Some folks say the only guarantees in life are death and taxes. Such people have obviously not examined Tech's 2011 recruiting efforts under Coach Paul Johnson.
Of the 28 players who have received offers from both Georgia and Georgia Tech for the 2011 class per Rivals.com, precisely ZERO have committed to Tech. Eight of these players have committed to Georgia, twelve have committed to other schools, and eight others are undecided, but do not appear to have Tech in the mix. It would seem in fact that an offer from Georgia is a virtual money-in-the-bank guarantee that a player will not sign with Tech. Rarely has UGA's intrastate control of the collective football mind share been so perfect and complete as it has become under Johnson's watch.
This is a troubling situation, particularly considering Johnson apparently regards UGA as his primary rival in recruiting. He has also spoken of how important it is to get the top recruits from the state of Georgia-- 15 of the aforementioned 28 players are in-state prospects.
If there is anything which so richly illustrates the importance of beating UGA, it is indeed this moribund 2011 class. Following an ACC Championship season and an Orange Bowl berth, Tech has struggled on the recruiting trail against a UGA program in the throes of chaos under the beleaguered Mark Richt. Ever handy with an excuse, Johnson's minions will retort that it takes a year for the effects of a championship to be felt in recruiting. Next season they will be saying it takes two years.
Could Johnson's potentially disastrous hire of Andy McCollum as recruiting coordinator be a contributing factor? McCollum replaced the steady and competent Giff Smith, a Gailey holdover, who was the architect of the glamorous 2007 class. With McCollum's mediocre performance in this his debut season, his hire will most certainly come under the microscope as future classes take shape.
A list of committed 2011 prospects holding offers from both Tech and UGA:
Data obtained from rivals.com
NAME | POSITION | STARS | RATING | STATE | COMMITTED TO |
Sterling Bailey | DE | 4 | 5.8 | GA | Georgia |
Devin Bowman | ATH | 3 | 5.7 | GA | Georgia |
Chris Conley | WR | 3 | 5.7 | GA | Georgia |
Watts Dantzler | OL | 3 | 5.7 | GA | Georgia |
Zach DeBell | OL | 4 | 5.8 | FL | Georgia |
Amarlo Herrera | LB | 4 | 5.8 | GA | Georgia |
Nick Marshall | ATH | 4 | 5.8 | GA | Georgia |
Justin Scott-Wesley | WR | 4 | 5.8 | GA | Georgia |
Chevelle Buie | RB | 4 | 5.8 | FL | Rutgers |
Anthony Chickillo | DE | 4 | 5.8 | FL | Miami, FL |
Carlos Gray | DT | N/R | N/R | NC | NC State |
Demetrius Hart | RB | 4 | 6.0 | FL | Michigan |
Brian Randolph | DB | 3 | 5.6 | GA | Tennessee |
Terrance Smith | LB | 3 | 5.7 | GA | Florida St |
Ja'Juan Story | WR | 4 | 5.8 | FL | Florida |
Stephon Tuitt | DE | 4 | 6.0 | GA | Notre Dame |
James Vaughters | LB | 4 | 5.8 | GA | Stanford |
Jabriel Washington | ATH | 3 | 5.7 | TN | Alabama |
James Wilder Jr. | ATH | 5 | 6.1 | FL | Florida St |
Karlos Williams | DB | 5 | 6.1 | FL | Florida St |
Players with offers from Tech and Georgia who have not yet committed:
NAME | POSITION | STARS | RATING | STATE | FAVORITE(S) |
Quan Bray | ATH | 4 | 5.8 | GA | none |
Xzavier Dickson | DE | 4 | 5.8 | GA | none |
Ray Drew | DE | 4 | 6.0 | GA | Aub,Clem,UF,UGA,LSU,TN |
Erique Florence | DB | 4 | 5.9 | AL | None |
Doran Grant | DB | 4 | 6.0 | OH | Mich St,Ohio St |
Jeoffrey Pagan | DE | 4 | 6.0 | NC | AL,Clem,LSU,Ore,TN,USC |
Tony Steward | LB | 5 | 6.1 | FL | AL,AU,Clem,FSU,UCLA |
Xzavier Ward | OT | 3 | 5.7 | GA | none |
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