ATHENS, Ga. -- Former Georgia all-American tight end and current NFL draft prospect Orson Charles was arrested for driving under the influence early Friday morning in Athens.
Charles, whom ESPN rates as the No. 3 available tight end in the upcoming draft, was charged with DUI and impeding traffic flow by Athens-Clarke County police after being stopped at approximately 3 a.m.
According to the police report, Charles was stopped in the roadway at South Milledge Avenue and Morton Avenue when a police officer pulled up behind him to check if his vehicle was disabled. Charles then began to drive away and the officer followed him a short distance before pulling over the vehicle.
Charles submitted to sobriety tests and registered a .095 blood alcohol level and was arrested for DUI. He was booked into Clarke County Jail at 4:31 a.m. and released on $1,750 bond at 5:29 a.m.
Charles, 21, announced in January that he would leave Georgia after a standout junior season in which he was a finalist for the John Mackey Award, which goes to the nation’s top college tight end. He made 45 catches for 574 yards and five touchdowns last season, completing his career with 10 touchdown catches -- which ties for the UGA record for tight ends.
Charles, whom ESPN rates as the No. 3 available tight end in the upcoming draft, was charged with DUI and impeding traffic flow by Athens-Clarke County police after being stopped at approximately 3 a.m.
According to the police report, Charles was stopped in the roadway at South Milledge Avenue and Morton Avenue when a police officer pulled up behind him to check if his vehicle was disabled. Charles then began to drive away and the officer followed him a short distance before pulling over the vehicle.
Charles submitted to sobriety tests and registered a .095 blood alcohol level and was arrested for DUI. He was booked into Clarke County Jail at 4:31 a.m. and released on $1,750 bond at 5:29 a.m.
Charles, 21, announced in January that he would leave Georgia after a standout junior season in which he was a finalist for the John Mackey Award, which goes to the nation’s top college tight end. He made 45 catches for 574 yards and five touchdowns last season, completing his career with 10 touchdown catches -- which ties for the UGA record for tight ends.
ATHENS, Ga. -- If a flair for the dramatic is a learned trait, Georgia’s baseball team has already proven itself well-versed.
When Kyle Farmer drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning of Tuesday’s 3-2 victory against Kennesaw State, it marked the third time this season that the 12th-ranked Bulldogs (11-2) won in their final at-bat.
“One of the big things has been walk-off hits,” said Georgia relief pitcher Blake Dieterich, who is 3-0 with two saves and a 0.00 ERA entering this weekend’s three-game series against No. 16 UCLA (9-3). “They’ve been hitting the ball well when we really needed it and our backs were up against the wall. They somehow find a way to get out of it.”
When Kyle Farmer drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning of Tuesday’s 3-2 victory against Kennesaw State, it marked the third time this season that the 12th-ranked Bulldogs (11-2) won in their final at-bat.
“One of the big things has been walk-off hits,” said Georgia relief pitcher Blake Dieterich, who is 3-0 with two saves and a 0.00 ERA entering this weekend’s three-game series against No. 16 UCLA (9-3). “They’ve been hitting the ball well when we really needed it and our backs were up against the wall. They somehow find a way to get out of it.”
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How the game was won: Georgia (15-16) used an 18-4 run in the second half to build a 13-point lead and then withstood a late Mississippi State (21-11) charge to advance to the second round of the SEC tournament and potentially knock State off the NCAA tournament bubble.
Stat of the game: Dustin Ware had a couple of his early 3-pointers rattle out and he went to halftime without having scored a single point. But Georgia’s senior guard hit three 3s and another long jumper during the 18-4 run, helping his team take control. He scored 13 points in the second half.
Player of the game: Gerald Robinson. Georgia’s senior point guard set the tone for the Bulldogs’ offense throughout, scoring 12 of his 23 points in the first half and providing several clutch baskets in the second half, as the Bulldogs fought to hold onto their lead.
Unsung hero of the game: Nemanja Djurisic. The freshman post seemed to have his work cut out against Mississippi State’s stellar frontcourt, but he had one of his best games of the season. Djurisic’s 11 points and 10 rebounds marked his first career double-double.
