Mel Kiper Jr. lists Georgia's Drew Butler to go first among punters in the NFL draft, citing Butler's ability as "a guy who can get off big punts, but not so long that they limit coverage." Kiper lists Georgia TE Orson Charles second to only Clemson's Dwayne Allen among tight ends, and Cordy Glenn, whom he calls "a massive guy," second among offensive guards in the piece "Top 5 players at every position."
In his piece "Senior Bowl Stock," Todd McShay says that Georgia CB Brandon Boykin's stock is up. The special teams star has been impressive at the event, quickly recognizing routes and showing "excellent flashes" of recovery speed, among other things.
And ... Todd McShay explains the latest technology being used to scout the Senior Bowl.
[Check out the Senior Bowl home page here.]
Based on Glenn's ability to play all over the line, Kiper's Mock Draft 1.0 projects the OG to be selected No. 18 by the San Diego Chargers. However, Kiper considers Glenn's value to be higher still, placing him at No. 17 on the lastest Big Board.
In his piece "Senior Bowl Stock," Todd McShay says that Georgia CB Brandon Boykin's stock is up. The special teams star has been impressive at the event, quickly recognizing routes and showing "excellent flashes" of recovery speed, among other things.
And ... Todd McShay explains the latest technology being used to scout the Senior Bowl.
[Check out the Senior Bowl home page here.]
Based on Glenn's ability to play all over the line, Kiper's Mock Draft 1.0 projects the OG to be selected No. 18 by the San Diego Chargers. However, Kiper considers Glenn's value to be higher still, placing him at No. 17 on the lastest Big Board.
Thursday's episode of RecruitingNation
January, 26, 2012
1/26/12
12:18
PM ET
By RecruitingNation | ESPN.com
"RecruitingNation" airs at 5:30 p.m. ET today on ESPNU with host Dari Nowkhah and RecruitingNation's Tom Luginbill, Craig Haubert and Jamie Newberg.
RecruitingNation breaks down the top 10 players still undecided, including Dorial Green-Beckham, Davonte Neal, Andrus Peat and Eddie Goldman. The panel discusses why these players are important, where are they are likely to end up, and what it means for the teams that don’t get them.
The show will also feature results from ESPN The Magazine’s "Recruiting Confidential" poll of the top prospects in the nation. Who do the top players think is the nation’s best recruiter? Most over-rated recruiter? And, do they feel like they were being stalked through the recruiting process?
The show wraps up with a look at the top storylines for fans to follow as we count down to Feb. 1, national signing day.
RecruitingNation breaks down the top 10 players still undecided, including Dorial Green-Beckham, Davonte Neal, Andrus Peat and Eddie Goldman. The panel discusses why these players are important, where are they are likely to end up, and what it means for the teams that don’t get them.
The show will also feature results from ESPN The Magazine’s "Recruiting Confidential" poll of the top prospects in the nation. Who do the top players think is the nation’s best recruiter? Most over-rated recruiter? And, do they feel like they were being stalked through the recruiting process?
The show wraps up with a look at the top storylines for fans to follow as we count down to Feb. 1, national signing day.
The final weekend before signing day is approaching, and the University of Georgia has yet to land a defensive back commitment for the 2012 class. But that could soon change.
Sheldon Dawson (Memphis, Tenn./Ridgeway) is listed as a Memphis commit, but that soon could change. Dawson recently named Georgia as the team to beat, and according to Ridgeway head coach Duron Sutton, the player could be close to inking with the SEC East champions.
"People are still coming after him, but from what he has spoken to me about, it looks like he will be a Georgia Bulldog,” Sutton said. “From my understanding, I think he wants to make an announcement Monday. He is supposed to go to Ole Miss this weekend.”
Sheldon Dawson (Memphis, Tenn./Ridgeway) is listed as a Memphis commit, but that soon could change. Dawson recently named Georgia as the team to beat, and according to Ridgeway head coach Duron Sutton, the player could be close to inking with the SEC East champions.
"People are still coming after him, but from what he has spoken to me about, it looks like he will be a Georgia Bulldog,” Sutton said. “From my understanding, I think he wants to make an announcement Monday. He is supposed to go to Ole Miss this weekend.”
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Southeast Regional Coordinator Jamie Newberg delivers up-to-the-minute information on the state of recruiting in the SEC, including Bama's position as the front-runner and a look at why Florida has the class to watch in the SEC.
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UGA offers junior TE Adam Breneman 
January, 25, 2012
1/25/12
11:05
PM ET
By
Jared Shanker | ESPN.com
Georgia tight end coach John Lilly stopped by Adam Breneman’s (Camp Hill, Pa./Cedar Cliff) high school Wednesday, but, per NCAA rules, he didn’t speak with the junior tight end.
