Quintavious Harrow: "If you do not know me by now, you better soon.."

That's some strongly worded rhetoric coming from a guy whom no one even realized Georgia was recruiting. However, Harrow is confident that he will bring every bit the talent and excitement to Georgia as his good friend, Isaiah Crowell.

Harrow's name first began to gain notoriety when, in late January, he was extended an offer. Many assumed that this was an attempt by coach Richt to further persuade Crowell to sign with the Bulldogs—Harrow and Crowell were stated to be very close friends. In truth, however, Georgia was simply keeping their promise to Harrow that if he qualified, they would offer. Here is what Harrow had to say about how it all came to pass, "...they told me they were just waiting on my ACT score. They have seen me play before, but they just needed to wait on that test. When it finally came, they said they would pull the trigger..."(Kipp Adams, Rivals.com).

Take that explanation for what it's worth, but Harrow's play speaks for itself and he should be a nice addition to the team—especially from a speed standpoint. Harrow runs a 4.4 40 and is expected to move from linebacker to defensive back at Georgia. That will definitely give coach Lakatos some needed flexibility to work with this coming season, especially since no one can be certain what will happen with Branden Smith.

Hopefully, we get a chance to see what Harrow can do very soon. Until then, here's some video (note: this same clip was posted on another article written about Harrow in January).

Georgia Bulldogs: Weeding Out The Bad Apples and Cultivating The Seeds

Photo Credit: WES BLANKENSHIP

Make no mistake about it, changes are being made at Georgia. The installation of the new S&C program has brought out the bad, and the good and, for some players, that means a stern reality check has made it's way into their hands—much to their dismay.

Washaun Ealey has been indefinitely suspended after failing to show up for a punishment run and this latest transgression could turn out to be the denouement on a career marred by missteps.

While nothing has been said, publicly, about Ealey leaving Georgia to seek opportunities elsewhere, the writing is on the wall this time and the indefinite suspension doesn't appear to bode well for the young man's future prospects with the team—particularly with Isaiah Crowell on board.

If Ealey decides to transfer (which is merely speculation at this point), Caleb King, Ken Malcome, and Carlton Thomas would be left to split carries along with Isaiah Crowell—assuming Crowell come in ready to play—unless, of course, King runs into more eligibility issues.

Recall that King  was forced to miss time on, at least, two occasions last season due to academics so there is zero guarantee that he will be ready to get on the field by this spring.

If King is also out of the equation, Carlton Thomas will be the lone returning tailback with game experience.  Ken Malcome (who didn't play a down last season) and the incoming Crowell would round out thee depth chart. Scared yet? Well, don't be, the situation could be massively inconvenient, but don't know that it qualifies as dire—especially if the changes in the S&C program lends to less injuries on the field.

The vast majority of SEC teams last season weren't more than two-deep at tailback, and while that isn't ideal, it happens, and many teams have been able to succeed using a two-back rotation.

What should be of greater interest to fans is Georgia's burgeoning commitment to changing the culture of the program. For the first time, in a long while, it actually looks like Richt is trying to get a handle on this team. The good and bad apples are being separated from the bunch and that's great news!

The following tweet, made by a former athlete (non-football) at Georgia, caught my eye last night:

People complained of the players being soft and out of shape, this is Tereshinski's response to that criticism and the players, apparently, aren't happy about it.

Again, a hard-nosed approach was needed if Georgia's team was going to show any improvement and, if nothing else, this approach is helping to weed out the guys who want to work from the ones who don't and, in my humble opinion, it's about time.

Georgia Bulldogs: What Does Isaiah Crowell Need To Be Successful?

Photo Credit: JASON GETZ/AJC

Isaiah Crowell's announcement did more than relieve months of tension and worry among the Bulldog faithful, it gave them a reason to believe that the running game would again have the star it so desperately needs in the backfield—the perfect compliment to Aaron Murray.

Well, it was only six-months ago that fans were satisfied that the Washaun Ealey/Caleb King combo was everything Georgia needed to "run this state" too, and that didn't exactly work out as planned now did it?

