One of the top defensive ends in Georgia for 2013, ESPNU 150 Watch List member Isaac Rochell (McDonough, Ga./Eagle's Landing) talks with DawgNation about how the Bulldogs’ 2011 season impressed him and how he plans to stay close to home when deciding on a college.
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Last weekend, the top prospect in Georgia, linebacker Josh Harvey-Clemons (Valdosta, Ga./Lowndes), was in Athens to check out the Bulldogs on an official visit. Harvey-Clemons took an official to Florida in December, and it appears that a Bulldogs versus Gators battle is brewing for the Army All-American. Having been to Georgia with his family three times, Harvey-Clemons had already seen most of what Athens has to offer. What caught the Valdosta native off-guard was seeing how well the players were rewarded for their successful season.
“We were excited and surprised by the number of gifts the athletes receive for winning the SEC East and going to the bowl game,” said Woodrow Clemons, Josh’s grandfather and adoptive parent. “They get new watches, iPads, tote bags and several other items. I was very impressed with that.”
With the two neighboring programs being so comparable, it was tough to determine a leader. So Josh and his family inquired about where each program would play him and evaluated what each program will offer on the gridiron next season.
“We were excited and surprised by the number of gifts the athletes receive for winning the SEC East and going to the bowl game,” said Woodrow Clemons, Josh’s grandfather and adoptive parent. “They get new watches, iPads, tote bags and several other items. I was very impressed with that.”
With the two neighboring programs being so comparable, it was tough to determine a leader. So Josh and his family inquired about where each program would play him and evaluated what each program will offer on the gridiron next season.
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Jordan Jenkins has no interest in switch 
January, 17, 2012
1/17/12
10:44
AM ET
By
Radi Nabulsi | ESPN.com
Fans who tuned in to the Under Armour All-America Game on Jan. 5 were treated to see an unusual site: defensive end Jordan Jenkins (Hamilton, Ga./Harris Co.), who would soon after commit to Georgia, playing defensive tackle.
According to his father, Ronald Jenkins, defensive tackles were lacking on the Black team and Jordan was asked to slide over and help. Jenkins agreed quickly to help out, and the 6-foot-3, 228-pound standout spent a lot of the week leading up to the game crashing into the top offensive linemen in the country, many of whom outweighed him by 75 pounds or more.
Despite being out of his natural position, Jenkins responded well, tying the UA All-America record for tackles in a game with eight, and recording two sacks. His performance was so impressive that Georgia defensive line coach Rodney Garner might be salivating at the thought of Jenkins suiting up on his line.
According to his father, Ronald Jenkins, defensive tackles were lacking on the Black team and Jordan was asked to slide over and help. Jenkins agreed quickly to help out, and the 6-foot-3, 228-pound standout spent a lot of the week leading up to the game crashing into the top offensive linemen in the country, many of whom outweighed him by 75 pounds or more.
Despite being out of his natural position, Jenkins responded well, tying the UA All-America record for tackles in a game with eight, and recording two sacks. His performance was so impressive that Georgia defensive line coach Rodney Garner might be salivating at the thought of Jenkins suiting up on his line.
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In the Jan. 16 episode, Alex Loeb and ESPN’s recruiting experts give fans the latest on a juco prospects including Georgia WR target Cordarrelle Patterson, Maryland WR Stefon Diggs, top-rated CB Tracy Howard, along with news on Ohio State and Stanford picking up momentum as the countdown to signing day speeds up.
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Cordarrelle Patterson loves Ole Miss visit
January, 15, 2012
1/15/12
9:22
PM ET
By
Jamie Newberg | ESPN.com
Cordarrelle Patterson (Hutchinson, Kan./Hutchinson CC) took his fourth official visit this weekend to Ole Miss, and he was impressed with what he saw.
“Ole Miss was a real good visit and everything stood out,” Patterson, who is one of the nation's elite junior college prospects, said.
“The people there are terrific, and I like the new staff. All the coaches are pretty cool. I think they are going to run the same offensive scheme they ran at Arkansas State, which is good. I honestly didn’t think the visit would be like that. I really like the people. That visit stood out and Ole Miss is at the top of the list.”
“Ole Miss was a real good visit and everything stood out,” Patterson, who is one of the nation's elite junior college prospects, said.
“The people there are terrific, and I like the new staff. All the coaches are pretty cool. I think they are going to run the same offensive scheme they ran at Arkansas State, which is good. I honestly didn’t think the visit would be like that. I really like the people. That visit stood out and Ole Miss is at the top of the list.”
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Georgia hosted four prospects on official visits this weekend, and although three of them have already committed, outside linebacker target Josh Dawson (Tucker, Ga./Tucker) is pledged to the Vanderbilt Commodores.
The Bulldogs still hope to reel in the 6-foot-4, 225-pound prospect, and they made him a priority during his time on campus the last 48 hours.
"The Georgia coaches spent a lot of time with me,'" Dawson said. "I spent time with Coach [Rodney] Garner, Coach [Todd] Grantham and Coach [Mark] Richt. I also had dessert at Richt's house."
The Bulldogs still hope to reel in the 6-foot-4, 225-pound prospect, and they made him a priority during his time on campus the last 48 hours.
"The Georgia coaches spent a lot of time with me,'" Dawson said. "I spent time with Coach [Rodney] Garner, Coach [Todd] Grantham and Coach [Mark] Richt. I also had dessert at Richt's house."
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Mike Davis talks about joining Gamecocks
January, 15, 2012
1/15/12
2:37
PM ET
By
Jamie Newberg | ESPN.com
Mike Davis (Stone Mountain, Ga./Stephenson) decided he had had enough. While on his official visit to the University of South Carolina, Davis made his commitment to the Gamecocks.
