Yesterday, the Bulldogs landed two more commitments from Michael Bennett (6'3" 185 lb WR with 4.55 speed) and Demetre Baker (6'0" 200 lb LB). Both articles premium $.
Bennett is a consensus three star wide receiver by both recruiting services while Baker is 4 stars from Scout.com, and he's not yet ranked by Rivals.com. Baker, a Jacksonville product, made his recruiting videos available to the various services about two months ago so he's just now getting reviewed by Rivals. The UGASports.com guys said they expected that he'd be in the four star range. I've said before that the star system doesn't do much for me, but they do make a reasonable frame of reference for guys like me that follow recruiting at an arm's length.
One of the UGASports.com guys suggested that comparing Bennett to Kris Durham (I guess because he's white) isn't fair. They offered a comparison to Massaquoi based on the way he looks attacking the ball in the air. I don't know if he's got the wheels of Mo Mass, but it's a nice comparison.
As for Baker, I don't issue a lot of gushing praise on recruits. Hell, I don't even discuss every commitment. But this kid's video is ridiculous. He's an explosive hitter who will embed his face mask into his opponent's liver. Baker is a player that Coach Van Gorder would describe as "arriving at the ball carrier with bad intentions." In the video he tackles a little high, but that's coachable. What isn't coachable is the natural explosion this kid shows and the eagerness to knock the hell out of someone. He's roughly the same size as Odell Thurman coming out of high school.
Good week for Richt and crew. Four of eight kids from the State of Florida. (Most of the above links are premium content)
See Also (free articles):
-- Georgia adds 2 commitments - ABH
-- Bennett commits to Dawgs - AJC
-- Bennett commits to UGA - ESPN
-- Border crossing. Four leave state for UGA - Orlando Sentinel
-- Bennett and Baker join Georgia - Chattanooga Free Press
-- The Afterglow of Benedict - AJC
PWD
Georgia Sports Blog FanShop
- Georgia Bulldogs Women's Sideline Clutch
- Price: $84.99
16 comments:
Would you say the biggest needs for this recruiting season are defense- especially DL, and WR?
We have 2 young QBs, depth and youth at RB & TE and have finally built up the OL.
Best thing about Baker, you know he's got some explosion in his hips. Minus 4 or 5 years, and 80-100 pounds, he can throw a shotput the same distance as Geno Atkins. Now imagine what kind of hits he's going to be putting on folks once our S&C staff get ahold of him.
We've GOT to sign another big time pass rushing DE or two here in the not too distant future... I can't take another season like last, and yeah losing Owens on the line hurt a bit, but not as much as people made it out to be when it came to the ends, pressure and lack of sacks.
Anon 9:47,
Two of our first four commits are pash rushing DEs. And there are more on the hook.
The Bennett/Massaquoi comparison is apt. I saw him play last year, and well... he has some serious wheels. His stride is really quick, and he changes direction so fluidly... Durham is more of a long-stride, rangy guy with great hands. Anyways, watch his 2nd highlight video and you'll see the play whee he catches the ball in traffic and then shakes 3 DBs to find his way into the endzone. Pure athleticism.
Yea, Baker is listed on ESPNU top 150 also
Yet another reason to leave the game in Jax.....
Anon, 1:10 PM, I was about to post the same thing.
Just as folks around here (Paul Johnson, for instance) are pissing and moaning about teams playing at the GA Dome, we have a home game in the most fertile recruiting ground in the country every year. Why would we give that up?
Lived in Jax for 35 yrs trust me the uf bandwagon is very full down here! Having said that I want to point out that FSU went 14 straight yrs in the top 5! Staggering if you really think about it. As far as recruiting goes the state has produced talent year after year...I love seeing the Dawgs get to hand pick players from duval county! Finally I watched Tebow in high school as a frosh linebacker, he won a state title then transferred and won 2 more as a qb. The end is in sight for all the jort wearing fans, trust me when the Boy wonder departs Alachua county the wagon will empty just a fast as it filled up!
Mr Sanchez,
A college shot put weighs MUCH more than a high school shot, so the two distances are not comprabable. It is however, a very impressive stat.
DOdawg,
ESPN has not released its top 150. Only a watch list compiled of a great number of players who never actually make the final list. Still though, at least he's on the watch list.
*comparable
LMAO, this has nothing to do with playing in Jacksonville. Talk about taking one issue and fitting everything else into it. We've been playing there forever, and just now we're making strides? In the middle of a 20-game ass-beating streak? Get real.
It's 2 factors:
1) Stafford/Knowshon in the NFL.
2) Ted Lilly
Hobnail- I realize the guy is having a great season with 7 wins and an era under 3, but I think you're giving him too much credit.
Dangit.. stupid fantasy baseball on the brain.
John Lilly.
Bennett is just starting to get noticed. The kid has been blowing up camps. He's fixing to shoot up the rankings. Some think he's the 2nd best recruit in GA.
Anon at 4:11, I know the high school one is a little lighter, but again, see the age difference, and huge weight difference. Kid has got some big time natural power. Let him get a little older, a little bigger, and a little time in our weight room, and I think I might be more excited about him than any commit so far, and we've got several with Sunday potential already (including two at DE for anon @ 9:47)
Post a Comment