Four Orange Bowl Matchups to watch

Which is the best match-up?

Josh Nesbitt vs. Adrian Clayborn Jonathan Dwyer vs. Pat Angerer Demaryius Thomas vs. Amari Spievey Derrick Morgan vs. Brian Bulaga vote to see results While most of the national media has been talking about the Fiesta Bowl and the National Championship, the Orange Bowl may offer the most intriguing match-up of all the BCS bowls.

Georgia Tech's triple option attack will go against Iowa's elite defense in what figures to be one of the most exciting matchups of the bowl season. Will Iowa's impressive defensive front be able to slow down the rushing attack of Georiga Tech?

Let's take a look at the most intriguing individual matchups.

Georiga Tech Quarterback Josh Nesbitt vs. Iowa Defensive End Adrian Clayborn

Paul Johnson's Georiga Tech offense has perfected the triple option and become one of the most lethal offenses in the game.

With the exception of a game against Miami, the Yellow Jackets flew by their opponents using their outstanding running game. Quarterback Josh Nesbitt is at the center of the triple option attack and has been great both through the air and on the ground, throwing for 1,689 yards and rushing for 991.

But Tech hasn't seen anything like Iowa's defensive front, in particular, defensive end Adrian Clayborn.

For all of those "experts" saying that Iowa can't win because they don't have speed, meet Adrian Clayborn.
He has harrased opposing offenses all season and has caused very good quarterbacks, such as Darryl Clark and Scott Tolzien, to have off days. He penetrates through the line on almost every play and his ability to stop Nesbitt will be one of the keys to the game.

Georgia Tech Running Back Jonathan Dwyer vs. Iowa Linebacker Pat Angerer

While Nesbitt alone has impressive rushing numbers, Jonathan Dwyer adds even more yards to the team rushing total and turns the Yellow Jacket offense into a dual threat unit. He has rushed for 1,346 yards this season and would likely have even more if Nesbitt weren't in the backfield with him.

But...

Once again, Dwyer hasn't seen a linebacker like Pat Angerer all year. Angerer leads the Hawkeyes with 135 tackles and was selected first-team All-American by the Football Writers Association. At 5'11 1/2", 233 pounds, he isn't big for a linebacker, but his determination and strength are unmatched by any of his opponents.

And unlike the other linebackers Dwyer faced in the ACC, he won't be able to run past Angerer, who has the fastest 40 yard dash time (4.5 seconds) of any NFL Draft eligible senior linebacker.

Georgia Tech Receiver Demaryius Thomas vs. Iowa Corner Amari Spievey

Although Georgia Tech is primarily a run-first team, they have stated that they plan to throw the ball early and often to test the Iowa defense. Thomas will likely be at the center of the passing attack, as he leads the Yellow Jacket offense with 1154 yards and eight touchdowns, with most of those yards coming on big plays.

Iowa cornerback Amari Spievey will be responsible for covering Thomas, and if he can make Georgia Tech one-dimensional, Iowa has a very good chance of winning.

Spievey is one of the best corners in the Big Ten and has tremendous speed, along with great hands. He'll definitely have those hands full in Miami, but he and safety Tyler Sash must be at their best to try to shut down the Georgia Tech passing attack.

Georgia Tech Defensive End Derrick Morgan vs. Iowa Offensive Tackle Brian Bulaga

While many see this game to be won at the skill positions, one of the best matchups takes place in the trenches.

Both Georgia Tech defensive end Derrick Morgan and Iowa offensive tackle Brian Bulaga are among the best at their respective positions and both figure to be high draft picks if they decide to leave school early for the NFL.

But the player who makes this matchup even more interesting is Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi. Stanzi will be playing for the first time in nearly two months after injuring his ankle against Northwestern on November 7. Bulaga needs to keep Stanzi protected to ensure his ankle isn't reaggravated, but Morgan will be one of the best opponents he sees all season.

Johnson's Desire Fuels Tech's Will to WIN

By Doug Roberson

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Paul Johnson's will to win is so strong, his wife jokes that he wouldn't even let his daughter win at Candy Land when she was a little girl.

When his wife would ask why, the coach gave the only answer he knew.

"Hey, she's got to learn to win on her own," Johnson said, retelling the story he says his wife still often jokes about.

Johnson's will -- no, his need -- to win, whether it's playing golf, football or even board games against little kids, is unlike anything his players or assistants say they've ever experienced.

Born and fueled in the Appalachian mountains of western North Carolina and then honed at coaching stops all over the country, that desire to be the best has helped Johnson propel the No. 9 Yellow Jackets to the Orange Bowl for the first time since 1967, the honor for winning their first outright ACC title since 1990.
"He's been nothing but a winner his whole life and he wants to remain that way," defensive coordinator Dave Wommack said. "If you're going to beat him in something, you better have your A-game."

Some of it comes from people telling him what he can't do. Take the people who said -- some continue to say -- that his spread-option offense wouldn't work in the ACC. Some 10,500 yards and 20 wins later, he's proving them wrong.

Some of it comes from just doing his job. As co-offensive line coach Mike Sewak says, you get only one chance every week to prove that you know what you are doing. He says Johnson always runs practices at full-speed, all the time. Sewak said he can't remember the last time a Johnson-coached team did a walk-through that was, in fact, a walk-through and not a full-speed exercise.

