Image: Online Athens

Chris Low over at ESPN’s SEC blog predicts Caleb King will be a break-out performer in the SEC in 2009:

Georgia tailback Caleb King: One of the most intriguing position battles next season in the SEC will be the Georgia starting tailback job. The front-runner is King, although Richard Samuel will also be a big part of the rotation. But with Knowshon Moreno gone and after so much hype about his potential, this is the 5-foot-11, 212-pound King’s time to shine and he knows it. He rushed for just 247 yards on 61 carries last season, but Moreno was the centerpiece of the Georgia running game. Here’s betting that King seizes this opportunity during his junior season and showcases what kind of back he really is behind an offensive line that should be one of the strengths of the team in 2009.

This is the second time I’ve noticed this discussion come up in the last few days. First pondered by the awesome Bubba n’ Earl a few days ago.

If King is going to separate himself in the crowded backfield early 2009 is certainly the time to do it. As mentioned in the excerpt Richard Samuel will miss the spring with a wrist injury and leave the door wide open for King to solidify his grip on the starting spot.

I really thought King would wow us a little more last year after showing such promise early on but he disappeared completely after the botched blocking assignment in the Florida game.

I like his slippery style though but I hope that he can get a little better at moving the pile forward. His moves and vision seem excellent though he often he seems to go down at first contact.

There is no doubt though, the ball is in his court. What will it be?

The Georgia Diamond Dogs ventured out west and used their bats to mete out a little punishment on the Arizona Wildcats. They defeated Arizona 11-5 Friday night.

When it came to scoring runs, lots of Bulldogs joined the party.

Nine different players had at least one hit for Georgia (6-0) including Johnathan Taylor, Rich Poythress, Bryce Massanari and Lyle Allen with two apiece. Poythress drove in three runs and Fuller and Allen had two RBI each.

Coach Perno was thoroughly pleased with the team effort.

“It was a great effort tonight all around,” said head coach David Perno. “We threw a bunch of strikes and Trevor was really good. We got off to a great start, ran their starter out of the game and got to their bullpen. (Will) Harvil was tremendous for us and (Justin) Earls got a big out for us. We did a tremendous job and I’m very proud of our team tonight. We did a good job of answering everything they had.”

Game 2 of the 3 game series will begin tonight at 8 p.m. ET.

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.

Image:rivals.com

The Georgia Tennis Dogs continue to saw through the competition at the ITA National Indoors in Chicago. Georgia defeated Stanford 4-2 to advance to the finals vs. Virginia.

The Women’s Tennis team is matching the success of their male counterparts. They defeated second-ranked California to advance to the finals of the ITA Women’s National Team Indoors in Madison, Wisconsin. They’ll play undefeated and top-ranked Northwestern in the final.

The Tennessean provides a fresh look at the misadventures of young Lane Kiffin.

Rivals lists ten things it loves about College Football.

Take a look at this great video of the last moments of Georgia’s unlikely win over Florida on Saturday. It’s shot from seats very close to the floor and gives you a great feel for how jubilant the crowd was after the much needed victory.

The Road to Copacetic notices a lot of love being directed toward one Matthew Stafford from ESPN. Complete with all the Stafford video from it’s draft coverage.

Great recap and insight from the most recent LOST episode at The Stuff of Legend.

Rodney Garner explains why it may seem like Georgia is slow to offer in-state kids.

Oh, and this is a couple days old, but Josh Fields reached a deal with the Seattle Mariners. Some believe that Fields may get called up by the All-Star break.

Furman Bisher doesn’t know why in the heck Georgia has enlisted the help of a search firm. I mean, really! Why doesn’t Damon Evans just fly out to Norman and knock on Jeff Capel’s office door? Yeah, that’d go well. Furman is pretty out of touch with the modern goings on of these fancy pants athletic departments with their keyboard phones and all.

This is a pretty funny exchange between Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Re:Matthew Stafford in the context of comparing members of this year’s QB crop to Brett Favre.

