ESPN recently listed the most-hyped recruits in recent memory for each of its preseason top-25 teams.
Georgia has had a ton of recruits come in with super high expectations, but nobody had more pressure to succeed in Athens than running back Isaiah Crowell, who ESPN chose as Georgia’s most-hyped recruit.
Crowell signed with Georgia as the No. 4 ranked player in the nation in the class of 2011. Out of Carver High School in Columbus, Georgia, we all still remember Crowell making his announcement that he’d be singing with the Dawgs.
Holding a Bulldog puppy and donning a UGA cap, Crowell got the DawgNation thrilled for what he was going to be able to do at Georgia.
National Signing Day's Greatest Moment Ever: 5-Star RB Isaiah Crowell picked UGA (2011), hoisted bulldog pic.twitter.com/yyOve0hF
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 1, 2012
I joined in on the hype-train as well. I mean how could you not? His high school highlight reel was absolutely sick, he had the speed and the size and was ranked ranked as the top running back by 247Sports and ESPN.
Despite being banged up his freshman season, Crowell still showed why he was ranked as high as he was. He rushed for 850 yards and five touchdowns and constantly showed flashes of greatness. He won SEC Freshman of the Year Award as well.
However, it all ended for Crowell at UGA when he was dismissed from the team in June of 2012.
The 19-year-old Crowell was arrested and charged with a felony count of possessing a weapon in a school zone, a felony count of altered identification mark, and misdemeanor count of possession/carrying a concealed weapon, according to the Athens-Clarke County Jail Booking report.
Crowell then transferred to Alabama State. He was named First Team All- SWAC twice.