Georgia Bulldogs: Dee Liner
Final RecruitingNation class rankings
February, 5, 2013
Feb 5
5:24
PM ET
By
Edward Aschoff | ESPN.com
We are just hours away from national signing day. I'm going to need all you readers to breathe and count to 10. It's almost here, which means it's almost over.
And with it being almost over, it's time to take one final look at ESPN's RecruitingNation class rankings. On the eve of the biggest recruiting day of the year, the SEC is still keeping it all in the family when it comes to the top classes in the country. The SEC has 12 teams ranked within the top 40 of the class rankings, with five coming within the top 10.
Florida and Alabama remain No. 1 and No. 2. The Gators have 26 verbal commitments, with 11 being ESPN 150 members and 15 being ESPN 300 members. The biggest members of Florida's class are top-rated cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III, who is the No. 3 player in the country, and top-rated running back Kelvin Taylor, who is the No. 8 prospect overall. The Gators have a few spots open and are still in the mix to sign defensive tackle Jay-nard Bostwick, junior college defensive tackle Jarran Reed and wide receiver James Clark. Defensive end and current Auburn commit Tashawn Bower is also on Florida's radar.
And with it being almost over, it's time to take one final look at ESPN's RecruitingNation class rankings. On the eve of the biggest recruiting day of the year, the SEC is still keeping it all in the family when it comes to the top classes in the country. The SEC has 12 teams ranked within the top 40 of the class rankings, with five coming within the top 10.
Florida and Alabama remain No. 1 and No. 2. The Gators have 26 verbal commitments, with 11 being ESPN 150 members and 15 being ESPN 300 members. The biggest members of Florida's class are top-rated cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III, who is the No. 3 player in the country, and top-rated running back Kelvin Taylor, who is the No. 8 prospect overall. The Gators have a few spots open and are still in the mix to sign defensive tackle Jay-nard Bostwick, junior college defensive tackle Jarran Reed and wide receiver James Clark. Defensive end and current Auburn commit Tashawn Bower is also on Florida's radar.
Alabama picked to claim recruiting title
February, 4, 2013
Feb 4
2:00
PM ET
By
Edward Aschoff | ESPN.com
When it comes to recruiting, the readers believe it's still Alabama's world.
Florida might be No. 1 in ESPN's class rankings, but with more than 7,100 votes cast in our SportsNation poll, Alabama was picked to take home the recruiting class crown by grabbing 40 percent of the vote. Alabama currently has the No. 2 class, with 22 commits (10 ESPN 150 members).
Alabama has a chance to add to its already impressive class with a handful of ESPN 150 members still heavily considering the Crimson Tide, including top middle linebacker Reuben Foster, safety Antonio Conner, defensive tackle Dee Liner and running back Alvin Kamara. Adding a couple of those names might propel the Tide over Florida.
The Gators were third in our poll, as Texas collected 27 percent of the vote to come in second. The Aggies have the nation's No. 7 recruiting class and 32 commitments. A&M has six ESPN 150 members and is hoping to add to that number Wednesday with cornerback Mackensie Alexander and athlete Levonte Whitfield still in the mix.
Florida collected 18 percent. While the Gators would like to add to their class, the headliners might already be in hand. The Gators have a good shot of landing four-star cornerback Jalen Ramsey. He's ranked No. 14 nationally by ESPN recruiting services and is the top remaining prospect on the Gators' board.
Georgia was fourth with 10 percent of the vote, while LSU grabbed 5 percent. The Bulldogs could have a very exciting signing day with Foster, Kamara, Liner, top offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil and stud defensive lineman Montravius Adams still looking at Georgia. Landing a few those big names would shoot the Dawgs up the ranks, for sure.
LSU might not have a very exciting signing day. The Tigers own the nation's No. 6 class, with 26 commitments (six ESPN 150 members), but it looks like the staff is waiting on No. 1 Robert Nkemdiche and Auburn defensive end commit Tashawn Bower. Ole Miss is way ahead for Nkemdiche, while it could be tough to flip Bower.
Florida might be No. 1 in ESPN's class rankings, but with more than 7,100 votes cast in our SportsNation poll, Alabama was picked to take home the recruiting class crown by grabbing 40 percent of the vote. Alabama currently has the No. 2 class, with 22 commits (10 ESPN 150 members).
