Ga. LB Carter takes in a Tide practice 
April, 2, 2012
4/02/12
11:17
PM ET
By
Greg Ostendorf | ESPN.com
With a number of high schools in the Southeast out for Spring Break, the visitors have become more frequent at the University of Alabama’s practices. On Friday, Snellville, Ga./South Gwinnett linebacker Reggie Carter was on hand for practice.
“The visit went good,” Carter said. “I like how practice was run. They got so many reps. I’ve done some of the drills, but there was some I didn’t do, and I like how Kirby Smart runs the linebackers.”
During his visit to Tuscaloosa, Carter got a chance to sit down and talk with Smart, the Crimson Tide’s defensive coordinator who serves as Carter’s main recruiter and would also be his position coach at UA.
“The visit went good,” Carter said. “I like how practice was run. They got so many reps. I’ve done some of the drills, but there was some I didn’t do, and I like how Kirby Smart runs the linebackers.”
During his visit to Tuscaloosa, Carter got a chance to sit down and talk with Smart, the Crimson Tide’s defensive coordinator who serves as Carter’s main recruiter and would also be his position coach at UA.
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Checking in with the Georgia Bulldogs
April, 2, 2012
4/02/12
11:16
PM ET
By
Edward Aschoff | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- Georgia’s football team has the talent to have a very special fall, but the spring has come with unwanted hiccups.
Georgia has dealt with too much suspension and attrition. The most glaring issue for the Bulldogs is that they’ll be without defensive starters Sanders Commings, Alec Ogletree, Bacarri Rambo and Branden Smith to begin the season due to suspensions.
The losses of key starters, especially Commings, Rambo and Smith, who all patrol a pretty thin secondary, have Georgia players and coaches frustrated, but they’re pushing ahead as the second half of spring football bleeds into the true offseason.
“It robs some of the momentum that you’re trying to build and trying to create,” coach Mark Richt said. “It doesn’t destroy it unless you let it, but it’s just another thing that needs to be overcome.”
Georgia has had a rash of off-the-field incidents in the past calendar year, and when asked if he thought there was an invincibility complex with some of his players, Richt said he hoped not, but didn’t think that there was a discipline problem with his football team.
“The bottom line is that if there are things that need to be disciplined around here, we’ll discipline them,” he said. “We don’t treat a starter any different than a walk-on. We’ll discipline even if it hurts -- and it hurts sometimes.”
Georgia’s coaches are now having to plug more young players into first-team rotations on defense. While the Bulldogs have a handful of players to use at Ogletree’s middle linebacker spot, the same can’t be said for the secondary.
Georgia has dealt with too much suspension and attrition. The most glaring issue for the Bulldogs is that they’ll be without defensive starters Sanders Commings, Alec Ogletree, Bacarri Rambo and Branden Smith to begin the season due to suspensions.
The losses of key starters, especially Commings, Rambo and Smith, who all patrol a pretty thin secondary, have Georgia players and coaches frustrated, but they’re pushing ahead as the second half of spring football bleeds into the true offseason.
[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Stephen MortonSuspensions will leave Mark Richt thin in the secondary to begin the 2012 season.
AP Photo/Stephen MortonSuspensions will leave Mark Richt thin in the secondary to begin the 2012 season.Georgia has had a rash of off-the-field incidents in the past calendar year, and when asked if he thought there was an invincibility complex with some of his players, Richt said he hoped not, but didn’t think that there was a discipline problem with his football team.
“The bottom line is that if there are things that need to be disciplined around here, we’ll discipline them,” he said. “We don’t treat a starter any different than a walk-on. We’ll discipline even if it hurts -- and it hurts sometimes.”
Georgia’s coaches are now having to plug more young players into first-team rotations on defense. While the Bulldogs have a handful of players to use at Ogletree’s middle linebacker spot, the same can’t be said for the secondary.
ESPN NFL draft analyst Todd McShay participated in a media teleconference on Friday where he included Georgia draft prospects Brandon Boykin and Cordy Glenn in some of his responses.
ESPN Public Relations sent out a transcript of the call this evening, so I thought I'd share McShay's responses related to the Georgia guys: Q: Just want to check in on Brandon Boykin, the cornerback from Georgia, where he fits and what might be available for the Falcons at 55 at left tackle there?
TODD McSHAY: Well, Boykin's fast. Every time I watch Boykin, it's all I can think of. He's just so fast. Everything he does is fast. I think his instincts need to improve. I know his instincts need to improve. He's late diagnosing some throws. When they put him in the zone, he can get lost a little bit, and that's not really his strength.
