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Five who got away from Georgia

A look back at the rivalry in recruiting: Top players who picked Gators during Richt era

Updated: October 27, 2011, 12:32 PM ET
By Kipp Adams | DawgNation
The annual matchup between Florida and Georgia is one of the biggest rivalries in all of college football. Two programs from states loaded with gridiron talent, the Bulldogs and Gators also have gone head to head for some of the top prospects in the country, as well. As the much-anticipated game in Jacksonville approaches, DawgNation takes a look at five highly coveted prospects whom Georgia lost to Florida during the Mark Richt era.

LB Channing Crowder
(Sandy Springs, Ga./North Springs)
Crowder was named to many high school All-American lists in 2001 after racking up 114 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and rushing for more than 800 yards. After a junior season that saw Crowder, son of former Penn State All-American defensive lineman Randy Crowder, amass 123 tackles, the Bullldogs were one of the first three programs to offer the then 6-foot-2, 215-pound junior. Rumors flooded the web in November when other Georgia commitments thought Crowder had committed to the Bulldogs, and later Crowder named Georgia on top after George O'Leary left Georgia Tech for Notre Dame. Georgia would maintain the lead for Crowder for months, but the Gators would slowly creep into the race during the winter.

Crowder set his final official to Florida, but during his in-home with Georgia coach Mark Richt, Crowder assured him he would not commit to the Gators during the official. But Crowder did commit to newly hired Florida coach Ron Zook, shocking Georgia fans and giving Florida a nice addition to its 2002 class.

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Kipp Adams | email

Reporter, RecruitingNation
  • Reporter for RecruitingNation
  • Covers Southeast and Georgia Bulldogs recruiting
  • Joined ESPN in 2011

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