Tag: uga wire

Analytics compare Georgia baseball’s Charlie Condon to Barry Bonds

Charlie Condon in the same breath as Barry Bonds? Wes Johnson says so…

Charlie Condon is in the midst of one of the greatest seasons not only in Georgia baseball history, but also the history of college baseball as a whole.

Condon added to his NCAA record of home runs in a single season during Friday’s Athens Regional matchup against Army, crushing his 36th moonshot of the season. He also holds the UGA career records for both a single season and career (61).

As the Bulldogs continue to battle Army on Friday, SEC Network released a video piece surrounding Condon’s rise to stardom. UGA head coach Wes Johnson makes an appearance, and he goes on to tell an intriguing story about his conversation with a person regarding Condon’s analytics.

“We use analytical models,” Johnson said. “And the guy who started these models called me one day and said, ‘Hey, are we getting this data right?Like the only other guy we’ve had a model for was Barry Bonds. Like that’s the only other guy we’ve seen that’s comparable to him’.”

Barry Bonds is arguably the greatest hitter the sport of baseball has every witnessed. He holds the single-season home run record (73) and is first on the all-time MLB home runs list with 762. He also leads in position-WAR with 162.8, and his career slugging percentage of .606 ranks first among post-integration players.

Condon’s comparison to Bonds’ analytics only adds to his superstar mantra. Remind you, Condon came to Georgia as a preferred walk-on with no scholarship offers to his name. Whether the Bulldogs go on to beat Army and ultimately make Omaha or not, Condon is a sure-fire top MLB draft pick in 2024.

Georgia’s RB room ranks top 3 despite losing both leading rushers

Why Georgia’s RB room ranks among the best in the nation despite losing Kendall Milton, Daijun Edwards…

Georgia’s history of keeping its backfield loaded with talent on a yearly basis is expected to continue in 2024, despite losing its two leading rushers from 2023 in Kendall Milton and Daijun Edwards.

Pro Football Focus’ Max Chadwick recently ranked UGA’s running back room as the third-best in all of college football, coming in behind Ohio State and UCF.

“Georgia may have lost its two leading rushers from last year in Daijun Edwards and Kendall Milton, but the Bulldogs still have a top-three room in the nation.

They made a major splash in the transfer portal by bringing in Trevor Etienne from its rival, Florida. The younger brother of Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. tied for fourth among SEC halfbacks in 2023 with a 27% forced missed tackle rate.

Branson Robinson missed all of 2023 with a ruptured patellar tendon but impressed as a true freshman in 2022 with a 78.1 grade on 118 snaps. He was the No. 2 running back recruit in the 2022 class, so expectations will be high for him in his third season. Roderick Robinson II was a top-10 running back recruit in the 2023 cycle and should contribute more as a sophomore.

Finally, the Bulldogs added three four-star running backs from the class of 2024 in Nathaniel Frazier, Dwight Phillips and Chauncey Bowens. Frazier has the most hype of the three as he was the No. 2 running back recruit and a top-50 player overall.”

Etienne immediately became the Bulldogs’ most experienced rusher when he joined the team this spring. Roderick Robinson II has just 24 attempts under his belt, while Branson Robinson still has to prove his surgically repaired knee is healthy enough to see game action. Robinson did flash as a true freshman in 2022, racking up 330 yards and three touchdowns on 68 carries.

After Andrew Paul elected to transfer to Jackson State this spring, the two Robinsons are the best options for immediate impact behind Etienne, who looked electric in Georgia’s G-Day spring scrimmage game. He racked up nearly 1,500 rushing yards with 14 touchdowns in two years with the Gators.

UGA’s offense is certainly headlined by Carson Beck and the passing game, but don’t look over this backfield in Athens. Georgia won’t play for a national championship without a solid run game to compliment the air attack.

Georgia adds 3-star CB Maurice Hayes to 2024 class

Georgia football gains commitment from speedy 2024 CB Maurice Hayes…

Georgia pulled in a late addition to its No. 1 ranked class of 2024 on Thursday, gaining a commitment from three-star cornerback Maurice Hayes.

The Perry High School (Georgia) product signed with Bowling Green on Early National Signing Day, but he’s seemingly chosen to walk-on at Georgia instead.

Hayes isn’t a heralded recruit, but it’s easy to see why the Bulldogs had a spot for him. We’ll start with his speed, which is always a priority for Kirby Smart’s defense.

Hayes posted a 10.87 100-meter dash for Perry’s track and field team as a junior. He’s also been clocked at 4.46 in the forty-yard dash.

Standing 6-foot-2, 170-pounds, Hayes also possesses great length for a cornerback. Another measurable that Smart and company prioritize in the secondary.

