Image:Tampa Tribune

The fact that a former NFL coach who can show off a Super Bowl ring dispensed important advice to a high school recruit isn’t really big news. The fact that Charles was intelligent enough to exploit that resource demonstrates it would be an important factor in his decision. What is interesting though is what it was about Dungy’s counsel that impacted Charles’s decision to come to UGA.

“I know Orson was having a little trouble making his decision,” Dungy said. “He had it down to a few schools. He came by my house and the last thing we talked about was, ‘Hey, just assume you get hurt the first day you ever step on campus. You want to go to a place where you’re going to enjoy the school, [the] players that you’re around, [the] coaches. And you’re going to able to have that great atmosphere outside of football. Don’t think of football, but how it’s going to be as a family.’”

More validation of the “Georgia Way” producing results on the recruiting trail. We should again all be thankful that Richt is building a productive, sustainable foundation that is producing Championships on the field and winners off the field.

Image: SI

Orson Charles, the Plant High School TE/WR has chosen to play his college football at the University of Georgia.

His choice ends a solid month of intense speculation since most other senior high school prospects chose colleges on February 5th, national signing day.

Charles figures to be a match-up nightmare with great speed and quickness to go along with his traditional TE frame.

All I got to say is… HOW ABOUT THIS 2009 RECRUITING CLASS? Where are we now? Top 5?

RELATED LINKS:

• Charles ends wait, signs with Bulldogs – Athens Banner-Herald
• Orson Charles is a Dawg – Bernie’s Dawg Blawg
• Orson Charles picks Georgia over Tennessee and Southern Cal – AJC
• Orson Charles picks UGA – Georgia College Football Examiner
• UGA’s other TE recruit Arthur Lynch, glad for addition - AJC
• Tampa TE Orson Charles Signs With Bulldogs – GeorgiaDogs.com
• Charles Picks UGA! – TotalUGA

Image: Tampa Tribune

Well, tomorrow afternoon at 4:30 Orson Charles will effectively end the 2009 recruiting period for Georgia, Tennessee and USC. He will pull off a shirt to reveal the jersey of the team of his choice at a press conference.

Where will he go? Lately, there has been a little buzz about Tennesee being the slight favorite to gain the use of his services for the next four years.

This little bit from a Q & A with the AJC’s Michael Carvell could be viewed as supporting the rumor that he is leaning towards becoming a Vol.

Another advantage is playing in front of 108,000 people. You wave your arm and the whole stadium shakes. All of their coaching staff comes from the NFL, so they know what it takes to get to that next level. You can tell their coaches have a passion for the game. They expect the best, and they want to win. The other teams want to do that, too. But I feel like something is different about Tennessee. They have a chip on their shoulder, which is good.

“…I feel like something is different about Tennessee”.

That is your lean right there. Will it be enough to tip it for the Vols? Who knows. Remember, Greg Reid went to bed ‘Bama but woke up FSU. I really have no doubt that at the time of that comment Tennessee was the team that may have led by a whisker. After all, Tony Dungy assured him they all were great programs with bright futures all that’s left to distinguish the three is his instinct. “Something different” is Mr. Charles’s instinct pointing him toward Knoxville.

If he does choose UT, it would have to be considered an “upset” if such a characterization exists in recruiting. Georgia has been considered the odds on favorite since he dropped Florida a few weeks ago. Even though Tennessee may have an edge Mr. Charles still has great things to say about the Dawgs.

My [former teammate at Plant High], Aaron Murray, is there. I feel very comfortable with the coaches. They’ve been recruiting me the longest, one full year. I like how they attack at practice. They get after it. Every time Aaron and I went to watch practices last year, they’d always have at least one fight. That’s not hatred; that’s tough love which builds character. Another thing, I went to [UGA's summer] camp and got after it with [tight ends coach John Lilly]. We chest-bumped and everything. He gets really excited about coaching players, and I like that.”

The most important factor may be the first part of his answer. Some believed the Murray factor has been overplayed but what Georgia has going for it is their stability, and Murray being such a known quantity (who is going to throw passes to him at UT?) adds to that tremendously.