ESPN Public Relations sent out a transcript of the call this evening, so I thought I'd share McShay's responses related to the Georgia guys: Q: Just want to check in on Brandon Boykin, the cornerback from Georgia, where he fits and what might be available for the Falcons at 55 at left tackle there?
TODD McSHAY: Well, Boykin's fast. Every time I watch Boykin, it's all I can think of. He's just so fast. Everything he does is fast. I think his instincts need to improve. I know his instincts need to improve. He's late diagnosing some throws. When they put him in the zone, he can get lost a little bit, and that's not really his strength.
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ATHENS, Ga. -- If Jay Rome needed to gain ground in Georgia’s tight end competition, he picked a good way to narrow the gap between himself and Arthur Lynch.
The redshirt freshman caught the offense’s only touchdown in regulation during Saturday’s scrimmage -- a 30-yard strike from Hutson Mason where he cut through the middle of the defense -- and impressed coaches and teammates even more with a leaping touchdown grab from Parker Welch in the back of the end zone during goal-line drills.
“Obviously Jay Rome scored two touchdowns, which was nice to see,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said when asked who had impressed him in the scrimmage. “The one catch in the end zone on the goal line was pretty acrobatic. He had to kind of turn his body and reach back and snag it and landed off his feet and the ball didn’t come out, so that was good.”
The redshirt freshman caught the offense’s only touchdown in regulation during Saturday’s scrimmage -- a 30-yard strike from Hutson Mason where he cut through the middle of the defense -- and impressed coaches and teammates even more with a leaping touchdown grab from Parker Welch in the back of the end zone during goal-line drills.
“Obviously Jay Rome scored two touchdowns, which was nice to see,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said when asked who had impressed him in the scrimmage. “The one catch in the end zone on the goal line was pretty acrobatic. He had to kind of turn his body and reach back and snag it and landed off his feet and the ball didn’t come out, so that was good.”
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DawgNation recruiting expert Kipp Adams answered your questions on Georgia and southeastern recruiting Monday afternoon. Topics abounded, from wide receivers and upcoming offers to the always popular Robert Nkemdiche and Reuben Foster. You can read the full transcript here.
2014 DB Glass loves first visit to Alabama
April, 2, 2012
4/02/12
5:05
PM ET
By
Greg Ostendorf | ESPN.com
When Geno Smith first visited the University of Alabama, he fell in love with it. That’s the one of the main reasons he signed with the Crimson Tide in February.
The ESPNU 150 defensive back plans to enroll at UA this summer, but his first order of business before that is trying to recruit his high school teammate and 2014 star Nick Glass to Alabama with him. Glass visited Tuscaloosa over the weekend for the first time.
“We’re best friends,” Glass said of Smith. “He really helps me out with this recruiting thing, and he’s always telling me that he knew I would fall in love with Alabama at first sight. I guess I have to give it to him on that one. I loved it.
The ESPNU 150 defensive back plans to enroll at UA this summer, but his first order of business before that is trying to recruit his high school teammate and 2014 star Nick Glass to Alabama with him. Glass visited Tuscaloosa over the weekend for the first time.
“We’re best friends,” Glass said of Smith. “He really helps me out with this recruiting thing, and he’s always telling me that he knew I would fall in love with Alabama at first sight. I guess I have to give it to him on that one. I loved it.
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Even at his rival school, Uriah LeMay felt right at home.
“I got put into the elite 5 grouping at the end,” the receiver from Matthews (N.C.) Butler said of participating in a combine-style camp at Charlotte (N.C.) Mallard Creek. “I think I dropped two balls the whole day.”
It was the culmination of an exhausting few days for LeMay, who visited South Carolina for a Gamecocks' practice late last week then visited Georgia for its spring game before returning home to participate in Sunday's camp.
“I got put into the elite 5 grouping at the end,” the receiver from Matthews (N.C.) Butler said of participating in a combine-style camp at Charlotte (N.C.) Mallard Creek. “I think I dropped two balls the whole day.”
It was the culmination of an exhausting few days for LeMay, who visited South Carolina for a Gamecocks' practice late last week then visited Georgia for its spring game before returning home to participate in Sunday's camp.
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Former Georgia All-American and two-time Olympic gold medalist Katrina McClain was announced Monday as one of this year’s 12 inductees into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
“It was very sweet,” McClain told TV interviewer Jim Nantz from the podium at the announcement ceremony in New Orleans. “It’s always good to feel like you’re part of a family and knowing from the past, my best friend Teresa Edwards was inducted last year of course she always talks about how great it feels and how the Hall treats you so nice, so it’s a wonderful feeling and I’m so honored.”
