Georgia Bulldogs: Isaiah Crowell
ATHENS, Ga. -- Aside from tailback Isaiah Crowell, no player in Georgia’s heralded 2011 recruiting class arrived with more hype than defensive end Ray Drew. And yet the rising junior struggled to make much of an impact in his first two seasons as a Bulldog.
But after working his way into the defensive line rotation late last season and acquitting himself well -- including an eight-tackle game against Georgia Tech, a single-game total that tied for second among Georgia’s defensive linemen last season -- Drew entered this spring with a newfound confidence that he can perform at the college level.
“The more you play, the more comfortable you get,” Drew said. “And then after I had my game against Georgia Tech where I think I had about eight or nine tackles there, I guess it kind of just freed me and it was kind of like, ‘OK, let’s go.’ ”
But after working his way into the defensive line rotation late last season and acquitting himself well -- including an eight-tackle game against Georgia Tech, a single-game total that tied for second among Georgia’s defensive linemen last season -- Drew entered this spring with a newfound confidence that he can perform at the college level.
“The more you play, the more comfortable you get,” Drew said. “And then after I had my game against Georgia Tech where I think I had about eight or nine tackles there, I guess it kind of just freed me and it was kind of like, ‘OK, let’s go.’ ”
ATHENS, Ga. -- If history tells us anything, it’s that Josh Harvey-Clemons and Robert Nkemdiche had better avoid trouble at all costs. It’s a dangerous proposition to be ESPN’s top-ranked player in the state of Georgia.
Harvey-Clemons, a rising sophomore at Georgia, was the No. 1 player in the state a year ago. Nkemdiche was not just the top player in Georgia, but the top player in the entire country when he signed with Ole Miss earlier this month. But while it’s certainly prestigious to rank as the top player in a state that is known to be one of the nation’s most fertile football recruiting territories, it has not been the indicator of instant success that one might expect.
In tracking the careers of the state’s top 10 prospects each year since 2006, it became clear that it takes more than a lofty prospect ranking to achieve college success. The uneven career paths for Georgia’s previous top prospects attest to that fact.
Harvey-Clemons, a rising sophomore at Georgia, was the No. 1 player in the state a year ago. Nkemdiche was not just the top player in Georgia, but the top player in the entire country when he signed with Ole Miss earlier this month. But while it’s certainly prestigious to rank as the top player in a state that is known to be one of the nation’s most fertile football recruiting territories, it has not been the indicator of instant success that one might expect.
In tracking the careers of the state’s top 10 prospects each year since 2006, it became clear that it takes more than a lofty prospect ranking to achieve college success. The uneven career paths for Georgia’s previous top prospects attest to that fact.
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ATHENS, Ga. -- Although they haven’t even played in a G-Day game yet, Georgia early enrollees Tray Matthews and Ryne Rankin have already received the same treatment as some of their better-known coaches and teammates.
Much like coaches Mark Richt, Mike Bobo and Todd Grantham and players like Aaron Murray or Isaiah Crowell, the two freshman football players have been parodied online in fake Twitter accounts that exaggerate some of their personality traits. In some cases, the parody accounts actually have more Twitter followers than the person they are mocking.
“I didn’t even know until one of my friends said, ‘Man, you know you’ve got a fake Twitter?’ It was like, ‘Oh man, you’re going big-time on us already,’ ” said Matthews, who guessed that a friend from his hometown, Newnan, Ga., or a new teammate was the wise guy behind his now-inactive online alter ego, @NotTrayMatthews.
Much like coaches Mark Richt, Mike Bobo and Todd Grantham and players like Aaron Murray or Isaiah Crowell, the two freshman football players have been parodied online in fake Twitter accounts that exaggerate some of their personality traits. In some cases, the parody accounts actually have more Twitter followers than the person they are mocking.
“I didn’t even know until one of my friends said, ‘Man, you know you’ve got a fake Twitter?’ It was like, ‘Oh man, you’re going big-time on us already,’ ” said Matthews, who guessed that a friend from his hometown, Newnan, Ga., or a new teammate was the wise guy behind his now-inactive online alter ego, @NotTrayMatthews.
