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What will CMR do?

What will CMR do?
td.yspwidearticlebody { font-size: 13.5px; }By Kelly Quinlan, Staff Writer – Rivals.com

With the news breaking of Akeem Hebron's season long suspension from the University of Georgia breaking this afternoon, the Georgia Bulldogs are shorthanded again at linebacker heading into the 2007 season.
Georgia has only two healthy game tested linebackers Brandon Miller and Dannell Ellerbe heading into the 2007 season. Darius Dewberry played in a couple of games at linebacker, but saw most of his action on special teams as a true freshman. Marcus Washington the other experienced linebacker is struggling following LCL surgery and may not play in 2007 and end with a medical redshirt.
Georgia's other two scholarship options at linebacker are redshirt freshmen Akeem Dent and Darryl Gamble. Dent had a great spring and is expected to challenge Dewberry for the starting SAM linebacker spot. Gamble worked at the Mike linebacker, but he missed almost all of the spring with a broken foot. Gamble, Dent, and Dewberry will now each get a look at the Will linebacker spot as they try to fill the void left by Hebron's departure.
Dewberry got his first taste of the Will position on G-Day when linebacker coach John Jancek started him over the more experienced Ellerbe. Look for more of the same for all the current scholarship linebackers this summer and fall as coach Jancek attempts to create some depth.
"There is a lot of carryover (between the weak side and strong side linebacker) and they are similar creatures in that way so I do like to get those guys cross trained. A guy like Dewberry had a few reps at will throughout the spring, but he has a very good idea about what is going on at the strong side so I want to make sure he gets a feel going into the summer and in camp at the weak side linebacker position," said Jancek to UGASports just before G-Day.
If Dent ends up as a starter he would be the first freshman to start regularly at linebacker since 1994 when Greg Bright started eleven games at outside linebacker.
With only six scholarship linebackers on the current roster incoming freshmen Charles White and Rennie Curran will probably play as true freshmen and attempt to add depth at linebacker behind the four top guys (Dent, Dewberry, Ellerbe, and Miller). White is considered an outside linebacker and Curran would be a Mike linebacker in Georgia's current linebacker system. Rivals.com State of Georgia Recruiting Analyst Chad Simmons thinks Curran could provide immediate depth at the Mike linebacker while White could contribute on special teams.
"I think either one of them could contribute immediately on special teams. Rennie can definitely fly around out there and he is a Mike linebacker which is a position where they do not have much depth because of injuries. That position is open for Rennie to step in (as a backup). Either one of them could fill in on special teams or get some reps. They are going to give Rennie a shot to get on the field in some way whether it is as a headhunter guy on special teams or as a guy who can make plays at linebacker. Charles White has slid under the radar during this whole process and he is working hard," said Simmons of the two incoming freshmen.
Other options for Georgia include walk-ons Benjamin Boyd, Chris Gaudner, and Tommy Watkins all of whom have extensive special teams experience, but no real game experience at linebacker.
Given the current state of the linebackers in Athens, head coach Mark Richt and coach Jancek are looking to fill that void by bringing in a big class of linebackers for 2008.
"They are bringing in three or four more linebackers this year to create separation, so they may play those guys just get that separation," said Simmons.
Keeping some of those linebackers on campus has been a problem for Georgia under coach Richt. With Hebron's departure, six scholarship linebackers have either departed Georgia early or were asked to leave since the 2002 season. Two linebackers Chris Clemons and Odell Thurman left early for the NFL, but the others including Derrick White and Josh Johnson were asked to leave. The continued thinness at linebacker has had a trickle down effect on the roster creating a lack of depth and experience each season.
Given the current status of the Georgia linebackers they may end up in a situation like the offensive line and the Bulldogs may end up bringing in players at the mid-point in 2008 so they can be competitive at linebacker next spring. Georgia managed to rebuild their offensive line with a couple of key signings this year and a similar job may be in order for the linebackers following the 2007 season.

Updated on Tuesday, May 8, 2007 7:31 pm EDT

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Rivals.com College FB Power Rankings
td.yspwidearticlebody { font-size: 13.5px; }By Steve Patterson, Publisher – Rivals.com

Despite taking his team to the SEC Championship game in three of his six seasons in Athens, winning the league title twice and a BCS game victory, Georgia head coach Mark Richt is not considered one of the Top 20 coaches in college football by Rivals.com.
In the latest Power Rankings released on Tuesday, the national college staff in Brentwood, Tenn., listed Greg Schiano, who has a glowing 30-41 record in the same amount of years at Rutgers as Richt has a Georgia, as the 8th best at the Division-1A level.

