Split national title not on anybody's agenda
January, 9, 2012
1/09/12
3:32
PM ET
By
Chris Low | ESPN.com
NEW ORLEANS -- The only drama in what remains of the 2011 college football season won’t be saved for just Monday night’s Allstate BCS National Championship Game.
If Alabama should beat LSU, particularly in a close game, then the vote in the final Associated Press poll in the hours following the game could get really interesting.
If Alabama should beat LSU, particularly in a close game, then the vote in the final Associated Press poll in the hours following the game could get really interesting.
On Monday, Georgia senior Brandon Boykin was recognized as the nation’s most versatile college football player, winning the 2011 Paul Hornung Award from the Louisville Sports Commission.
Boykin beat Arkansas’ Joe Adams, Oregon’s LaMichael James and Toledo’s Eric Page for the award, now in its second season. The Georgia cornerback will be honored Feb. 2 at a banquet in Louisville, Ky.
“It’s rare for a modern-day college football player to perform at a high level in all three phases of the game, especially in an elite conference,” said football legend Paul Hornung, for whom the award is named. “From what I’ve seen of Brandon Boykin, he is willing to do whatever it takes to help his team win games. That’s how I played the game. Brandon Boykin is a deserving winner of the Paul Hornung Award.”
Boykin beat Arkansas’ Joe Adams, Oregon’s LaMichael James and Toledo’s Eric Page for the award, now in its second season. The Georgia cornerback will be honored Feb. 2 at a banquet in Louisville, Ky.
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Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesSenior Brandon Boykin has excelled at CB, kick returns and offense throughout his UGA career.
Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesSenior Brandon Boykin has excelled at CB, kick returns and offense throughout his UGA career.“It’s rare for a modern-day college football player to perform at a high level in all three phases of the game, especially in an elite conference,” said football legend Paul Hornung, for whom the award is named. “From what I’ve seen of Brandon Boykin, he is willing to do whatever it takes to help his team win games. That’s how I played the game. Brandon Boykin is a deserving winner of the Paul Hornung Award.”
Ridgeland High School has recently sent football standouts to Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma State and South Carolina, and the program will likely continue that tradition in 2013. Junior defensive back Vonn Bell made the first-team All-State selection with a school record 180 tackles, 119 solo, two tackles for loss, five interceptions, five fumbles recovered, three fumbles returned for touchdowns and three forced fumbles. Those stats go along with 37 rushes for 280 yards and five touchdowns, and 31 catches for 487 yards and six touchdowns after Bell transferred in from Central-Chattanooga High School in Tennessee with his mom, who teaches at Ridgeland.
Bell had hoped to get exposure against the high-level talent in the Peach State in order to earn offers to play in the Southeastern Conference, and it looks like he was successful.
“Every Friday there are great teams in Georgia competing, so it has helped me step up my game and get closer to becoming the type of player I can be,” Bell said.
Bell had hoped to get exposure against the high-level talent in the Peach State in order to earn offers to play in the Southeastern Conference, and it looks like he was successful.
“Every Friday there are great teams in Georgia competing, so it has helped me step up my game and get closer to becoming the type of player I can be,” Bell said.
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Learning curve frustrates Caldwell-Pope 
January, 9, 2012
1/09/12
3:08
AM ET
By
David Ching | ESPN.com
Freshman guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope didn’t take much solace in setting a new career scoring high in Georgia's loss Saturday to Alabama at Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, Ga.
The Bulldogs had just lost their SEC opener, after all.
But the young standout admitted his 22 points -- on a 6-for-9 effort from the floor and 7-for-7 from the line -- against the Crimson Tide was another small step in his transition from highly regarded signee to effective college player.
The Bulldogs had just lost their SEC opener, after all.
But the young standout admitted his 22 points -- on a 6-for-9 effort from the floor and 7-for-7 from the line -- against the Crimson Tide was another small step in his transition from highly regarded signee to effective college player.
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UGA full at cornerback? Holsey thinks so
January, 8, 2012
1/08/12
3:23
PM ET
By DawgNation Staff | ESPN.com
The Georgia Bulldogs coaching staff has so far collected 15 public verbal commitments for the Class of 2012. With comments in recent months that they would sign up to 27 players, speculation is rampant as to who might fill the remaining spots.
One area that appears to be lacking is the defensive secondary. Georgia has no cornerback or safety commitments -- at least not any that have been made public.
After Auburn lost defensive coordinator Ted Roof to UCF in December, one of the Tigers' top defensive back commits, Josh Holsey (Fairburn, Ga./Creekside), said he would likely take an official visit to Georgia or Alabama. Apparently Georgia is no longer an option for the No. 77 player in the ESPNU 150.
