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.”
Four-star running back Mike Davis (Stone Mountain, Ga./Stephenson) is currently on his official visit to South Carolina. Many feel that the Gamecocks are the team to beat for his services, especially now that Georgia just picked up four-star running back Todd Gurley (Tarboro, N.C./Tarboro).
“I don’t have a favorite,” Davis said. “It doesn’t bother me at all that Georgia picked up him (Gurley). I have known all along that they were recruiting him. Georgia said they were recruiting the both of us.”
Davis also has official visits lined up with UGA Jan. 20) and Clemson Jan. 27.
“I don’t have a favorite,” Davis said. “It doesn’t bother me at all that Georgia picked up him (Gurley). I have known all along that they were recruiting him. Georgia said they were recruiting the both of us.”
Davis also has official visits lined up with UGA Jan. 20) and Clemson Jan. 27.
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The addition of 4-star running back Todd Gurley (Tarboro, N.C./Tarboro) gives the University of Georgia a key offensive weapon it sorely lacked this year on offense. At the high school level, Gurley has shown the ability to be a workhorse back that can play through injury.
As a junior, he rushed 139 times for 1,472 yards and 26 touchdowns, but he also had 79 tackles, an interception, and a forced fumble on defense. Gurley had over 200 carries his senior year, going for 2,600 yards rushing and 38 touchdowns. He ran for 242 yards and four touchdowns on an injured ankle in the 2-A state championship game last month, and two weeks later he rushed for 119 yards on 19 carries and two touchdowns to earn North Carolina Offensive MVP in the Shrine Bowl, which pits the top players in North Carolina against the best in South Carolina.
He has only lost two games as a varsity starter, is a two time NCHSAA 2-A state championship in track, made it to the IAAF World Youth Championship semifinals in the 100mm hurdles in France, and has been all-conference, all-area, all-state, won 3 state championships, MVP of the state championship, played in the Shrine Bowl, and is scheduled to play in the USA vs the World game on Feb. 1. For those who feel that a playoff system is too much wear and tear on a student athlete's body, just wanted to note that will be Gurley's 18th football game as a high school senior.
As a junior, he rushed 139 times for 1,472 yards and 26 touchdowns, but he also had 79 tackles, an interception, and a forced fumble on defense. Gurley had over 200 carries his senior year, going for 2,600 yards rushing and 38 touchdowns. He ran for 242 yards and four touchdowns on an injured ankle in the 2-A state championship game last month, and two weeks later he rushed for 119 yards on 19 carries and two touchdowns to earn North Carolina Offensive MVP in the Shrine Bowl, which pits the top players in North Carolina against the best in South Carolina.
He has only lost two games as a varsity starter, is a two time NCHSAA 2-A state championship in track, made it to the IAAF World Youth Championship semifinals in the 100mm hurdles in France, and has been all-conference, all-area, all-state, won 3 state championships, MVP of the state championship, played in the Shrine Bowl, and is scheduled to play in the USA vs the World game on Feb. 1. For those who feel that a playoff system is too much wear and tear on a student athlete's body, just wanted to note that will be Gurley's 18th football game as a high school senior.
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The 2011 SEC All-Bowl team
January, 13, 2012
1/13/12
11:48
AM ET
By
Chris Low and
Edward Aschoff | ESPN.com
We're taking one last look at the SEC's postseason by putting together our All-SEC bowl team:
OFFENSE
QB: Connor Shaw, South Carolina: Shaw didn't seem to feel the pressure of a bowl game, as he completed 11-of-17 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed for 42 yards and another score in the Gamecocks' win against Nebraska in the Capital One Bowl. He even gave South Carolina all the momentum in the second half with a touchdown on a Hail Mary to end the first half.
RB: Vick Ballard, Mississippi State: Ballard ended his career with the Bulldogs with one of his best performances, as he rushed for 180 yards and two touchdowns on just 14 carries in Mississippi State's win against Wake Forest in the Music City Bowl. His touchdowns went for 72 and 60 yards.
RB: Onterio McCalebb, Auburn: As Auburn's lead back in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, McCalebb had a game-high 109 rushing yards, including a long of 60. He also recorded a 3-yard touchdown run and caught two passes for 53 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown in Auburn's win against Virginia.
WR: Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina: Jeffery's day would have been even better if he hadn't been ejected. However, he still caught four passes for a game-high 148 yards and snagged Shaw's Hail Mary touchdown pass at the end of the first half. He also had a 78-yard reception.
WR: Tavarres King, Georgia: King tried his best to get Georgia a victory in the Outback Bowl against Michigan State. He was Aaron Murray's best friend, catching six passes for a career-high 205 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown pass that at one point stood as the longest play in Outback Bowl history.
OFFENSE
QB: Connor Shaw, South Carolina: Shaw didn't seem to feel the pressure of a bowl game, as he completed 11-of-17 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed for 42 yards and another score in the Gamecocks' win against Nebraska in the Capital One Bowl. He even gave South Carolina all the momentum in the second half with a touchdown on a Hail Mary to end the first half.
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AP Photo/Mark HumphreyMississippi State's Vick Ballard rushed for 180 yards against Wake Forest in the Music City Bowl.
