Sure, it’s a long way to signing day, but when’s the last time you saw a recruiting pundit offer this with a straight face?
The state of Georgia is loaded with talent, and with Georgia Tech, a team that runs a significantly different system than Georgia, as the only in-state competition. Smart and his staff are doing an excellent job of building a fence around the fertile recruiting state.
Kirby’s done built himself a fence!
Everyone talks about controlling the home state talent as a priority in recruiting. It’ll really be something if this staff pulls that off with this class.
Get The Picture 
If Aubrey Solomon gets away or Davis Mills becomes the next hot freshman QB, these same people will hammer Smart for not getting those guys. The talking heads at the WWL and the SEC Network looks for any excuse to take shots at us.
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Until things change at Bama, they will get their share of the best from Georgia. Solomon has always liked Bama, if Kirby could flip him that would be huge. We have to stop losing top recruits to Auburn and Clemson. If we can be in the position of always being in the top two conversation with Bama, things will work out fine.
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I’m actually not too worried about Bama landing him.
He’s out at the Army AA game in TX this week and he ain’t hanging with the Bama recruits. He’s rolling with the UGA boys…
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I hope you end up being right, SCD. That would be great news for us.
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The closer is in the building…
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I should have said he’s on the mother…
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Excellent!
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Agreed
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Fixed that for you.
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^^^ This man gets it. ^^^
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Yep. It’s still Bobo’s fault to most.
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The talking heads … look for any excuse …
Sorry for the bad proofreading. Today is my first day back.
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Make Georgia Great Again! Build a Wall!!
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This is Huge!!!!!
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…and let’s make Alabama pay for it!
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And we will. Big league.
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And all while making CPJ at NerdU look like a low energy guy!
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and Little Gus will look foolish.
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Fence coming along nicely. Gotta build it high enough to finally keep Jumper out of the corn.
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Richt on the hot seat talk for what seemed like forever could not have helped in state recruiting. There is no explanation however for not going hard after Watson when it was obvious in his 10th grade season how much talent he had. Kirby’s staff is working hard in Georgia high schools but anything less than 10 wins in 17 will put the AJC and fans into a frenzy again. For Georgia fans Chaney will remain the new Bobo even if the wins come which can’t help with recruiting either.
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Better look at 2018. Hope he can flip some of those
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Yeah, was about to say the same thing…need to land a vocal recruiter who is also a 5 star/difference maker to get the momentum going. Missing out on Lawrence and Fields hurt…I think a lot of guys are going to follow those two.
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You mean like 5* Richard Lecounte?
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Leave him alone, he’s on a roll…
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Yeah, like him for this year’s class, or Mecole last year. With all these chat groups those guys get in and all the camps/all-star games, it seems like a player/recruiter really makes a difference in a class these days. LeCounte this year has been insane! It was funny because as soon as Lawrence committed to Clemson, that stud RB recruit was crystal balled on 247 to Clemson as well.
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Once we supplant Alabama with the No. 1 class, then the wall will be high enough. Where we are right now is a good step towards competing with Bama. The next step is to take the fuck over.
I’ve always said that the three easiest places to win are UGA, LSU and Texas because of the depth of the in-state talent and the competitive lack of serious in-state competition.
While I was against the change last fall, this recruiting class is lining up to prove me wrong. It looks to me that we’re trying to be a OL-centric offensive team paired with a stingy defense.
Once you get to point where you own the LOS and the qbs, RBs and WRs are the interchangeable cogs, you can be one hell of a team. Under CMR the skilled guys were always the stars and the big uglies were treated as interchangeable.
I’m now wondering whether people will be talking about Kirby in the same way they talked about Spurrier: waking a sleeping giant with the right coach at the right time.
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Spurrier had won an ACC title with Duke (Duke!) before coming to Florida. Kirby could certainly be a good coach, but methinks we should tap the brakes on that kind of pondering right now. Zook, Muschamp, and Oregeron were also balls-out recruiters that didn’t amount to much as HC’s in their first attempt.
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[Goff],Zook, Muschamp, and Oregeron were also balls-out recruiters that didn’t amount to much as HC’s in their first attempt.
FTFY.
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Another problems with Zook and Muschamp was that they were “uneven” recruiters. They recruited lights out defensive talent but couldn’t seem to bring in complimentary offensive talent . Smart (so far) has avoided that problem.
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If you get facts from deep within your own anus, you can be right about anything I suppose. As for Zook, he did sign a #2 rated class in his second attempt. The first was rated 20th. His last 7th. I’d call that “uneven” not exceptional.
As for your other “balls-out recruiters” here is Orgeron’s class rankings at Ole Miss:
2007 27
2006 15
2005 30
Muschamp’s at UF:
2014 15
2013 8
2012 47
2011 20
Yeah, there was that one time Will was as good as CMR on the recruiting trail.
I can only assume that by “balls-out” that you mean that Ed and Will showed up with their balls out at recruits mother’s homes and thus the mediocre recruiting rankings. So yes, in that sense you’re right, they were “balls out recruiters.”