One area that appears to be lacking is the defensive secondary. Georgia has no cornerback or safety commitments -- at least not any that have been made public.
After Auburn lost defensive coordinator Ted Roof to UCF in December, one of the Tigers' top defensive back commits, Josh Holsey (Fairburn, Ga./Creekside), said he would likely take an official visit to Georgia or Alabama. Apparently Georgia is no longer an option for the No. 77 player in the ESPNU 150.
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Alabama got a big first half from freshman Trevor Lacey and withstood Georgia’s second-half rally to win the SEC opener for both teams, 74-59, on Saturday at Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, Ga.
Georgia (9-6, 0-1 SEC) relied heavily on a zone defense to compensate for its size disadvantage, but that left Lacey open to hurt the Bulldogs from the perimeter. The freshman scored 17 of his 19 points in the first half -- including a 3-for-3 effort from 3-point range -- as the Crimson Tide (12-3, 1-0) opened up a 38-26 halftime lead.
With 9:18 to play in the second half, the Bulldogs went on an 11-4 run to cut Alabama’s lead to 52-48. But the veteran Crimson Tide responded, led by juniors Tony Mitchell and Andrew Steele, with a 14-4 surge of its own to pull away for the road win.
"[Lacey is] averaging, like, six a game, but we told our team he’s a guy that can jump up for 15, 16 points," Georgia coach Mark Fox said. "So we talked about that this week, and he did that in the first half.
Georgia (9-6, 0-1 SEC) relied heavily on a zone defense to compensate for its size disadvantage, but that left Lacey open to hurt the Bulldogs from the perimeter. The freshman scored 17 of his 19 points in the first half -- including a 3-for-3 effort from 3-point range -- as the Crimson Tide (12-3, 1-0) opened up a 38-26 halftime lead.
With 9:18 to play in the second half, the Bulldogs went on an 11-4 run to cut Alabama’s lead to 52-48. But the veteran Crimson Tide responded, led by juniors Tony Mitchell and Andrew Steele, with a 14-4 surge of its own to pull away for the road win.
"[Lacey is] averaging, like, six a game, but we told our team he’s a guy that can jump up for 15, 16 points," Georgia coach Mark Fox said. "So we talked about that this week, and he did that in the first half.
Kent Taylor could take more visits
January, 7, 2012
1/07/12
8:37
PM ET
By
William Wilkerson | ESPN.com
ESPNU 150 tight end Kent Taylor has been committed to Florida since Oct. 27, but he might take some other official visits depending on one thing.
“It depends on who Florida gets for their new offensive coordinator,” Taylor said. “It depends on whether I like him or not. Maybe I will. But if they get someone I like then Florida is where I want to go.”
Taylor is rated as the No. 4 tight end and the No. 147 player in the ESPNU 150.
“It depends on who Florida gets for their new offensive coordinator,” Taylor said. “It depends on whether I like him or not. Maybe I will. But if they get someone I like then Florida is where I want to go.”
Taylor is rated as the No. 4 tight end and the No. 147 player in the ESPNU 150.
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Georgia cornerback Jordan Love has left the football team and intends to transfer.
A Georgia spokesman confirmed Saturday night that Love had been granted a transfer after the redshirt sophomore tweeted that he planned to leave the team.
Love appeared in eight games as a reserve and made 12 tackles this season. He was named the team’s most improved defensive player at the conclusion of spring drills.
A Georgia spokesman confirmed Saturday night that Love had been granted a transfer after the redshirt sophomore tweeted that he planned to leave the team.
Love appeared in eight games as a reserve and made 12 tackles this season. He was named the team’s most improved defensive player at the conclusion of spring drills.
SAN ANTONIO -- Twenty juniors have given verbal commitments to play in the 2013 U.S. Army All-American Bowl next January. Four of the players -- receiver Ahmad Fullwood (Jacksonville, Fla./Bishop Kenny), linebacker Dorian O’Daniel (Olney, Md./Our Lady Of Good Counsel) and defensive backs Eli Woodard (Voorhees, N.J./Eastern) and Kendall Fuller (Olney, Md./Our Lady Of Good Counsel) -- were announced during the second quarter of this year’s game.
Here’s the list of the other 16 players expected to play next year:
DE Kenny Bigelow (Bear, Del./Red Lion Christian)
QB Max Browne (Sammamish, Wash./Skyline)
QB Ryan Burns (Ashburn, Va./Stone Bridge)
DB Cam Burrows (Trotwood, Ohio/Trotwood-Madison)
DB Su’a Cravens (Vista Murrieta, Calif.)
OL Austin Golson (Prattville, Ala.)
