Georgia Bulldogs: John Lilly
ATHENS, Ga. -- ESPN Watch List tight end Jeb Blazevich (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Christian) is known for his eloquence and thoughtful answers when discussing his high-profile recruitment. Always respectful and diplomatic, Blazevich responds to inquiries with a skilled precision that any politician would envy. But when asked whether he could sum up his recent visit to Georgia in a hypothetical tweet, Blazevich shifted gears and demonstrated his knack for brevity.
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ATHENS, Ga. -- After his 2012 offense set several school records, Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo received a three-year contract that includes a $240,000 raise, pushing his guaranteed salary to $575,000 annually.
“I think he deserved a three-year deal because that’s really what’s happening out there in this league,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said before Thursday’s practice. “And his salary’s very competitive with his peers and I think he’s earned that.”
Jeff Vest/Icon SMIGeorgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo received a three-year contract that included a $240,000 raise.Bobo and defensive coordinator Todd Grantham now both are operating on three-year deals. Bobo had been coaching on renewable one-year contracts since joining Richt’s first UGA staff in 2001.
According to salary figures that UGA released to ESPN.com on Thursday, Bobo and each of Richt’s nine assistant coaches received salary increases following a 2012 campaign when the Bulldogs fell just short of an appearance in the BCS championship game.
“I think we’ve got a great staff and I want to keep them,” Richt said. “But it’s a very competitive league in a lot of areas. There’s the competition on the field, there’s the competition in recruiting and then sometimes there’s a competition to hang on to your assistant coaches.”
Offensive line coach Will Friend received a $90,000 raise, pushing his annual salary to $300,000 per year. Friend also added the title of running game coordinator to his resume.
Meanwhile, wide receivers coach Tony Ball received a $50,000 increase to $260,000.
Each of Georgia’s remaining assistants received $25,000 raises: Grantham (to $850,000), inside linebackers coach Kirk Olivadotti (to $285,000), defensive backs coach Scott Lakatos (to $235,000), tight ends coach John Lilly (to $235,000) and running backs coach Bryan McClendon (to $235,000).
New defensive line coach Chris Wilson is scheduled to make $250,000 in 2013.
“It was good for them, but it was good for me as well because I really think these guys are tremendous,” Richt said of the staff raises. “I think every one of them are and over time, I want to continue to try to bless them the best we can financially and stay as competitive as we can in that area.”
“I think he deserved a three-year deal because that’s really what’s happening out there in this league,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said before Thursday’s practice. “And his salary’s very competitive with his peers and I think he’s earned that.”
Jeff Vest/Icon SMIGeorgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo received a three-year contract that included a $240,000 raise.According to salary figures that UGA released to ESPN.com on Thursday, Bobo and each of Richt’s nine assistant coaches received salary increases following a 2012 campaign when the Bulldogs fell just short of an appearance in the BCS championship game.
“I think we’ve got a great staff and I want to keep them,” Richt said. “But it’s a very competitive league in a lot of areas. There’s the competition on the field, there’s the competition in recruiting and then sometimes there’s a competition to hang on to your assistant coaches.”
Offensive line coach Will Friend received a $90,000 raise, pushing his annual salary to $300,000 per year. Friend also added the title of running game coordinator to his resume.
Meanwhile, wide receivers coach Tony Ball received a $50,000 increase to $260,000.
Each of Georgia’s remaining assistants received $25,000 raises: Grantham (to $850,000), inside linebackers coach Kirk Olivadotti (to $285,000), defensive backs coach Scott Lakatos (to $235,000), tight ends coach John Lilly (to $235,000) and running backs coach Bryan McClendon (to $235,000).
New defensive line coach Chris Wilson is scheduled to make $250,000 in 2013.
“It was good for them, but it was good for me as well because I really think these guys are tremendous,” Richt said of the staff raises. “I think every one of them are and over time, I want to continue to try to bless them the best we can financially and stay as competitive as we can in that area.”
ATHENS, Ga. -- Multiple coaches had a hand in Georgia’s landing another top-10 signing class on Wednesday, but John Lilly might have been the standout in the collaborative effort. The Bulldogs’ tight ends coach played a key role in recruiting at least six of the Bulldogs’ 32 signees, including two of their top early enrollees.