What it means: After a severe second-half swoon, it’s possible -- maybe even likely -- that Mississippi State played itself out of the Big Dance. Meanwhile, Georgia survives to face a Vandy team that beat Georgia in both of their meetings during the regular season. Tip-off is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET Friday in New Orleans.
Stat of the game: Dustin Ware had a couple of his early 3-pointers rattle out and he went to halftime without having scored a single point. But Georgia’s senior guard hit three 3s and another long jumper during the 18-4 run, helping his team take control. He scored 13 points in the second half.
Player of the game: Gerald Robinson. Georgia’s senior point guard set the tone for the Bulldogs’ offense throughout, scoring 12 of his 23 points in the first half and providing several clutch baskets in the second half, as the Bulldogs fought to hold onto their lead.
Unsung hero of the game: Nemanja Djurisic. The freshman post seemed to have his work cut out against Mississippi State’s stellar frontcourt, but he had one of his best games of the season. Djurisic’s 11 points and 10 rebounds marked his first career double-double.
What it means: After a severe second-half swoon, it’s possible -- maybe even likely -- that Mississippi State played itself out of the Big Dance. Meanwhile, Georgia survives to face a Vandy team that beat Georgia in both of their meetings during the regular season. Tip-off is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET Friday in New Orleans.
The central theme with University of Georgia recruiting will always be to close the borders in the Peach State. But last week, the Bulldogs went cross-country to try and land one of the best on the West Coast.
Georgia had already extended six offers to defensive linemen for the 2013 class, five of which are to in-state prospects. Head coach, recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach Rodney Garner extended his latest offer to Eddie Vanderdoes (Auburn, Calif./Placer). After talking to the ESPNU Watch List selection, it became apparent why Garner hopes to reel in the Golden State standout.
“I only spoke to Coach Garner once, and when I called him that is when he offered me,” Vanderdoes said. “He said he saw my highlight tape and that he really loves the way I play the game. He said with his coaching he could keep making me better, and I could be one of those guys like Richard Seymour that he develops for the NFL, so I thought that was really cool.”
Georgia had already extended six offers to defensive linemen for the 2013 class, five of which are to in-state prospects. Head coach, recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach Rodney Garner extended his latest offer to Eddie Vanderdoes (Auburn, Calif./Placer). After talking to the ESPNU Watch List selection, it became apparent why Garner hopes to reel in the Golden State standout.
“I only spoke to Coach Garner once, and when I called him that is when he offered me,” Vanderdoes said. “He said he saw my highlight tape and that he really loves the way I play the game. He said with his coaching he could keep making me better, and I could be one of those guys like Richard Seymour that he develops for the NFL, so I thought that was really cool.”
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With 30 tackles, three interceptions, 73 carries for 976 yards and 19 touchdowns, two punt returns for touchdowns, two kickoff returns for touchdowns, 14 catches for 336 yards and five touchdowns, there is no denying J.J. Green (Kingsland, Ga./Camden Co.) should be considered one of, if the not the top overall playmaker in the state of Georgia. So it comes as no surprise that when University of Georgia head coach Mark Richt extended an offer to Green, one of his teammates was immediately in his ear to accept it on the spot.
Why? Because he wants to play with his fellow Wildcat star at the next level.
“Brice (Ramsey) tried to make me pull the trigger right away,” Green said of his second overall offer. "He did not waste any time going to work on me.”
Why? Because he wants to play with his fellow Wildcat star at the next level.
“Brice (Ramsey) tried to make me pull the trigger right away,” Green said of his second overall offer. "He did not waste any time going to work on me.”
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ATHENS, Ga. -- Georgia opens SEC tournament play against Mississippi State at 10 p.m. ET Thursday in New Orleans, hoping to duplicate the 2008 UGA club’s stunning run to a tournament championship.