WR Derrick Griffin (Rosenberg, Texas/Terry)
LB Peter Kalambayi (Matthews, N.C./Butler)
LB E.J. Levenberry (Woodbridge, Va./E.D. Hylton)
LB Daniel McMillian (Jacksonville, Fla./First Coast)
OL Khaliel Rodgers (Bear, Del./Red Lion Christian)
DL Garrett Sickels (Little Silver, N.J./Red Bank)
TE DeSean Smith (Lake Charles, La./Barbe)
QB Tyrone Swoopes (Whitewright, Texas)
OL Laremy Tunsil (Lake City, Fla./Whitewright)
DB Nick Washington (Jacksonville, Fla./Trinity Christian)
Here’s the list of the other 16 players expected to play next year:
DE Kenny Bigelow (Bear, Del./Red Lion Christian)
QB Max Browne (Sammamish, Wash./Skyline)
QB Ryan Burns (Ashburn, Va./Stone Bridge)
DB Cam Burrows (Trotwood, Ohio/Trotwood-Madison)
DB Su’a Cravens (Vista Murrieta, Calif.)
OL Austin Golson (Prattville, Ala.)
WR Derrick Griffin (Rosenberg, Texas/Terry)
LB Peter Kalambayi (Matthews, N.C./Butler)
LB E.J. Levenberry (Woodbridge, Va./E.D. Hylton)
LB Daniel McMillian (Jacksonville, Fla./First Coast)
OL Khaliel Rodgers (Bear, Del./Red Lion Christian)
DL Garrett Sickels (Little Silver, N.J./Red Bank)
TE DeSean Smith (Lake Charles, La./Barbe)
QB Tyrone Swoopes (Whitewright, Texas)
OL Laremy Tunsil (Lake City, Fla./Whitewright)
DB Nick Washington (Jacksonville, Fla./Trinity Christian)
DawgNation is here to take you Inside the DawgHouse -- a confidential look inside Georgia football recruiting for DawgNation subscribers only.
A few things discussed in this week's update:
A few things discussed in this week's update:
- What’s the latest on Jordan Jenkins?
- Is it too little, too late with top receiver in Georgia?
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Georgia had lost five of six games when Coach Mark Fox moved Dustin Ware out of the starting lineup for the Bulldogs' game against USC, snapping a streak of 87 straight starts.
The shakeup did the trick for the senior guard, as Ware has been a much more effective player since coming off the bench and the Bulldogs (9-5 entering Saturday night's game against 10-3 Alabama) are 5-0 in that stretch.
Ware scored in double figures only once as a starter this season -- with 14 points in the season opener against Wofford -- but has hit double figures in four of his five games off the bench and is averaging 13.2 points per game as a reserve.
The shakeup did the trick for the senior guard, as Ware has been a much more effective player since coming off the bench and the Bulldogs (9-5 entering Saturday night's game against 10-3 Alabama) are 5-0 in that stretch.
Ware scored in double figures only once as a starter this season -- with 14 points in the season opener against Wofford -- but has hit double figures in four of his five games off the bench and is averaging 13.2 points per game as a reserve.
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Fourteen set to announce at Army Bowl
January, 6, 2012
1/06/12
1:26
PM ET
By
Damon Sayles and
William Wilkerson | ESPN.com
Saturday’s U.S. Army All-American Bowl (1 p.m. ET, NBC) in San Antonio will include verbal commitments from 14 top prospects, six from the West roster and eight from the East.
ESPNU 150 defensive back Shaq Thompson (Sacramento, Calif./Grant) will choose among Cal, Oregon, Notre Dame and Washington. At 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, Thompson, a four-star safety is the No. 2 player in California and No. 3 safety in the country. Among national prospects, he is the 22nd-ranked player overall.
ESPNU 150 defensive tackle Ellis McCarthy (Monrovia, Calif./Monrovia) is expected to choose between California and USC. A four-star player, McCarthy added that he may choose to decide at a later date. McCarthy, at 6-5 and 311 pounds, is the fourth-ranked defensive tackle and fifth-ranked player in California. He is ranked No. 43 among all national prospects.
ESPNU 150 defensive back Shaq Thompson (Sacramento, Calif./Grant) will choose among Cal, Oregon, Notre Dame and Washington. At 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, Thompson, a four-star safety is the No. 2 player in California and No. 3 safety in the country. Among national prospects, he is the 22nd-ranked player overall.
ESPNU 150 defensive tackle Ellis McCarthy (Monrovia, Calif./Monrovia) is expected to choose between California and USC. A four-star player, McCarthy added that he may choose to decide at a later date. McCarthy, at 6-5 and 311 pounds, is the fourth-ranked defensive tackle and fifth-ranked player in California. He is ranked No. 43 among all national prospects.