AP Photo/Mark HumphreyMississippi State's Vick Ballard rushed for 180 yards against Wake Forest in the Music City Bowl.RB: Onterio McCalebb, Auburn: As Auburn's lead back in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, McCalebb had a game-high 109 rushing yards, including a long of 60. He also recorded a 3-yard touchdown run and caught two passes for 53 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown in Auburn's win against Virginia.
WR: Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina: Jeffery's day would have been even better if he hadn't been ejected. However, he still caught four passes for a game-high 148 yards and snagged Shaw's Hail Mary touchdown pass at the end of the first half. He also had a 78-yard reception.
WR: Tavarres King, Georgia: King tried his best to get Georgia a victory in the Outback Bowl against Michigan State. He was Aaron Murray's best friend, catching six passes for a career-high 205 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown pass that at one point stood as the longest play in Outback Bowl history.
The University of Georgia is set to host four official visitors this weekend, and will have a target on campus Monday as well. DawgNation takes a quick look at who will be on campus in Athens over the next few days.
The top prospect in Georgia, linebacker Josh Harvey-Clemons (Valdosta, Ga./Lowndes), will arrive today for his second official visit, with the Gators getting the first last month. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound ESPNU 150 target is also considering visiting Florida State and Louisville, but Florida and Georgia, the first two programs to offer Harvey-Clemons, are currently considered the frontrunners for the highly touted outside linebacker.
Harvey-Clemons, the No. 23 player in the nation, finished the season with 105 tackles, three sacks and three interceptions on defense. If the Bulldogs are able to reel in Harvey-Clemons, it would give defensive coordinator Todd Grantham a pair of All-American outside linebackers to feature in his 3-4 scheme, with Under Armour All-American Jordan Jenkins (Hamilton, Ga./Harris County) committing to Georgia earlier this week. Harvey-Clemons was an Army All-American Bowl selection. Look for Harvey-Clemons to make his decision on signing day.
The top prospect in Georgia, linebacker Josh Harvey-Clemons (Valdosta, Ga./Lowndes), will arrive today for his second official visit, with the Gators getting the first last month. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound ESPNU 150 target is also considering visiting Florida State and Louisville, but Florida and Georgia, the first two programs to offer Harvey-Clemons, are currently considered the frontrunners for the highly touted outside linebacker.
Harvey-Clemons, the No. 23 player in the nation, finished the season with 105 tackles, three sacks and three interceptions on defense. If the Bulldogs are able to reel in Harvey-Clemons, it would give defensive coordinator Todd Grantham a pair of All-American outside linebackers to feature in his 3-4 scheme, with Under Armour All-American Jordan Jenkins (Hamilton, Ga./Harris County) committing to Georgia earlier this week. Harvey-Clemons was an Army All-American Bowl selection. Look for Harvey-Clemons to make his decision on signing day.
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Best and worst from the SEC bowl season
January, 12, 2012
1/12/12
6:05
PM ET
By
Chris Low | ESPN.com
Let’s review some of the highs and lows of the bowl season:
Best performance: Even in a loss, there was no topping Georgia’s Brandon Boykin. The senior cornerback certainly did his part in the Bulldogs’ 33-30 triple-overtime setback to Michigan State in the Outback Bowl. He scored three different ways, starting with a safety when he tackled Keshawn Martin in the end zone. He then returned a punt 92 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter and caught a 13-yard touchdown pass to give Georgia a 27-20 lead with 6:44 remaining in regulation.
Best defensive performance: This one goes out to the entire Alabama defense, which saved its best for last. The Crimson Tide pitched the first shutout in BCS National Championship Game history and held LSU to 92 total yards. Let’s face it. They could have played 10 more quarters and LSU wouldn’t have scored a touchdown against Alabama on Monday night. It was like watching one giant crimson swarm all night.
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Jeff Griffith/US PresswireGeorgia's Brandon Boykin had a huge game against Michigan State, including this punt return for a TD.
Jeff Griffith/US PresswireGeorgia's Brandon Boykin had a huge game against Michigan State, including this punt return for a TD.Best defensive performance: This one goes out to the entire Alabama defense, which saved its best for last. The Crimson Tide pitched the first shutout in BCS National Championship Game history and held LSU to 92 total yards. Let’s face it. They could have played 10 more quarters and LSU wouldn’t have scored a touchdown against Alabama on Monday night. It was like watching one giant crimson swarm all night.
Read Georgia RB target Todd Gurley's latest entry in his ESPNHS diary.
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Shamire Devine of East Point (Ga.) Tri-Cities High is an ESPNU 150 Watch List offensive tackle who played in last month's Georgia Junior Bowl in Atlanta. Devine gives DawgNation updates on his recruitment, with his top three, and explains why he is the next Steve Jobs.
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UGA's 'Ring Team' now a top-five class 
January, 12, 2012
1/12/12
1:49
PM ET
By
Radi Nabulsi | ESPN.com
When all was said and done last year, Georgia’s heralded “Dream Team” of 2011 recruits landed the Bulldogs at No. 6 in ESPN’s team recruiting rankings. With SEC Freshman of the Year Isaiah Crowell and fellow five-star and defensive end Ray Drew, Georgia bounced back from a somewhat disappointing 12th-place ranking from the year before.
Few expected Georgia to be able to replicate 2011’s success so soon, what with all the early talk of Mark Richt being on the hot seat and an 0-2 start to the season.
Funny what an SEC East title, a top-rated defense and a 10-game win streak can do for a program.
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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.