While Hayes certainly has work to do to earn snaps in a extremely talented cornerback group at Georgia, we’ve learned not to count walk-ons out in Athens. Stetson Bennett will always serve as a glowing reminder of that fact.

Georgia is latest SEC school to offer 2027 DL out of Sweden

Class of 2027 DL Valdin Sone adds UGA offer…

Class of 2027 prospects Valdin Sone is intriguing for more than one reason. Yes, he hails from Sweden, but he’s also on a hot streak in terms of SEC scholarship offers.

The 6-foot-5, 285-pound defensive lineman earned an offer from Georgia on Thursday after participating in a star-studded camp in Athens. That marks the fifth offer from the conference this spring and his seventh overall, including UGA, LSU, Florida, South Carolina, Auburn, Texas A&M and also Miami out of the ACC.

Valdin doesn’t have an official ranking by recruiting services just yet, but he doesn’t need stars by his name to gain the attention of some of the top programs in the sport.

It’s just the beginning for Valdin, who will also attend camps this summer at Alabama, Kennesaw State, Mercer, Middle Tennessee, LSU, Florida and West Georgia.

The Bulldogs have had some recent success in signing players outside of the United States. Starting punter Brett Thorson joined the Bulldogs in 2022 out of Australia.

4-star athlete includes Georgia among final schools, locks in official visit

4-star athlete Jaylan Morgan schedules official visit to Athens after including UGA in final six…

Class of 2025 safety Jaylan Morgan included Georgia among his final-six schools on Thursday afternoon. He also scheduled an official visit to Athens for June 21.

Morgan (6-foot, 180 pounds) is a four-star recruit that is considered a cornerback by Rivals and a safety by 247Sports, who rates the Rockvale High School (Tenn.) star as the No. 23 safety and the No. 6 player in the state of Tennessee.

Morgan is expected to ultimately play for the in-state Vols, but he left UT out of his final-six schools, featuring Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Purdue.

Additionally, Morgan has summer visits scheduled to Florida (May 31), Ole Miss (June 7) and Mississippi State (June 14).

The Bulldogs offered Morgan on April 18 following the end of spring practice. He then visited Athens on the weekend of May 18.

While we don’t know for sure, it seems like Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs made a considerable impression during Morgan’s visit this month, enough to garner a spot among his final schools and an official visit.

Georgia considered Tier 1 program in EA Sports CFB 25

What does Georgia’s Tier 1 ranking in EA Sports CFB 25 mean?

The anticipation surrounding EA Sports’ new college football video game is easily noticeable. Fans have been clamoring for new version for nearly the last 10 years, and that will become a reality when the game hits the shelves on July 19.

While most are consumed with how the game will play and feel, the payout for the programs that have opted-in has gone largely unnoticed. EA Sports broke teams into four tiers, based on AP standings from 2014-23, with the first being the most profitable.

Georgia is one of the 13 teams in Tier 1, joined by Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, LSU, Michigan, Oregon, Oklahoma State, Penn State, Utah, and Iowa. Payouts for being tabbed as a Tier 1 team come in at $99,875.16.

The second tier pays $39,950.06, while Tier 4’s minimum is set at $9,987.52. Most of the SEC’s 16 teams made it into the first two tiers. South Carolina and Arkansas are considered Tier 3, and Vanderbilt is the only conference program in the last tier.

‘I don’t cry over it’, Kirby Smart reflects on Georgia’s CFP snub

Kirby Smart sounds off on UGA’s CFP snub…

The SEC’s spring meetings are underway in Destin, Florida, this week. While most of the conversation has been focused on the recently expanded league, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart was asked about the Bulldogs’ unprecedented ending to the 2023 season.

Before the College Football Playoff committee released their final rankings, no No. 1 team had ever fallen out of the top four in the last week of the season. That is until Georgia became that example after suffering a 3-point loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game.

Smart shared a no-nonsense response to if he was surprised when the Dawgs were left out and if he considered UGA as one of the best four teams.

“No, not surprised at all. We had our opportunity on the field and that is what you can ask for. I don’t cry over it. I think we had a good football team.”

“I don’t know. Not for me to decide. Didn’t get to play the others.”

The committee selected Michigan, Washington, Texas and aforementioned Alabama as the four playoff teams. The Wolverines went on to defeat Washington in the national championship, while the Dawgs pulverized Florida State in the Orange Bowl.

Despite Georgia’s trek for a third consecutive national championship ending early, Smart said the Bulldogs valued their matchup versus FSU in South Florida. Something that was clearly different on the other side.