There's no wasted energy and no wasted time. The focus is on winning. It's why Johnson scoffs when asked why skill players rarely wear no-contact jerseys. He points out that the team they'll be facing on Saturday won't be playing two-hand touch.

And some of it comes from growing up as one of the youngest kids on his block in Newland, N.C. Johnson says you got competitive or you got whipped. Baseball, basketball or football. It didn't matter. No quarter was given.

"There's a fear of failure," Johnson said. "It's who I am."

Roddy Jones, a sophomore A-back, said that drive was evident in the first team meeting Johnson held after he was hired by athletics director Dan Radakovich in December 2007.

Some of the rules he put in place were simple: mandatory team breakfasts and mandatory class attendance. The last, however, showed his new team just how serious he was about one day leading his team to a national championship: 5:30 a.m. runs every morning before spring ball.

"We knew this was serious. We are going to work," Jones said.

It wasn't as if Chan Gailey, whom Johnson succeeded, wasn't competitive. Jones and others who work with the coach said the difference is Johnson wears his emotions on his sleeve. Despite the "I-don't-care-what-you-think" stance he often takes with the media or fans on his radio show, he takes slights personally. Couple that with his appetite for seemingly reading everything that's written about him or his team as he searches for motivation and it can make for interesting exchanges.

There was a moment earlier this season after Tech defeated Virginia, when Johnson good-naturedly called out a national blogger who had picked his Yellow Jackets to lose to the Cavs.

Then there was the "McDonald's" moment, while Johnson was coaching at Navy. Asked why the coaches seemed to get all the credit for the wins and the players the blame for the losses, Johnson cut loose but this excerpt made many chuckle:

"I don't go down to McDonald's and start second-guessing his job, so he ought to leave me alone," Johnson retorted.

Johnson can be just as caustic with his players. Former Middie quarterback Chris McCoy, the same player who torched Tech for five touchdowns in 1996, tells a story of how Johnson once thought he caught him smiling a couple of days after a loss. McCoy said Johnson grabbed him by the back of the shirt and yanked him out of the huddle faster than you can say "spread-based option offense." And that was during practice.

"I was just admiring his wonderful coaching ability, and he took it the wrong way, I believe," McCoy now jokes. "You love to play for him. He's going to give you his all. You see that in every play he calls, every minute with him. He expects the same thing ... even when you are admiring his ability."

Those who play for or coach with him now tell similar stories. Tech center Sean Bedford said he wouldn't play Johnson in anything because he's afraid what his coach might do to win. Wommack said even if he has beaten Johnson in something, he wouldn't say. Sewak, who has worked with Johnson off and on since 1985, said he has beaten him in golf a few times, but jokes that Johnson wouldn't admit it.

"He's like me and like anybody else: let's run it again," Sewak said. "Best two out of three. It may end up best 1,300 out of 1,500."

Most important, beyond all the bluster, Bedford and quarterbacks coach Brian Bohannon said the team has taken on their coach's personality.

Take the overtime period of the Nov. 7 Wake Forest game, when Johnson, trailing by three points, risked his team's chances of the ACC title by going for it on fourth-and-inches from inside the 5-yard line. He later explained his decision by saying he can't ask his players to play to win if he's not willing to coach that way.

"He coaches the way he speaks," said Wes Durham, the radio voice of the Yellow Jackets. "He coaches the truth. He plays to win."

One can't talk about Johnson's competitiveness without mentioning the other big fourth-down decision. Trailing Clemson by a point in the ACC title game and facing fourth down on their last drive on their own 23-yard line with less than five minutes to play, the Jackets had to go for it if they had any hope of winning the game.

Johnson said there wasn't anyone on the field who doubted that not only were they going to get the first down, but that they were also going to score a touchdown and win the game.

"He's built the toughness and character of this team," Bedford said. "We have to go for 60 minutes. We're not going to stop until the final whistle."

Dawgs Finish Season on a High Note

UGA could have easily shown up to Shreveport, LA unprepared and unenthusiatic. However they looked to finish a disappointing season in a very impressive way. A defense that looked to be full of holes all season, shut down a Texas A&M offense that proved to be potent all season. They created turnovers and the offense capitalized on those turnovers with quick scores. I don't think many college football fans would have been surprised if the Aggies pulled off the upset. But the Dawgs did what many favorites have not been able to do this bowl season.

This is a great sign leading into the offseason and shows a sign of high character on this squad. The pressure is on now for Coach Richt to find a defensive coordinator and to get this program back to where its fans expect it to be. 

Lassiter QB commits to UGA

Record setting quarterback Hutson Mason from Lassiter High School revealed today what he disclosed to UGA coaches last Thursday. That he is ready to be a Dawg.


“It feels good, I’m not going to lie,” he said. “Because, at the beginning of the season, you had all those people that comment on the AJC blog and in the chatrooms saying I’d never get an SEC offer. I read them all the time and I used it as motivation. When you hear that you can’t do something over and over, it kind of motivates you to prove them wrong. I don’t have the arm to play in the SEC or the size or the mobility, all those naysayers. It just goes to show you don’t listen to what people say and believe in yourself.”


Hutson is a confident young man who is very excited to be a part of Dawg nation. Many thought that he would sign somewhere where he may see the playing field a little sooner, but from the sound of it he feels that he has real chance to see the field. 

