Georgia Bulldogs: Scott Lakatos
ATHENS, Ga. -- Over the last two weeks, we reviewed the competition for playing time at each position on Georgia’s depth chart and identified a player to watch at each position.
A defense that lost 12 significant players will be a focal point well into the fall, and it was in our post-spring recaps. Let’s take a look at the defensive positions first:
A defense that lost 12 significant players will be a focal point well into the fall, and it was in our post-spring recaps. Let’s take a look at the defensive positions first:
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Editor’s note: DawgNation's post-spring positional analysis continues this week after focusing on the offense last week. Today we examine the safeties:
Returning players/stats: Connor Norman, Jr. (Two starts. 18 tackles); Corey Moore, Jr. (One start. 14 tackles, one tackle for a loss); Marc Deas, Jr. (One tackle, one blocked punt); Josh Harvey-Clemons, So. (14 tackles, one TFL, one pass breakup);
Returning players/stats: Connor Norman, Jr. (Two starts. 18 tackles); Corey Moore, Jr. (One start. 14 tackles, one tackle for a loss); Marc Deas, Jr. (One tackle, one blocked punt); Josh Harvey-Clemons, So. (14 tackles, one TFL, one pass breakup);
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Editor’s note: Our DawgNation post-spring positional analysis continues this week after focusing on the offense last week. Today we examine the cornerbacks:
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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.”
Safety Kennar Johnson (Clermont, Fla./Mississippi Gulf Coast CC) was supposed to enroll at Georgia this month.
He had been committed to the Bulldogs for more than three weeks when the junior college signing period began Dec. 18, and was expected to sign then. By Dec. 19 it was obvious something was wrong. Johnson could not be reached for comment. His coach stopped returning phone calls. Georgia put out a press release with the names of two junior colleges players that had signed with the Bulldogs. Johnson was not on the list.
Recently, a couple of Georgia coaches went to visit Johnson.
He had been committed to the Bulldogs for more than three weeks when the junior college signing period began Dec. 18, and was expected to sign then. By Dec. 19 it was obvious something was wrong. Johnson could not be reached for comment. His coach stopped returning phone calls. Georgia put out a press release with the names of two junior colleges players that had signed with the Bulldogs. Johnson was not on the list.
Recently, a couple of Georgia coaches went to visit Johnson.
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ATHENS, Ga. -- Perhaps it says something about the seasoning of Georgia’s 2013 defense, or lack thereof, that safety will actually not be the Bulldogs’ least-experienced position.
Nose guard takes that dubious honor. And yet with the departure of a pair of essential seniors Shawn Williams and Bacarri Rambo, the back end of the defense will face just as many questions when spring practice opens in early March.
U.S. Army All-American Tray Matthews -- who graduated from Newnan (Ga.) High School early and enrolled at Georgia this month -- hopes he can provide some answers.
Nose guard takes that dubious honor. And yet with the departure of a pair of essential seniors Shawn Williams and Bacarri Rambo, the back end of the defense will face just as many questions when spring practice opens in early March.
U.S. Army All-American Tray Matthews -- who graduated from Newnan (Ga.) High School early and enrolled at Georgia this month -- hopes he can provide some answers.
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ESPN 150 cornerback Shaq Wiggins (Tyrone, Ga./Sandy Creek) spent Sunday morning eating breakfast with South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier, then ended that night on the phone with Georgia coach Mark Richt.
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Competition theme of defense's offseason
January, 8, 2013
Jan 8
7:00
AM ET
By
David Ching | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- This won’t be the most crucial offseason of Todd Grantham’s relatively brief time at Georgia -- that honor goes to 2010, when he started installing his 3-4 scheme shortly after joining Mark Richt’s staff in January -- but it might be the one with the most roster uncertainty.
The Bulldogs will lose 11 key players off its 2012 defense, and that number could grow to 12 if junior nose guard Kwame Geathers declares for the NFL draft, so spring practice will feature major competition within every defensive position group.
“I kind of put them up on the board the other day and we’ve got some talented guys. It’s just a matter of developing them and working them and filtering it,” Grantham said. “Our depth is going to be better than it’s been the last couple of years, but it’s going to be young. So there’s a little bit at every spot.”