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ATHENS, Ga. -- Watch highlight footage of Tramel Terry excelling at both receiver and running back in high school and you’ll see where the conundrum lies for Georgia’s coaches, who must determine the best way to use the speedster in college.
His coach at Goose Creek (S.C) High School, Chuck Reedy -- a former college coach himself -- even wrestled with where to play Terry before Georgia decided to deploy him at wideout when he enrolled earlier this month. And Reedy amusedly recalled a conversation concerning that very subject with Terry’s lead UGA recruiter, tight ends coach John Lilly, from last fall.
“I said, ‘I really think he’s a running back. Even though that’s not where he played when he was younger, we played him there the last two years about half the time,’” Reedy said. “But he just made a lot of plays, was really instinctive and had good vision and all those things. I said, ‘I’m just not sure that’s not where he needs to play.’
His coach at Goose Creek (S.C) High School, Chuck Reedy -- a former college coach himself -- even wrestled with where to play Terry before Georgia decided to deploy him at wideout when he enrolled earlier this month. And Reedy amusedly recalled a conversation concerning that very subject with Terry’s lead UGA recruiter, tight ends coach John Lilly, from last fall.
“I said, ‘I really think he’s a running back. Even though that’s not where he played when he was younger, we played him there the last two years about half the time,’” Reedy said. “But he just made a lot of plays, was really instinctive and had good vision and all those things. I said, ‘I’m just not sure that’s not where he needs to play.’
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DawgNation on the radio: Garner to AU
December, 21, 2012
12/21/12
12:41
PM ET
By
Radi Nabulsi | ESPN.com
Longtime Georgia recruiting coordinator, assistant head coach and defensive line coach Rodney Garner accepted a job with Auburn University on Thursday night. What does that mean for the Bulldogs with less than seven weeks until signing day? DawgNation joined ESPN’s Athens, Ga., affiliate 960 The Ref to talk about that and more. Some of the topics discussed ...
Listen to the show here.
- What effect will Garner’s departure have on recruiting?
- Will Todd Grantham take over the defensive line?
- Who will be the next recruiting coordinator?
- Will this hurt Georgia’s chances with Montravius Adams and Reuben Foster?
- Could Mark Richt elect to hire a special teams coach?
Listen to the show here.
ATHENS, Ga. -- The Georgia coaching staff was on the road Friday, as usual, checking in on commits and targets alike. In what had to the most fortuitous turn of events of the day, tight ends coach John Lilly and inside linebackers coach Kirk Olivadotti just happened to be stopping by Auburn (Ala.) High School right after the nation’s No. 1 inside linebacker, Reuben Foster, decommitted from Auburn University. Both coaches met with Foster, who reopened his recruitment, citing reports that his mentor Trooper Taylor had been let go at Auburn.
Later that night, another coach would also prove lucky as defensive line coach Rodney Garner was on hand to congratulate Montravius Adams (Vienna, Ga./Dooly County) after the top-ranked defensive tackle won the chance to play for the Georgia Class A championship.
Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo and running backs coach Bryan McClendon were on hand to see the Bulldogs’ top tailback target, Alvin Kamara (Norcross, Ga./Norcross), win his semifinal game as well. Alabama’s Kirby Smart was also there, and the battle for Kamara is still neck and neck.
Later that night, another coach would also prove lucky as defensive line coach Rodney Garner was on hand to congratulate Montravius Adams (Vienna, Ga./Dooly County) after the top-ranked defensive tackle won the chance to play for the Georgia Class A championship.
Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo and running backs coach Bryan McClendon were on hand to see the Bulldogs’ top tailback target, Alvin Kamara (Norcross, Ga./Norcross), win his semifinal game as well. Alabama’s Kirby Smart was also there, and the battle for Kamara is still neck and neck.
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TYRONE, Ga. -- Less than 24 hours before the SEC championship game, three members of the Georgia Bulldogs’ coaching staff were in Tyrone, Ga. Assistant head coach Rodney Garner, secondary coach Scott Lakatos and inside linebackers coach Kirk Olivadotti were at Sandy Creek High School watching the Patriots host a playoff game against Burke County (Ga.) High School. On the field was Georgia’s top-rated verbal commitment, cornerback Shaq Wiggins.
The fact that the coaches would be playing Alabama for a chance at the national title was not lost on the ESPN 150 four-star recruit.
