At last night’s Under Armour All-America Game, Xzavier Dickson announced that Athens was his second choice, committing to the Alabama Crimson Tide over the Georgia Bulldogs. Insult was added to injury when, as expected, Quan Bray snubbed the ‘Dawgs in favor of the Auburn Tigers. There are indications that Isaiah Crowell may declare Georgia the runner-up in the battle to secure his services, as well.
After a disappointing haul last February, the Bulldogs need to bring in a stellar bunch of signees this year. While Georgia is putting together a very solid class, the Red and Black are losing ground relative to their rivals. Recruiting rankings are subjective, and high ratings in February do not guarantee championships in the fall, but no team can compete without high-caliber athletes, and nowhere is that more true than in the Southeastern Conference.
I fear that last night offered an early indicator of the answers to donkeydawg’s questions. I don’t want to go to the extreme of suggesting that the future of the program hinges on the decisions of a couple of kids who have yet to declare for whom they intend to sign on the dotted line, but, at this stage of the game, every little bit hurts. If a third straight disappointing season is followed by a second straight disappointing recruiting class, the downward trajectory may have entered a tailspin out of which the current coaching staff cannot pull us.
