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: 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: Valdosta Daily Times

Michael Carvell has published a Q & A with Lowndes County phenom Greg Reid.

I’m starting to like Georgia’s chances with Reid. With Evans move to safety permanent and Asher Allen declaring for the NFL draft it presents an opportunity for Greg Reid to play early and often. It’s all about feeling at home you say? Not quite:

Q: What really went wrong with Florida?

A: “Florida was my favorite team growing up, so I committed to them as soon as I had the chance my junior year. Then I started looking closer at the depth chart in December —- who was coming back —- and they are stacked at cornerback. Florida has a great program, and I love the players and coaches, but it’s four years of my life, and I have to do what’s best for me. There are better opportunities for me to contribute earlier elsewhere.”

Sure, FSU may present a similar opportunity but if Georgia can impress this weekend and and show Mr. Reid that Athens, GA is a fine town to spend your college years, I am thinking he will be in the red and black next year.

Doesn’t matter, he won’t qualify?

Q: There has been a lot speculation about you meeting college entrance requirements. What’s your academic situation?

A: “I did terrible, terrible, terrible during my first two years of high school. Then as a junior, I started turning things around. I saw I could go straight to college rather than a prep school if I got it together. I started getting tutors, and my senior year has been awesome. I made all Bs first semester. I have a 2.6 GPA. I’ve had a lot of college coaches and counselors review my transcript, and they tell me that if I keep it up second semester, then I should be fine.”

Sounds like Greg has gotten his act together and is feeling confident that he’ll qualify to play ball next year. I hope this part is true no matter where he goes.

I gotta admit there have been moments where I thought Reid was playing all of us, but it seems to me after reading this piece that he is just a young kid grappling with his future.

Can’t we all be thankful that a basketball game wasn’t on Reid’s agenda this weekend in Athens?

My prediction: UGA.

AJC has an update on the Greg Reid recruiting saga.

Georgia can close the deal if it can make a positive impression on Reid during his visit:

“It’s a big factor, let me tell you,” Reid said. “Georgia is coming to do an in-home visit on Thursday [in Valdosta]. Then on Friday, I’ll go to Athens for my visit. I’ll be at Georgia all day Saturday, and then at Georgia on Sunday morning … probably pulling out of there around noon. That’s a lot of Georgia over the next few days.”

I am hoping there is something to the fact that Reid gave UGA his final visit; like he wanted to measure everyone up before he visited his favorite. Wishful thinking?