Recruiting News: The class is half full
by Carlton DeVooght
It is more than a month before the 2011 College Football
season begins and more than 6 months until National
Signing Day for the Class of 2012. The Bulldogs recruiting
class for 2012 already has 12 commitments and appears to
be half full. Here is a quick look at the 12 young men who
have committed to be a part of the Bulldogs’ class for 2012.
Collin Barber, Kicker, Cartersville High School
(6’2”, 191 lbs). Barber is a punter from Cartersville High
School with a booming leg. Currently, he is rated as the
number two punter in high school by Kohl’s Kicking Camp.
Barber has an average hang time of five seconds on his
punts. He will try to come in and take the place of Drew
Butler, who graduates after the upcoming season. Barber is
a former soccer player who is excited to be committed to the
home state Bulldogs.
Chester Brown, Offensive Line, Bradwell Institute
(6’5”, 333 lbs). Chester Brown is the Bulldogs’ most recent
commitment. This massive young man is a native Samoan
who only picked up the game of football his freshman year
of high school. At the recent Dawg Night Camp, Brown
gave a dominating performance, working mostly at offensive
guard. His film shows that he has very quick feet and moves
as quickly as someone who weighs 75 to 80 pounds less
than he does. Brown has flown under the recruiting radar,
both because he is relatively new to the sport and Bradwell
Institute is not a traditional southeast Georgia football powerhouse.
Make no mistake about it, Brown is an excellent
pick up for the Bulldogs and will be a real mauler at right
guard.
C.J. Curry, Wide Receiver, Flowery Branch High
School (6’2”, 203 lbs). C.J. Curry is a tough wide receiver
who committed to the Bulldogs in October, 2010. This 4-
star prospect is ranked as one of the Top 20 prospects in the
state of Georgia this year and has been working hard to help
recruit other in-state blue chip prospects to join him in
Athens. Curry has been impressive in camps throughout
the summer and has demonstrated good hands. Look for
this big physical athlete to fight for the top wide receiver
ranking in the state of Georgia this year.
James Deloach, Defensive End, Jenkins County
High School (6’3”, 260 lbs). Deloach is part of the “Dynamic
Duo” from Millen, Georgia. Deloach has a quick
burst and could see playing time at outside linebacker or
other positions, depending on how much he grows in the
next couple of years. Although his teammate (introduced
below) may be more highly ranked, the Bulldogs look for
Deloach to be an impact player when he arrives in Athens.
He chose the Dawgs over offers from Alabama, Auburn,
Clemson, Florida, Florida State, and many other colleges.
Jalen Fields, Defensive End, Georgia Military College
(6’5”, 280 lbs). A little over two years ago, Jalen
Fields, a 4-star prospect out of Dalton High School, committed
to the Bulldogs. Despite being re-recruited by Tennessee,
Alabama, Miami and Auburn, the current GMC
Bulldog remains solid to Georgia. He is scheduled to graduate
in December and cannot wait to get to the Classic City.
Fields has a personal goal of double-digit sacks this year,
and is one of the top defensive ends in the junior college
ranks. His explosiveness and solid technique will help
Fields make an immediate impact in Coach Grantham’s defense
when Fields arrives in Athens.
Leonard Floyd, Defensive End, Dodge County High
School (6’5”, 215 lbs). This 4-star prospect is ranked as
one of the top 15 defensive ends in the country and one of
the top 10 players this year in the state of Georgia. He is also
a member of the Rivals 250, currently ranked as the 159th
best football player in the Country. Currently, a defensive
end in high school, Floyd will likely move to outside linebacker
in Coach Grantham’s 3-4 defense. Standing 6’5”,
with long arms, Floyd can shut down the passing lane on his
side of the field. While there is a chance that Floyd could
play tight end in college, all signs seem to point to outside
linebacker. He chose the Bulldogs over Alabama, Florida,
Auburn, and many other top programs.
Quayvon Hicks, Running Back, Pierce County High
School (6‘2”, 245 lbs.). Quayvon Hicks currently plays
defensive end for Pierce County, but is being recruited by the
Bulldogs as a fullback. Although he does not have much experience
at the position, his performance at fullback in recent
camps vaulted him to the #2 ranking in the country at
that position. Should he grow a couple of inches, there is a
possibility he could wind up at defensive end in Athens.
Right now, he is slated to be the next in the Bulldogs long
line of hard-nosed, punishing fullbacks. Hicks has also
been a recruiting machine, staying in touch with all of the
other blue-chip prospects in the state of Georgia. Already a
leader in this class, look for Hicks to continue this leadership
role when he arrives in Athens.
Marshall Morgan, Kicker, American Heritage High
School (6‘3”, 195 lbs.). Marshall Morgan was everyone’s
first option at kicker. In fact, Florida, Florida State, Virginia
Tech and many other schools did not extend an offer to another
kicker until Marshall Morgan committed to Georgia.
Ranked as the top kicker in the country by most recruiting
sources, Morgan kicked 8 field goals last year that were
longer than 43 yards, including a long of 53 yards. He also
had the opportunity to be one of, if not the very first football
player to earn All-State Honors all four years of high
school at two positions (punter and kicker). Kickers get a
lot of grief, but Morgan is not your standard kicker. He has
played defensive end in his high school career and loves to
tackle. His high school coach says that Morgan loves to hit
a return man between the numbers whenever he gets the
chance. That is a trait I want to see in a Bulldog kicker.