From Shreveport to BCS bound

Alabama has emerged as the cream of the crop in the SEC. However it was only two and three years ago that they were playing in the exact same bowl that the Dawgs will be visiting this year. In 2007 the Tide beat the Colorado Buffaloes 30-24 and the year before that they lost to Oklahoma State 34-31. We know heading into the season that UGA fans didn't envision their team playing in the Independence Bowl. We are dealing with kids however and nothing can be predicted when you are dealing with 18-22 year olds.

What this does show us is that Georgia may only be a couple years from getting right to where they want to be. One year Shreveport, the next year BCS bowling and National Championship in sights.

Three things to look for in 2010

Excerpt from Mark Bradley article, AJC

1. Will Georgia Tech qualify for a bowl ever better than the Orange? Here’s another story of progress: The Jackets were 9-4 in Year 1 under Paul Johnson and went 11-2 and won the ACC championship in Year 2. The Ramblin’ Wreck,  alas, figures to hit a speed bump. At least two juniors — defensive end Derrick Morgan and B-back Jonathan Dwyer — are apt to leave in the NFL draft, and receiver Demaryius Thomas could join the exodus. And Tech’s defense is at least a year away from anything bigger than a league title. Bradley’s prediction: Tech goes 9-3 and doesn’t win the ACC.

2. Will Georgia ever hire a defensive coordinator, and will he improve on what we’ve just seen? The search now figures to last into the new year, and that’s not necessarily bad news. (No matter how halting the early returns have been.) There’s still a chance Georgia can make a big run at former Bulldog Kirby Smart, who’s coordinating Alabama’s D at the moment, and that would be a significant upgrade. Then again, just about anybody would be. Bradley’s prediction: Georgia hires a big name and sees results immediately.

3. Can Paul Hewitt take Tech on another long NCAA run? It hasn’t happened since 2004, when Hewitt took the Jackets to the NCAA title game, and another big season is long overdue. The deflating loss to Florida State in the ACC opener aside, there’s enough time and resources for something good to happen. And Hewitt, to be frank, needs something good to happen.Bradley’s prediction: The Jackets qualify for the Big Dance as a No. 5 seed and play into the second week, losing in a regional final.

UGA Big Win; Tech Big Loss

Georgia tech dropped its fourth straight ACC opener to Florida state. Florida state took the Jackets into overtime and pulled out the 66-59 upset.

Georgia played the upset role and beat favored Illinois in the Gwinnet Arena on Saturday. This is a big win for UGA and will provide them with the confidence that they can beat any team on any given night.

Early Basketball update

#22 AP and coaches #15 Georgia Tech sit among the Top of the ACC with a record of 8-1 with the one loss coming early in the season at the Puerto Rico tip off classic against Dayton. Georgia Tech had the lead late, but Dayton could not miss a from outside the arc. Since that loss the young Jackets have not taken their foot off the peddle. In their eight wins they are averaging a margin of victory of 20 points. Forward Gani Lawal leads the way averaging 16.3 points a game and 10.4 rebounds per game. He is getting help from two productive freshmen. The number one prospect in the country coming out of high school last year, Derrick Favors in averaging 13.7 points per game and 8.8 rebounds per game. Freshmen guard Mfon Udofia is averaing 12 points a game and 3.4 assists.

The first ACC matchup for the Jackets is this Sunday a 5:30pm in the thriller dome against Florida State. It remains to see how this young talented team will stack up against ACC opposition. Paul Hewitt is optimistic, but knows that there is always ups and downs when you rely on such a young group of players.

UGA is not off to a great start. They currently sit last in the SEC with a 4-4 record and may be the punching bag of the conference this year. Forward Trey Tompkins  (14.3 pt/g and 7.3 reb/g) and guard Travis Leslie (12.8 pts/g and 2.3 ast/g) are putting up good numbers, but the lack of depth will make it difficult for the Dawgs to compete in the SEC. They will look to play the upset role in the conference and try to take down conference favorites like #3 Kentucky, #8Tennessee and #13 Florida.

The Jackets travel to Athens on January 5th for the in-state game in their only matchup this season.

Present Recruiting Classes

GEORGIA 9th ranked class
COMMITTED/UNSIGNED Pos Ht Wt 40 Hometown
Da'Rick Rogers WR 6-3 206 4.4 6.1 Calhoun, GA
Jakar Hamilton DB 6-2 196 4.4 6.0 Milledgeville GA
Alec Ogletree DB 6-3 210 4.55 6.0 Newnan, GA
T.J. Stripling DE 6-6 215 4.64 6.0 Decatur, GA
Brent Benedict OL 6-4 278 5.07 5.9 Jacksonville, FL
Garrison Smith DT 6-4 250 - 5.9 Atlanta, GA
Jalen Fields DE 6-5 250 4.65 5.8 Dalton, GA
Ken Malcome RB 6-0 213 4.54 5.8 Decatur, GA
Dexter Morant DE 6-7 240 4.9 5.8 Manning, SC
Nickell Robey DB 5-8 165 4.4 5.8 Frostproof, FL
Demetre Baker LB 6-0 200 4.45 5.7 Orange Park, FL
Michael Bennett WR 6-3 186 4.55 5.7 Alpharetta, GA
Brandon Burrows DE 6-3 240 4.7 5.7 Marietta, GA
B.J. Butler DE 6-3 240 4.65 5.7 Kissimmee, FL
Kolton Houston OL 6-5 270 - 5.7 Buford, GA
Derek Owens DB 5-11 180 4.45 5.7 Jacksonville, FL
Marc Deas DB 6-0 185 - 5.6 Kissimmee, FL
Alex Ogletree RB 5-9 205 4.55 5.6 Newnan, GA
Deon Rogers LB 6-3 197 4.48 5.6 Port St Lucie FL