ATHENS, Ga. -- Georgia’s coaching staff proved in the last two seasons that it is more than willing to play a newcomer in order to address glaring needs. And as they prepare to put the finishing touches on their 2013 signing class, the coaches can only hope that the newest Bulldogs can be as effective as their predecessors from that last two years at addressing Georgia’s depth concerns.
Mark Richt’s critics might once have had a point when they observed that his coaching staff gave veterans too much of a benefit of the doubt when it came to playing them over talented young players. The last two seasons have neutralized those criticisms, as it’s hard to imagine Georgia having won the last two SEC East titles without extensive contributions from brand new Bulldogs.
Think back to 2011, when John Jenkins’ emergence at nose guard was one of the leading factors in Georgia’s defensive resurgence that carried the Bulldogs to their first division title since 2005. Or how tailback Isaiah Crowell led the team with 850 rushing yards en route to SEC Freshman of the Year honors. Or how Malcolm Mitchell and Chris Conley both made their share of big plays at receiver, as did Amarlo Herrera at linebacker.
Mark Richt’s critics might once have had a point when they observed that his coaching staff gave veterans too much of a benefit of the doubt when it came to playing them over talented young players. The last two seasons have neutralized those criticisms, as it’s hard to imagine Georgia having won the last two SEC East titles without extensive contributions from brand new Bulldogs.
Think back to 2011, when John Jenkins’ emergence at nose guard was one of the leading factors in Georgia’s defensive resurgence that carried the Bulldogs to their first division title since 2005. Or how tailback Isaiah Crowell led the team with 850 rushing yards en route to SEC Freshman of the Year honors. Or how Malcolm Mitchell and Chris Conley both made their share of big plays at receiver, as did Amarlo Herrera at linebacker.
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ATHENS, Ga. -- Georgia’s football program seemed to be on the ropes with two weeks remaining until signing day 2011. Three seasons of declining results, capped by the program’s first losing record under Mark Richt in 2010, left the Bulldogs in an uncertain position.
But when Malcolm Mitchell and Jay Rome elected to join the Bulldogs’ “Dream Team” recruiting class on Jan. 20, 2011, an impressive finishing push for Richt’s coaching staff leading up to signing day was launched. That was a big step toward the on-field resurgence that allowed the Bulldogs to win back-to-back SEC East titles over the last two years.
Another strong signing class followed the “Dream Team” in 2012 and played a role in the Bulldogs’ division championship. And as Richt’s staff attempts to reel in a final batch of blue-chip prospects before national signing day on Wednesday, we can review the successes of the past two seasons and point to that mid-January day -- 13 days before signing day 2011 -- that Valdosta (Ga.) teammates Mitchell and Rome publicly committed to the Bulldogs as the jumping-off point for Richt’s staff to restock their roster with a flood of talent.
But when Malcolm Mitchell and Jay Rome elected to join the Bulldogs’ “Dream Team” recruiting class on Jan. 20, 2011, an impressive finishing push for Richt’s coaching staff leading up to signing day was launched. That was a big step toward the on-field resurgence that allowed the Bulldogs to win back-to-back SEC East titles over the last two years.
Another strong signing class followed the “Dream Team” in 2012 and played a role in the Bulldogs’ division championship. And as Richt’s staff attempts to reel in a final batch of blue-chip prospects before national signing day on Wednesday, we can review the successes of the past two seasons and point to that mid-January day -- 13 days before signing day 2011 -- that Valdosta (Ga.) teammates Mitchell and Rome publicly committed to the Bulldogs as the jumping-off point for Richt’s staff to restock their roster with a flood of talent.
By the numbers: UGA classes since 2006 
January, 18, 2013
Jan 18
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David Ching | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- Here’s a breakdown of Georgia’s last seven recruiting classes and what they managed to accomplish in college and beyond:
2006
ESPN top five classes: Florida, USC, Texas, Georgia, Notre Dame
Georgia’s ranking: 4
2006
ESPN top five classes: Florida, USC, Texas, Georgia, Notre Dame
Georgia’s ranking: 4
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ATHENS, Ga. -- As Mark Richt turns the page from one season to the next, Georgia’s coach insists that his expectations will not change this fall.
