Underappreciated Bowl."
Georgia offers Watch List wide receiver 
April, 12, 2013
Apr 12
10:00
AM ET
By
Radi Nabulsi | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- Despite missing half of his junior season, ESPN Watch List wide receiver Jake McCrary (Miami/Coral Reef) is close to having 20 offers. Earlier this week he picked up No. 16 from UCF and then on Wednesday, the University of Georgia offered.
What are the coaches at all these schools seeing in his injury-shortened highlight reel? The answer is production. After missing five games with a strained ACL and PCL, McCrary scored seven touchdowns on just 13 catches. He also had 311 receiving yards, an average of 24 yards per catch. To top it off, McCrary returned four punts for touchdowns and three interceptions on defense.
“I talked to Tony Ball today and he let me know that Georgia was going to offer me and that he would love for me to come up and get to see the facilities,” McCrary said. “That was very exciting for me because Georgia is a great team that throws the ball a lot to be in the SEC. That is a great thing.”
What are the coaches at all these schools seeing in his injury-shortened highlight reel? The answer is production. After missing five games with a strained ACL and PCL, McCrary scored seven touchdowns on just 13 catches. He also had 311 receiving yards, an average of 24 yards per catch. To top it off, McCrary returned four punts for touchdowns and three interceptions on defense.
“I talked to Tony Ball today and he let me know that Georgia was going to offer me and that he would love for me to come up and get to see the facilities,” McCrary said. “That was very exciting for me because Georgia is a great team that throws the ball a lot to be in the SEC. That is a great thing.”
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Watch List OT Bauer piling up offers
February, 28, 2013
Feb 28
10:36
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By
Damon Sayles | ESPN.com
As ESPN Watch List offensive tackle Andy Bauer (St. Louis/ De Smet) creeps up on 40 offers, he is reminded of two important yet unofficial rules to the recruiting game.
Network, first of all; and second, have fun.
Network, first of all; and second, have fun.
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ESPN Watch List defensive end Peyton Newell (Hiawatha, Kan./Hiawatha) estimates that he has picked up seven new offers over the last two weeks. His offer list stretches from UCLA to South Carolina and from Texas to Michigan State. Twenty-seven schools so far have extended verbal offers to the 6-foot-3, 270-pound junior, including the Georgia Bulldogs who offered on Wednesday.
“Yesterday I got offers from Georgia and Michigan State on the same day,” Newell said. “So it has been definitely crazy. I think I have gotten an offer from every conference. It is overwhelming and exciting. And I am very blessed to be in the situation that I am in with being able to have my choice on where to go. So I am really excited for next year.”
The Bulldogs’ coaching staff may be the latest offer but Newell has been on Georgia’s radar for a while.
“Yesterday I got offers from Georgia and Michigan State on the same day,” Newell said. “So it has been definitely crazy. I think I have gotten an offer from every conference. It is overwhelming and exciting. And I am very blessed to be in the situation that I am in with being able to have my choice on where to go. So I am really excited for next year.”
The Bulldogs’ coaching staff may be the latest offer but Newell has been on Georgia’s radar for a while.
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Juco DT Johnson's visit puts UGA on top
December, 10, 2012
12/10/12
1:56
PM ET
By
Radi Nabulsi | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- Juco defensive tackle Toby Johnson (Hutchinson, Kan./Hutchinson C.C.) took his official visit to Georgia on Friday and left a few days later with a new leader.
“Georgia right now would be my favorite school at the time,” Johnson said. “I am not committed or nothing. I have got a couple more visits I’m going to take but after that I am going to be ready to make my decision. I really don’t have a time frame in mind.”
The 6-foot-4, 305-pound prospect said that it was the coaching staff’s sincerity that has the Bulldogs on top. After suffering a season-ending knee injury, Johnson was worried that the interest level in him might drop.
“Georgia right now would be my favorite school at the time,” Johnson said. “I am not committed or nothing. I have got a couple more visits I’m going to take but after that I am going to be ready to make my decision. I really don’t have a time frame in mind.”
The 6-foot-4, 305-pound prospect said that it was the coaching staff’s sincerity that has the Bulldogs on top. After suffering a season-ending knee injury, Johnson was worried that the interest level in him might drop.
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Haney: If there were a 2012 playoff ...
November, 15, 2012
11/15/12
3:03
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By ESPN.com staff | ESPN.com
The seeds would be Oregon, Kansas State, Notre Dame, Alabama, Georgia, Texas A&M, Florida and LSU. But how would it play out? ESPN Insider Travis Haney lines it up, gets some help from the oddsmakers, and picks his champion.
Read the story here.
Read the story here.
Nick Marshall picks up Baylor offer
November, 6, 2012
11/06/12
10:20
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By
Damon Sayles | ESPN.com
Being compared to Robert Griffin III is a tall task for any college quarterback, but junior college signal-caller Nick Marshall (Garden City, Kan./Garden City Community College) wouldn't mind the opportunity to potentially live up to those expectations.
Marshall, the former Georgia Bulldogs cornerback, has taken advantage of his second chance since being dismissed from Georgia in February for violating team rules. Along with shining at Garden City, he also effectively has switched positions and made a name for himself at quarterback. Marshall was a cornerback at Georgia.
Now, he's looking to show the rest of the world that he can run an offense. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound sophomore most recently picked up a Baylor offer and now has six programs to choose from. While he doesn't know much about the program, he’s well aware of the legacy Griffin left as a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback.
