That's how Georgia coach Vince Dooley stumbled onto a defensive back from Huntsville, Texas, in 1980.
"When we signed Herschel [Walker], the number one recruited player in the country, we also signed Terry Hoage, who was the least recruited player in the country," Dooley said. "Nobody in Division I offered him. A professor at Georgia knew his daddy at Huntsville, Texas. He taught at a state college. He contacted us. Terry was a quarterback who hurt his knee. We had one or two scholarships left. I told my coaches, 'Let's see if we can find a good student, a hard worker, who could hang around for four years and maybe help us.'"
Hoage became a two-time All-American safety and played for many years in the NFL. Hoage and Walker came into Georgia at opposite ends of the recruiting spectrum, but both made it to the College Football Hall of Fame.
Four years ago, Georgia again experienced this with Tim Jennings. He was the last player we offered, and his only other offer was South Carolina State. Some other recent Dawgs who were *very* lightly recruited but hit it big:
- Thomas Davis: Became a first round draft pick safety for the Carolina Panthers. Got caught up in coaching transitions at Georgia and Alabama during the recruitment process. His only other offer was Grambling. Brian Van Gorder offered him while watching him play a basketball game.
Davis gets UP.
- Arnold Harrison: Just named to the Steelers Super Bowl roster up from the practice squad. Recruited as a 6'3" 210 lb defensive end. Worked himself into an 235 lb+ outside linebacker. No other Div I-A offers. He thought it was a mistake that he was invited for an official visit to Georgia so he brought a camcorder. He didn't think anyone would believe him in a few years so he needed the evidence.
- Randy McMichael: Miami Dolphins starting Tight End. 6'3" 215 lb Tight Ends don't draw much attention. Donnan said, "We were the only coaches in America who recruited him. Most folks thought he couldn't play dead in a western."
Randy soars for six.
6 comments:
I saw Terry Allen play for Banks County the last game of his senior year, a playoff game at home against rival Commerce. Stood on the sidelines at the 5-yard line with my dad as Allen ran by on a long touchdown run. I looked at my dad and said I hoped Georgia had offered. We had, but I think as a DB. Well.... Great stuff by Maisel. Love the blog
I agree 100% - the quality of your class isn't in the 5 star guys (which are few and far between) who play like 5 star guys - it is the 2 & 3 star guys who play like 4 & 5 star guys.
Look for a guy like Ben Harden or Michael Lemon to be "these type guys".
For every Thomas Davis there is a Reshad Dudley..
Another one that comes to mind was David Pollack. He was actually recruited as a fullback if I'm not mistaken. He was barely a 3-star. Same with David Greene...he was barely a 3 star as well. Not sure about Greenie in the NFL, but Pollack will definitely turn some heads.
Refresh my memory though...since Hines Ward is obviously the next Bulldog hall-of-famer, where was he in the recruiting rankings? He was class of '95 if I'm not mistaken.
Hines Ward was an elite blue chip QB. He first played RB b/c he wanted on the field so bad.
Pollack wasn't as lightly recruited as many folks made out. He was being recruited by UGA as a FB. Clemson and Florida wanted him as a DT. Both offered and he visited both. Only South Carolina offered him as a DE.
If Spurrier recruited you for that class you weren't a sleeper. He was ROLLING back then.
Greene was the #1 in Georgia. There was more hype for other QBs in the region like Jason Campbell and Brock Berlin, but those were 5 star guys.
Ralph Friedgen thought Greene was the best HS QB to come out of GA in several years.
Donnan's comment on McMichael is actually pretty funny.
Our major competition for Hines Ward was Nebraska who wanted him to be an option QB (which he would have been great at).
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