He expands on the Murray factor.

It makes a difference. Like with every wide receiver or tight end, you would like to know what type of quarterback you have. I know what Aaron can do. We’re good friends. He really loves Georgia. He would like it for me to play at Georgia with him. But he wants me to pick the school that best fits me. I told Aaron if it’s Georgia, then let’s go ahead and win the national championship. If it’s not Georgia, then we’ll still be good friends down the road.”

I like the way all that sounds. Hopefully, the factors in favor of Georgia will prove insurmountable when 4:30 p.m. Friday rolls around.

Image: Scout.com

In what is definitely a surprise to me, Orson Charles has dropped Florida from the list of schools he is considering. It is now down to UGA, Tennessee and USC.

“I appreciate Florida’s interest. I think very highly of Coach Meyer and the Gators,” wrote Charles, a 6-foot-3 prospect from Tampa-Plant. “This was a tough decision for my family. Please understand me and my family’s call. Thank you and God bless.”

Now that we know his final three I really like Georgia’s chances. Florida was the team that I felt like might get him in the end because it was close, and the home state school.

Charles will make his final decision on March 6, but all signs point to him signing with Georgia. His high school quarterback, Aaron Murray, already signed with the Dawgs, and Charles favorite jersey number 7 came open this year with Matthew Stafford heading to the NFL.

He seems like the kind of kid that wouldn’t go for Kiffin’s recruiting voodoo and then it would boil down to Georgia and USC. So, do you want to commit to playing four years at a place you’ve only visited once?

I got a good feeling about Orson Charles. We’ll all know on March 6th.

RELATED LINKS:

• TE Orson Charles keeps UGA among his finalists – AJC
• Georgia poised to add a tight end? – ESPN
• TE Orson Charles takes small step toward end of recruiting journey – AJC
• Orson Charles eliminates Gators – Orlando Sentinel

Image: CLIFF McBRIDE

According to this post by the AJC’s Michael Carvell Orson Charles has confirmed he will not be signing a letter of commitment until the last day possible, March 6th.

On Tuesday, tight end Orson Charles of Tampa, who is one of the nation’s top unsigned seniors, confirmed that he will announce his college decision on March 6. Charles is deciding between Florida, Georgia, Southern Cal and Tennessee. Charles also said he will narrow down to “two or three” schools on Wednesday, but did not offer any hints.

So, it looks like we’ll get one last update before decision day. I’m guessing the final two will be Florida and Georgia. I think it’s possible that he’ll give USC the courtesy of being on his final list but that Tennessee will definitely be eliminated before the moment of truth arrives.

Image: St. Petersburg Times

Well, everyone’s favorite tight end is back home from his visit to USC (subscription required) this weekend.

The good news is he didn’t commit so while he may have had a great experience in Los Angeles he did not put ink to paper and sign up to play for the Men of Troy.

I believe that bodes well for Florida and Georgia because after consulting with friends and family back home it will be a lot more difficult to spend the next four years so far away from those who are giving you the advice. That’s just my two cents.

It appears that Mr. Charles’ decision won’t be coming down until March so he’ll be testing the patience of all of the Dogs, Gators and Trojans who are awaiting word on whether or not his decision goes their way.

Orson Charles may wait until March 6 to announce his final decision. It’s down to Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and USC.

Kwame Geathers’ decision could come much sooner… or not. Kwame has offers from UGA, Tennessee and Central Florida. FWIW there is already a Tennessee prediction floating around out there. Consider the source, though.

OOPS Lane Kiffin strikes again!

Spokesperson Tiffany Carpenter confirmed reports that Volunteers coach Lane Kiffin mentioned an unsigned prospect, tailback Bryce Brown from Kansas, by name on a Knoxville sports talk show Friday morning.

Brown, Rivals.com’s No. 1 prospect, was on UT’s campus for an official visit during Kiffin’s comments — which came in response to a question regarding the coach’s thoughts on seniors who didn’t sign on national signing day.

Lane Kiffin is a shining gift from the football Gods to help us endure the tedium of college football’s off-season. Thank you, Gridiron Gods!

