Georgia Bulldogs

One of the emerging prospects in the Peach State was all set to visit Georgia on Saturday for Very Important Dawg Day, but with his mom scheduled to work Antonio Riles (Lawrenceville, Ga./Archer) instead made plans to take her Friday to Athens to meet the Bulldogs’ coaching staff. That plan also fell through, but the 6-foot-4, 260-pound rising senior managed to make the trip up with a couple of teammates Friday night.

Although he grew up a fan of the Bulldogs, this was Riles’ first time on campus.

“I was able to see all of the football facilities, and seeing Sanford Stadium was really cool,” he said. “Athens is a pretty open town and I liked being able to see what student life was like. Watching a gym meet that night, it got me to thinking if that atmosphere was that crazy I could only imagine what Sanford is like on a Saturday for a football game. I really had a good feeling about the visit, and it felt like a great place.”

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There a lot of little things to know about Georgia’s first basketball commit for 2013, point guard J.J. Frazier (Ludowici, Ga. /Faith Baptist Christian). He is often called “little,” as he stands 5-foot-9 and weighs 145 pounds. He is from a little school, in a little town and was little-known before committing to the Bulldogs three weeks ago.

But two things that should never be called little are his game and his loyalty. Faith Baptist Christian coach Matthew Sellars appreciates both.

“Loyalty is one of my biggest things with kids,” Sellars said. “He has had offers to go play other places -- other prep schools and bigger AAU programs. But he is sticking it out with the South Georgia Kings and he is sticking it out with us. He could go play at a top-50 program, but he would rather stay with us since we have been there with him and he realizes that. He is faithful to our program, he talks it up, he talks me up usually -- he is just a loyal kid. That is one of the biggest qualities for me in a player.”

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In recruiting, the competition among college programs is not limited to getting commitments, as the University of Georgia exhibited this week with Demarre Kitt (Tyrone, Ga./Sandy Creek). After making 42 receptions for 651 yards and 10 touchdowns last year, the 6-foot-1,185-pound sophomore found out that although he is two years away from enrolling in college the Bulldogs want Kitt on campus. The war might not be over, but it would appear that Georgia has won the first battle.

“I was planning on going to Clemson this weekend, but on Friday [recruiting coordinator] Rodney Garner called up to my school and told our head coach Chip Walker that he really wanted me to visit Georgia this weekend, so I decided to come to Georgia instead,” Kitt said.

Taking in Saturday’s Very Important Dawg Day in Athens, Kitt said the time spent with the Bulldogs’ receivers coach was his favorite part of the visit. That is a good thing, considering the amount of time the two spent together.

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Before attending Georgia’s VID Day on Saturday, defensive end Naim Mustafaa (Alpharetta, Ga./Alpharetta) was not thrilled with the idea of playing outside linebacker in Todd Grantham’s 3-4 defense. But after spending the day in Athens, Mustafaa has had a change of heart.

“Before, I wasn’t too sure about the outside linebacker position because of covering, but as I sat down and talked with Coach Grantham, he showed me a bunch of clips of Jarvis Jones and I am really sold on the position,” Mustafaa said. “I really wanted to just sit down with the defensive coordinator and see really what their game plan was for me. And it went pretty good.”

The coaches laid out a simple yet appealing plan for the 6-foot-4, 235-pound tackling machine.

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If there was any doubt that the Georgia Bulldogs are in great need of offensive linemen for the 2013 class, it was erased after Josh Cardiello (Buford, Ga.) finished up his visit Saturday to Athens. The 6-foot-3, 285-pound prospect was told firsthand that the Bulldogs are hoping to fill his position as soon as possible.

“Coach [Will] Friend talked with me about how he wants to take two to three interior offensive linemen and he really wants me to be one of them,” Cardiello said. “He said for me to make sure I keep updated on where things stand because he did not want me to wait too long and then not have the opportunity to play here.”

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The Georgia Bulldogs put out several new offers during their VID Day on Saturday, but Kelsey Griffin (Hoschton, Ga./Mill Creek) was not one of them. That’s because the 6-foot-2, 285-pound defensive lineman received his offer from the Bulldogs last July, after racking up 96 tackles and six sacks during his sophomore season. His latest visit to Athens seems to have helped Georgia’s chances with the in-state target.