When Breneman called Lilly later that evening, Lilly gave Breneman the offer.
“He said they got my junior season tape and were really impressed. What I can bring to the offense from a receiving standpoint is what they need,” Breneman said. “They like to feature the tight end in the offense, try to get the tight end
When Breneman called Lilly later that evening, Lilly gave Breneman the offer.
“He said they got my junior season tape and were really impressed. What I can bring to the offense from a receiving standpoint is what they need,” Breneman said. “They like to feature the tight end in the offense, try to get the tight end
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Jones, Glenn glad for company at Sr. Bowl
January, 25, 2012
1/25/12
12:29
PM ET
By
Alex Scarborough | ESPN.com
MOBILE, Ala. -- For Ben Jones and Cordy Glenn, the Senior Bowl has had the flavor of home.
When the two Georgia offensive linemen get done with practice, they pack up and head back to the hotel together and share a room. While most of the players at the annual all-star game struggle with the new environment, Jones and Glenn find comfort in the familiar.
“It’s just a little more comfortable,” Jones said. “You have someone to talk to. You can chit-chat.“
Said Glenn, “It’s not like you have to try and make a new friend while sometimes you just want to relax. It’s kind of cool to know someone you’ve known for years, like a comfort zone almost.”
[Watch: Todd McShay's Senior Bowl standouts]
When the two Georgia offensive linemen get done with practice, they pack up and head back to the hotel together and share a room. While most of the players at the annual all-star game struggle with the new environment, Jones and Glenn find comfort in the familiar.
“It’s just a little more comfortable,” Jones said. “You have someone to talk to. You can chit-chat.“
Said Glenn, “It’s not like you have to try and make a new friend while sometimes you just want to relax. It’s kind of cool to know someone you’ve known for years, like a comfort zone almost.”
[Watch: Todd McShay's Senior Bowl standouts]
Coach's Corner: Cordarrelle Patterson
January, 25, 2012
1/25/12
12:11
PM ET
By
Kipp Adams | ESPN.com
Wide receiver Cordarellle Patterson (Hutchinson, Kan./Hutchinson CC), one of the most prolific offensive weapons in the nation, is close to announcing his decision. Patterson has taken official visits to Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss and Tennessee, and he will choose from one of those five programs on signing day.
The connection between a prospect and his potential position coach is sometimes a powerful factor in a recruit’s final decision. While Tennessee lost its receivers coach recently, Patterson's recruiter of record is Darin Hinshaw, the former quarterbacks coach who is now the Vols’ wide receivers coach. The staff at Ole Miss is new, and LSU has yet to hire a receivers coach. Patterson has talked with Hutchinson head coach Rion Rhoades about all the upheaval in the coaching staffs.
“He is pretty perceptive and aware of what is going on, but I do not know how much of a factor it will be in his final decision,” Rhoades said. “I think Tony Ball and Hinshaw being his position coach at Georgia and Tennessee [respectively], it definitely helps that they have been the ones recruiting him this entire time.”
The connection between a prospect and his potential position coach is sometimes a powerful factor in a recruit’s final decision. While Tennessee lost its receivers coach recently, Patterson's recruiter of record is Darin Hinshaw, the former quarterbacks coach who is now the Vols’ wide receivers coach. The staff at Ole Miss is new, and LSU has yet to hire a receivers coach. Patterson has talked with Hutchinson head coach Rion Rhoades about all the upheaval in the coaching staffs.
“He is pretty perceptive and aware of what is going on, but I do not know how much of a factor it will be in his final decision,” Rhoades said. “I think Tony Ball and Hinshaw being his position coach at Georgia and Tennessee [respectively], it definitely helps that they have been the ones recruiting him this entire time.”
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ATHENS, Ga. -- For a while there, Georgia gave its fans reason to believe.
Facing top-ranked Kentucky as a heavy underdog Tuesday night, Georgia stood toe-to-toe with the mighty Wildcats and a packed house at Stegeman Coliseum was rocking.
“It was definitely fun to play,” said Georgia senior guard Dustin Ware, the most experienced member of the team. “It was one of the best crowds we’ve had since I’ve been here.”
Facing top-ranked Kentucky as a heavy underdog Tuesday night, Georgia stood toe-to-toe with the mighty Wildcats and a packed house at Stegeman Coliseum was rocking.
“It was definitely fun to play,” said Georgia senior guard Dustin Ware, the most experienced member of the team. “It was one of the best crowds we’ve had since I’ve been here.”
