We are T-Minus one week away from one of the most important and anticipated recuriting classes in Coach Richt’s tenure. I am going to try and explore each of Coach Richt’s previous classes, highlighting the biggest contributor, the biggest bust and the diamond in the rough in each of the previous classes.
Admittedly, I am not a recruiting guru. I don’t pay the monthly Rivals fees, and I don’t spend too much time getting caught up in the decisions a 17-18 year old makes. I also feel, as I have stated on many occasions, the problems on this team stretch far beyond recruiting. There may not be the talent on the team that there was in years past, but there is still enough talent that they shouldn’t be 6-7. The talent on this team is good enough to win ballgames again.
With that said, I will start off with his first recruiting class, the class of 2002:
Summary: This was Coach Richt’s first class, and featured many guys who would contribute to win the SEC Championship in 2005.
Notable names: Tim Jennings, Max Jean-Gilles, Kedric Golston, Demario Minter, Tony Taylor
Biggest Contributor: I think that there was a lot of talent in this class that helped Georgia win a lot of games. The names I listed above were all good players, but I think the choice is Max Jean-Gillies. I think Jean-Gilles was one of the best offensive lineman of the 2000s.
Biggest Disappointment: Marquis Elmore, the lone 5 star player in the class, never really did anything.
Diamond in the Rough: This one is easy. Undersized Tim Jennings, a prototypical undersized defensive back that Willie Martinez loved, came in as a measly 2 star player. Along with Demario Minter, this duo was probably the best starting cornerback duo that Georgia has had. Jennings ended his career as a valuble player, key starter in the 2005 SEC Championship season. He was drafted in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Colts, with whom he won a Superbowl. He is now with the Da Bears.
Corbindawg
“I have stated on many occasions, the problems on this team stretch far beyond recruiting. There may not be the talent on the team that there was in years past, but there is still enough talent that they shouldn’t be 6-7. The talent on this team is good enough to win ballgames again.”
I have also heard it said that we should not hold Mark Richt responsible for the fact that such a huge percentage of his players are Arrested / Suspended. That that isn’t his fault, when he recruited them here and gets the credit for recruiting them here.
This isn’t about recruiting.
85 Scholarships and since 7 March 2010, we have had 17 SUSPENSIONS – some for multiple games. 17 of 85 is 20 %.
There is no football team in the United States of America close.
If they should not be 6-7, then they should not 2-10 vs teams who finished in the Top 25 the last three years, either.