GEORGIA TECH 37th ranked class
COMMITTED/UNSIGNED Pos Ht Wt 40 Hometown
Ryan Ayers DB 5-10 175 4.44 5.8 Douglasville, GA
Barry Bostic DB 5-10 156 4.56 5.8 Louisville, GA
Denzel McCoy DT 6-4 275 - 5.8 Duluth, GA
Tony Williams DE 6-4 235 4.8 5.8 McDonough, GA
Shawn Green DT 6-2 275 - 5.7 Loganville, GA
Fred Holton DB 6-1 196 4.55 5.7 Thomasville, GA
Isaiah Johnson DB 6-2 175 4.5 5.7 Tyrone, GA
Charles Perkins RB 6-0 195 4.5 5.7 Suwanee, GA
Catlin Alford OL 6-4 275 - 5.6 Adairsville, GA
Morgan Bailey OL 6-4 285 - 5.6 Loganville, GA
Synjyn Days ATH 6-2 205 4.45 5.6 Powder SpringsGA
Quayshawn Nealy LB 6-0 215 4.68 5.6 Lakeland, FL
Jake Skole DB 6-1 185 4.48 5.5 Roswell, GA

Who needs a DC?

Things like this make you forget about not having a defensive coordinator

AJC - If you’re looking for the next Brian VanGorder — and by this we mean the Brian VanGorder who arrived in Athens from Central Michigan and was greeted by disgruntled Georgia fans saying, “Who’s this guy?” — you might look toward the charming city of Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Through the wonders of the Internet, diligent Dawg backers have already discovered Manny Diaz, who’s the defensive coordinator at Middle Tennessee, and some on AJC.com message boards have gone so far as to proclaim him their first choice.

Understand: He would not be my first choice, or even my third. I would recommend a SEC program to hire someone with a working knowledge of the SEC (like Kirby Smart of Alabama or Ellis Johnson of South Carolina). Failing that, I would look to someone currently working at a BCS conference (such as Everett Withers of North Carolina). But this is the same Mark Richt who did hire Brian VanGorder (and, er, Willie Martinez) from the Chippewas back in 2001, so who knows what he’s apt to do?

About Manny Diaz: He shouldn’t be confused with Manuel Diaz, who already coaches at Georgia. (Men’s tennis.) He’s a Florida State grad — there’s your Richt connection — and started coaching under Mickey Andrews at FSU. (Before that, Diaz had spent two years working for ESPN. He’s a communications major.) In 2000 he moved to N.C. State as a grad assistant with Chuck Amato — another FSU guy — and worked his way up to coaching the Wolfpack linebackers and safeties and special teams.

In 2006 he moved to Murfreesboro — it’s about a half-hour southeast of Nashville on I-40 — as defensive coordinator under Rick Stockstill. (Another FSU guy.) In Diaz’s four seasons the Blue Raiders have ranked 47th, 80th, 66th and 49th in total defense. Middle Tennessee was 9-3 this season, finishing second to Troy in the Sun Belt. It will face Southern Miss in the New Orleans Bowl. Its biggest win was over Maryland. It lost to Clemson 37-14 and to Mississippi State 27-6.

Now, does anything in that curriculum vitae say, “Georgia defensive coordinator”? Not to me. But I was one of those folks who wondered about hiring BVG back when. And that seemed to work out.

And give Diaz this: He has political clout. His dad, also named Manny Diaz, was mayor of Miami from 2001 to 2009.

Orange Bowl Press Conference

Written by an incoming freshman

I found this on CBSsports. An optimistic young DAWG fan.

I was inspired to write this article on Friday evening when I was accepted to the University of Georgia.

I have been ecstatic the last few days, and I cannot wait to graduate and walk across the campus as a student at my dream college.

There is already a lot of excitement surrounding the future of Georgia football.

With fresh coordinators and coaches coming in, there should be some extra motivation and desire going into the 2010 season.

The recruiting class of 2010 should not disappoint.

Five-star prospects like wide receiver Da'Rick Rodgers and safety Alec Ogletree have been described as "special" and "intimidating" according to Scouts.com.

As a member of the Class of 2014, I can't wait to watch my peers make an impact on the football field as I make an impact in the stands.

Along with all the impact freshmen coming in, the Dawgs also bring back a lot of experience on both sides of the ball and, as usual, talent can be found up and down the roster.

We should be prepared to see talented redshirt freshman Aaron Murray at quarterback. After having a whole year to learn the playbook and hone his skills, Murray should be ready to come in and be the leader that he has shown he can be.

Even if Murray shows his youth to start the season, he should be able to distribute the ball to Heisman hopefuls A.J. Green and Washaun Ealey.

Not to mention he should have plenty of time to pick apart defenses behind an even deeper offensive line.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Dawgs will bring back plenty of veteran players, despite losing Jeff Owens, Geno Atkins, Prince Miller, and, most likely, Rennie Curran and Reshad Jones.

The new defensive coordinator should be able to overcome these setbacks with the wealth of potential and talent that the Bulldogs have.

So what can I say?

The Bulldog Nation has a lot to look forward to these next four seasons.

I can't wait to see what these guys have got, and I can't wait to attend my university.

Look out, Bulldogs!

The Class of 2014 is bringin' home a national title!