The Bulldogs will lose 11 key players off its 2012 defense, and that number could grow to 12 if junior nose guard Kwame Geathers declares for the NFL draft, so spring practice will feature major competition within every defensive position group.
“I kind of put them up on the board the other day and we’ve got some talented guys. It’s just a matter of developing them and working them and filtering it,” Grantham said. “Our depth is going to be better than it’s been the last couple of years, but it’s going to be young. So there’s a little bit at every spot.”
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Five-star linebacker Matthew Thomas (Miami, Fla./Booker T. Washington) said he wanted to win a state championship before he would deal with his recruitment.
Last month he led Booker T. Washington to the Class 4A state title and now he’s ready to get down to business in preparations for a signing day decision.
“It felt good to win state,” Thomas said. It was the main goal from the beginning of the season and it feels good to accomplish your goals, especially after coming up short the year before.
Last month he led Booker T. Washington to the Class 4A state title and now he’s ready to get down to business in preparations for a signing day decision.
“It felt good to win state,” Thomas said. It was the main goal from the beginning of the season and it feels good to accomplish your goals, especially after coming up short the year before.
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ESPN 150 cornerback and Georgia commit Shaq Wiggins had a big weekend. On Saturday, he started the day by hanging up on Steve Spurrier and later his Sandy Creek (Ga.) High School team won the Georgia Class AAAA state championship. He had his 18th birthday Sunday and Monday, after getting fitted for a championship ring (size 10.5), he spoke with the entire Ole Miss staff on Skype.
So much for the dead period in recruiting.
“I was skyping with the whole staff,” Wiggins said. “It was crazy. They were chanting my name, telling jokes, talking and laughing. I have a good relationship with a lot of the coaches on the staff. I was talking to Coach [Hugh] Freeze. They were messaging with me while I was in school, trying to get me on Face Time but my Face Time was not working so I had to get them on Skype. That was one thing we were talking about -- no other school has done that.”
So much for the dead period in recruiting.
“I was skyping with the whole staff,” Wiggins said. “It was crazy. They were chanting my name, telling jokes, talking and laughing. I have a good relationship with a lot of the coaches on the staff. I was talking to Coach [Hugh] Freeze. They were messaging with me while I was in school, trying to get me on Face Time but my Face Time was not working so I had to get them on Skype. That was one thing we were talking about -- no other school has done that.”
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Demarre Kitt's popularity on the rise 
December, 5, 2012
12/05/12
2:25
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By
Radi Nabulsi | ESPN.com
TYRONE, Ga. -- ESPN Watch List wide receiver Demarre Kitt has been popular over the last 10 days. A number of college coaches have stopped by Sandy Creek (Ga.) High School to check in on the 6-foot-1, 185-pound junior who sports offers from 11 major programs such as USC, Alabama, Ohio State and Clemson.
Kitt was verbally committed to Georgia for a few months before reopening his recruitment. The Bulldogs had three coaches, Rodney Garner, Kirk Olivadotti and Scott Lakos, at his game Friday night. While their attention was focused mainly on Georgia commit cornerback Shaq Wiggins, Kitt was happy to see them.
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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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ATHENS, Ga. -- After coming within 5 yards of playing for a national championship on Saturday, the Georgia Bulldogs really needed some good news on Sunday. To make matters worse, one of their top targets, wide receiver Ja’Quay Williams chose Texas A&M over Georgia on Sunday night. Missing out on a BCS bowl game did not help the mood in Athens, either.
Just when it seemed the Bulldogs could not catch a break on the field or on the recruiting trail, coach Mark Richt received a phone call. One of Georgia’s top targets, ESPN 150 athlete Tramel Terry (Goose Creek, S.C./Goose Creek) was on the line. Terry had gone quiet after a visit to Clemson, deciding to mull over how he would fit with the in-state Tigers. He had already decommitted from Georgia once and the pressure to remain in South Carolina weighed on him. Terry was torn between the two programs. But during the call to Richt, Terry revealed he had made a decision.
