Georgia Bulldogs

The Georgia Bulldogs, hoping to sign five or more offensive linemen for the 2013 class, only have one committed so far in Aulden Bynum (Valdosta, Ga./Valwood). But could commit No. 2 be coming soon?

Josh Cardiello (Buford, Ga./Buford) has taken his grandfather on visits to Florida and FSU already, and Friday he invited him to share a day in Athens.

“It was very important because he has been able to see everywhere else and he enjoys that stuff, and I really like UGA, so I wanted him to see what they had to offer,” Cardiello said.

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ESPN 150 prospect Derrick Henry (Yulee, Fla./Yulee) made the decision last July to commit to the University of Georgia, surprising many who felt the 6-foot-3, 252-pound Florida fan would end up signing with the Gators. While that outcome still seems unlikely, another Southeastern Conference program is threatening to steal the prized running back commitment from the Bulldogs, and that team just finished hosting Henry for the second time in the last 30 days.

As Henry traveled home Sunday from Knoxville, Tenn., he explained that his decision to check out the University of Tennessee had a lot do to with the persistence of the Vols' new running backs coach.

“Tennessee came by the school once or twice, but I never really paid attention or gave them a chance before I made my commitment to Georgia,” Henry said. “Coach [Jay] Graham stayed on me and convinced me to take a visit up there.”

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Results: Georgia went 2-3 this week, dropping two of three at top-ranked Florida after beating Liberty 5-3 and falling 5-4 to Furman at the first of the week. Georgia’s 16-inning, 3-2 loss at Florida on Friday night was the longest game in UGA history at 4 hours, 56 minutes. The Bulldogs rode starting pitcher Michael Palazzone to a 5-3 win on Saturday, but lost Sunday’s rubber game, 6-3.

Georgia record: 24-17 (8-10 SEC)

Highlight of the week: Georgia lost in perhaps the most devastating way possible on Friday, with closer Blake Dieterich recording a strikeout that should have ended the sixth inning. However, the ball slipped away from catcher Brandon Stephens and he threw high to first base, allowing Vickash Ramjit to score the winning run for Florida. But the Bulldogs bounced back from that painful loss on Saturday, with Palazzone pitching eight strong innings and a three-run third inning -- sparked by a two-run Levi Hyams single -- sparking Georgia to a series-tying victory.

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The University of Georgia coaching staff thought they were recruiting a defensive back named Vonn Bell (Rossville, Ga./Ridgeland). But after not seeing him on campus the last four months, they were beginning to think he did not exist. He was not present for the G-Day spring scrimmage last Saturday, but as the players started to board the buses, Bell arrived with his parents and some teammates, much to the surprise of the staff in Athens.

“They thought I was a ghost,” Bell said before breaking out into laughter. “I have been trying to get up there, but we both had things come up, so they were not sure if I was real or not. I had the ACT that morning so I missed the game, but I just wanted to come up and spend time with Coach [Mark] Richt. They were still very excited to see me.”

Shortly after his arrival, the Under Armour All-America Game selection was then escorted by his recruiter, offensive line coach Will Friend, to the Richt’s office, where Bell would spend the next hour catching up with the Bulldogs’ head coach.

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Last Saturday, Georgia picked up commitments from wide receiver Demarre Kitt (Tyrone, Ga./Snady Creek) and cornerback Reggie Wilkerson (Citra, Fla./North Marion). Later that afternoon, rumors and texts were flying around that wide receiver Uriah Lemay (Matthews, N.C./Butler), had also committed to the Bulldogs on G-Day.

As hard as it might be to believe, that recruiting rumor was wrong.

“I did not commit,” Lemay told DawgNation on Thursday night. “I think the way the rumor came out was that Coach [Mark] Richt had wanted to talk to a couple of the prospects before the day got started. Head coaches like to do that. And I believe that there was another one going around before I went into the room, that some other kid had committed. And then there were a few coaches that came up and asked me if I had talked to Coach Richt yet or if I had a chance to go see him. Once I said ‘Yes,’ I was out there with some other recruits and I am just assuming it started spreading around then. I got a couple texts.”

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DawgNation Insiders and DawgNation writers David Ching, Radi Nabulsi and Kipp Adams were joined by SEC blogger Edward Aschoff, Southeast regional coordinator Jamie Newberg and ESPN senior national recruiting analyst Tom Luginbill on Wednesday night for The Pound's inaugural live chat, forum style. Here are the highlights. Check out the complete transcript here. (Questions and answers are edited here for content.)