The Bulldogs lose 12 key defensive players from a team that finished fifth in the final Associated Press poll and fourth in the USA Today Coaches Poll -- the third-best finish for a Richt-coached Georgia team in both polls -- but Richt said he still expects his team to rank among the national elite.
“We plan on being that. We hope to be that. We’ve got to earn that,” Richt said Thursday afternoon on his season-wrapup teleconference.
The Bulldogs lose 12 key defensive players from a team that finished fifth in the final Associated Press poll and fourth in the USA Today Coaches Poll -- the third-best finish for a Richt-coached Georgia team in both polls -- but Richt said he still expects his team to rank among the national elite.
“We plan on being that. We hope to be that. We’ve got to earn that,” Richt said Thursday afternoon on his season-wrapup teleconference.
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Editor’s note: Georgia’s football season is halfway over and the Bulldogs will take this weekend off before resuming SEC play next Saturday at Kentucky. We’ll take a look at a different position group each day this week and evaluate how it performed in the first half of the season in our DawgNation midseason report cards.
ATHENS, Ga. -- Perhaps the biggest feel-good story in Georgia’s first six games was the performance by the Bulldogs’ new 1-2 punch at tailback from freshmen Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall.
Even after a disappointing night for Georgia’s offense last Saturday against South Carolina, Gurley (81 carries for 575 yards, nine TDs) and Marshall (64-465, 5 TDs) still sit fourth and 10th, respectively, among the SEC’s rushing leaders. Considering that the position was one of Georgia’s greatest uncertainties last season and one of its biggest question marks entering the fall, that’s a heck of a place to be.
ATHENS, Ga. -- Perhaps the biggest feel-good story in Georgia’s first six games was the performance by the Bulldogs’ new 1-2 punch at tailback from freshmen Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall.
Even after a disappointing night for Georgia’s offense last Saturday against South Carolina, Gurley (81 carries for 575 yards, nine TDs) and Marshall (64-465, 5 TDs) still sit fourth and 10th, respectively, among the SEC’s rushing leaders. Considering that the position was one of Georgia’s greatest uncertainties last season and one of its biggest question marks entering the fall, that’s a heck of a place to be.
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Murray different QB from one in 2011 loss
October, 3, 2012
10/03/12
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David Ching | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- There are few examples in Aaron Murray’s tenure as Georgia’s starting quarterback of his mistakes playing a leading role in a Bulldogs loss.
One such example comes from last season’s 45-42 defeat at the hands of South Carolina, when Murray had an interception returned for a touchdown, a fumble returned for a touchdown and did not successfully complete a handoff with tailback Isaiah Crowell, resulting in a fumble that Gamecocks cornerback Stephon Gilmore returned to near the UGA goal line, setting up yet another touchdown.
While Murray’s miscues certainly were not the only ones by a Georgia player that afternoon, the quarterback still cringes as he reviews the plays he’d love to take back; plays that contributed to the Bulldogs losing an eminently winnable game.
“When you go back to watch the film, as preparation, as aid, it’s still painful to watch,” Murray said. “I don’t like to watch it too much.”
One such example comes from last season’s 45-42 defeat at the hands of South Carolina, when Murray had an interception returned for a touchdown, a fumble returned for a touchdown and did not successfully complete a handoff with tailback Isaiah Crowell, resulting in a fumble that Gamecocks cornerback Stephon Gilmore returned to near the UGA goal line, setting up yet another touchdown.
While Murray’s miscues certainly were not the only ones by a Georgia player that afternoon, the quarterback still cringes as he reviews the plays he’d love to take back; plays that contributed to the Bulldogs losing an eminently winnable game.
“When you go back to watch the film, as preparation, as aid, it’s still painful to watch,” Murray said. “I don’t like to watch it too much.”
Sloppy win like last season's sloppy loss
October, 1, 2012
10/01/12
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David Ching | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- Mark Richt tried to put things in perspective after his Georgia team barely hung on for a sloppy 51-44 win against Tennessee on Saturday.