As for the SOS comparison, perhaps you should have started with: SOS is from Johnson City, TN and Kirby is from South GA or SOS was a QB, while Kirby played safety or SOS coached for a year at Georgia Tech, Kirby never coached at Georgia Tech. That would have blown my comparison right out of the water.
Of course, I would rebut that both SOS and Kirby won one WLOCP as college players so obviously they are exactly the same people for who we can expect the exact same results.
What I’m suggesting is that nobody has been able to recruit at a high level at Georgia AND play a physical, dominating brand of football at the same time. Dooley had the brand, but didn’t recruit that well. CMR recruited well enough but didn’t seek to create a dominating, physical approach to football. They were that way schematically, but not on the roster nor on the field. CMR’s teams were talented at the skill positions and often soft along the LOS. Dooley’s teams were tough as nails and lacked great talent.
CKS seems to like Dooley’s approach to winning football games and is out-recruiting CMR. That’s got potential to be a lethal combo. That does not mean we’ve arrived. I do like the trajectory thus far.
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You’re an amazing specimen. You can take a comment that, while disagreeable, is in no way insulting to you and turn around and insult the commenter. All I suggested was maybe a wait and see attitude on Kirby regarding being equivalent with Spurrier at Florida while citing other coaches that had reputations as great recruiters, but flamed out as a HC.
But ya know what – from now on I’ll cut the middle man out and pre-emptively suggest you go fuck yourself in the first comment so I don’t have to read through your drivel to get to it later.
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My response is no more insulting than yours. The difference is that your response lacked facts. That my retort showed how far from the truth you were is hurtful to you does not make it an insult. You said I was wrong and I responded saying you were wrong, but with facts. No difference except one of us was right and the other…not so much.
Sorry about the hurt fee fees but there’s no reason in the world to take the time to disagree with someone based on a false premise. None. One of the reasons God gave us the internet is that we could at least agree on what the facts are. We can disagree about the facts mean, but they are facts and they should be respected. Your mistake was making shit up and then posting it. I didn’t make you do that, but I was obliged to note that your “point” was a fabrication.
I may ultimately be wrong about the comparison to SOS but Duke’s acc title and Ed’s “balls out recruiting” at ole miss won’t be why.
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“One of the reasons God gave us the internet is that we could at least agree on what the facts are.”
Wrong smarty pants! If we’re gonna talk facts…
Al Gore gave us the internet AND discovered global warming!
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Sic em Audit!
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I’ve always said that the three easiest places to win are UGA, LSU and Texas because of the depth of the in-state talent and the competitive lack of serious in-state competition.
I’m not interested in picking a fight, but there is a lot wrong with your position, IMO. Texas faces arguably the toughest in-state competition in the country with A&M, Baylor, Houston, TCU, Texas Tech and a host of lesser programs. LSU has little depth of in-state talent. It’s a very small state, population wise, compared with other states that produce top football programs.
Georgia fits your narrative nicely, though.
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“A&M, Baylor, Houston, TCU, Texas Tech”
None of these have the history or the cache of Texas AND Texas is huge population wise. 4 of the top 11 cities in the country by population are in Texas now: Houston (4), Dallas (9), Austin (11) and San Antonio (7). That’s 4 cities all of which are bigger than Atlanta (39). You don’t think Texas can’t get 25-28 studs a year?
Louisiana produces more players than Alabama. Look at this chart:
http://www.sbnation.com/college-football-recruiting/2016/6/28/12040586/rankings-state-stars-florida-texas-california
Its a sliding scale. If you look at that chart and then take into account both population and the type of in-state competition you have I still say LSU, UGA and Texas are the places where its easiest to have a loaded roster. Ohio State is in a pretty good spot too.
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*producing
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Oh, it’s got cache, baby. It’s got cache up the ying-yang.
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Texas does face competition but the pool is larger than Georgia, and Texas up until A&M jumped to the SEC was the undisputed #1 program in the state. Georgia is a state full of transplants and the native South Georgia talent is closer to Auburn, Florida, and FSU. However even with the challenges UGA still has the resources to be elite if BM gets out of the way and hires the right staff, hopefully they have. UGA is up there with any of the top level programs. We can debate who has the easiest path all day.
Florida, Texas, and California are the top 3 talent product Georgia 4th. Louisiana is often fighting with Ohio and Pennsylvania for 5th. LSU has always had success in Miss. and Texas, not a bad situation. Louisiana also has a lower percentage of transplants which helps LSU.
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One small step for Kirby
One giant leap for Greg
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Trying to take full advantage of the abundant resources in our backyard. What a novel concept.
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recruiting used to feel like another F word.
A wet fart.
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Ah don’t look now but if Clemson beats Alabama Monday our biggest recruiting rival for 2018 will be Clemson. Dabo and Saban could suck the life right out of Georgia. Look at the players on both that are from Georgia, it’s ridiculous. Kirby better be able to coach or he will be gone sooner rather than later.
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You realize that UGA cannot sign all the talent in Georgia, correct?
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That’s true, but if the Trevor Lawrence type of players consistently leave, you get in trouble quickly.