“It went great,” Griffin said. “I got to see more of the campus, talk to the coaches more and get a closer look at the team. I like how they explained their game plan on defense, and the way I fit in will play a big factor in my final decision.”

Griffin mentioned his time with the Bulldogs staff as his favorite part of Saturday’s visit, but he noted that several other activities also stood out.

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Recently the Georgia Bulldogs have been praised by prospects for the quality of the on-campus food. After spending an afternoon in Athens for VID Day, offensive lineman Delando Crooks (Atlanta/Carver) joined the crowd, mentioning his repeat visits to the dessert section.

“I had, like, four or five smoothies, ice cream and cookies, but I run a few miles a day, so that is OK,” he said.

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The University of Georgia is hoping to lock down a stellar defensive back class in the 2013 recruiting cycle, and with only four cornerbacks and four safeties set to return after this year, whomever the Bulldogs sign will have to be ready to play immediately. That is exactly what the coaches told Brendan Langley (Marietta, Ga./Kell) during his time Saturday in Athens for Very Important Dawg Day.

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As a sophomore, Reggie Wilkerson (Citra, Fla./North Marion) starred for the Colts at quarterback for 967 yards passing, 300 yards rushing, and 12 touchdowns in 2010. Last fall, the 5-foot-11, 175-pound junior put up 750 all-purpose yards with six scores on offense, this time playing more at wide receiver. But when projecting to the next level, Wilkerson’s upside might be greatest as a cornerback, and several colleges have extended scholarships with the same thing in mind.

Coming into his visit Friday to Athens, Duke, Iowa State, USF and Utah had all offered Wilkerson, and the University of Georgia became offer No. 5 late Friday afternoon. UGA recruiter of record John Lilly had mentioned the news might be coming, so when Wilkerson entered head coach Mark Richt’s office, he wasted no time checking to see where things stood.

“I asked [Richt] when they might offer, and Coach Richt said I had an offer right now,” Wilkerson said. “I was just smiling big when he said that; I could not believe it. They are a top-25 program, so it makes me feel good that they think I am a good enough athlete to help their program.”

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Last year the Martin Luther King secondary was as talented as any in Georgia. With Jordan Moore signing with TCU, Jarnor Jones signing with N.C. State, and Dontavius Heard signing with Memphis, the Lions defensive backs could match up with almost anyone in the passing game.

Remarkably enough they were not alone, as sophomore safety Jeremy Tyler has also emerged with early offers from Akron, Rutgers and Vanderbilt.

One of his teammates has netted four offers recently, three from the Southeastern Conference. Cornerback Wesley Green (Lithonia, Ga./MLK) made 40 tackles last year, along with a team-leading six interceptions.

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Offensive lineman Josh Outlaw (Lithonia, Ga./MLK) had plans to visit Clemson on Saturday, so he made the trip Friday up to Athens with a few teammates to get a more personal junior day experience. After spending the afternoon on the University of Georgia campus, the 6-foot-4, 275-pound Outlaw spoke glowingly of where the Bulldogs stand in his recruitment.

“The visit was amazing,” Outlaw said. “Georgia put itself in a great position for me right now. I am definitely heavy on Georgia right now and I will be back for a spring practice.”

The highlight of the trip is one that has become a staple of visits to Georgia over the last few years.

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The Georgia coaches have sent out offers to 11 offensive linemen for the 2013 class and may not be done yet. One 6-foot-6, 300-pound prospect was in Athens last week.

“It went pretty well,” said Maurice Swain (LaGrange, Ga./Troup Co.). “They showed us a lot of the academic side, like where we would go to study hall and things like that. We had a good time.”

Swain visited with teammates Ricky Frazier, Reuben Foster and Cortez Leonard. He spent a couple days in Athens and took in the Bulldogs men’s basketball team’s upset of No. 9 Florida. While the game was “great and energetic”, that was not he enjoyed the most..

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