It was an ugly game in a lot of ways for the Bulldogs, but Richt was ecstatic to leave Sanford Stadium with a win -- a particularly timely sentiment for those who remember Georgia’s 2011 game against its next opponent, South Carolina.
“I was just talking to [defensive coordinator Todd] Grantham, and we’ve been around long enough to know that we need to be thankful and glad that we won the game and not gripe and moan about points and yards and all that kind of stuff, because it doesn’t matter,” Richt said after Tennessee gained 478 yards in 85 plays against the Bulldogs. “What matters is winning and playing big when you’ve got to play big. And we did that [Saturday], so I was happy.”
It was an ugly game in a lot of ways for the Bulldogs, but Richt was ecstatic to leave Sanford Stadium with a win -- a particularly timely sentiment for those who remember Georgia’s 2011 game against its next opponent, South Carolina.
“I was just talking to [defensive coordinator Todd] Grantham, and we’ve been around long enough to know that we need to be thankful and glad that we won the game and not gripe and moan about points and yards and all that kind of stuff, because it doesn’t matter,” Richt said after Tennessee gained 478 yards in 85 plays against the Bulldogs. “What matters is winning and playing big when you’ve got to play big. And we did that [Saturday], so I was happy.”
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ATHENS, Ga. -- Emptying the notebook with some late-night thoughts and observations from Georgia’s 48-3 win against Vanderbilt on Saturday night.
* It’s amazing to see the strides Aaron Murray has made as Georgia’s quarterback. Rarely does he force a throw. He has such a great grasp of the offense, which Mark Richt said is a product of a relentless work ethic.
“All of our guys work hard in preparing, but Murray, he does take it to another level in how he prepares for the game and because of that we have a high cover level to let him check out of any play that doesn’t look good,” Richt said. “He checks from a run to a run or a run to a pass at times, he’ll change the protection at the line of scrimmage, he’ll change a pass play from time to time. We rarely run bad plays because he studies so well and he has certain keys that he can kind of anticipate what’s happening and just get us out of bad situations.”
* It’s amazing to see the strides Aaron Murray has made as Georgia’s quarterback. Rarely does he force a throw. He has such a great grasp of the offense, which Mark Richt said is a product of a relentless work ethic.
“All of our guys work hard in preparing, but Murray, he does take it to another level in how he prepares for the game and because of that we have a high cover level to let him check out of any play that doesn’t look good,” Richt said. “He checks from a run to a run or a run to a pass at times, he’ll change the protection at the line of scrimmage, he’ll change a pass play from time to time. We rarely run bad plays because he studies so well and he has certain keys that he can kind of anticipate what’s happening and just get us out of bad situations.”
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Instant analysis: Georgia 56, FAU 20
September, 15, 2012
9/15/12
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David Ching | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- Although Florida Atlantic (1-2) kept things close for most of the first half, No. 7 Georgia (3-0) efficiently pulled away for a 56-20 win to achieve a 3-0 start for the first time since 2008.
It was over when: A six-touchdown favorite, Georgia led just 28-14 at halftime but scored two quick touchdowns in the third quarter -- on a 36-yard Arthur Lynch catch and a 38-yard Todd Gurley run -- to end any thought of an FAU upset.
Game ball goes to: Gurley and Keith Marshall. The two freshmen both rushed for more than 100 yards, marking the first time since last year’s Auburn game (Isaiah Crowell and Carlton Thomas) that two Bulldog backs both broke the 100-yard barrier and the first time since 2004 against Vanderbilt (Danny Ware and Thomas Brown) that two freshmen accomplished the feat. Marshall finished with 10 carries for 104 yards and a touchdown, and Gurley ran 10 times for 111 yards and a score.
Stat of the game: 713. Without injured All-America outside linebacker Jarvis Jones, Georgia’s defense didn’t have its best night. But the offense had no such issues, rolling up 713 yards of total offense in the blowout victory. That broke the school single-game record for total offense -- previously 667 yards -- set in 1993 against Southern Mississippi.