Of course, McShay thinks Stafford has the gun but chooses other QBs when it comes to grit, play making ability, etc…

Kiper chooses Stafford for everything. EVERYTHING. Mel Kiper has hitched his wagon to Stafford’s star. Hey, I like and mostly agree with Kiper but this is getting into Beano Cook/Ron Powlus territory.

On the outside chance that Stafford just doesn’t pan out his love for Stafford will be an albatross around his neck. Seriously, the guy is risking a lot being such a cheerleader.

Check this video out though, it gets downright chippy when McShay mentions Reggie McNeal and Kiper practically LOLs.

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.

Chris Low publishes his early schedule snapshot for the Georgia Bulldogs and gives us some props for the non-conference opponents.

Low also has a piece about how Lane Kiffin isn’t backing down. Thanks Lane, keep it up!

Bernie has some advice on how to survive the malaise of the off-season.

Georgia Sports Blog takes a look at the people running Georgia’s search for a new basketball coach. It will make you feel good about our chances to get the right guy.

Sports Illustrated on Lane Kiffin’s rocky start in Rocky Top.

Tennessee enters the Mack Brown sweepstakes.

It won’t be too much longer before Orson Charles makes up his mind.

Ching talks with Jeff Owens about his new blog.

I recently came across this captivating essay by Joe Posnanski on Herschel Walker. It’s a must read for any Georgia fan and especially entertaining for someone like me who was 6 years old during Walker’s legendary freshman season.

I was aware of his greatness, even fortunate enough to attend a few games that year, but not aware of his mythical recruitment and the uniqueness of his once in a lifetime football prowess.

Posnanski’s essay covers everything from the origins of his legendary commitment to physical fitness…

“What do you like to do?” the father asked.

“Watch TV,” the boy said.

Not much of an answer, is it? But this was a wise father, and he said: “OK, if that’s what you like doing, fine. You can watch as much television as you want. But during the commercials, you must exercise. That’s the deal.”

The boy agreed. He would watch television. But during commercials, he would do pushups, sit-ups, chin-ups, he would go outside and run sprints. After a little while, he could feel his body changing. His arms bulked, his legs moved faster. He did more sit-ups, more pushups, more chin-ups. He would race his older sister, Christine, and she would beat him, and he would get mad, and he would do more sit-ups, more pushups, run more sprints.

… to his less than magical professional career:

The legend ends there. Herschel went pro. It was, looking back, a better pro career than most remember. He went to the USFL for some obscene amount of money (something like $16 million guaranteed), and he rushed for more than 5,000 yards in three years, and one of those seasons he ran for 2,411 yards. Nobody really knew what that meant though — being the USFL and all — and nobody knows now.

If you were around to absorb and appreciate the Herschel experience this might be a nice trip down memory lane, if you’re like me though, this is like reading the book when you’d only read the back cover.

Plenty of links to cure your case of the Mondays. Enjoy the weather this weekend?

David Hale has a talk with Reshad Jones
about his decision to stay at Georgia and his emerging leadership role in the ‘Dawg defensive backfield.

Rodney Garner breaks down the 2009 Georgia Bulldog recruiting class.

Georgia is reaching out to all parts of the country to sign top football talent. Signed the number one ranked players from Tennessee, Indiana and Massachusetts.

Bobby Knight is tired of Georgia not kissing his ass so now he has extended an offer to Alabama to allow them to kiss his ass.

Chip Towers calls out the programs that are signing way more recruits than the 25 scholarship limit allows.

Georgia Sports Blog makes us aware that there are more attractive basketball programs than Georgia that could also lose their coaches.

Meet Kiante Tripp, the drifter who has hopefully made his last stop at DE.

Remember Michael Lemon? He has been invited to walk-on at South Carolina by Steve Spurrier.

Speaking of South Carolina… DE Eric Norwood calls Georgia his biggest rival.

Will the Marlon Brown/A.J. Greene receiving duo be the best in UGA history? Buck Belue thinks so…

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.