Alabama has a chance to add to its already impressive class with a handful of ESPN 150 members still heavily considering the Crimson Tide, including top middle linebacker Reuben Foster, safety Antonio Conner, defensive tackle Dee Liner and running back Alvin Kamara. Adding a couple of those names might propel the Tide over Florida.
The Gators were third in our poll, as Texas collected 27 percent of the vote to come in second. The Aggies have the nation's No. 7 recruiting class and 32 commitments. A&M has six ESPN 150 members and is hoping to add to that number Wednesday with cornerback Mackensie Alexander and athlete Levonte Whitfield still in the mix.
Florida collected 18 percent. While the Gators would like to add to their class, the headliners might already be in hand. The Gators have a good shot of landing four-star cornerback Jalen Ramsey. He's ranked No. 14 nationally by ESPN recruiting services and is the top remaining prospect on the Gators' board.
Georgia was fourth with 10 percent of the vote, while LSU grabbed 5 percent. The Bulldogs could have a very exciting signing day with Foster, Kamara, Liner, top offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil and stud defensive lineman Montravius Adams still looking at Georgia. Landing a few those big names would shoot the Dawgs up the ranks, for sure.
LSU might not have a very exciting signing day. The Tigers own the nation's No. 6 class, with 26 commitments (six ESPN 150 members), but it looks like the staff is waiting on No. 1 Robert Nkemdiche and Auburn defensive end commit Tashawn Bower. Ole Miss is way ahead for Nkemdiche, while it could be tough to flip Bower.
Possibilities and predictions: Georgia 
February, 4, 2013
Feb 4
9:00
AM ET
By
Radi Nabulsi | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- Last Friday demonstrated the reason why the recruiting hotboard in the Georgia coaches’ meeting room is kept on a dry erase board. As the day started, the Bulldogs had 10 targets in mind for signing day. By midnight, the erasers had been worked hard. Let’s review what happened so we can gauge the possible commits on signing day.
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Heading in to the last weekend before signing day, the news is coming fast and furious, as Georgia chases after its top targets and prepares for a breakneck end to the 2013 recruiting cycle. Here is a quick recap of news that has broken on The Pound in the last 24 hours.
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With just over three weeks until signing day, the recruiting updates are coming fast and furious. DawgNation joined ESPN’s Athens affiliate 960 The Ref to talk about recruiting and more. Some of the topics discussed were:
Listen to the show here.
- What does Dee Liner’s decommitment from Auburn mean for Reuben Foster and Georgia?
- What is the latest on Georgia safety commit Shaq Fluker?
- Who does Georgia hope to close with and where is Alvin Kamara headed this weekend?
- How nervous should Georgia fans be on signing day?
Listen to the show here.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- ESPN 150 cornerback Shaq Wiggins (Tyrone, Ga./Sandy Creek) has been committed to the University of Georgia for more than 10 months, but when asked this week at Under Armour All-America Game practice about his future, Wiggins did not sound so certain about his plans.
“I am still committed to UGA, but there is a very good chance that if I don’t go to Georgia, that I go to South Carolina,” Wiggins said. “After that it is Ole Miss, then Florida, then Texas A&M.”
The Gamecocks have emerged as a true threat to steal Wiggins, the No. 5 cornerback prospect in the country, from the Bulldogs.
“I am still committed to UGA, but there is a very good chance that if I don’t go to Georgia, that I go to South Carolina,” Wiggins said. “After that it is Ole Miss, then Florida, then Texas A&M.”
The Gamecocks have emerged as a true threat to steal Wiggins, the No. 5 cornerback prospect in the country, from the Bulldogs.
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LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Four-star Auburn commitment Dee Liner (Muscle Shoals, Ala./Muscle Shoals) and four-star linebacker Reuben Foster (Auburn, Ala./Auburn) had agreed to refrain from doing any interviews involving their recruitment.
But after Day 2 of Under Armour All-America Game practice at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports, Foster joined Liner in giving the latest on the five schools he's still considering.
“I am looking at Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, South Carolina and Washington,” Foster said. “I have not officially set any of the visits, but I hope to take my first trip to Washington Jan. 11.”