Now, before you start thinking this article is meant to rain on the "dream team" parade, please step away from the keyboard and think about this for a moment: As unimpressive, underwhelming, and downright disappointing as Ealey and King both proved to be last season, there can be no doubt that they have talent and have, at some point, been serviceable during their careers at Georgia.

After all, in 2010, many predicted the duo could be one of the best 1-2 combos in the SEC.

Was that a mistake? Did the two generate too much hype for their own good last year, or was something bigger at hand in their collective freefalls from grace?

The only reason this question is worth asking today is because as studly as Isaiah Crowell may turn out to be, no one wishes to see him fall flat, under the weight of enormous expectations, simply because Georgia hasn't done all it can to prepare the way for him.

Before Crowell can be envisioned "running that rock" in any part of Georgia's offense, a few points need to be considered. Points that could have a major impact on his productivity from day one.

For one, A.J. Green's departure means the run game will get a lot more attention.

Without, at least presently, a player of Green's caliber to stretch the field and give defensive coordinator's fits, Bobo will need to do a much better job game planning each week because "throw it to A.J." is no longer an option.

Furthermore, once Richt decides who will be coordinating the run game, Bobo needs to improve the way he uses each running backs particular skills. Last season he, far too often in my opinion, placed them in situations where they were not going to succeed—let's be honest, it's never a good idea to send 5'8", sub-190 lb running back, Carlton Thomas up the gut on a third down.

Lastly, the new offensive line coach—whoever he turns out to be—will have his work cut out for him. The offensive line has talent, but years of poor conditioning cannot be undone in a handful of months, expect some growing pains as each player is reassessed and re-evaluated to see how he can best be used during both pass and run plays.

Can Georgia return to prominence in the running game? Absolutely, but it's going to take some time. The issues which contributed to the overall decline of the run game will have to be addressed quickly—before Crowell can shine—then, hopefully, we'll see him become the player we all hope he can.

Georgia Bulldogs: Mark Richt Shares His Thoughts On Signing Day (VIDEO)

Georgia closed out strong on February 2 and the Bulldogs will enter the 2011 season with significantly higher hopes—particularly on defense—for a better outcome than the one they had in 2010.

Coach Richt expects to see Isaiah Crowell come in and compete for playing time early and, hopefully, we'll see him "running that rock against Boise State" in the season opener at the Georgia Dome.

ESPN rated Georgia's class No. 6 in the nation behind Florida State, Auburn, Alabama, USC, and Texas—in that order.

Mark Richt Has "Dream Team" Class. Watch more top selected videos about: NCF, ESPN

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Isaiah Crowell's Signing Day Moment Was One For The Dawgs (VIDEO)

The little pup at the end was a nice move by Crowell. Let's hope he's got more tricks up his sleeve once he gets on the football field next season.



Not to be completely outdone, his Carver-Columbus teammate, Gabe Wright, caused a stir as well when he revealed Auburn as his school of choice by putting on a hat that said "Nick Who?"...he clarified that he meant Fairley, not Saban—nice save there, Gabe.

Georgia Bulldogs: Live Coverage of National Signing Day 2011

Georgia Bulldogs: Who Will Step In At Fullback In 2011?

In the excitement for what should be a tremendous signing day for the Georgia Bulldogs, there seems to be one question that has yet to be answered—who will take over the starting position at fullback?

Both Shaun Chapas and Fred Munzenmaier are gone, leaving a huge void at a position that has historically been very important at Georgia—particularly where the running game is concerned. Is there a guy who has the ability to block, run, catch, and bulldoze his way into the endzone from inside the five—as needed?

The natural candidate, of course, has to be Bruce Figgins.

Georgia has an embarrassment of riches at the tight end position and with Jay Rome entering a depth chart that already includes Orson Charles, Aron White, and Arthur Lynch, Figgins will need to move to another spot if he expects to see the field at all this season.

If he does, he's definitely has the most potential of the guys currently on Georgia's roster. He's spent a lot of time in this offense, and has always been a stellar blocker. His pass-catching skills won't leave you in awe, but he's definitely capable of making a play or two if needed.

