On paper, National Signing Day didn't conclude the way many Georgia fans had hoped after five-star targets Laremy Tunsil and Montravius Adams, along with high four-star Alvin Kamara, each decided to take their respective talents to different schools. But Bulldog head coach Mark Richt didn't quite look at it that way. "I'll say this, I really don't have any disappointments right now," Richt said during Wednesday's Signing Day press conference at the Butts-Mehre Building. "Once Signing Day hits we're going to be excited about everybody we sign, which I am and our staff is. That's all we're really going to focus and concentrate on." Richt was right about one about one thing. Of Georgia's 32 signees - the most ever inked by the Bulldogs in the Richt era - 15 were four-star performers according to Rivals.com, including Newnan safety Tray Matthews, Tyrone's Shag Wiggins and Snellville linebacker Reginald Carter, among others. Unfortunately, when it came to five-star talent like Tunsil and Adams - who signed with Ole Miss and Auburn, respectively - Georgia was left on the outside looking in, despite a strong and focused effort by Bulldog coaches to bring them in. In the case of Tunsil, his decision to sign with Ole Miss after the Lake City, Fla. native told several Bulldogs, including signee Brandon Kublanow as recently as Tuesday of last week that he was coming to UGA. "We're all down there in the First Coast, there was a lot of us coming out of the First Coast," quarterback Brice Ramsey said. "We all said that we were going to play together but wound up going our different ways. We had Derrick (Henry) committed and he lives 10 minutes from me. They just have to do what's best for them. If that's the best decision for them, then I'm all for it." Georgia also took a hit in the team recruiting standings. As of late Wednesday, the Bulldogs had tumbled down to No. 12 in the Rivals team recruiting standings, behind Alabama (1st), Florida (3rd), LSU (5th), Ole Miss (7th), Texas A&M (8th) and Auburn (10th). "I really don't get too caught up in them (rankings) and I think any coach in America will say that," Richt said. "As far as I'm concerned, we got the No. 1 class in America. We took care of business in the areas that we needed. The players we got are very, very talented, are excited about being here and we're going to develop these guys into a great football team." Of the players who might make the quickest impact, that remains to be seen. Junior college transfer Shaquille Fluker (safety) and defensive lineman Chris Mayes will each have immediate opportunities, along with wide receiver Jonathon Rumph, a 6-5, 215-pounder from Cayce, S.C. The Bulldogs also signed six of linebackers, including Hargrave Military Academy performer Leonard Floyd, plus Reginald Carter, Tim Kimbrough, Shaun McGee, Johnny O'Neal and Ryne Rankin. Rankin and Carter are both early enrollees. Former Florida State commit Davin Bellamy[/b] inked with Georgia late in the morning Wednesday and figures to work as an outside backer. "When you look at his growth and his growth potential at his position, he's a guy who can be a mismatch," defensive coordinator Todd Grantham said of the 6-5, 235-pound Bellamy. "Anytime you can get a guy that has Davin's size and quickness, I think he's got a chance to make something happen." In the secondary, along with Fluker, [db]Shaq Wiggins, Reggie Wilkerson, Kennar Johnson, Matthews, Quincy Mauger, Brendan Langley and Paris Bostick will get long looks in the secondary, which will be looking to replace three starters. "You need help from every class you sign. Last year's class, there were a lot of guys that we were developing but there were a lot of guys who had some production that everybody can see. This will be one of to be one of those classes where they will," Richt said. "These guys have a great opportunity to come in and compete. I would say there's an awful lot of guys that will be playing because you're talking about 40 percent of your team in this class. There's a bunch who will have to play and come through." Although the Bulldogs missed out on Adams, Georgia did wind up signing three defensive linemen, Mayes, Johnathan Atkins and DeAndre Johnson. Offensively, Ramsey was joined by running back A.J. Turman, along with offensive linemen Kublanow, Josh Cardiello, Aulden Bynum and DeVondre Seymour, the son of former Bulldog great Richard Seymour, currently with the Oakland Raiders. Rumph was one of six players likely slated for wide receiver, including "athletes" Tramel Terry and J.J. Green. Rico Johnson, Uriah LeMay, the younger brother of Bulldog quarterback Christian LeMay and Reginald Carter round out Georgia's receiver crop. "It's our job now to get everybody ready to work," Richt said. "We're very thrilled about all these guys we have coming in and how they'll contribute to our football team." NOTES: - Terry, who tore his ACL on the opening kickoff of the Shrine Bowl, said he's not ruling himself out from playing as true freshman, but said he won't rush himself to get back.
. So, why did Richt decided to have his hip surgery last Saturday on what was the final recruiting weekend? "We were going to do it after Signing Day, but to be real honest about it there is an SEC coaches meeting that's coming up next week and the Commissioner (Mike Slive) thought it very important for me to be there," said Richt, who walked into the interview room without the use of crutches. "It was a dead period anyway, coaches couldn't go anywhere and I would have done the same thing from my home as I would from my office so I felt that was the best time." |