This year’s Bulldogs (14-16, 5-11 SEC) have actually been more competitive than Dennis Felton’s bunch in 2008 (13-16 overall and 4-12 in the SEC), which shocked the college basketball world by winning three games in two days after tornadoes wreaked havoc in downtown Atlanta and affected the tournament schedule.
Nonetheless, this UGA club enters the tournament as an extreme long shot, just as the 2008 team did. It would require another magical run for Georgia to reach the NCAA tournament in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2001-02.
This year’s Bulldogs (14-16, 5-11 SEC) have actually been more competitive than Dennis Felton’s bunch in 2008 (13-16 overall and 4-12 in the SEC), which shocked the college basketball world by winning three games in two days after tornadoes wreaked havoc in downtown Atlanta and affected the tournament schedule.
Nonetheless, this UGA club enters the tournament as an extreme long shot, just as the 2008 team did. It would require another magical run for Georgia to reach the NCAA tournament in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2001-02.
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The Georgia men’s basketball team will compete in the 2012 Legends Classic next season alongside Georgetown, Indiana and UCLA.
The event will feature a similar format to the CBE Classic, in which the Bulldogs competed this season. That means the Bulldogs will host two regional round games at Stegeman Coliseum between Nov. 11-15 and then advance to the championship round on Nov. 19-20 and play two games at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Georgetown, Indiana and UCLA will also host regional rounds before advancing to the championship round. A total of 12 teams will compete in the tournament.
The SEC has enjoyed some success in the five years the tournament has existed. Vanderbilt won the event this season and Florida won it in 2009.
The event will feature a similar format to the CBE Classic, in which the Bulldogs competed this season. That means the Bulldogs will host two regional round games at Stegeman Coliseum between Nov. 11-15 and then advance to the championship round on Nov. 19-20 and play two games at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Georgetown, Indiana and UCLA will also host regional rounds before advancing to the championship round. A total of 12 teams will compete in the tournament.
The SEC has enjoyed some success in the five years the tournament has existed. Vanderbilt won the event this season and Florida won it in 2009.
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New UGA target Alvin Bailey can do it all 
March, 7, 2012
3/07/12
11:53
AM ET
By
Kipp Adams | ESPN.com
The University of Georgia joined programs like Arkansas, Florida State and South Carolina in offering one of the more versatile prospects in Florida on Monday in Alvin Bailey (Seffner, Fla./Armwood).
“I was in the locker room working out and then my coach told me to come here,” Bailey said. “I was like man, this must be important if Coach is pulling me out of workouts. He had me call Coach Bryan McClendon and he put me on with Coach Mark Richt.”
Indeed, Richt did have some important news for Bailey.
“I was in the locker room working out and then my coach told me to come here,” Bailey said. “I was like man, this must be important if Coach is pulling me out of workouts. He had me call Coach Bryan McClendon and he put me on with Coach Mark Richt.”
Indeed, Richt did have some important news for Bailey.
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Milton (Fla.) wide receiver Isaiah Jones received offers from Georgia and Arkansas in the last week and is expected to visit Auburn a second time today.
The offers from the Bulldogs and the Razorbacks came just days after his first offers, from Louisville and Tennessee.
"I've been in contact with the coaches from all the schools but not much more," Jones said. "I'm taking the process pretty slow right now."
The offers from the Bulldogs and the Razorbacks came just days after his first offers, from Louisville and Tennessee.
"I've been in contact with the coaches from all the schools but not much more," Jones said. "I'm taking the process pretty slow right now."
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ATHENS, Ga. -- Drew Butler is not afraid to say what he wants.
The former Georgia punter knows history dictates that few players at his position are selected in the NFL draft, but it is important to Butler that he become a drafted player.
“I think I’ve worked extremely hard throughout the past four years to become a draft-able choice,” Butler said, “and I think I’ve worked extremely hard throughout this entire evaluation process to be considered the top punter in the draft and to be that first punter taken off the board.”
The former Georgia punter knows history dictates that few players at his position are selected in the NFL draft, but it is important to Butler that he become a drafted player.
