Pages

Saturday, July 16, 2011

DawgNight was a HUGE success. What it means. Plus a hint as to who our next recruit may be.


As a Bulldawg fan, I must say that friday night was amazing. As a football fan, I must say that friday night was unbelievable. When I received the tweet that we had received commitments from Theus, Ramsey, Henry, Terry, and Williams I almost messed myself. The thought that Mark Richt is recruiting that far into future says so much about the players faith in his ability to coach and their faith in his longevity.

If players are choosing to play for Mark Richt in three years, they really have faith that he will be there in three years. Even though players can de-commit up until they sign an LOI, no player wants to de-commit. After you have made the decision of choosing where you will live and learn for four years, you want to feel good about that decision so you can focus on class and football. Players commit because they know who they want to play for, the school and the coaches.

Greg McGarity and Michael Adams most likely aren't as big of recruiting fans as I am but I am sure they know how things went Friday, and I am sure recruiting like this will make them think twice before dropping a coach with 90+ wins in 10 years. Dabo Swinney is still around and he is around because he has recruited well, and if Clemson is smart they will keep him through another 6-7 season so he can get these players that he recruited coached up.

Football is about the development of talent, UGA and Richt have had some struggles with development in the past few years, but that was because the O-line coach was hardheaded, the S&C was weak, and Willy Martinez couldn't realize that the 3-4 is superior in the NCAA with fitting players. UGA will have the players to fill their 3-4 this year, S&C has added a nutrition program and an old-school view of weight training, and our O-line is a work in progress. Will Friend seems to be doing great, he was able to get 5-star John Theus to commit at DawgNight.

Theus is a beast at 6'6" and 300 pounds as a rising senior in high school, and he has a mean streak in the trenches. He will surely be a starter as a true freshman next year.

Watching the Nike scouting combine "The Opening", I was amazed at how well the rising sophomore Derrick Henry was competing, and that was when I thought he was a gator for sure. Well, now I want to go back and watch it again so that I can really pay attention this time. He is built like a truck and runs like a river, strong and smooth. He is the most natural running back at his size since Brandon Jacobs.

Brice Ramsey is the top quarterback in Georgia for the 2013 class and he may be a national top recruit in a years time. He committed at the same time as Henry, Theus, and Terry. Each recruited each other to UGA and each will recruit for UGA heading into the future.

Terry is considered South Carolina's top recruit for the 2013 class. The Dawgs also picked up a 2014 Running back recruit that posted a 4.29 forty yard dash, Stanley Williams is from Appalachee High School in Bethlehem, GA.

Now to the hint.....

My sources are telling me that a certain HUGE defensive player will commit to the Dawgs this week, maybe even today.

UGA Preview of "The Broad Side" Starring "Big John" Jenkins Featuring the Georgia Bulldogs



The University of Georgia and Mark Richt had reason to celebrate on February 5th, 2011.

Johnathon "Big John" Jenkins had made his decision to continue his college football career at UGA. Capping what I believe will be the most important recruiting class in Georgia's history (topping not only the Knowshon Moreno-Matthew Stafford class of 2006, but also the 1980 class with Herschel Walker) with a GIANT cherry.

"Big John" Jenkins was born in Meridian, CT and Maryanne Baker is his very smart, loving mother. The reason I mention this is because she very much played a role in his decision to switch commitments from Oklahoma State University to the University of Georgia.

Realizing that her son had the opportunity to play in the strongest conference in college football played a part in her decision to encourage the switch. However, the main reason that she dud so was because she had faith that her son would be in good hands with Mark Richt and Todd Grantham.

Todd Grantham recruited Jenkins as hard as any player can legally be recruited.

UGA sent the house to convince Jenkins and his mother that they were the perfect fit for him. Not only did they send Todd Grantham to Connecticut to meet his mother, but they also sent Mark Richt.

Seeing how much the coaches actually needed Jenkins was the final deciding factor for his mother to give her OK. She knew her son would be taken care of and developed into the man that she knew he could be.

Starring at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in Perkinston, MS, "Big John" is likened to another previous MGCCC football player named Terrance Cody.

Terrence Cody, or "Mt. Cody" as you may remember him, was the starting nose tackle for the 2009 National Champion Alabama Crimson Tide.

The glaring difference between the two is that while they both weigh around 360 pounds, Jenkins' body fat percentage is significantly lower, making him stronger and faster than "Mt. Cody."

Jenkins' gifts are many: At 360 pounds he can run a 40-yard dash in 4.9 seconds, he is closing in on being able to bench press 500 pounds, he is a very gifted nose tackle—and he was a fullback in both high school and community college, so he can even block if the coaches need him to.

Which leads me to my next point.

Jenkins will be a star on offense, as well as on the defense.

Although he may not spend much time on the offensive side of the ball, when he is used it will be of significant impact. As a lead blocker, Jenkins possesses the speed to stay in front of the runner—and the weight and strength to pick up multiple blocks at one time.

When Jenkins is in, the defense will have to play honest, which will lead to more first downs and scoring opportunities. Don't expect Jenkins to play offense unless he is needed. He will be too valuable of an asset to waste his energy if it is not necessary.

Todd Grantham specifically recruited "Big John" to play nose tackle in his 3-4 defense. Coach Grantham knew right away that Jenkins was the perfect fit. With the ability to draw the double team, Jenkins will allow Georgia's linebackers to penetrate the opposing offensive line.

Most of the reason Georgia was unable to do this last year was because DeAngelo Tyson was completely undersized for the position, especially in the SEC. No disrespect to DeAngelo Tyson, because he did a better job than anyone could have realistically expected—including playing most, if not all, defensive snaps in UGA's win over state rival Georgia Tech. 

Look for Jenkins to lead what was a porous Georgia defense into one of the top defenses in the entire nation. 
I will be highlighting at least one athlete per week until the season starts. Keep an eye out for the next, featuring Aaron Murray.