McClain will be inducted alongside players Reggie Miller, Ralph Sampson, Jamaal Wilkes, coach Don Nelson, official Hank Nichols and team, the All-American Red Heads. They will join five previously announced directly elected inductees: player Mel Daniels, Don Barksdale, Chet Walker, coach Lidia Alexeeva and contributor Phil Knight.
“It was very sweet,” McClain told TV interviewer Jim Nantz from the podium at the announcement ceremony in New Orleans. “It’s always good to feel like you’re part of a family and knowing from the past, my best friend Teresa Edwards was inducted last year of course she always talks about how great it feels and how the Hall treats you so nice, so it’s a wonderful feeling and I’m so honored.”
McClain will be inducted alongside players Reggie Miller, Ralph Sampson, Jamaal Wilkes, coach Don Nelson, official Hank Nichols and team, the All-American Red Heads. They will join five previously announced directly elected inductees: player Mel Daniels, Don Barksdale, Chet Walker, coach Lidia Alexeeva and contributor Phil Knight.
Rochell's day in the life of a UGA player
April, 2, 2012
4/02/12
7:54
AM ET
By
Kipp Adams | ESPN.com
As he continues to evaluate his options, Isaac Rochell (McDonough, Ga./Eagles Landing Christian Academy) took an important step in the process last week. The 6-foot-5, 261-pound defensive lineman has stopped counting his offers, but he also knows that in the end only one school will remain. On Friday, Rochell got a closer look at one of the top programs on his list.
“Really what I was able to do was go through a day in the life of a player at Georgia,” Rochell said. “We went to lunch at 1 p.m. when we got there, just like the players do. Coach [Bryan] McClendon and Coach [Rodney] Garner came down and ate lunch with us, so that was good. When we were talking to Coach Garner and Coach McClendon, it really was not a lot of football talk. It was about building a relationship.”
One thing really caught Rochell off guard, and it is something that has been a common occurrence over the last year in Athens.
“Really what I was able to do was go through a day in the life of a player at Georgia,” Rochell said. “We went to lunch at 1 p.m. when we got there, just like the players do. Coach [Bryan] McClendon and Coach [Rodney] Garner came down and ate lunch with us, so that was good. When we were talking to Coach Garner and Coach McClendon, it really was not a lot of football talk. It was about building a relationship.”
One thing really caught Rochell off guard, and it is something that has been a common occurrence over the last year in Athens.
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ATHENS, Ga. -- Chris Burnette adheres to a simple philosophy when teammates begin to scuffle in practice: Step aside and catch your breath.
“Honestly I love it when they get in a fight,” the Georgia offensive lineman said. “Since high school, when people start fighting, I just back up and get a rest. ‘Y’all go ahead and do that and get tired. I’m just going to get this quick little rest in.’ It just comes with the territory.”
Fights are a regular occurrence during out-of-season practices like the ones the Bulldogs are conducting this spring. A visiting high school prospect recently brought attention to the subject when he tweeted about linebacker Alec Ogletree and tailback Isaiah Crowell fighting between plays during a recent spring practice.
“Honestly I love it when they get in a fight,” the Georgia offensive lineman said. “Since high school, when people start fighting, I just back up and get a rest. ‘Y’all go ahead and do that and get tired. I’m just going to get this quick little rest in.’ It just comes with the territory.”
Fights are a regular occurrence during out-of-season practices like the ones the Bulldogs are conducting this spring. A visiting high school prospect recently brought attention to the subject when he tweeted about linebacker Alec Ogletree and tailback Isaiah Crowell fighting between plays during a recent spring practice.
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Results: After winning the opening game of a key SEC series against No. 7 Kentucky 7-6, No. 18 Georgia dropped a 9-8 nailbiter in the second game, setting up a series-deciding rubber game for the second straight weekend. And for the second consecutive weekend, Georgia lost the series. Kentucky won Game 3 11-2 to send Georgia to its fifth loss in sixth games. Clemson also beat the Bulldogs 10-5 in a midweek game.
Georgia record: 18-11 (4-5 SEC)
Highlight of the week: After Georgia blew a 6-0 lead in the seventh inning of the series-opening game against Kentucky, catcher Brett DeLoach drove in the game-winning run in the bottom half of the inning when he roped a double that drove in Curt Powell.
Georgia record: 18-11 (4-5 SEC)
Highlight of the week: After Georgia blew a 6-0 lead in the seventh inning of the series-opening game against Kentucky, catcher Brett DeLoach drove in the game-winning run in the bottom half of the inning when he roped a double that drove in Curt Powell.
