John Pennington takes a look at which current SEC schools have produced the most pro talent and compiles this chart:
SEC Rank Picks ’93-’12 Picks ’03-’12 Picks ’08-’12 Picks ’12 1st Rd Picks ’03-’12 1 Georgia 101 Georgia 56 LSU 30 Alabama 8 LSU 12 2 Tennessee 101 LSU 56 Georgia 28 Georgia 7 Alabama 11 3 Florida 98 Florida 48 Alabama 24 S. Carolina 6 Florida 9 4 Alabama 85 Alabama 45 Florida 20 LSU 5 Georgia 8 5 LSU 82 Tennessee 39 S. Carolina 18 Arkansas 4 Auburn 7 6 Texas A&M 66 Auburn 33 Arkansas 15 Texas A&M 4 Tennessee 7 7 Auburn 62 S. Carolina 31 Auburn 15 Miss. State 3 Arkansas 6 8 Arkansas 48 Arkansas 29 Missouri 13 Florida 2 Missouri 5 9 Miss. State 47 Texas A&M 25 Tennessee 13 Kentucky 2 Ole Miss 5 10 S. Carolina 46 Missouri 21 Texas A&M 13 Vanderbilt 2 S. Carolina 5 11 Ole Miss 40 Ole Miss 21 Kentucky 11 Auburn 1 Texas A&M 4 12 Kentucky 35 Miss. State 16 Ole Miss 10 Missouri 1 Miss. State 2 13 Missouri 29 Kentucky 15 Miss. State 9 Ole Miss 1 Vanderbilt 2 14 Vanderbilt 21 Vanderbilt 12 Vanderbilt 8 Tennessee 1 Kentucky 1
That is some remarkable consistency – through three head coaches – for Georgia. And some of you might try reading between the lines to see what that chart says about one Rodney Garner.
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UPDATE: It’s not just about recruiting. Check out what Mike Tomlin had to say about Jarvis Jones.
“When you look at the outside linebackers in 3-4 defenses, generally there is some projection and so forth involved in the evaluation,” said Coach Mike Tomlin. “This was an easy evaluation from that standpoint. He plays in a very similar scheme, he’s asked to do things in a manner in which he’ll be asked to do it here in Pittsburgh. Very little guesswork in that regard made it a fun evaluation and made it a comfortable evaluation. He excelled in what they asked him to do, and he’ll be asked to do similar things here.”
Auburn didn’t hire him because of his player development?
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I don’t think anyone questions Garner’s value to UGA the first few years he was on board. Richt clearly needed him for the first 2-3 years but CMR himself became a force in recruiting with his early succes. After the second “gun to the head” threats of RCG leaving there seemed to be a major effort to have other coaches more involved with recruiting, especially building relationships with HS coaches. I don’t think Garner would have been a major loss as a recruiter for the past 4-5 years although I would have preferred him go to a West Coast school.
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Check out Tennessee’s numbers…
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Looks like somebody’s been underachieving in KnoxVegas.
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Then falling off in recruiting.
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I wonder how much the information available on the internet has leveled the playing field with recruiting? In the 70s, 80, and 90s you had to have “sources” and pound the pavement to find the sleepers, now everyone can scout from home and let the univeristy’s reputation and relationships with the staff be the diciding factors. Not taking away from Garner’s accomplishments and skills but it really is easier to find and evaluate all the talent these days.
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CRG was at UGA for 15 years. Some years were good and frankly, some years were pretty bad. But overall we recruited well before he arrived and we’ll recruit well now that he’s gone. For starters, we just wrapped up about a good a recruiting year as we’ve had under CMR. When it came to decision time, CMR let CRG walk – that says all we need to know.
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Talk about your potential perfect fits. Jarvis Jones and the Steelers. As it looks now, my Sundays will become a lot more interesting.
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This is the best thing that could have happened for JJ. He’ll be playing in Super Bowls his whole career.
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Best part of the draft was JJ not going to the Saints. That would have ruined me.
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Congrats, JJ. DGD.
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I think what this chart says is that it really doesn’t matter who the coach is – Georgia is going to be able to recruit well. This state is loaded and we have no in-state recruiting competition.
And yes, I know we have several big programs nearby in other states that try to recruit here. No situation is ever perfect (other than maybe LSU’s situation down in Louisiana).
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Our situation here is damn near as good as LSU’s athlete-wise–and our state is bigger!
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You may be right.
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He will carry on the tradition that Mr Hines has set at Pittsburgh. Boy, they be liking them some Dawgs up there, eh?
I too will look for the Steelers on TV and specifically continue to watch Jarvis conquer the dumbshits who passed on him.
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Exactly. Haven’t had a reason to follow the Steelers since Hines retired. Now my interest is back.
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Hines Ward’s career at Pittsburgh immediately came to my mind as well. Jarvis is a perfect fit for the Steelers – who have worked the draft as well as any nfl team for decades.
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I spy a trend.
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