This Week in Georgia Recruiting... 5/18/08

ATHENS – Dean Legge’s review of the week in Georgia football recruiting.

SPRING IN SWING

Some programs ended their spring football this past weekend while some have this week remaining. I got the chance to see several Georgia commitments in action this week including Austin Long, Mike Gilliard, Chase Vasser and Zach Mettenberger. Dallas Lee’s Buford squad also ended up their spring practices last week.

Several schools, including ECI and Northside, either didn’t have a formal spring game or held their top stars out of the game. Georgia’s coaches made quite a show at Jarvis Jones and Mettenberger’s games – showing up with no less than four assistant coaches to both affairs.

WHERE FROM HERE?

Georgia’s most recent commitment, Valdosta’s Gilliard, got the Bulldogs even closer to the top scholarship number, which stands somewhere near 17. In order to get to 17, however, the Dawgs are going to have to have some attrition or some players will have to leave early – both will likely happen.

So with the limited number of spots Georgia has left the question is where do they go with the final few spots. For the most part Georgia will try to get commitments from players who catch the ball. Georgia needs no less than two wide receivers and a tight end. They also likely need at least one cornerback.

Tampa’s Orson Charles is one likely target at tight end. Washington’s Branden Smith seems to be the top target at corner with Plantation’s Brandon McGee not that far behind him. Jarvis Jones is a player the program, by the show of force they had last week at his game, are overwhelmingly interested in – no matter the position. Marlon Brown and Nu’kesse Richardson seem to be the top targets at receiver.

READY FOR ATHENS

Wide receiver A.J. Green said he’s looking forward to arriving in Athens. The Summerville star said he would arrive on campus in early June. While news that Green’s grades are in order is not new news, it ends speculation that Green would not qualify to play in Athens.