Marshall, the former Georgia Bulldogs cornerback, has taken advantage of his second chance since being dismissed from Georgia in February for violating team rules. Along with shining at Garden City, he also effectively has switched positions and made a name for himself at quarterback. Marshall was a cornerback at Georgia.
Now, he's looking to show the rest of the world that he can run an offense. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound sophomore most recently picked up a Baylor offer and now has six programs to choose from. While he doesn't know much about the program, he’s well aware of the legacy Griffin left as a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback.
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Top juco defensive tackle suffers injury
November, 4, 2012
11/04/12
7:27
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By
Kipp Adams | ESPN.com
Highly coveted junior college prospect Toby Johnson (Hutchinson, Kan./Hutchinson Community College) was injured in Sunday's Region VI semifinals matchup with Coffeyville C.C.
"They said I tore my ACL and MCL," Johnson said. "I am getting X-rays [Monday]."
"They said I tore my ACL and MCL," Johnson said. "I am getting X-rays [Monday]."
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Offers have been coming in weekly for juco defensive back Riyahd Jones (Columbus, Ga./Garden City Community College). On Wednesday, the former Columbus (Ga.) Carver standout felt he was ready to make his commitment, so he picked up the phone.
“I actually called Ole Miss to commit today, but they did not answer when I first called,” Jones said.
Then his phone rang.
“I actually called Ole Miss to commit today, but they did not answer when I first called,” Jones said.
Then his phone rang.
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SEC surpasses Big 12 as No. 1 rated league
October, 9, 2012
10/09/12
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By
David Ubben | ESPN.com
The Big 12's held on all season, but the SEC finally passed it for the No. 1 spot in the ESPN Stats & Info Conference Power Rankings.
The Big 12 still has the No. 1 spot in the computer polls, but the Big 12 took a hit in the human polls after just four Big 12 teams showed up in Sunday's AP rankings. The SEC took the lead by a full point after steadily creeping up on the Big 12 since the rankings debuted.
What was the biggest factor for the move? From the Stats & Info Blog:
It's going to be a tight race all season, but for now, the SEC's pulled ahead by a nose.
The Big 12 still has the No. 1 spot in the computer polls, but the Big 12 took a hit in the human polls after just four Big 12 teams showed up in Sunday's AP rankings. The SEC took the lead by a full point after steadily creeping up on the Big 12 since the rankings debuted.
What was the biggest factor for the move? From the Stats & Info Blog:
Losses by Top-5 teams LSU and Georgia did not impact the SEC’s conference ranking because they lost to teams that were also in the Top 10.
On the other hand, losses by TCU and Texas Tech impacted the Big 12 in the rankings since they lost to teams with worse records entering the game.
The computers still favor the Big 12 over the SEC due to the depth of the conference, but the gap has narrowed. The SEC’s dominance in the polls has vaulted the conference into first place for the first time since the final conference power rankings of the 2011 season.
It's going to be a tight race all season, but for now, the SEC's pulled ahead by a nose.
Todd McShay discusses his top five Heisman Trophy candidates -- Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller, Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o, West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith, Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein, Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones and an honorable mention for Florida State quarterbak EJ Manuel.
Houston a player for JC CB Riyahd Jones
September, 18, 2012
9/18/12
11:24
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By
Damon Sayles | ESPN.com
Junior college cornerback Riyahd Jones (Garden City, Kan./Garden City Community College) picked up his fourth offer on Monday, and it’s an offer that he said rivals his previous favorite.
Jones scored an offer from Houston, and the 6-foot, 185-pound Georgia Southern transfer said Houston is now in the same conversation as Kansas State. He said he’s excited about Houston’s BCS potential as it joins the Big East Conference next season.
“They’re really neck and neck right now,” Jones said of Houston and Kansas State. “I like Houston because they’re going to the Big East, a new stadium’s being built and because of the atmosphere there. Houston is a little better than Manahattan, Kan., atmosphere-wise. It’s the fourth-largest city in America, and if I get hurt, I can find a job there.
Jones scored an offer from Houston, and the 6-foot, 185-pound Georgia Southern transfer said Houston is now in the same conversation as Kansas State. He said he’s excited about Houston’s BCS potential as it joins the Big East Conference next season.
“They’re really neck and neck right now,” Jones said of Houston and Kansas State. “I like Houston because they’re going to the Big East, a new stadium’s being built and because of the atmosphere there. Houston is a little better than Manahattan, Kan., atmosphere-wise. It’s the fourth-largest city in America, and if I get hurt, I can find a job there.
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
David Ching
David Ching came to ESPN.com in 2011 after six years covering UGA for the Columbus (Ga.) Ledger-Enquirer and Athens (Ga.) Banner-Herald. He lives in Athens. Email him at davidchingespn@gmail.com.
Radi Nabulsi
Radi Nabulsi joined ESPN.com in 2011 after covering the University of Georgia for Rivals.com for four years and for the UGA Athletic Association since 1993. Nabulsi is a graduate of the University of Georgia's Grady College of Journalism and lives in Athens. He can be reached at radinabulsiespn@gmail.com.
Kipp Adams
Kipp Adams joined ESPN.com in 2011 after covering University of Georgia football and basketball recruiting for five years at Rivals.com. He lives in Sandy Springs, Ga., and enjoys spending time with his two sons. He can be reached at kippadamsespn@gmail.com.