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You mean like what happened in 2013?
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Yes, like 2013. I think Kirby is taking care of business in recruiting. You can’t lose the type of players we’ve lost on the last few years and be able to build a sustainable program.
Was Lawrence’s decision based on the depth chart or was it based on what he saw on the field this year on offense? I would suggest it’s likely a bit of both with Eason and Fromm and the dumpster fire that was Chaney’s offense.
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But why would a kid as highly touted as Lawrence want to come in and compete with Eason and Fromm? When he can go right in as the perceived BMOC at Clemson.
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Clemson has the number one QB in Hunter Johnson committed for this year, so Lawrence will have to beat him out for BMOC.
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I was leaning more towards the depth chart that ee men above. Hopefully…
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This^^^^^ – competition will be pretty fierce at Clemson too….
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I’d argue that the QB competition at Clempson will be deeper than UGA. Our best hope is that this Hunter Johnson kid starts right away for Clempson and scares TL away.
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Dabo gets wins with the few elite players he does land. Sure, once in a while they get a big catch like Watson. But he’s teamed with a virtual unknown like Gallman. What I’m saying is, they get a lot of production out of their players.
We get super recruits like Eason, Chubb and Michel, but can’t challenge for our division to save our lives – even with an easy schedule. Their DE’s are lights out, while guys like LoCarter struggle in their 3rd year. It’s fricken infuriating to see the talent come through Athens that is consistently wasted.
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I’d say the real best thing Dabo’s done is hold on to Veneables as long as he has. Guy’s had top 5 defenses even when only 4 or 5 starters return.
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Agree, that is when they became real. Defense this season has been better, and more consistent, than the offense. Venables would already have an offer if there weren’t something holding him back. He was an accomplished coach before he came to Clemson, and even with their success last season and all the openings around, I haven’t heard much said about him. Heck of a coach, best job I have ever seen at shutting down Fish Fry’s offense this year.
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The prior staff did get highly rated QBs/RBs/WRs but undersigned at OL and not just stars but in total scholarships
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We are building a wall so that they will come? WTF?
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Excellent questions!
RandallPinkFloyd, what say you?
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Present. Why am I being summoned about the great wall of Georgia?
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There are still some more pieces to this puzzle yet to come. Our biggest hurdle to negotiate right now is that big number “85” that is looming large for us. When did we ever think UGA recruiting would get to the point that we would turn down potential commits because of a numbers crunch? At this point I suppose it is both a good problem to have as well as a bad one.
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All roses come with thorns. Remember when we wanted to see the loyal guys play who committed with UGA’s collar in their mouth. Choates just announced he is leaving along with several others who feel they won’t play so they might as well open up the roster some to let others who may be more athletic walk among us. Remember how we wanted to see these “Gung-Ho!” guys hit the field? Now we won’t see them for the betterment of all (?).
These are tradeoffs that screw your gut up a little.
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Uga, not UGA.
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I for one would like to see the Gung Ho guys who want to work hard to see the field for UGA and not anybody else. Not just the Gung Ho guys who know that simple loyalty to The G will get them on the field eventually if they stay the course as what it seems to have been like in the past.
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“Tall Fences make great Neighbors”
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Kudos to Kirby for the job he’s doing this year, but the 2018 class will be much more dependent on results in the coming season. Recruits will not believe claims of a coming dynasty without actual victories on the field to back it up. Dabo has that this year and will certainly be a problem.
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No question. The soft schedule next year sets up for him to do just that, too.
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God I hope it is a soft schedule because there is every chance in the world that we start out 0-2 with a home loss to App St and a road loss @ ND.
Maybe a home loss to Mizzou before the cocktail party.
The OL is not going to be better next year, replacing too many guys. You lose your top playmaker at WR.
That first game is going to be a problem.
Or it wont.
but I aint sold on a soft schedule for next year mainly because this team isnt very good and still has to replace a bunch of experience to start next season.
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Counting losses before January has ended. Strong.
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did you watch this team play?
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No one has seen the 2017 team play yet.
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I dig what you’re burying. With The Four staying for their Senior year, that tells me there is a lot of things we don’t see that those on the inside do.
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Well, it certainly signals buy-in of what Kirby’s selling from 4 guys that have no reason to be loyal to Kirby–they didn’t commit to play for him after all. So I do take that as an endorsement that maybe things aren’t as bleak behind the scenes as we think.
Next year will come down to the OL being better and Eason making a leap forward. If those things happen, we’ll win 10ish games. If not, 7 to 9 feels right again.
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I can’t convince you that we’ll be any better next year, although I do think we will be. But I don’t think there’s any question the schedule next year is just as soft if not softer than it was this year. This year’s team didn’t take advantage of it, let’s hope next year’s team does.
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I still will miss McKenzie but the rest is great. This will probably be
the best class recruited in the history of Georgia Football. Unbelievable.
Look out for Jake From ? because Eason will be the starter in Spring Practice
& all of next fall; But, Jake will Earn more & more playing time during the
season. Keeping The Four was also a major accomplishment.
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