“I think I’ve worked extremely hard throughout the past four years to become a draft-able choice,” Butler said, “and I think I’ve worked extremely hard throughout this entire evaluation process to be considered the top punter in the draft and to be that first punter taken off the board.”
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Georgia swingman Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is the Bulldogs’ lone representative on the SEC men’s basketball coaches’ postseason awards list.
Caldwell-Pope made the league’s all-freshman team after ranking fourth among SEC freshmen in scoring (13.6 ppg) and sixth among freshmen in rebounds (5.2 rpg). Overall, the Greenville, Ga., native is 11th in the league in scoring, fourth in steals and fifth in made 3-pointers per game.
Caldwell-Pope made the league’s all-freshman team after ranking fourth among SEC freshmen in scoring (13.6 ppg) and sixth among freshmen in rebounds (5.2 rpg). Overall, the Greenville, Ga., native is 11th in the league in scoring, fourth in steals and fifth in made 3-pointers per game.
The Georgia women's basketball team heads into the NCAA tournament as a No. 4 seed and will first face 13-seed Marist at Chapel Hill, N.C. Despite losing in its conference semifinals, Kentucky moved up to a No. 2 seed after a wild weekend of upsets in the ACC, Big Ten and SEC tourneys. Read here.
And Charlie Creme writes: Is a neutral site worth a lower seed? Determining the No. 2 seeds will be the selection committee's toughest task next weekend. But this season, being a 3-seed has its advantages, like playing at a neutral site in the first and second rounds.
And Charlie Creme writes: Is a neutral site worth a lower seed? Determining the No. 2 seeds will be the selection committee's toughest task next weekend. But this season, being a 3-seed has its advantages, like playing at a neutral site in the first and second rounds.
Georgia signee Mann learns tough lesson
March, 6, 2012
3/06/12
3:03
PM ET
By Mike LaPlante | ESPN.com
The rules are the rules; you have to follow them, but that doesn’t mean you have to like them. Such is the case for Milton High School (Alpharetta, Ga.) and its star point guard Charles Mann, who, after being ejected for picking up two technical fouls in a 5A state quarterfinal victory over North Gwinnett on Saturday, must sit out the remainder of the season with a mandatory two-game suspension. He will miss the opportunity to close out his high school career by playing for a state championship. The Georgia signee’s high school playing career is finished; the best he can do now to help his team win is to provide support from the sidelines.
Although it is a tough break for Mann and his team, as both technical fouls where questionable, subjective calls that could have been handled differently by the officials, it is also potentially a great teaching moment.
Mann was tagged with a technical foul in the first half after getting tangled up with North Gwinnett freshman Kamaran Calhoun, which resulted in a double-technical instead of a double-foul situation. In the third quarter, after Mann dunked the ball, he was whistled for his second as the referee called taunting. Milton coach David Boyd was dumbfounded by both calls, especially given the circumstances.
Although it is a tough break for Mann and his team, as both technical fouls where questionable, subjective calls that could have been handled differently by the officials, it is also potentially a great teaching moment.
Mann was tagged with a technical foul in the first half after getting tangled up with North Gwinnett freshman Kamaran Calhoun, which resulted in a double-technical instead of a double-foul situation. In the third quarter, after Mann dunked the ball, he was whistled for his second as the referee called taunting. Milton coach David Boyd was dumbfounded by both calls, especially given the circumstances.
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ATHENS, Ga. -- DeAngelo Tyson didn’t get a chance to shine at the NFL scouting combine, so he knew Monday’s on-campus pro day workouts were his last chance for such a large number of league personnel reps to see what he can do.
Tyson seemed to make the most of the opportunity, turning in one of the most impressive performances among the 12 former Bulldogs who participated in the event.
“I did what my goal was set to be,” Tyson said. “I just accomplished a lot. It’s my dream to play football and I think I’m making a big step toward doing that.”
Tyson seemed to make the most of the opportunity, turning in one of the most impressive performances among the 12 former Bulldogs who participated in the event.
“I did what my goal was set to be,” Tyson said. “I just accomplished a lot. It’s my dream to play football and I think I’m making a big step toward doing that.”
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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.