Go Dawgs!

All American: GT Morgan & Thomas, UGA Butler

STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

NEW YORK - Alabama will bring a lineup powered by All-Americans into the BCS national championship game. Ingram was a unanimous first-team selection, as was linebacker Rolando McClain. Defensive tackle Terrence Cody was selected for the second consecutive season. Cornerback Javier Arenas, guard Michael Johnson and kicker Leigh Tiffin were also first-teamers.The top-ranked Crimson Tide had six players, including Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram, voted to The Associated Press All-America team released Tuesday - more than any other school.

Stanford running back Toby Gerhart, the Heisman runner-up, and Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, who finished fourth in Heisman voting, were also unanimous first-team All-America selections.

Texas quarterback Colt McCoy was the All-American quarterback, selected to the first team by a panel of 14 AP college football poll voters. Florida quarterback Tim Tebow was a second-team selection. Boise State's Kellen Moore was the third-team quarterback.

McCoy finished third in the Heisman voting last weekend and was a second-team All-American last year. The senior was joined by his longtime pal and favorite receiver, Jordan Shipley, on the first team. Texas safety Earl Thomas gave the Longhorns three players on the first team, second only to Alabama.

The Crimson Tide and Longhorns play in the BCS national championship game at the Rose Bowl on Jan. 7.

Georgia Tech, which will play Iowa in the Orange Bowl, placed defensive end Derrick Morgan on the first team and receiver Demaryius Thomas on the third team. Drew Butler was the first-team punter representing Georgia, which will meet Texas A&M in the Independence Bowl.

FIRST TEAM

OFFENSE

Quarterback — Colt McCoy, senior, 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, Texas.

Running backs — Toby Gerhart, senior, 6-1, 235, Stanford; Mark Ingram, sophomore, 5-10, 212, Alabama.

Tackles — Russell Okung, senior, 6-5, 301, Oklahoma State; Trent Williams, senior, 6-5, 318, Oklahoma.

Guards — Michael Johnson, senior, 6-6, 305, Alabama; Mike Iupati, senior, 6-6, 330, Idaho.

Center — J.D. Walton, senior, 6-3, 305, Baylor.

Tight end — Aaron Hernandez, junior, 6-2, 250, Florida.

Wide receivers — Golden Tate, junior, 5-11, 195, Notre Dame; Jordan Shipley, senior, 6-0, 190, Texas.

All-purpose player — C.J. Spiller, senior, 5-11, 195, Clemson.

Kicker — Leigh Tiffin, senior, 6-2, 212, Alabama.

DEFENSE

Ends — Jerry Hughes, senior, 6-3, 257, TCU; Derrick Morgan, junior, 6-4, 272, Georgia Tech.

Tackles — Ndamukong Suh, senior, 6-4, 300, Nebraska; Terrence Cody, senior, 6-5, 365, Alabama.

Linebackers — Rolando McClain, junior, 6-4, 258, Alabama; Greg Jones, junior, 6-1, 228, Michigan State; Eric Norwood, senior, 6-1, 252, South Carolina.

Cornerbacks — Joe Haden, junior, 5-11, 190, Florida; Javier Arenas, senior, 5-9, 198, Alabama.

Safeties — Eric Berry, junior, 5-11, 203, Tennessee; Earl Thomas, sophomore, 5-10, 197, Texas.

Punter — Drew Butler, sophomore, 6-2, 201, Georgia.

———

SECOND TEAM

OFFENSE

Quarterback — Tim Tebow, senior, Florida.

Running backs — Ryan Mathews, junior, Fresno State; Dion Lewis, freshman, Pittsburgh.

Tackles — Bryan Bulaga, junior, Iowa; Chris Marinelli, senior, Stanford.

Guards — Rodney Hudson, junior, Florida State; Mike Pouncey, junior, Florida.

Center — Maurkice Pouncey, junior, Florida.

Tight end — Dennis Pitta, senior, BYU.

Wide receivers — Mardy Gilyard, senior, Cincinnati; Danario Alexander, senior, Missouri.

All-purpose player — James Rodgers, junior, Oregon State.

Kicker — Kai Forbath, junior, UCLA.

DEFENSE

Ends — Von Miller, junior, Texas A&M; Brandon Graham, senior, Michigan.

Tackles — Gerald McCoy, junior, Oklahoma; Jared Odrick, senior, Penn State.

Linebackers — Pat Angerer, senior, Iowa; Brandon Spikes, senior, Florida; Sean Weatherspoon, senior, Missouri.

Cornerbacks — Perrish Cox, senior, Oklahoma State; Kyle Wilson, senior, Boise State.

Safeties — Taylor Mays, senior, Southern California; Rahim Moore, sophomore, UCLA.

Punter — Zoltan Mesko, senior, Michigan.

———

THIRD TEAM

OFFENSE

Quarterback — Kellen Moore, sophomore, Boise State

Running backs — LaMichael James, redshirt freshman, Oregon; Jacquizz Rodgers, sophomore, Oregon State.

Tackles — Dennis Landolt, senior, Penn State; Ciron Black, senior, LSU.

Guards — Brandon Carter, senior, Texas Tech; Jeff Byers, senior, Southern California.

Center — Chris Hall, senior, Texas.

Tight end — Dorin Dickerson, senior, Pittsburgh.

Wide receivers — Freddie Barnes, senior, Bowling Green; Demaryius Thomas, junior, Georgia Tech.