But after Day 2 of Under Armour All-America Game practice at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports, Foster joined Liner in giving the latest on the five schools he's still considering.
“I am looking at Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, South Carolina and Washington,” Foster said. “I have not officially set any of the visits, but I hope to take my first trip to Washington Jan. 11.”
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#BlueChipBattles: Dec. 21
December, 21, 2012
12/21/12
5:29
PM ET
By RecruitingNation staff | ESPN.com
ESPN.comReuben Foster (center) is torn between good friends Dee Liner (left) and Tray Matthews (right).No. 1 ILB Reuben Foster has voiced his desire to play with at least one of his SEC-bound friends next season. But will he follow Tray Matthews to Georgia or hook up with Dee Liner wherever the ESPN 150 DL settles? It remains to be seen, but the mystery surrounding his recruitment keeps Foster at the top of our #BlueChipBattles.
Each week, RecruitingNation summons its writers from around the country to compile a list of the top 10 battles for elite football recruits leading up to February's signing day.
Here are this week's top battles
, and you can take a shot at ranking the top 10 recruiting battles on SportsNation.#BlueChipBattles: Nov. 30
November, 30, 2012
11/30/12
2:20
PM ET
By RecruitingNation staff | ESPN.com
ESPN.comCarl Lawson, Dee Linerand Reuben Foster are still committed to Auburn, but the Tigers' coaching situation could change things for the three ESPN 150 recruits.Auburn bid farewell to head coach Gene Chizik on Sunday. Could the Tigers also be saying goodbye to a trio of ESPN 150 recruits who could take their talents elsewhere?
Each week, RecruitingNation summons its writers from around the country to compile a list of the top 10 battles for elite football recruits leading up to February's signing day.
Here are this week's top battles
, and you can take a shot at ranking the top 10 recruiting battles on SportsNation.More flips after Reuben Foster to Auburn?
July, 12, 2012
7/12/12
5:30
PM ET
By
Radi Nabulsi | ESPN.com
On the surface it would appear that Reuben Foster’s (Auburn, Ala./Auburn) decommitment from Alabama and subsequent commitment to Auburn would mean little to Georgia. He wasn’t committed to the Bulldogs and still is not.
However, he was trying to convince his best friend, safety Tray Matthews (Newnan, Ga./Newnan), to join him at Alabama and he will continue to try to pull Matthews with him to Auburn. Taking into consideration the fact that Matthews and Foster have a pact to play together in college and are working to extend that pact to include others, the Georgia coaches cannot be comfortable right now.
In speaking to Matthews briefly this afternoon, DawgNation asked whether the Foster news would change his commitment to Georgia. Matthews hesitated, then said, “Yes.”
However, he was trying to convince his best friend, safety Tray Matthews (Newnan, Ga./Newnan), to join him at Alabama and he will continue to try to pull Matthews with him to Auburn. Taking into consideration the fact that Matthews and Foster have a pact to play together in college and are working to extend that pact to include others, the Georgia coaches cannot be comfortable right now.
In speaking to Matthews briefly this afternoon, DawgNation asked whether the Foster news would change his commitment to Georgia. Matthews hesitated, then said, “Yes.”
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Back to square one for the Bulldogs. Last year, University of Georgia head coach Mark Richt needed to make a splash in recruiting. Coming off a six-win season in 2010 -- by far the worst of his tenure in Athens -- Richt needed an impact player at running back in the class. The Bulldogs were 73rd in the country in rushing, 10th in the SEC, but Richt was able to put the finishing touches on a top-five class -- one he dubbed the “Dream Team" -- by signing five-star running back and the top prospect in Georgia, Isaiah Crowell.
Friday, following an arrest on felony weapons charges, Crowell was dismissed from the team by Richt, ending Crowell’s career at Georgia after only one season and putting more pressure on his teammates to replace the SEC Freshman of the Year. The latest departure further depletes the overall talent on Georgia’s team, making the 2013 class even more important for the future of the program.
Big class coming in
Friday, following an arrest on felony weapons charges, Crowell was dismissed from the team by Richt, ending Crowell’s career at Georgia after only one season and putting more pressure on his teammates to replace the SEC Freshman of the Year. The latest departure further depletes the overall talent on Georgia’s team, making the 2013 class even more important for the future of the program.
Big class coming in
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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.