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Laremy Tunsil hosts Georgia coaches 
December, 3, 2012
12/03/12
11:37
PM ET
By
Radi Nabulsi | ESPN.com
ESPN 150 offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil (Lake City, Fla./Columbia) watched the two schools atop his leaderboard face each other in the Georgia Dome on Saturday night. The No. 4 prospect in the nation has had Georgia and Alabama as his leaders for months and is expected to pick between the two on signing day.
So who was he rooting for in the game?
“Georgia,” Tunsil said. “I really wanted Georgia to go [to the BCS title game] to see how they were going to do. It was pretty good game.”
So who was he rooting for in the game?
“Georgia,” Tunsil said. “I really wanted Georgia to go [to the BCS title game] to see how they were going to do. It was pretty good game.”
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ATHENS, Ga. -- Let’s take a look at three key plays from No. 6 Georgia’s 32-28 loss to No. 2 Alabama in the SEC championship game on Saturday.
The situation: Georgia faced fourth-and-10 from the Alabama 36 on the first play of the second quarter.
Dogs pull off fake punt
The score: 0-0The situation: Georgia faced fourth-and-10 from the Alabama 36 on the first play of the second quarter.
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Georgia was trailing Tennessee 30-27 on Saturday when the Bulldogs got the ball back with 37 seconds left in the first half. On first down, quarterback Aaron Murray hit tight end Arthur Lynch for a 16-yard completion to the Tennessee 49-yard line. While the catch was instrumental on the drive that ended in a Marshall Morgan 50-yard field goal to tie the game, the play was more memorable in how it ended.
The 260-pound tight end tried to hurdle 6-foot-1 defensive back Byron Moore. Lynch was unsuccessful and he blames coach John Lilly.
“The linebacker was supposed to match me but luckily I came open on the other end on a little drag route,” Lynch said. “I went upfield and it is funny because for the past couple years with Orson [Charles], Aron [White] and myself here, Coach Lilly would always bust our chops about never hurdling anybody -- people would always chop our legs down. As I caught the ball and turned upfield, the first image in my mind was coach Lilly’s face. I was like, ‘This better work or I am going to blame Coach Lilly.’ ”
It didn’t quite work as you can see in the video above.
“I went back and watched the film and I was mad because I could have easily went around that guy, gotten 10 more yards and gone out of bounds,” Lynch said.
Lynch of course had to tease his coach.
“Coach, this is completely your fault,” Lynch said. “You have been such a great coach up until this point. ... He got a laugh out of it.”
Lilly and Lynch may not be so jovial Saturday when they face No. 6 South Carolina. The Gamecocks have two of the best defensive ends in the SEC in the 6-6 Jadeveon Clowney and 6-8 Devin Taylor. Lynch remembers his previous battle with the twin towers.
“I played against them last year and they were both very good last year -- fast, long, strong guys,” Lynch said. “They are able to get their hands inside of you. So it will be a good test. It is going to come down to the fundamentals really -- our footwork, our hand placement and just being able to play fast, play smart and play aggressively.”
Jordan Davis plays bigger than he looks
September, 26, 2012
9/26/12
9:00
AM ET
By
Radi Nabulsi | ESPN.com
THOMSON, Ga. -- Georgia Bulldogs’ commit Jordan Davis (Thomson, Ga./Thomson) doesn’t look like the prototypical blocking tight end. Rather, the 6-foot-4, 225-pound senior calls to mind some of Georgia’s pass-catching tight ends like Orson Charles or Aron White. But when you see Davis on the field in the wing-T offense, images of Ben Watson or Jermaine Wiggins spring up due to his talent at sealing off defenders.
“I have been blocking most of my career,” Davis said. “I am pretty good at catching, but there is room for improvement. I am great at running routes, but with my ankle I can’t plant and get back to the ball. I think I am a better blocker. I have some weight to gain and some power to gain, but I think I am up to date on where I need to be as a blocker.”
Davis had a bum ankle in his recent game against St. Pius X (Ga.), but he was the only one who could tell.
“I have been blocking most of my career,” Davis said. “I am pretty good at catching, but there is room for improvement. I am great at running routes, but with my ankle I can’t plant and get back to the ball. I think I am a better blocker. I have some weight to gain and some power to gain, but I think I am up to date on where I need to be as a blocker.”