All-purpose player — Dexter McCluster, senior, Mississippi.

Kicker — Hunter Lawrence, senior, Texas.

DEFENSE

Ends — Jeremy Beal, junior, Oklahoma; Brandon Sharpe, senior, Texas Tech.

Tackles — Brian Price, junior, UCLA; Dan Williams, senior, Tennessee.

Linebackers — Sergio Kindle, senior, Texas; Cody Grimm, senior, Virginia Tech; Navorro Bowman, junior, Penn State.

Cornerbacks — Brandon Harris, sophomore, Miami; Alterraun Verner, senior, UCLA.

Safeties — Tyler Sash, sophomore, Iowa; Mark Barron, sophomore, Alabama.

Punter — Matt Reagan, senior, Memphis.

Clemson commit Robinson may flip if Tech offers

by Chip Towers

If Georgia Tech had a scholarship to offer, Darius Robinson might flip on Clemson and commit to the Yellow Jackets today.

That wasn’t his words exactly but it certainly was the inference of this dynamic defensive back from Atlanta’s Westlake High.

“It’s really interesting because Georgia Tech is one of my favorite schools and has been a long time,” said Robinson, who committed to the Tigers on July 30. “I have a lot of friends there and my family has always liked Tech and would probably like the idea of me staying close to home for college. I’m committed to Clemson but I’d probably have to open things up if Tech offered.”

The Jackets are clearly thinking about it. Robinson said he has remained in communication with Tech cornerbacks coach Charles Kelly and wide receivers coach Buzz Preston and that Kelly recently called to ask him if he was still interested.

Robinson responded with a resounding “yes.”

Robinson said the Jackets told him this summer they did not have a scholarship to offer him. As it is, the Yellow Jackets actually already have commitments for all 13 scholarship slots they will have open for next fall with two other firm offers already extended (DE Kareem Martin of Roanoke Rapids, N.C., and LB Justin Parker of Beaufort, S.C.).

Unless, that is, some additional spots come open. Several Tech juniors could opt to enter the NFL draft.

“[Georgia Tech] said depending on how many of those guys leave this year I might get an offer,” Robinson said.

That said, the Tigers aren’t going to walk away quietly. Clemson coaches came by Westlake High on Wednesday. Auburn, Michigan, South Carolina and Tennessee have dropped in, too.

Too bad for Tech it doesn’t have a full boat of 25 scholarships to offer this season. There are a number of good players that would like to sign on with the ACC champions. On Thursday, assistant coach Mike Sewak was at Camden County High School and met with running back Ean Days.

East Cobb QB gets visit from Bobo

Lassiter High School quarterback, Hutson Mason, received a visit from UGA offensive coordinator Mike Bobo and a scholarship was reportedly offered. Hutson has shattered Georgia State passing records this season and was not on BCS conference radars coming into the season.

Central Michigan and UAB had been the QBs leading candidates until now. Hutson was said to be very excited by the visits.

Quayshawn Nealy signs after attending ACC Championship Game

AJC by Chip Towers

It wasn’t necessarily the clinching point for Quayshawn Nealy, but it surely didn’t hurt that he was in Raymond James Stadium in Tampa in person to witness the Yellow Jackets’ historic win over Clemson in the ACC Championship Game this past weekend.

On Tuesday, the 6-foot, 215-pound linebacker committed to the Yellow Jackets.

“It was a great game,” Nealy said. “I really enjoyed that.”

Nealy, a three-star prospect according to both Rivals.com and Scout.com, said he chose Tech over Ole Miss and USF (South Florida). He also had scholarship offers from Georgia, Michigan, Kansas, Louisville, Purdue and Tulane.

“Well, [Georgia Tech] came into the ballgame late but, at first, they weren’t recruiting linebackers that hard,” Nealy said. “But when they did jump on the bandwagon they immediately jumped to the top of my list. I didn’t really know that much about them other than I had a cousin that graduated from there. I have relatives in Georgia, so they interested me.”

Nealy was asked what was the main reason he chose the Jackets over his other options. “I would say it would have to be the academics and the coaching,” he said. “Coach B.J. (Brian Jean-Marie) and me were able to really relate. He kept it real. And he talked about how I might be able to have early playing time, depending on how I do and how everybody else does once I get there.”

Nealy knows a little about winning, too. His undefeated Lakeland High team (12-0) plays Plant High in the Florida Class AAAAA semifinals on Friday. In the quarterfinals last week, Nealy blocked a punt and intercepted Georgia commitment Marc Deas and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown to clinch a 30-14 win over Osceola.

Nealy’s commitment gives the Yellow Jackets 13 pledges for the Class of 2010. Ten of those players are slated to play on the defensive side of the ball. He becomes their first commitment from outside the state of Georgia.

There is the possibility Tech could sign two or three more players, especially if any its many talented juniors opts to test the draft. Running back Jonathan Dwyer, defensive end Derrick Morgan, wide receiver Demaryius Thomas and quarterback Josh Nesbitt are all juniors that have caught the notice of NFL scouts.

The Yellow Jackets currently have offers extended to defensive end Kareem Martin of Roanoke Rapids, N.C., and inside linebacker Justin Parker of Beaufort, S.C.

For your edification, I give you . . .