He would be choice number one, in my opinion, and I expect to see him making a go of it this spring. 

Aside from him, there is Alexander 'Zander' Ogletree, a 2010 special teams stand-out. He played the position in high school and has a frame similar to that of former fullback Jeremy Thomas. However, it remains to be seen if he has the ability to do more than just be a lead blocker. Can he catch the ball, is he capable of running with it in a short-yardage situation? Can he run routes, if needed, and make a play 8-10 yards downfield?

These are all questions that need to be explored in his case because none of us have seen him outside of special teams.

It will be interesting to see what Georgia does at fullback in 2011 because it cannot be overstated enjust how important that spot has been during coach Richt's tenure. He's been blessed to find talents like Verron Haynes (walk-on), J.T. Wall (walk-on), Brannan Southerland, and Shaun Chapas over the years, but this season there is no one waiting in the wings to become "that guy" and that has to be cause for some concern.

What say you?

Georgia Bulldogs: Will The "Dream Team" Be Complete Without Isaiah Crowell?

National Signing Day is less than a week away and the Georgia Bulldogs are hoping to close out strong. So far, Mark Richt's staff has done a phenomenal job of locking down some of the best the state has to offer, and there seems to be little doubt that this class will be one of his best yet—assuming they can nab a few more of the big names still left on the board.

Ray Drew, the highly-touted defensive end out of Thomasville, Ga., continues to make the most of his experience as one of the nation's best. He's used the power of social media to keep his allegiances a secret and, by this point in the game, it's anyone's guess what school will land him.

He is set to end the suspense tomorrow morning, and there isn't a publication or person anywhere who should be willing to bet the house on what he will say. As of now, the popular opinion is he will be a Bulldog—despite his penchant for speaking negatively about the program—and if Georgia does turn out to be his destination of choice, many hope to see John Jenkins follow.

Jenkins is a major JUCO prospect out of Connecticut and he is expected to step right into the role of nose at Georgia—should he decide to sign.

Still, though, you have to wonder if even those two would be enough to make this class the talk of the SEC? Will either of those guys signatures matter as much if Isaiah Crowell decides to head to Auburn or Alabama?

The bottom line is this: Georgia has put all of their running back eggs into Crowell's basket. They aren't looking at any other players and aren't actively pursuing any other players. It's Crowell or nothing and it's no secret that if he's all that we've been led to believe he is, then he's the guy that stands to make the biggest offensive impact in 2011.

Caleb King and Washaun Ealey have not lived up to their expectations. They have been a disappointment in both behavior and performance, and many are ready to see something better at the running back position come next season.

In the eyes of many, Isaiah Crowell is the player that Georgia needs to return this offense to the type of efficiency it saw in the early days of Richt's tenure. He is felt, by some, to be the "Marcus Lattimore" of the 2011 class—the spark that Georgia needs to make a championship run of their own.

However, his decision is currently unknown as well.

While all signs seem to point to Georgia being his school of choice, his father made some rather interesting comments about what's most important to him (as a parent), "I’m just looking at him finishing his education and going where they can keep him in line and where there’s a good mentor for him. Where and when he’ll play on the field, I’m not really paying attention to all that."

Crowell expressed a similar sentiment last October when he discussed the arrests and issues that Georgia was having with discipline, said Crowell then, "...there’s just a lot of things going wrong. I do want to play right away but I also want to be where it’s disciplined and they win championships."

It sounds like Isaiah and his father are on similar pages. 

While the culture at Georgia appears to be changing, it's unclear if the moves that have been made will be enough to persuade Crowell to sign with the team on February 2. It's a tough call to make given the success of both Alabama and Auburn (two schools who also remain in the running for Crowell.

That said, if Georgia ends up missing on Crowell, will this Georgia class still be a "Dream" or will it fall just shy of expectations?

What say you?

Georgia Bulldogs: What Would Searles' Departure Mean For Recruiting?