DantesInferno60: I was just wondering, do college coaches possibly pay attention to players that pop up on recruiting websites such as the ESPN 150 or players ESPN says are sleepers? I mean, I understand colleges do their own analysis, but obviously players could fall through the cracks. Do you think they might not have gotten film on a player that ESPN says is the best athlete in the nation at such and such a position and then they decide to offer the player?

Tom Luginbill: College coaches are going to use every available resource at their disposal to do the best job they can and acquire as much info as possible. I can tell you I speak with college coaches all across the country and share ideas and thoughts on players, talk about different film, philosophy and different approaches, and I know coaches know there are different ways to skin a cat and are always looking to get better. Oftentimes, most programs are not national and may have a pool on the large end of about 700-1,000 players they are concerned about or write up, of which about 180-200 will be offered. We do around 3,000, so at times we may see a guy some have not seen yet, and vice versa.

HereWeGoBuffalo89: Loogs, can you explain Lawson at #5 and Andy Dodd making the 150? Those are the two that stood out the most. Also, Ahmad Fulwood is going to be a beast. This coming from a Georgia Bulldog to a future Gator. Please reference my handle on TV when it comes to fruition.

Loogs: Listen, I see the argument for both Adams and Lawson. One is an edge guy and the other interior. At this stage we feel one is further along as a player. Adams may actually have more long-term upside because of some of his raw play. The reality is it comes down to impact off the edge in our minds. Hand usage, leverage, having a plan, pad level, closing speed, technique, scheme versatility, etc. Keep in mind, we aren’t looking at it from a fan's eyes and never pretend to have all the answers, but whether it is pro, college or HS the general notion is to go with the edge guy early on. Don't sleep on Dodd. Prospects that are projected guards but play TE and H-back with that type of movement skills at that weight are going to garner a lot of attention. You watch, more and more schools are looking into him. Too good an athlete for a big guy. Tough to find.

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Uriah LeMay is going to play football with his brother.

But wait, Georgia fans. That doesn't mean he's going to be playing with his older brother, Christian LeMay, a freshman quarterback for the Bulldogs.

Uriah will play this season with Bennie LeMay, a freshman tailback at Matthews (N.C.) Butler. The younger LeMay was one of the most ballyhooed middle school players in the nation last season. Uriah said Bennie is already 5-foot-11, 195 pounds and has run the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds.

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ESPN's RecruitingNation looks at what's next for the ESPN 150's top uncommitted running backs, including Georgia targets Alvin Kamara and Tyshon Dye. Read more here.

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Running back Alvin Kamara of Norcross, Ga., continues his hot steak. Monday he learned he had a scholarship offer from Florida State.

“I have been talking with coach [D.J.] Eliot from FSU a lot,” Kamara said. “He recruits this area for them. We have been going back and forth. They offered me today after school. Now, I just need to get down there.”

While Kamara has yet to sit down with the Florida State and see the campus he’s still well aware of what the Seminoles bring to the table.

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It was his third visit since receiving an offer from the University of Georgia, but for defensive back Brendan Langley (Marietta, Ga./Kell) the G-Day spring scrimmage showcased some different aspects of the Bulldogs’ program.

“The spring game was everything I expected, but it was actually more intense than I thought,” Langley said. “I really like the way Coach [Todd] Grantham runs his defense and his attention to detail. It is a game of inches, so his attention to detail is important. The coaches also pointed out how Branden Smith was lined up on offense in the spring game, and they pointed out that it could be me in a few years.”

Georgia recently took the lead for prospect ranked at No. 84 in the nation, and his feelings have not changed since his time last weekend in Athens.

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New Georgia linebacker commit Ryne Rankin (Orlando, Fla./ East River) is a throwback to another era of football, when toughness and grit mattered more than spread options and 40 times. Speaking with him evokes images of leather helmets and players like Bronko Nagurski. Rankin likes to hit people, and he learned it young.

“Back when I was probably 7 years old, I was at football practice and going against a kid that was maybe 10 years old, way bigger than me, and he kept hitting me and knocking me down,” Rankin said. “My dad kept telling me to get up. ‘Get up, boy.’ I remember that. So I kept getting hit by this kid and I was crying and I was mad -- I didn’t want to play football anymore. My dad said, ‘Run right at him and put your face mask right between his numbers.’ And I did that and the kid fell on his back and he started crying. I said, ‘I got this now.’ Then I started hitting people. I looked up and my dad was smiling.”

Rankin’s father is still proud of his son and star player. Marc Rankin is the head coach at East River and has watched his son develop into a devastating inside linebacker.

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