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2013 QB hopes Rising Seniors is launching pad
January, 6, 2012
1/06/12
10:47
AM ET
By
Kipp Adams | ESPN.com
Last year, defensive end Jordan Jenkins (Hamilton, Ga./Harris County) put on a show in the inaugural Rising Seniors Junior Bowl, making three sacks, blocking a punt, and wreaking havoc in the offensive backfield throughout the game. Dozens of schools offered as his stock exploded, and on Thursday Jenkins capped off his prep career on the gridiron with two sacks in the Under Armour Alll-America Game. The offensive MVP of this year’s Rising Seniors Junior Bowl is hoping his performance will have a similar effect.
Quarterback Joshua Dobbs (Alpharetta, Ga./Alpharetta) might have been overshadowed by other names during the week, but last Friday he put on a passing clinic, completing 20 of 31 passes for 227 yards and three touchdowns. The only participant to throw for over 100 yards or complete a touchdown pass in the event, Dobbs was also the No. 2 rusher in the game with 40 yards on the ground.
“My goal this week was to come out here, play as hard as I could on the field, and prove myself against the best competition in Georgia,” Dobbs said. “I think I did a pretty good job of that in the game.”
Quarterback Joshua Dobbs (Alpharetta, Ga./Alpharetta) might have been overshadowed by other names during the week, but last Friday he put on a passing clinic, completing 20 of 31 passes for 227 yards and three touchdowns. The only participant to throw for over 100 yards or complete a touchdown pass in the event, Dobbs was also the No. 2 rusher in the game with 40 yards on the ground.
“My goal this week was to come out here, play as hard as I could on the field, and prove myself against the best competition in Georgia,” Dobbs said. “I think I did a pretty good job of that in the game.”
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2013 UGA QB commit in Army Bowl Combine
January, 6, 2012
1/06/12
10:41
AM ET
By
Kipp Adams | ESPN.com
The Army Bowl National Junior Combine is set to take place Friday in San Antonio with hundreds of talented prospects making the trip in an effort to stake their claim as one of the top talents in the 2013 class. Some are hoping to use the event to get exposure and increase their stock, others like 2013 wide receiver Ahmad Fulwood (Jacksonville, Fla./Bishop Kenney) arrived to find out they were already in the 2013 Army All-American Bowl. Quarterback Brice Ramsey (Kingsland, Ga./Camden County) is in town for a different reason.
“I just wanted to go here and meet some people and compete,” Ramsey said. “That’s the reason I came all the way out here. Hopefully I’ll get invited back for the game next year.”
Ramsey completed 80 of 125 passes for 1,308 yards and 17 touchdowns with only two interceptions in his first season starting for Camden County. He also ran for five touchdowns while operating Coach Jeff Herron’s wing-T offense. Unlike most prospects in next year’s class, Ramsey has already committed, choosing the University of Georgia over Florida and others. He announced his decision back at the Dawg Night prospect camp in July, in what has become a familiar summer destination for Ramsey.
“I just wanted to go here and meet some people and compete,” Ramsey said. “That’s the reason I came all the way out here. Hopefully I’ll get invited back for the game next year.”
Ramsey completed 80 of 125 passes for 1,308 yards and 17 touchdowns with only two interceptions in his first season starting for Camden County. He also ran for five touchdowns while operating Coach Jeff Herron’s wing-T offense. Unlike most prospects in next year’s class, Ramsey has already committed, choosing the University of Georgia over Florida and others. He announced his decision back at the Dawg Night prospect camp in July, in what has become a familiar summer destination for Ramsey.
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Offensive lineman Brandon Kublanow (Marietta, Ga./Walton Senior) has a very simple philosophy when he steps onto the football field.
“I just try to be as mean as possible,” Kublanow told DawgNation recently.
On Dec. 11, Kublanow and his Walton teammates faced the undefeated Grayson Rams for the Georgia Class AAAAA state championship. The contest pitted Kublanow against the likely top player in the state next year, defensive end Robert Nkemdiche (Loganville, Ga./Grayson). Grayson shut out Walton for the title, but Kublanow feels he won the private battle in the trenches.
“I just try to be as mean as possible,” Kublanow told DawgNation recently.
On Dec. 11, Kublanow and his Walton teammates faced the undefeated Grayson Rams for the Georgia Class AAAAA state championship. The contest pitted Kublanow against the likely top player in the state next year, defensive end Robert Nkemdiche (Loganville, Ga./Grayson). Grayson shut out Walton for the title, but Kublanow feels he won the private battle in the trenches.
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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.