Davis had a bum ankle in his recent game against St. Pius X (Ga.), but he was the only one who could tell.
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Dawgs get No. 23 in TE Jordan Davis
July, 29, 2012
7/29/12
8:39
PM ET
By
Radi Nabulsi and
Kipp Adams | ESPN.com
Tight end Jordan Davis (Thomson, Ga./Thomson) committed to the University of Georgia on Sunday after spending Friday with the Bulldogs coaches. Davis made the trip with his mother, the day after the two took a visit to Florida. In the end, it came down to another classic border battle for the talented tight end.
"I just felt like I was at home, so I called John Lilly and Mark Richt and committed to Georgia," Davis said. “I told them I was already a Bulldog at Thomson, but I wanted to stay one in college.”
Davis picked up his scholarship offer from Georgia at the Mark Richt Camp on June 17. Richt told Davis that the staff had wanted to offer earlier but decided to wait until they could do so face to face. Georgia immediately went into his top three schools, alongside Florida and South Carolina. After visiting each, Davis says he is happy to play close to home.
And the visit this weekend apparently made quite an impression.
"I just felt like I was at home, so I called John Lilly and Mark Richt and committed to Georgia," Davis said. “I told them I was already a Bulldog at Thomson, but I wanted to stay one in college.”
Davis picked up his scholarship offer from Georgia at the Mark Richt Camp on June 17. Richt told Davis that the staff had wanted to offer earlier but decided to wait until they could do so face to face. Georgia immediately went into his top three schools, alongside Florida and South Carolina. After visiting each, Davis says he is happy to play close to home.
And the visit this weekend apparently made quite an impression.
En route to a summer prospect camp Tuesday morning at South Carolina, Milan Richard (Savannah, Ga./Calvary Day) got word from his coaches to call the University of Georgia.
After impressing at the Mark Richt Camp and Dawg Night, the 6-foot-2, 232-pound tight end was preparing for a similar effort in front of the Gamecocks coaching staff. It seems the Bulldogs coaching staff wanted to start off Richard's day with some good news.
“I called Coach [Tony] Ball this morning and he said that they were more than happy to extend an offer and that I definitely earned it after camping there three times,” Richard said. “It was a big deal getting the Georgia offer, but we were in South Carolina so once we got off the phone it was time to focus and I knew I had business to take care of in South Carolina."
After impressing at the Mark Richt Camp and Dawg Night, the 6-foot-2, 232-pound tight end was preparing for a similar effort in front of the Gamecocks coaching staff. It seems the Bulldogs coaching staff wanted to start off Richard's day with some good news.
“I called Coach [Tony] Ball this morning and he said that they were more than happy to extend an offer and that I definitely earned it after camping there three times,” Richard said. “It was a big deal getting the Georgia offer, but we were in South Carolina so once we got off the phone it was time to focus and I knew I had business to take care of in South Carolina."
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Top tackle Laremy Tunsil takes in Athens
June, 17, 2012
6/17/12
12:07
AM ET
By
Radi Nabulsi | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- Five-star offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil (Lake City, Fla./Columbia) toured the University of Georgia campus for the first time since November. The No. 3 player in the nation is highly coveted by the Bulldogs and the Georgia coaching staff had a simple message for Tunsil.
“They need me,” Tunsil said.
To that end, Tunsil was given the red-carpet treatment during his stay in Athens.
“They need me,” Tunsil said.
To that end, Tunsil was given the red-carpet treatment during his stay in Athens.
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Coming out of California's Simi Valley High School, Beau Sandland (Woodland Hills, Calif./Pierce CC) was a 6-foot-4, 215-pound non-qualifier with no offers, so the tight end enrolled at Pierce Community College. The school has a reputation for getting guys to the next level.
Obviously the hard work has paid off.
After making 20 catches for 265 yards and two touchdowns, Sandland, having grown to almost 6-6 and 250 pounds, received his first offer from Utah on Feb. 22. Two months later, offer No. 10 arrived from Georgia.
Obviously the hard work has paid off.
After making 20 catches for 265 yards and two touchdowns, Sandland, having grown to almost 6-6 and 250 pounds, received his first offer from Utah on Feb. 22. Two months later, offer No. 10 arrived from Georgia.
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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.