SEC coaches listed in the Top 20 include: Urban Meyer (1), Steve Spurrier (6), Tommy Tuberville (10), Nick Saban (11), Les Miles (14). Other coaches of interest include Jim Grobe, who finally got his seven year record at Wake Forest over .500 (37-35) last year, and newly hired Tar Heel coach Butch Davis (20), who has not coached a college game in over six years.
Of the 220 players ranked at their various positions, the Bulldogs have just three.
6 - Kicker Brandon Coutu"Georgia missed Coutu when he was injured for much of 2006."
9 - Cornerback Paul Oliver"Oliver held Calvin Johnson to one catch last season."
15 - Quarterback Matthew Stafford"Stafford showed hints of stardom during a late-season surge"
Defensive Coordinator Willie Martinez is listed as the 18th best defensive coach in the land. Rivals.com writes: "Georgia allowed more than 24 points just once last season."

View all players and coaches ranked by position

Updated on Wednesday, May 9, 2007 8:57 am EDT

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2009 QB Boyd has a busy summer ahead

2009 QB Boyd has a busy summer ahead
td.yspwidearticlebody { font-size: 13.5px; }By Mike Farrell, Recruiting Analyst – Rivals.com

The 2008 recruiting season is in full swing with the May evaluation period, but 2009 is right around the corner and one player to keep an eye out for is 6-foot-1, 196-pound quarterback Tajh Boyd. The Hampton (Va.) Phoebus sophomore led the Phantoms to a state championship last season and has a busy couple months ahead of him.
"I'm actually preparing to head to Penn State for the Nike Camp and Elite 11 on Saturday," he said. "I want to light it up there and compete.
"I want to show my arm strength and the zip I have on the ball. Hopefully that'll prepare me for next year when I can get invited to the Elite 11 in California."
Following the visit to State College, Boyd will participate in the National Underclassmen Combine in New Jersey later this month, an event he's won two years in a row.
Meanwhile, the Commonwealth prospect plans to go to at least a couple camps this summer to Virginia Tech and Wake Forest in July.
With so much time before a possible decision, is anyone standing out to Boyd early on?
"I really like Georgia because I was born there, it's competitive and there's a spot to play early," he said. "I also like Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Maryland, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech."

Updated on Friday, May 11, 2007 2:42 pm EDT

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Top TE Allen sets the record straight

Top TE Allen sets the record straight
td.yspwidearticlebody { font-size: 13.5px; }By Mike Farrell, Recruiting Analyst – Rivals.com

Rumors continue to swirl about that Rivals250 tight end Dwayne Allen out of Fayetteville (N.C.) Terry Sanford is looking around. Rivals caught up with the 6-foot-4, 243-pounder to find out exactly what is going on.
"I have been really evaluating my decision as far as academics go because that's the most important thing to me, getting a degree," he said. "I understand football isn't forever, I'm not saying Georgia isn't a respectable university.
"But, I have heard some rumors about Georgia having one of the lowest graduation rates in the SEC. I'm not sure how much of that is true, but it's obviously making me think."
Is Allen still committed to the Bulldogs?
"Definitely I'm committed," he said. "Like I've said before, the tradition there is terrific and coach Johnson is a great guy. He's got his head on his shoulders and knows what he wants. He's strict and not as laid back as other coaches and that's what is needed to get me to the next level. I am planning to attend their elite prospect camp on June 15th."
While the Tar Heel state prospect is going to Athens, he is also going to other schools for camps.
"Definitely I'm going to other camps," he said. "I'm looking at North Carolina on June 2 and then sometime later down the road to Florida. That's all I know for sure right now."
The question continues to come up then, is it a forgone conclusion Allen will end up in the Peach State?
"As far as now, I'm committed, but it's not too far to think that could change," he said. "As far as academics go, certainly Virginia is up there for me. They're the No. 1 public school in the nation and that's great.
"I'm looking at studying banking, finance or mechanical engineering. I thank the lord for all this and wherever I choose I'm going to need an academic cast behind me pushing me for a degree. When I leave that campus, I want to make sure I'll be OK."
Meanwhile, Allen is considering graduating early from high school.
"I would love to do it and get in school early an extra semester and participate in spring ball," he stated. "I can do it, but it's something my mom and the rest of my family is going to decide on."

Updated on Friday, May 18, 2007 10:20 am EDT

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One day after announcing that he had trimmed his list to a top 15, Rivals100 offensive tackle Greg Shaw of Miami (Fla.) Pace has narrowed his list to eight finalists, including two schools that previously had been cut.


Shaw trims list to eight - NCAA Football - Yahoo! Sports

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Rivals100 running back Dontavius Jackson is a true running back. He is physical, he runs down hill, he can run through a defender or he could make them miss. He is a top target for many programs right now and he is primed for a big senior year. Jackson had a strong spring and we wanted to show you some of his spring game video highlights here.

Jackson is ready for a big senior year - NCAA Football - Yahoo! Sports

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OG 28 B.J. Brand(Coffee County HS)Douglas, GA 6-3.5/324

High Yes Florida, Georgia, Auburn, Florida State, LSU, North Carolina State, South Carolina