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Instant analysis: Kentucky 57, Georgia 44
January, 24, 2012
1/24/12
10:56
PM ET
By
David Ching | ESPN.com
How the game was won: Riding the emotional lift provided by a noisy home crowd, Georgia hung with top-ranked Kentucky early and trailed just 23-22 with six minutes left in the first half. But the Wildcats finished the half on a 15-4 run to go up 38-26 at the break and led by double digits for most of the second half, dropping the Bulldogs to 1-5 in SEC play.
Turning point: With Georgia trailing 28-25 late in the opening half, Kentucky guard Darius Miller went on a one-man 7-0 run in the span of three possessions, pushing the Wildcats’ lead into double digits for the first time.
Stat of the game: 41-26. Kentucky had Georgia seriously outsized at essentially every position -- and the advantage was most evident in the Wildcats’ 41-26 rebounding advantage. The Wildcats had two players finish with double-figure rebounds -- Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, while no Bulldog had more than five.
Player of the game: Miller. The Kentucky senior led the Wildcats to a comfortable halftime lead by hitting all five of his shots, three of which came from 3-point range, to score 13 of his game-high 19 points before intermission.
What it means: Georgia enters its open weekend in desperate need of a break, having dropped four of its five conference games. Meanwhile, Kentucky further showed why it moved into the nation’s No. 1 spot in the polls this week, with so many explosive weapons at its disposal.
Turning point: With Georgia trailing 28-25 late in the opening half, Kentucky guard Darius Miller went on a one-man 7-0 run in the span of three possessions, pushing the Wildcats’ lead into double digits for the first time.
Stat of the game: 41-26. Kentucky had Georgia seriously outsized at essentially every position -- and the advantage was most evident in the Wildcats’ 41-26 rebounding advantage. The Wildcats had two players finish with double-figure rebounds -- Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, while no Bulldog had more than five.
Player of the game: Miller. The Kentucky senior led the Wildcats to a comfortable halftime lead by hitting all five of his shots, three of which came from 3-point range, to score 13 of his game-high 19 points before intermission.
What it means: Georgia enters its open weekend in desperate need of a break, having dropped four of its five conference games. Meanwhile, Kentucky further showed why it moved into the nation’s No. 1 spot in the polls this week, with so many explosive weapons at its disposal.
Junior running back Alvin Kamara (Norcross, Ga./Norcross) got some big news Monday when the home state Bulldogs offered him a scholarship.
“Coach (Mark) Richt and coach (Bryan) McClendon came by last week,” Kamara said. “They wanted to see how I looked size wise. Then McClendon came by yesterday and said they were going to go ahead and offer me.”
This is Kamara’s second offer. His first came a few months ago from Syracuse. He’s excited that Georgia pulled the trigger and plans on getting up to Athens sometime soon.
“Coach (Mark) Richt and coach (Bryan) McClendon came by last week,” Kamara said. “They wanted to see how I looked size wise. Then McClendon came by yesterday and said they were going to go ahead and offer me.”
This is Kamara’s second offer. His first came a few months ago from Syracuse. He’s excited that Georgia pulled the trigger and plans on getting up to Athens sometime soon.
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DT Dalvin Tomlinson will miss UGA visit
January, 24, 2012
1/24/12
12:27
PM ET
By
Radi Nabulsi | ESPN.com
McDONOUGH, Ga. -- Georgia fans will be disheartened to hear that three-star defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson won’t be visiting Athens before he makes his decision on where to play college football. No doubt they want to see the two-time state wrestling champion getting the red-carpet treatment, and eventually see his grappling skills put to use between the hedges next fall.
But it is the pursuit of an elusive third state wrestling title that will keep the 6-foot-2, 265-pound prospect from officially visiting Georgia.
“It would mean a lot to get a third title,” Tomlinson told DawgNation on Monday morning.
But it is the pursuit of an elusive third state wrestling title that will keep the 6-foot-2, 265-pound prospect from officially visiting Georgia.
“It would mean a lot to get a third title,” Tomlinson told DawgNation on Monday morning.
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As signing day approaches, DawgNation speaks to the coaches of several top remaining targets for Georgia for a closer look at what makes them special.
With the loss of Chester Brown (Hinesville, Ga./Bradwell Institute), need to add another offensive lineman in the 2012 class becomes even more apparent. Right now there are just 11 linemen on campus, so whomever the Bulldogs are able to add come signing day will have a great chance of being called into action this fall. It just so happens that one of the top targets, if not the top target, remaining for Georgia is offensive tackle Avery Young (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Palm Beach Gardens). Auburn, Florida, Georgia and now Miami are the likely finalists for the No. 8 offensive tackle and No. 61 overall prospect in the country.