Just when it seemed the Bulldogs could not catch a break on the field or on the recruiting trail, coach Mark Richt received a phone call. One of Georgia’s top targets, ESPN 150 athlete Tramel Terry (Goose Creek, S.C./Goose Creek) was on the line. Terry had gone quiet after a visit to Clemson, deciding to mull over how he would fit with the in-state Tigers. He had already decommitted from Georgia once and the pressure to remain in South Carolina weighed on him. Terry was torn between the two programs. But during the call to Richt, Terry revealed he had made a decision.
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A day after adding a cornerback with the size coveted by secondary coach Scott Lakatos, the Georgia Bulldogs gained a commitment from a wide receiver with the size any college program would love to have. Juco wideout Jonathon Rumph, at 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, announced his commitment to Georgia tonight at Spires Recreation Center in Cayce, S.C., his childhood stomping grounds.
“I chose Georgia because I love the atmosphere there, the fans, and how the coaching staff is filled with real people,” Rumph said. “They have my best interests at heart for me in regards to my career and my path to becoming a quality young man.”
Rumph chose Georgia over offers from Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Texas Tech, among others. In nine games this season, Rumph caught 44 passes for 575 yards and 3 touchdowns.
With the upcoming graduation of Georgia’s Marlon Brown and Tavarres King, Rumph sees an opportunity to make an impact in Athens.
“The situation at receiver is such that I feel I can come in, work my way up the depth chart, and have a good chance at earning a starting position,” Rumph said. “With my size, the pro-style scheme at Georgia is a perfect fit because it puts me in 1-on-1 matchups where I can be a big help to the offense.”
He also likes the potential for success at Georgia.
“I chose Georgia because I love the atmosphere there, the fans, and how the coaching staff is filled with real people,” Rumph said. “They have my best interests at heart for me in regards to my career and my path to becoming a quality young man.”
Rumph chose Georgia over offers from Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Texas Tech, among others. In nine games this season, Rumph caught 44 passes for 575 yards and 3 touchdowns.
With the upcoming graduation of Georgia’s Marlon Brown and Tavarres King, Rumph sees an opportunity to make an impact in Athens.
“The situation at receiver is such that I feel I can come in, work my way up the depth chart, and have a good chance at earning a starting position,” Rumph said. “With my size, the pro-style scheme at Georgia is a perfect fit because it puts me in 1-on-1 matchups where I can be a big help to the offense.”
He also likes the potential for success at Georgia.
Around the Hedges in 80 Days: B. Sailors
August, 13, 2012
8/13/12
8:23
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By
David Ching | ESPN.com
Nineteen days remain until Georgia kicks off its season opener against Buffalo on Sept. 1. In the days counting down to the opener, DawgNation will profile, with our “Around the Hedges in 80 Days” series, a Bulldogs player we expect to make an impact. We will review each player’s career thus far and project his long-term potential as we progress through our alphabetical list, from center David Andrews to receiver Rantavious Wooten.
19. Blake Sailors
Fall forecast: Former walk-on Sailors earned a scholarship last season and served as one of the Bulldogs’ top special teams players. He will probably continue in that role this season, but might add some extra responsibilities on scrimmage downs. Sailors is unlikely to take much playing time from regulars Sanders Commings and Branden Smith, but he could see the field a bit more as a reserve cornerback in 2012, although the Bulldogs have a host of players who will also figure into defensive backs coach Scott Lakatos’ plans, including Damian Swann, Malcolm Mitchell, Devin Bowman and Sheldon Dawson.
19. Blake Sailors
Junior, cornerback
5-foot-11, 187 pounds
Fall forecast: Former walk-on Sailors earned a scholarship last season and served as one of the Bulldogs’ top special teams players. He will probably continue in that role this season, but might add some extra responsibilities on scrimmage downs. Sailors is unlikely to take much playing time from regulars Sanders Commings and Branden Smith, but he could see the field a bit more as a reserve cornerback in 2012, although the Bulldogs have a host of players who will also figure into defensive backs coach Scott Lakatos’ plans, including Damian Swann, Malcolm Mitchell, Devin Bowman and Sheldon Dawson.
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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.