ATHENS, Ga. -- Last time he was here, the Bulldogs did their best to try and take the lead for Brendan Langley (Marietta, Ga./Kell), but were unsuccessful. Following his first visit to the University of Georgia since getting an offer, the 6-foot-1, 181-pound defensive back named Alabama and Georgia co-leaders. On Saturday, Langley was back on campus at Georgia again and he admits this trip was different. But did it have an effect on his recruitment?
“I was kind of rushed last time because I had things to do later that day, but this time I had the time to sit down in the offensive and defensive meetings really allowed me to see how they would utilize me on both sides of the ball, and special teams too,” Langley said. “Georgia is my current leader.”
On Saturday the news also came out that sophomore Marc Deas planned to transfer, leaving the Bulldogs with only five returning scholarship players in the entire secondary after the 2012 season. While Langley has said early playing time will not be the only factor in his decision, he knows he is a priority for the coaching staff at Georgia.
“I was kind of rushed last time because I had things to do later that day, but this time I had the time to sit down in the offensive and defensive meetings really allowed me to see how they would utilize me on both sides of the ball, and special teams too,” Langley said. “Georgia is my current leader.”
On Saturday the news also came out that sophomore Marc Deas planned to transfer, leaving the Bulldogs with only five returning scholarship players in the entire secondary after the 2012 season. While Langley has said early playing time will not be the only factor in his decision, he knows he is a priority for the coaching staff at Georgia.
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DE Antonio Riles takes in Georgia practice
April, 1, 2012
4/01/12
1:36
PM ET
By
Radi Nabulsi | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- Defensive end Antonio Riles is one of the first big stars to come out of Archer High School, a relatively new school in Lawrenceville, Ga. Riles has picked up offers from seven top programs including Georgia, Florida and Tennessee. Recently he was in Athens to check out the Bulldogs.
“I spoke with the coaches during their practice and after,” Riles said. “We got to talk on multiple occasions. I met with Coach [Mark] Richt, Coach [Rodney] Garner and my recruiting coordinator Coach [Bryan] McClendon. They said they were glad that I came up and want me to be up here as much as I can to see if I like it or not. They were recruiting me pretty hard.”
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ATHENS, Ga. -- No. 18 Georgia split its Saturday baseball doubleheader with No. 7 Kentucky -- winning 7-6 in the opener before falling 9-8 in Game 2 -- to set up Sunday’s rubber match in the key SEC series.
After Georgia blew a 6-0 lead in the top of the seventh of the opener, Brett DeLoach (3-for-4, two runs, RBI) belted the two-out, go-ahead double in the bottom of the seventh to stake Blake Dieterich to a lead he would protect over the final two scoreless innings.
Georgia staked Game 1 starter Alex Wood to a 6-0 lead before he and reliever Bryan Benzor (4-1) combined to lose the lead. The Wildcats scored four runs in the seventh inning off Wood -- three on a homer by freshman slugger Austin Cousino -- and two more off Benzor to tie the score at 6 by the end of the inning.
After Georgia blew a 6-0 lead in the top of the seventh of the opener, Brett DeLoach (3-for-4, two runs, RBI) belted the two-out, go-ahead double in the bottom of the seventh to stake Blake Dieterich to a lead he would protect over the final two scoreless innings.
Georgia staked Game 1 starter Alex Wood to a 6-0 lead before he and reliever Bryan Benzor (4-1) combined to lose the lead. The Wildcats scored four runs in the seventh inning off Wood -- three on a homer by freshman slugger Austin Cousino -- and two more off Benzor to tie the score at 6 by the end of the inning.
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Sacks, Rome's 2 TDs highlight scrimmage
March, 31, 2012
3/31/12
5:21
PM ET
By
David Ching | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- Throughout the first portion of Georgia’s spring football practices, the Bulldogs’ defense dominated more often than not.
The defense finished Saturday’s scrimmage at Sanford Stadium with 12 sacks, but the offense is beginning to hold its own more effectively.
Redshirt freshman tight end Jay Rome was the offensive star of the scrimmage, catching a 30-yard touchdown from Hutson Mason and making an acrobatic touchdown catch from Parker Welch just inside the back pylon during a goal-line drill.
The defense finished Saturday’s scrimmage at Sanford Stadium with 12 sacks, but the offense is beginning to hold its own more effectively.
Redshirt freshman tight end Jay Rome was the offensive star of the scrimmage, catching a 30-yard touchdown from Hutson Mason and making an acrobatic touchdown catch from Parker Welch just inside the back pylon during a goal-line drill.
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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.