GEORGIA TECH’s CLASS OF 2010

1. OG Catlin Alford, Adairsville HS, Adairsville, GA
2. CB Ryan Ayers, South Paulding HS, Douglasville, GA
3. OT Morgan Bailey, Loganville HS, Loganville, GA
4. CB B.J. Bostic, Jefferson County HS, Louisville, GA
5. S Synjyn Days, Hillgrove HS, Powder Springs, GA
6. DT Shawn Green, Grayson HS, Lawrenceville, GA
7. S Fred Holton, Thomasville HS, Thomasville, GA
8. S Isaiah Johnson, Sandy Creek HS, Tyrone, GA
9. DT Denzel McCoy, Northview HS, Duluth, GA
10. LB Quayshawn Nealy, Lakeland HS, Lakeland, FL
11. RB Charles Perkins, Collins Hill HS, Suwanee, GA
12. S Jake Skole, Blessed Trinity HS, Roswell, GA
13. DE Anthony Williams, Union Grove HS, McDonough, GA

Bowl Tickets on sale - AJC.com

The football programs at Georgia Tech, Georgia and Georgia State share one mindset today: Sell.

John Spink, jspink@ajc.com GSU Assistant Ticket Manager Racquel Whyte (left) puts a GSU sticker on Preston Stancil (right), who was first in line to order Georgia State season football season tickets Dec. 7, 2009, for the inaugural 2010 season.

Georgia Tech and Georgia began hawking tickets to their respective bowl games, while Georgia State started offering season tickets for its inaugural 2010 season.

Fresh off a pulsating ACC title game win over Clemson, Georgia Tech has an allotmentof 17,500 tickets to sell for the Jan. 5 Orange Bowl in Miami.

"Being the 2009 ACC champion, playing in a BCS bowl, I think it sells itself," said athletic director Dan Radakovich, who expects Tech to sell its entire allotment.

The $125 tickets are available on Tech's website. Last year, Tech sold its allotment of 17,500 tickets to the Chick-fil-A Bowl in less than four business days.

Tech (11-2) will face Iowa (10-2) in a matchup featuring the ACC and Big 10 coaches of the year.

The Hawkeyes faithful travel extremely well. When Iowa played in the Orange Bowl following the 2002 season, about 35,000 Iowa fans made the trip for a blowout loss to USC. This year, they've already sold 14,000 tickets, or 80 percent of Iowa's allotment, thanks to a presale to season-ticket holders.

"We'll certainly use our minimum of 17,500, and we'll work with the Orange Bowl to get however many more we need," Iowa athletic director Gary Barta said.

Georgia could face a tougher challenge selling its allotment of 12,000 tickets to the Dec. 28 Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La. The 7-5 Bulldogs will face 6-6 Texas A&M in a 4 p.m. kickoff.

"We'll push tickets as we always do at the University of Georgia," athletic director Damon Evans said. "Winning that last game (30-24 over Georgia Tech), we expect our fans to have some excitement and travel well. And their support is crucial to our overall success. We are going to sell as many tickets as we possibly can."

Tickets cost $30 or $35 and are available on UGA's Website.

UGA and Tech are offering travel packages as well.

Dawgs probably independence bound

CBS
After the victory over the yellow jackets, where do the jackets head.

Earlier today, I was feeling pretty good about the Georgia Bulldogs' prospects for renewing their rivalry with the Clemson Tigers in the Georgia Dome, but, as the ensuing comment thread attests, the Tennessee Volunteers are likely to receive the Chick-fil-A Bowl bid because of the line of toppling dominoes set into motion by the Outback Bowl when it opted for the Auburn Tigers.
The Outback Bowl's selection is utterly indefensible, as Auburn is the weakest of the SEC's six 7-5 teams. As usual, C&F provides context and an explanation over at Team Speed Kills, where he sensibly observes:
While this is a surprise to rational people, it really shouldn't be given the Outback Bowl's history of bizarre bowl choice. Last year, the game selected 7-5 South Carolina pretty much out of necessity, though it could have gotten a better LSU team instead. The Gamecocks got waxed playing an Iowa team that they probably shouldn't have been facing.
That wasn't the first time the Outback Bowl officials made an asinine selection, either. Everyone in Bulldog Nation recalls the 1998 Kentucky Wildcats, who finished 7-4 overall and 4-4 in conference play. The 'Cats had lost in Lexington to the 'Dawgs, who finished 8-3 overall and 6-2 in SEC contests, yet Georgia ended up playing in what was then still the Peach Bowl on New Year's Eve while Kentucky spent New Year's Day in Tampa losing to the Penn St. Nittany Lions by a double-digit margin.
Why did the Outback Bowl do such a stupid thing? Probably because the co-founder of Outback Steakhouse was a University of Kentucky alumnus. I was so incensed by the snub at the time that I refused to eat at an Outback Steakhouse for the next year, and I've been back very few times since. The more rational part of my brain has decided since then that the SEC should simply scrap the Outback Bowl as one of its tie-ins.
Where does that leave us, then? Apparently, bound for the Independence Bowl, possibly to face the Texas A&M Aggies and probably to confuse Brian Cook. As C&F shrewdly noted in his headline, the Outback Bowl loves Auburn and hates American values. (I know, that's redundant. Unlike those Aussies at the Outback Bowl, I love America, and, therefore, I hate Auburn.) Tennessee fans understandably are annoyed at being passed over by the Outback Bowl and I'm nonplussed at the thought of the Bulldogs spending the holidays in Shreveport.
Still, this can be a learning experience. Hopefully, Mark Richt can use the fact that his team got an even crappier bowl game than it deserved (which is saying something) as motivation: "You don't want to go to the Independence Bowl? Well, tough, 'cause the Independence Bowl is what 7-5 gets you. If you don't want to come back here, wrap up when you tackle! If you don't want to come back here, stop somebody on third and long! If you don't want to come back here, pay your parking tickets on time and quit getting fifteen-yard penalties! If you don't want to come back here, stop throwing interceptions and don't get caught emerging from an alley! The next time you go into the locker room with a two-touchdown lead on Kentucky at home, I'm going to ask you, 'Are you going to stay focused are or you going to go back to the Independence Bowl?' You know the difference between Shreveport and New Orleans? Practice and discipline!" This is a golden opportunity for Righteously Indignant Richt to do what needs to be done.
There are two other potential upsides to playing an early bowl game in Louisiana, as well. First of all, Louisiana-Monroe just fired its head coach, so maybe they'd be interested in interviewing Willie Martinez while he was in the Pelican State. (Please?)
Also, if Georgia does face the Aggies, at least we know we wouldn't trot out any new-fangled uniforms; it was against Texas A&M in the first home game of the 1980 season that the Bulldogs wore for the first time what we now think of as their traditional togs: Wally Butts-era silver britches, Vince Dooley-designed red helmets with the oval "G," and the red jerseys they had always worn. The classics never die.
By the way, the Bulldogs won that game 42-0. I'm just saying.