“We got to practice 15 more times I think it was. Got to play some guys. We got to play our backup quarterback. We got the chance to finish off on a win. We had a group of seniors, or juniors in some cases that got drafted that walked off that field for the last time with the winningest record in the history of Georgia football and they felt pretty good about themselves. I really appreciate the way they finished and they set a standard for our younger players that this is the culture here. We go out and we practice really hard and we go play our games until the games are over.”

Georgia is a safe bet to make the expanded playoff in 2024. 16 starters return from the squad that went 13-1 last season, headlined by star quarterback Carson Beck and two-time All-American safety Malaki Starks.

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This year’s path is bound to be different, though. While the Bulldogs won’t have to be perfect to get in, winning the SEC Championship will pay off with a first-round bye. That would mean taking care of business against two marquee opponents who are coming off playoff appearances in Alabama (Sept. 28) and Texas (Oct. 19). The conference’s new division-less format means the top two teams in terms of SEC standings will compete in Atlanta for the conference crown.

Watch Carson Beck’s arm talent on display in workout with Georgia teammates

Georgia football QB Carson Beck flashes arm talent in workout session with UGA pass catchers…

While we may be in a quiet period of college football, Georgia Bulldogs are still hard at work ahead of the 2024 season.

We’re officially under 100 days until the Bulldogs kick things off in Atlanta versus a talented Clemson team. It will not only be an early test, but also a barometer of improvements made by star quarterback Carson Beck this offseason.

It’s hard to point out flaws in Beck’s game. He led the SEC in passing as a first-year starter, helping UGA to a 13-1 record and narrow College Football Playoff miss. Even though Beck didn’t play his best game against Alabama, the Dawgs were still just a handful of plays away from an SEC Championship and playoff appearance.

So what does Beck need to do to surpass the production he had as a junior?

Chemistry is my answer. He has the arm talent, mobility and knows the offense like the back of his hand. What the Bulldogs need is chemistry built with a largely new-look receiver room that will miss Ladd McConkey and Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint. Oh, and superstar tight end Brock Bowers.

It seems like Beck is putting in extra work in building that understanding with his pass catchers. He is seen in the video below throwing to UGA receivers Dillion Bell, Dominic Lovett and Colbie Young. Tight end Oscar Delp was also present.

Carson Beck is college football’s leading returning passer and projected as a top pick in 2025 NFL mock draft.

Massive 4-star DL includes Georgia among final schools

Class of 2025 DL Mariyon Dye has Georgia football among his final eight schools…

Georgia is in the running for class of 2025 four-star defensive lineman Mariyon Dye out of Elkhart High School (Indiana). The 6-foot-5, 255-pound edge defender has a massive 7-foot-1 wing span.

Dye is rated as the No. 16 edge, the No. 137 recruit in the country and the No. 3 player in Indiana, per 247Sports Composite. He earned a scholarship from the Bulldogs in October.

Dye is down to Georgia, LSU, Tennessee, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Florida State and Purdue. He currently has official visits scheduled to Purdue (May 31), UGA (June 7), OSU (June 14), FSU (June 18) and UT (June 21).

Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs are apt at signing elite talent along the defensive line. A large part of that success is due to the level of development that is provided in Athens. With Mykel Williams and Chaz Chambliss likely off to the NFL draft next spring, the door will be open for the next line of edge defenders to make their mark.

Georgia is off to a decent start in the class of 2025 and has several top recruiting targets committing over the next month.

‘I’m comfortable with my actions’, Billy Napier comments on lawsuit from Georgia’s Jaden Rashada

Bill Napier believes he’s in the clear despite lawsuit from Georgia football QB Jaden Rashada…

Florida head coach Billy Napier commented on the lawsuit filed by Georgia quarterback Jaden Rashada on Tuesday at the SEC’s spring meetings.

“I’m comfortable with my actions,” Napier said, according to On3’s Jesse Simonton. “‘I’m thankful for the university’s support and we’re going to keep it at that and let the process take it’s course.

Napier went on to state that he couldn’t comment specifically about the details of the ongoing lawsuit.

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart reportedly gave the Arizona State transfer “his blessing” to move forward with the suit that claims Rashada was lied to in an effort to get him to flip his commitment from Miami to Florida in 2023. Rashada reportedly signed a $13.8 million NIL deal and flipped to the Gators before backing out of his letter of intent after the first payment wasn’t fulfilled.

Napier is named in the suit, along with one of the top Gator boosters, Hugh Hathcock, and former staffer Marcus Castro-Walker.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey was also asked for his thoughts on the Jaden Rashada suit on Tuesday. He thinks there will be more of its kind down the road.

“I’m not a fan of lawsuits,” Sankey said. “That’s what I think. It’s not the only lawsuit involving a coach in the last year. It won’t be the last. We have a legal system and people have a right to pursue whatever they view as grievances.”