Georgia Bulldogs: Washington Huskies
Editor's note: Finding the Future is a RecruitingNation feature that will appear throughout camps and combine season, ranking prospects strictly on their on-field performance at the particular event. It does not reflect where each will land when the class is ranked by ESPN.
BUFORD, Ga. -- The NFTC was loaded with top upperclassmen prospects on Sunday, but a handful of 2015 prospects showed they could compete with some of the top older competition in the state.
1. 2016 CB Khalil Ladler
5-foot-11, 175 pounds
Stephenson (Ga.) H.S.
Considering: Has offers from Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida State, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, Charlotte, South Florida and Cincinnati
What we learned: Ladler could pass for a rising senior, which is why the offers are rolling in for the young freshman. His position coaches were stunned to find out that he was two years younger than most of the other defensive backs at the NFTC. Also, it is not just his size that commands attention. Ladler displayed refined techniques that prospects work for years to develop.
“Ladler is promising," ESPN national recruiting analyst Craig Haubert said. "Look at his frame: he is long and lengthy. He is very smooth. In a cornerback group that had some good 2014 guys, he was in that next level of guys jumping out. He has all of the natural tools, and with that type of size already, as well as being quick and smooth, he is certainly a guy to watch. From what I saw he was one of the better secondary players here.”
BUFORD, Ga. -- The NFTC was loaded with top upperclassmen prospects on Sunday, but a handful of 2015 prospects showed they could compete with some of the top older competition in the state.
1. 2016 CB Khalil Ladler
5-foot-11, 175 pounds
Stephenson (Ga.) H.S.
Considering: Has offers from Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida State, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, Charlotte, South Florida and Cincinnati
What we learned: Ladler could pass for a rising senior, which is why the offers are rolling in for the young freshman. His position coaches were stunned to find out that he was two years younger than most of the other defensive backs at the NFTC. Also, it is not just his size that commands attention. Ladler displayed refined techniques that prospects work for years to develop.
“Ladler is promising," ESPN national recruiting analyst Craig Haubert said. "Look at his frame: he is long and lengthy. He is very smooth. In a cornerback group that had some good 2014 guys, he was in that next level of guys jumping out. He has all of the natural tools, and with that type of size already, as well as being quick and smooth, he is certainly a guy to watch. From what I saw he was one of the better secondary players here.”
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Georgia offers Watch List wide receiver 
April, 12, 2013
Apr 12
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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 DL checks out FSU, talks UGA
February, 27, 2013
Feb 27
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By
Radi Nabulsi | ESPN.com
Kendall Baker (Atlanta/Marist) made the ESPN Watch List as a defensive lineman, but he is equally talented on the offensive line. He says that blocking comes naturally to him and will play whichever side of the ball will allow him to see the field early in college.
With that in mind, Baker took in Florida State over the weekend to see what the Seminoles had to offer.
With that in mind, Baker took in Florida State over the weekend to see what the Seminoles had to offer.
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DE could be first Georgia Dawg of '15
February, 19, 2013
Feb 19
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By
Radi Nabulsi | ESPN.com
Defensive end Arden Key (Lithonia, Ga./Martin Luther King) took in the University of Georgia junior day on Saturday and met with Bulldogs defensive line coach Chris Wilson. The new coach made quite the impression on the young sophomore, as by the time Key left, he was tweeting that he wished he could commit to Georgia.
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Georgia quick to offer Watch List RB
February, 16, 2013
Feb 16
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By
Radi Nabulsi | ESPN.com
Many high school prospects are evaluated for months or even years before a college program extends a scholarship offer. Highlights from sophomore seasons are compared to those of junior seasons to see progression and potential. Players who make a name for themselves as juniors are visited as seniors to gauge their possible impact at the next level. And then there are prospects like Joe Mixon (Oakley, Calif./Freedom) for whom the entire process takes three or maybe four days.
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Allen-Williams talks Georgia offer, timing
February, 12, 2013
Feb 12
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By
Radi Nabulsi | ESPN.com
Last Wednesday, Georgia picked up two additional signees to its Class of 2013 in DeVondre Seymour and Davin Bellamy. The coaching staff had hoped for at least three more top talents to join them but they found themselves in second place all three times.
Instead of licking their wounds on what was a disappointing day, the coaches were on the phones, working toward the 2014 class.
Instead of licking their wounds on what was a disappointing day, the coaches were on the phones, working toward the 2014 class.
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A former Lagrange (Ga.) Troup standout, wide receiver Christian Cumberlander enrolled at Jireh Prep last year in Indian Trail, N.C., and had a solid season, with 38 catches for 708 yards and six touchdowns in eight games.
Double-digit offers have come in for Cumberlander, who says he is now fully qualified -- but two offers seem to stand out at the moment. And the possibility of another offer has another prominent school heavily in the mix to land the 6-foot-2, 190-pound wideout.
Two of his three top schools also stand out for his close friend Reuben Foster, the No. 1 ILB in the nation.
Double-digit offers have come in for Cumberlander, who says he is now fully qualified -- but two offers seem to stand out at the moment. And the possibility of another offer has another prominent school heavily in the mix to land the 6-foot-2, 190-pound wideout.
Two of his three top schools also stand out for his close friend Reuben Foster, the No. 1 ILB in the nation.
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The No. 16 prospect in the nation was in Athens, Ga., over the weekend, as Reuben Foster (Auburn, Ala./Auburn) took his third official visit, this time to the University of Georgia. The 6-foot-1, 242-pound linebacker has visited Georgia many times, but this time there was something different about the campus.