It is being reported tonight, by multiple news outlets, that Georgia offensive line coach, Stacey Searles has accepted the same position on Mack Brown's coaching staff at the University of Texas.

Searles has been the target of much finger-pointing over his last two seasons at Georgia due to the disappointment of his offensive line units. To be fair, however,  it is uncertain how much of their problems were due to conditioning as opposed to coaching.

Either way, he appears to be on his way to Austin to begin anew and, less than two weeks until signing day, Georgia is labored with the task of starting a new coaching search. While possible replacements have only been mildly kicked about—Hugh Nall, Mac McWhorter, and former Vanderbilt head coach, Robbie Caldwell, have all been mentioned—the real concern is what will become of Georgia's 2011 offensive line prospects?

Well, the biggest fish of the group, Watts Dantzler, has already spoken via his Twitter account and he looks to be solid:

Dantzler was close to coach Searles, and his commitment became a concern the moment news of a possible departure hit the airwaves.

Dantzler was highly recruited by a number of schools, but his decision ultimately came down to two—Auburn and Georgia. Georgia won out and any chance the Tigers might have had to swoop back into the picture was seemingly killed long ago.

Reportedly, Dantzler is "done with Auburn" after the way he was treated during the football game against Georgia. Said Dantzler, "I left with about 10 minutes left in the game...I got treated very poorly while I was there. A lot of the fans were getting on me, saying they didn’t want me there. I even wore blue and everything. It wasn’t a very good day for me over there."

For now, it appears safe to say that Dantzler will remain a Bulldog.

Dean Legge of Scout.com reportedly has the same feelings about both Hunter Long and David Andrews.  He doesn't get the feeling that either is a threat to be lost by Georgia if Searles is indeed gone—particularly not Hunter whose brother is already enrolled at Georgia.

As for DeBell, there is no word on him as of yet, but there is little reason to believe he won't remain committed to Georgia. Just as a side note, Debell is projecting out as a tight end or fullback at the next level and it's possible that Georgia has other plans for him—just putting that out there.

In the meantime, it doesn't appear that a Searles' departure would spell doom for the 2011 class.

Georgia Bulldogs: Is There A Player Who Can Fill Justin Houston's Shoes?

Photo Credit: KELLY LAMBERT

Justin Houston finally made the decision most felt he would—he's going to the NFL.

Houston supplied the spark many thought he would—playing in Todd Grantham's 3-4 defense—and he took advantage of the freedoms that scheme offered him by wreaking havoc in the SEC's backfields. His quickness, tenacity, and game-changing ability will be missed—sorely. Who will, or can, step into those roles and take on the mantles of being both a leader and a playmaker in this defense?

Christian Robinson and Cornelius Washington are the two most experienced players returning in 2011, but are either one of them prepared to shoulder that much responsibility?

Washington showed promise early, and was impressive through the first few games, but again failed to blossom into the player most still feel he can.

He, like Houston, made the switch from defensive end to linebacker in 2010. And, while Houston took to his new position almost instantly, Washington had problems. He struggled with assigments—particularly in pass coverage—and tailed off as the season progressed. 

Now, with a year under his belt, can he finally put it all together?

As for Robinson, no one can doubt his great attitude and above-average work-ethic. However, it's tough to say whether or not he's got the goods to become the kind of player opposing teams scheme for or make adjustments around.

He's a good player, but he's not going to blow your doors off on a weekly basis.

The wildcard here is, obviously, Jarvis Jones. Was he able to maximize his one year as a spectator enough that he will be able to step into the role of starter? It seems to be asking a lot of him—considering he hasn't played one SEC down—and there has yet to be any indication that Georgia will fare any better at the nose position.  A point that should not be forgotten.

Houston made plays despite deficiencies at that position, is there any reason to believe—at least right now—that there is a guy on this roster who would be able to do the same in 2011?

So, for right now, Georgia is left with one giant hole in their front-seven, and a whole lot more questions on how, and if, it can be filled.

What say you? Is there a guy on this roster, today, who can become anything close to what Justin Houston was over the last two years?

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