Turning point: It was only a 21-14 game when Georgia’s Michael Bennett caught a 67-yard touchdown pass with 1:34 left in the second quarter to give the Bulldogs a two-touchdown halftime lead.
Record performances: In addition to the total offense record, Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray set a new career high with 342 passing yards on 14-for-19 passing. Marshall and Gurley’s rushing yardage set new career highs, and Bennett (four catches for 110 yards) and Lynch (3 for 73) both had career-best receiving numbers. Florida Atlantic also set a new mark for most yards allowed, breaking the previous record of 651 against Troy in 2009.
It was over when: A six-touchdown favorite, Georgia led just 28-14 at halftime but scored two quick touchdowns in the third quarter -- on a 36-yard Arthur Lynch catch and a 38-yard Todd Gurley run -- to end any thought of an FAU upset.
Game ball goes to: Gurley and Keith Marshall. The two freshmen both rushed for more than 100 yards, marking the first time since last year’s Auburn game (Isaiah Crowell and Carlton Thomas) that two Bulldog backs both broke the 100-yard barrier and the first time since 2004 against Vanderbilt (Danny Ware and Thomas Brown) that two freshmen accomplished the feat. Marshall finished with 10 carries for 104 yards and a touchdown, and Gurley ran 10 times for 111 yards and a score.
Stat of the game: 713. Without injured All-America outside linebacker Jarvis Jones, Georgia’s defense didn’t have its best night. But the offense had no such issues, rolling up 713 yards of total offense in the blowout victory. That broke the school single-game record for total offense -- previously 667 yards -- set in 1993 against Southern Mississippi.
Turning point: It was only a 21-14 game when Georgia’s Michael Bennett caught a 67-yard touchdown pass with 1:34 left in the second quarter to give the Bulldogs a two-touchdown halftime lead.
Record performances: In addition to the total offense record, Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray set a new career high with 342 passing yards on 14-for-19 passing. Marshall and Gurley’s rushing yardage set new career highs, and Bennett (four catches for 110 yards) and Lynch (3 for 73) both had career-best receiving numbers. Florida Atlantic also set a new mark for most yards allowed, breaking the previous record of 651 against Troy in 2009.
Kirk Herbstreit, Todd Blackledge and Scott Van Pelt preview the SEC in 2012.
ATHENS, Ga. -- Tailbacks Keith Marshall and Todd Gurley -- along with the rest of Georgia’s offensive true freshmen -- were available to speak to the media for the first time on Friday.
Marshall, ESPN’s No. 5 overall prospect and No. 2 tailback in the 2012 signing class -- spoke with reporters about a variety of topics, including how Isaiah Crowell’s departure affected his preparation for the upcoming season.
Here is what Marshall had to say:
Marshall, ESPN’s No. 5 overall prospect and No. 2 tailback in the 2012 signing class -- spoke with reporters about a variety of topics, including how Isaiah Crowell’s departure affected his preparation for the upcoming season.
Here is what Marshall had to say:
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ATHENS, Ga. -- Bryan McClendon has presided over one of Georgia’s most turbulent position groups over the last few seasons, so the current state of tranquility in the running backs’ meeting room is a pleasant change.
The Bulldogs have had four tailbacks leave the roster for various reasons in the last 16 months and McClendon dealt with numerous disciplinary issues among his players last season, but he said things have changed for the better.
“Right now I think just as far as the mind state that our room is having right now is just very positive,” McClendon said after Sunday morning’s practice. “Everybody’s working, everybody’s excited to be there. You’re not having to spend time on a lot of negative things, so to speak, that’s going to take away from anything that’s going to try to get to the main goal that not only you have as a segment, but you have as a team.
The Bulldogs have had four tailbacks leave the roster for various reasons in the last 16 months and McClendon dealt with numerous disciplinary issues among his players last season, but he said things have changed for the better.
“Right now I think just as far as the mind state that our room is having right now is just very positive,” McClendon said after Sunday morning’s practice. “Everybody’s working, everybody’s excited to be there. You’re not having to spend time on a lot of negative things, so to speak, that’s going to take away from anything that’s going to try to get to the main goal that not only you have as a segment, but you have as a team.
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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.