Young helped pave the way for West Virginia commitment Roshard Burney to rush for 2,000 yards and 19 touchdowns and Alex Clark to go for 978 yards. The Gators went 9-3 last fall, losing to state runner-up Miramar in the third round of the playoffs. Looking back over the past few years, head coach Chris Davis is grateful for the chance to have worked with Young.
With the loss of Chester Brown (Hinesville, Ga./Bradwell Institute), need to add another offensive lineman in the 2012 class becomes even more apparent. Right now there are just 11 linemen on campus, so whomever the Bulldogs are able to add come signing day will have a great chance of being called into action this fall. It just so happens that one of the top targets, if not the top target, remaining for Georgia is offensive tackle Avery Young (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Palm Beach Gardens). Auburn, Florida, Georgia and now Miami are the likely finalists for the No. 8 offensive tackle and No. 61 overall prospect in the country.
Young helped pave the way for West Virginia commitment Roshard Burney to rush for 2,000 yards and 19 touchdowns and Alex Clark to go for 978 yards. The Gators went 9-3 last fall, losing to state runner-up Miramar in the third round of the playoffs. Looking back over the past few years, head coach Chris Davis is grateful for the chance to have worked with Young.
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Dawgs need sharper offense against UK
January, 24, 2012
1/24/12
11:00
AM ET
By
David Ching | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- Kentucky’s arrival at Stegeman Coliseum is always a special occasion for Georgia’s basketball fans.
Today the history-rich Wildcats (19-1, 5-0 SEC) will arrive as the nation’s top-ranked team, as they supplanted previous No. 1 Syracuse in Monday’s newest college basketball polls.
It will be the first time since Florida’s 2007 win here that the Bulldogs have faced the No. 1 team in the polls.
“How many people get this chance in life? How many people get this chance?” asked Georgia coach Mark Fox, whose team will host the Wildcats at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN3. “I never got it as a player. You don’t get it real often as a coach, but it’s just a great opportunity. They’ve got a terrific team. They’ve got an outstanding team.”
Watch the game live on ESPN3.
Today the history-rich Wildcats (19-1, 5-0 SEC) will arrive as the nation’s top-ranked team, as they supplanted previous No. 1 Syracuse in Monday’s newest college basketball polls.
It will be the first time since Florida’s 2007 win here that the Bulldogs have faced the No. 1 team in the polls.
“How many people get this chance in life? How many people get this chance?” asked Georgia coach Mark Fox, whose team will host the Wildcats at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN3. “I never got it as a player. You don’t get it real often as a coach, but it’s just a great opportunity. They’ve got a terrific team. They’ve got an outstanding team.”
Watch the game live on ESPN3.
Four-star TE Sean Price set to visit UGA
January, 24, 2012
1/24/12
9:43
AM ET
By
Kipp Adams | ESPN.com
With the early departure of AFCA First Team All-American tight end Orson Charles to the NFL draft coming less than a month before signing day, Georgia acted quickly in extending an offer to another talented tight end from the Sunshine State. Sean Price (Citron, Fla./North Marion), an Under Armour All-American, received an offer from the Bulldogs just a few hours before the news of Charles leaving became official.
Price, a 6-foot-4, 225-pound four-star prospect, made 25 catches for 506 yards and five touchdowns this past season. He made the decision last June to stay close to home, committing to USF. Price was in Tampa two weeks ago for his official to USF, and the Bulls' coaching staff is expected to make an in-home visit with him Thursday.
Two years ago, Price took part in Georgia's Dawg Night and was impressed with Orson Charles, as well as the program's history with tight ends. This weekend he will make a return trip to Athens, this time with his grandparents. Price will return with less than 48 hours to go before signing day.
Georgia now has 16 commitments, including one from tight end Ty Smith (Moultrie, Ga./Colquitt Co.)
Price, a 6-foot-4, 225-pound four-star prospect, made 25 catches for 506 yards and five touchdowns this past season. He made the decision last June to stay close to home, committing to USF. Price was in Tampa two weeks ago for his official to USF, and the Bulls' coaching staff is expected to make an in-home visit with him Thursday.
Two years ago, Price took part in Georgia's Dawg Night and was impressed with Orson Charles, as well as the program's history with tight ends. This weekend he will make a return trip to Athens, this time with his grandparents. Price will return with less than 48 hours to go before signing day.
Georgia now has 16 commitments, including one from tight end Ty Smith (Moultrie, Ga./Colquitt Co.)
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In this edition of Recruiting Nation 411, ESPN’s recruiting experts take a look at all of the top news from the weekend including some good news for Penn State, more success for Vanderbilt, and some heated battles in the state of Florida.
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.