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On the heels of his first official visit to the University of Washington, ESPN 150 linebacker Reuben Foster (Auburn, Ala./Auburn) was met by two sets of coaches at his school. It is coming down to the final stretch for the 2013 recruiting cycle, so programs are not holding back any longer.
For Foster, that means a steady stream of high-profile visitors all telling him exactly what he wants to hear, he said. And that's not making things easy for him.
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The University of Washington already has the makings of a potential Top 15 recruiting class for the 2013 cycle, with five commitments from ESPN 300 prospects, including three from ESPN 150 prospects. But the Huskies are aiming for more, and never was that more clear than in the headliner recruit in town over the weekend.
Linebacker Reuben Foster (Auburn, Ala./Auburn), the No. 1 inside linebacker prospect and No. 16 overall prospect in the country, could play a big role in getting the Pac-12 program to the next level. While Washington is the only school outside the Southeast in the mix for Foster, he said following his official visit not to count out the Huskies by any means.
Linebacker Reuben Foster (Auburn, Ala./Auburn), the No. 1 inside linebacker prospect and No. 16 overall prospect in the country, could play a big role in getting the Pac-12 program to the next level. While Washington is the only school outside the Southeast in the mix for Foster, he said following his official visit not to count out the Huskies by any means.
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ATLANTA -- Two of the Peach State’s top outside linebackers recently met in the backfield of the Rising Seniors Bowl game and threw down the West team’s quarterback, Brooks Barden (Cartersville, Ga./Cartersville). Bryson Allen-Williams (Ellenwood, Ga./Cedar Grove) came of the right end and Dante Sawyer (Flowery Branch, Ga./North Gwinnett) crashed the left side and both caught Barden before he could slip away. While it was clear Barden never had a chance, credit for the sack was a highly-contested debate.
“Oh, that was my sack.” Allen-Williams said. “Look, Dante and I had a little bet going on to see who would get the most sacks, so we ended up tying on them. So you know [when] there are two good ends on this field, you’re bound to have a good pass rush every now and then.”
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LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Four-star Auburn commitment Dee Liner (Muscle Shoals, Ala./Muscle Shoals) and four-star linebacker Reuben Foster (Auburn, Ala./Auburn) had agreed to refrain from doing any interviews involving their recruitment.
But after Day 2 of Under Armour All-America Game practice at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports, Foster joined Liner in giving the latest on the five schools he's still considering.
“I am looking at Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, South Carolina and Washington,” Foster said. “I have not officially set any of the visits, but I hope to take my first trip to Washington Jan. 11.”
But after Day 2 of Under Armour All-America Game practice at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports, Foster joined Liner in giving the latest on the five schools he's still considering.
“I am looking at Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, South Carolina and Washington,” Foster said. “I have not officially set any of the visits, but I hope to take my first trip to Washington Jan. 11.”
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#BlueChipBattles: Dec. 21
December, 21, 2012
12/21/12
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By RecruitingNation staff | ESPN.com
ESPN.comReuben Foster (center) is torn between good friends Dee Liner (left) and Tray Matthews (right).No. 1 ILB Reuben Foster has voiced his desire to play with at least one of his SEC-bound friends next season. But will he follow Tray Matthews to Georgia or hook up with Dee Liner wherever the ESPN 150 DL settles? It remains to be seen, but the mystery surrounding his recruitment keeps Foster at the top of our #BlueChipBattles.
Each week, RecruitingNation summons its writers from around the country to compile a list of the top 10 battles for elite football recruits leading up to February's signing day.
Here are this week's top battles
, and you can take a shot at ranking the top 10 recruiting battles on SportsNation.Two officials set for ILB Reuben Foster
December, 17, 2012
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By
Kipp Adams | ESPN.com
Two officials are set for Reuben Foster (Auburn, Ala./Auburn), the nation's No. 1 inside linebacker prospect in the 2013 class. Foster, who decommitted from Auburn two weeks ago, said on Thursday he plans on visiting Washington Jan. 11. On Monday he confirmed plans for another trip.
"I am visiting UGA Jan. 25," Foster said via text message.
"I am visiting UGA Jan. 25," Foster said via text message.
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Tray Matthews puts recruiting aside
December, 8, 2012
12/08/12
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By
Radi Nabulsi | ESPN.com
ESPN 150 safety Tray Matthews (Newnan, Ga./Newnan) has spent more than a year cajoling, urging and teasing inside linebacker Reuben Foster (Auburn, Ala./Auburn) into joining him at the University of Georgia, where Matthews will soon enroll.
Foster has done the same, trying to get Matthews to join him at Alabama and then later Auburn. The two have made pacts, traded clothes and hosted each other on multiple trips. But now that Foster has decommitted from Auburn, all of the exhorting and prodding has stopped as Matthews steps in to help out his best friend.
“He just needs a friend right now, not just someone to talk recruiting with,” Matthews said. “So we are not even talking about that. He is frustrated and this is very stressful. Reuben said it is just wrong and there is a lot going on right now.”
Foster has done the same, trying to get Matthews to join him at Alabama and then later Auburn. The two have made pacts, traded clothes and hosted each other on multiple trips. But now that Foster has decommitted from Auburn, all of the exhorting and prodding has stopped as Matthews steps in to help out his best friend.
“He just needs a friend right now, not just someone to talk recruiting with,” Matthews said. “So we are not even talking about that. He is frustrated and this is very stressful. Reuben said it is just wrong and there is a lot going on right now.”
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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.