I think the powers that be up in Knoxville might want to take the muzzle off of Smokey and give it to Kiffybaby until the football season gets here. Would Orson Charles really choose to play for this guy?

Garner and Richt say they will more than likely keep the 2010 signing class below twenty, very similar to this year.

Image: CLIFF McBRIDE

So who do you think is giving Orson Charles an earful about how dull and boring his career as a traditional tight end at UGA would be if he chose to go to Georgia?

Orson Charles, who is Georgia’s top remaining target for its 2009 recruiting class, said he called UGA coach Mark Richt to “clear up some rumors.”

Charles, who may wait until early March to announce his college decision, told the AJC he heard rumors that UGA may use him as a “traditional” tight end. Charles wants to play for a team that lines him up at both tight end and wide receiver. He is ranked as the nation’s No. 62 overall prospect by Rivals.

Of course, my mind goes straight to “Boy Blunder”, infamous Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin. Something tells me though, that Charles is probably too smart to listen to that tool. Which leaves us with… Urban Meyer?

i guess Meyer is really smarting from the recruiting defections to Tennessee and losing out on Greg Reid to Florida State. He’s looking for that final splash to give the Florida class the same “umphh” that the Georgia class got when Marlon Brown chose to be a ‘Dawg late in the afternoon on signing day.

Remember, Florida already has an edge with Charles since he accidentally destroyed the Gators 2006 BCS trophy.

The AJC is reporting that Georgia is holding two scholarships for additional committments to the already stellar 2009 recruiting class. Orson Charles is no surprise but the Kwame Geathers offer is news because there has been some debate about whether or not an offer had actually been extended.

Georgia has signed 18 players for its 2009 recruiting class and hopes to add two more, tight end Orson Charles of Tampa and defensive tackle Kwame Geathers of Carver’s Bay, S.C.

Some patience will be required for Orson Charles’ decision but Geathers decision could come at any time.

Charles said he will announce his college decision after returning from official visit to Southern Cal on Feb. 20. Geathers, the younger brother of former UGA standout Robert Geathers, had told GoGamecocks.com that he could sign with Georgia or Central Florida by as early as the upcoming week.

Adding one or both of these commitments would make the 2009 downright gaudy. Though there may have been some consternation amongst fans when a few remaining targets chose to go elsewhere on signing day, Georgia closed with a bang by signing Memphis WR Marlon Brown. Adding Charles and Geathers would be some delicious gravy on the 2009 recruiting feast.

And if you want to read something to get you excited about Orson Charles joining the same receiving corps as A.J. Greene and Marlon Brown, check out Buck Belue’s latest post about the receiving weapons Joe Cox will have access to in 2009.

Imagine if Murray’s go-to-guy—Orson Charles—decides to join his HS QB in Athens? Charles working the middle of the field, Green and Brown working the outside. Wow.

Wow, indeed.

UPDATE 2: Bernie’s look at Jawanza Starling is up.

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UPDATE: Bernie has posted his Orson Charles profile.

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Well, we’re getting close to the finish line and there are only a few prospects still considering the Georgia Bulldogs.

Bernie’s Dawg Blawg has an excellent rundown on all of those remaining complete with some great original insight and analysis.

Here’s a little sample re: Greg Reid:

Reid is as renowned for the verbal lashing he took from the Swamp Coach as he is his cover skills. He is an all around talent that has recently settled in on the defensive side of the ball. He wants to play early which may be why he backed away from TebowLand. Georgia can offer a fair shot at time. But he’ll have to earn it against some players who have been waiting on the sidelines as well as the state’s top player, ’09 commit Branden Smith.

Links (with my no insider info having predictions):

• DB – Greg Reid – Georgia
• WR – Marlon Brown – Ohio State
• DT – Kwame Geathers – Georgia
• LB – Jarvis Jones – USC
• TE – Orson Charles – Georgia

Yeah, it’s optimistic but I am a glass hal-full kind of guy. I mean, if I was reeeeally optimistic I’d have Marlon Brown headed for Athens.