Lonnie Outlaw, Wide Receiver, Georgia Military
College (6‘6”, 201 lbs.). Lonnie Outlaw originally committed
to the Bulldogs out of Wilcox County High School
in 2010. Like Jalen Fields, Outlaw currently stars for the
GMC Bulldogs and had a solid freshman season in
Milledgeville. His size and vertical leap make him an ideal
red zone target for any quarterback. The smaller defensive
backs in the SEC will have nightmares watching film in
preparation for defending Outlaw. Like Fields, Outlaw is
going to try to graduate in December. Even if he doesn’t,
look for him to make an immediate impact in Athens for the
Bulldogs’ offense.
Ty Smith, Tight End, Colquitt County High School
(6‘3”, 280 lbs.). A high school teammate of current Bulldog,
Xzavier Ward, Smith has solid hands (42 receptions
for 576 yards) and a build very similar to current Bulldog,
Orson Charles. He can play tight end or flex out when the
Dawgs to 4 wide. The team leader on the Packers team that
made it to the 5A state title game, Smith picked the Bulldogs
over Florida, Florida State and Georgia Tech.
Jonathan Taylor, Defensive Tackle, Jenkins
County High School (6‘4”, 323 lbs.). Jonathan Taylor is
the other half of the “Dynamic Duo” (James Deloach) from
Millen, Georgia. This 4-star prospect is currently ranked as
the top overall player in the State of Georgia this year, the #6
defensive tackle in the country and the 36th best overall
prospect in the country. Taylor may very well be the top
defensive tackle to come out of Georgia in the last five to
ten years. He is a very raw athlete, but what he lacks in
technique at this point, he makes up for with potential and
athleticism. He is incredibly tough for a young man who is
not yet 17, and will be an essential plug in the middle of
Coach Grantham’s 3-4 defense. Look for Taylor to move
up the national rankings during the course of this year as he
focuses on his technique. This is a huge get for the Dawgs.
John Theus, Offensive Line, the Bolles School (6‘6”,
295 lbs.). As good as Jonathan Taylor is at defensive tackle,
John Theus may be even better at offensive tackle. Currently
ranked as the top prospect in the state of Florida, second
overall offensive tackle in the country and the seventh
best prospect in the country, this five-star prospect is one of
the most dominating High School offensive tackles I have
seen on film. The younger brother of current Bulldog,
Nathan Theus, John anchors Bolles Coach Corky Rogers’
offensive line. Theus is a well-mannered young man off the
field who literally destroys opposing defenders on field. The
Bulldog Illustrated will not give me enough space to list all
of the accolades Theus has already earned prior to his senior
season. He is the offensive tackle Georgia wanted and
needed in this class. He also committed with three other
blue-chip prospects who are introduced below.
As you see, the first half of the class of 2012 is loaded
with Blue-Chip prospects and some of the very finest players
in the country. If the Bulldogs have a solid campaign on
the field, I feel certain that the second half of the class will
be just as good, if not better.
Surprise Commitment for Class of 2013 and 2014
Blue chip offensive tackle, John Theus committed to
the Bulldogs at Dawg Night with three elite prospects for
the Class of 2013. The self-named “Fab Four” included
Theus, Running Back Derrick Henry (Yulee, Florida), Quarterback
Brice Ramsey (Camden County High School) and
Tramel Terry (Goose Creek High School, Goose Creek,
South Carolina).
Henry (6’3”, 232 lbs) averaged 6,000 yards and 65
TDs over his first ten years of football. He has also run a sub-
4.4 (4.38) 40. The Miami Herald already has him ranked
as the likely top prospect in the State of Florida for 2013.
Henry is friends with Brice Ramsey and John Theus, and
wants to play with them at the collegiate level. According
to his coach, he has shut down his recruiter and is fully committed
to the Bulldogs.
Brice Ramsey has yet to start a game for the Camden
County Wildcats, but has been so dominant in camps that
the Bulldog quarterbacks offered him a scholarship. Ramsey
got limited playing time in one game as a sophomore
that looks to lead Coach Jeff Herron’s Wildcats back to the
Georgia Dome and hopefully to another state title.
Tramel Terry is an electrifying Wide Receiver (4.4/40)
from Goose Creek High School. Many recruiting experts
believe he will be the top prospect in the state of South Carolina
next year. Terry has received a great deal of grief from
Gamecock fans in his hometown, but currently remains
committed to the Bulldogs.
As if this news wasn’t exciting enough, Stanley
Williams, a running back from Apalachee High School, in
Bethlehem, Georgia committed to Coach Richt and the Bulldogs
at Dawg Night. At Dawg Night, Williams turned in a
time of 4.28 in the 40-yard dash. As a freshman, he rushed
for 954 yards and 11 touchdowns. While he has a long
way until he signs with the Bulldogs, he says he and his family
have been Bulldog fans and he is very excited to be committed
to Georgia.
Tagged: carlton devooght, recruiting in the sec, recruiting for uga, mark richt, uga football, georgia bulldogs, uga dream team