What could have been?

Recruiting college sports is a funny thing. It's a quirky thing. It's a science, but possibly the most inexact one.

Coaches not only have to evaluate a player's physical tools or mental capacity, but also project their development, their potential upside, future value, and role within a college program.

Then they have to take all that, develop some sort of adequate cost-benefit rubric, and make decisions on what players to pursue, and how hard to pursue them. They do all of this, of course, with a rulebook thicker than a dictionary weighing them down and recruiting services offering fans an insider's glance into their work.

Mark Richt has long been a guy that's excelled in recruiting.

He goes toe-to-toe with every program in the nation, and has landed himself big-time names (Matthew Stafford, for example) and big-time classes (his overall hauls are rarely worse than top-15 material). Wisdom says—and wisdom is, to a certain extent anyway, right—that his team is stocked with talent.

But this Saturday in Atlanta, Richt could get a rudimentary yet insightful view of what might have been, just by looking across the sideline.

Demaryius Thomas. Morgan Burnett. Josh Nesbitt. Jonathan Dwyer.

All recruited by both Georgia and Georgia Tech, all wearing the white and gold when they run out of the tunnel on Saturday. Not by coincidence, the last three names on that short but talented list were all members of the 2007 class.

That 20-player haul, far and away Chan Gailey's finest whilst on the Flats, was good enough to rank 18th in the nation, according to Rivals.com. While nine spots lower than Georgia, the Yellow Jackets still celebrated the ranking, which was better than they were used to at the time.

Georgia's class that year ranked ninth, headlined by players like offensive lineman Justin Anderson, wide receiver Israel Troupe, quarterback Logan Gray, and running back Caleb King, considered by some the best overall prospect in the state of Georgia.

Compare those groups, three years later.

Gray, who was ranked just behind Nesbitt at quarterback nationally, has been unable to unseat starter Joe Cox this season, even when the latter has struggled.

Israel Troupe is listed as the Bulldogs' backup at one receiver position, with all-star starter A.J. Green out of the lineup.

Caleb King, once a Georgia high school darling (covered him for a time), has split carries with freshman Washaun Ealey, and has never locked down a starting place.

King might be the most relevant subject for our discussion. Now a redshirt sophomore, the Norcross, GA, native was one of the hottest commodities in Georgia high school football his senior season.

His blend of size, speed, and power, it was believed, would make him a great SEC back one day. For that, and as well, I'm sure, as several other reasons, Georgia went after King hard, and they got their man.

Three years later, King has 615 career rushing yards.

Dwyer went to Georgia Tech, and three years later, he's the top running back on most 2010 NFL Draft big boards.

The point is this: Talent is nothing if it's not developed properly, the same way you can't grow most plants in a lightless room, even if you water them every day.

Now, this one case study doesn't deny a body of work that suggests that Mark Richt certainly knows how to recruit. Just think of the number of players he's sent to the NFL. And his overall success at Georgia certainly suggests he knows what he's doing once he gets those guys, at least some of them.

But how often, in Richt's tenure at Georgia, has a player left without a ready-made replacement behind him? This isn't the first time the Bulldogs had to use tailback by committee, nor is it the first time the surprising lack of continuity at quarterback produced poorer-than-expected on-field results.

That also doesn't mean Richt would have automatically gotten those four guys had he not gotten other ones. In some cases—perhaps in all of them, I cannot say empirically, one way or the other—the player chose Georgia Tech over Georgia, as was the case with Thomas.

But even then, Thomas had already given a verbal pledge to Georgia Tech when Richt and Co. came in, essentially rendering Georgia's effort useless. And obviously, Georgia has A.J. Green, but right now he's injured, and might not play.

Whatever the reason, each of these players chose Georgia Tech over Georgia.

And on Saturday night, Mark Richt will look across the sideline and see a team that has a superstar running back, a top-flight wide receiver, a playmaker in its secondary, and a quarterback who is his team's unquestioned leader and obvious engine.

Richt would be hard-pressed to convince anyone that he wouldn't take any of that over his current options.