“I would say it came down to the players and coaches,” Davis said. “I have some teammates up there and people I know. So it’s a really good fit for me.”
Davis, 5-foot-10 and 200 pounds, is also excited to play in Steve Spurrier's offense.
“I would say it came down to the players and coaches,” Davis said. “I have some teammates up there and people I know. So it’s a really good fit for me.”
Davis, 5-foot-10 and 200 pounds, is also excited to play in Steve Spurrier's offense.
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When the Jamaican four-man bobsled team showed up in Calgary, Alberta, for the 1988 Winter Olympics, it captured the hearts of millions and inspired the Walt Disney film, “Cool Runnings.” Now, another of Jamaica’s native sons is looking to become a fan favorite as well, albeit on the gridiron.
Offensive tackle Delando Crooks (Atlanta/Carver) is new to the game of football. Like his bobsled brethren, the tropical island nation he used to call home did not give him a background for his new sport.
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Safety Jordan Moore (Lithonia, Ga./Martin Luther King) made his first official visit this weekend. And it’s going to be hard to top the Auburn Tigers.
“Oh, man, the visit went great,” Moore said. “It was everything that I expected. I felt that family environment. Everyone welcomes you with open arms. They have great coaches who all care about the athletes.”
And the Tigers' new defensive coordinator, Brian VanGorder, is familiar with the SEC. He held the same position with the Georgia Bulldogs and most recently with the Atlanta Falcons.
“Oh, man, the visit went great,” Moore said. “It was everything that I expected. I felt that family environment. Everyone welcomes you with open arms. They have great coaches who all care about the athletes.”
And the Tigers' new defensive coordinator, Brian VanGorder, is familiar with the SEC. He held the same position with the Georgia Bulldogs and most recently with the Atlanta Falcons.
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Building off Mark Schlabach’s way-too-early Top 25 for 2012, ESPN's Ryan McGee went through all the schedules and pegged the 10 teams best suited to rise in those rankings based on an easy slate. And as we all know, that matters. Oregon, Georgia, FSU, VTU, Wisconsin and others will get a bump based on the obstacle course. Read it here.
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2013 Offensive lineman Brandon Kublanow (Marietta, Ga./Walton) talks with Radi Nabulsi of DawgNation about the player's recent talks with the Georgia coaches and gives an update on his recruitment.
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Georgia is certainly cleaning up in the state of North Carolina for talented backs. Todd Gurley (Tarboro, N.C./Tarboro) joins our No. 2-rated runner Keith Marshall (Raleigh, N.C./Millbrook) and has been just as productive.
He has a bit more size than Marshall and is not that far behind in speed, and he might add more overall versatility as a football player at the next level. He can elude through the hole but also get decisive and hit it downhill with burst, and break tackles with decisive power.
He has a bit more size than Marshall and is not that far behind in speed, and he might add more overall versatility as a football player at the next level. He can elude through the hole but also get decisive and hit it downhill with burst, and break tackles with decisive power.
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Vanderbilt (13-4, 3-0) won its seventh straight and remained undefeated in SEC play as the Commodores defeated the visiting Bulldogs 77-66 on Saturday in Nashville, Tenn. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope led Georgia (9-8, 0-3 SEC) with 19 points. The Bulldogs next play host to the Tennessee Volunteers at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday. Check the boxscore here.
DawgNation is here to take you Inside the DawgHouse -- a confidential look inside Georgia football recruiting for DawgNation subscribers only. As it will be every week, everything reported Inside the DawgHouse stays on The Pound forum. We are providing this information for our subscribers and hope that you help keep this information protected by keeping it here.
A few things discussed in this week's update:
- Dawgs moving in right direction?
- Will backfield be an issue?
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Returning seniors set sights on title
January, 13, 2012
1/13/12
5:31
PM ET
By
David Ching | ESPN.com
Mark Richt and 15 veteran Georgia football players met with reporters Friday afternoon in the Bulldogs’ team meeting room on campus in Athens, Ga.
The reason for the impromptu news conference? The group of draft-eligible players -- plus backup quarterback Hutson Mason, who had been contemplating a transfer -- wanted to collectively discuss their decisions to return for the 2012 season and their aspirations to contend for the national title.
“There were more guys that I thought were very seriously considering it than usual -- and I think for good reason. I think there’s a bunch of guys that are going to play in the NFL in that group,” said Richt, who lost only junior tight end Orson Charles to the draft among Bulldogs underclassmen. “So when that many went through the process and still wanted to be at Georgia for whatever reason, to me that was the time to celebrate those decisions and to have a positive image for Georgia, have a positive image for these guys personally and to maybe even motivate the rest of the team. Maybe have something exciting for Georgia Bulldog people to enjoy.”
The reason for the impromptu news conference? The group of draft-eligible players -- plus backup quarterback Hutson Mason, who had been contemplating a transfer -- wanted to collectively discuss their decisions to return for the 2012 season and their aspirations to contend for the national title.
“There were more guys that I thought were very seriously considering it than usual -- and I think for good reason. I think there’s a bunch of guys that are going to play in the NFL in that group,” said Richt, who lost only junior tight end Orson Charles to the draft among Bulldogs underclassmen. “So when that many went through the process and still wanted to be at Georgia for whatever reason, to me that was the time to celebrate those decisions and to have a positive image for Georgia, have a positive image for these guys personally and to maybe even motivate the rest of the team. Maybe have something exciting for Georgia Bulldog people to enjoy.”
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.