The UGA Dream Team can happen if...

...we sign the following guys (in order from least important to most important). Note: We can "check" number 5 off the list. CB Damian Swann gave his verbal to UGA over the weekend. Click here for the rest of my UGA recruiting piece over at ChuckOliver.net.

7. OL Xvazier Ward - #31 GA – 3 star – Moultrie, GA (6’7″/260): As you can see from the needs list above, this is not uber important, but Ward is a solid recruit who dwells in South Georgia (aka, Florida State, Florida, and Auburn country). He lives near other big-time recruits like Ray Drew, Jay Rome, Malcolm Mitchell and Shannon Brown (Alabama commit). So, targeting and getting him would be most important in the overall scheme of recruiting battles involving in-state players. Apparently, Georgia is on his Top 5 list along with Alabama, Auburn, Florida and Clemson. I believe he has visited Florida and either Auburn, Alabama or both. Not sure whether he is going to make an official visit to Georgia, but apparently he will only be able to visit 4 of his Top 5 before signing day. He is seen as a guy who, after some weight gain and a year or two, could be a major college player with this frame and feet.

6. DB/WR Malcolm Mitchell - #7 GA – 4 star – Valdosta, GA (6’1″/185): Sure, we now have 5 DBs in this year’s recruiting class. But this guy is an athlete that can be a WR, KR, PR and is also flexible about which position he can play in the secondary. Unfortunately, it appears Swann and Marshall are the same type of athletes and the same promises about playing multiple positions may have been made to them. But Mitchell is truly an athlete than can contribute anywhere and everywhere. Despite the fact that he is being recruited primarily as a DB, he caught a deep pass as a WR for a touchdown last week in the UA All-American Game. Apparently, he is hot for Georgia and Alabama, and has already taken visits to both schools. Per a report from AJC’s Chip Towers, Mitchell has said that Alabama looks to play him at corner, while Georgia has told him they will use him on offense and defense. Again, this recruit would obviously be an impact player for Georgia, but the battle with Alabama for an in-state, elite player may be just as important. But, we may have lost him we we secured Swann (below).

5. CB Damian Swann - #4 GA – 4 star – Atlanta, GA (6’0″/175): Swann is considered a sure-thing cornerback prospect with high-end speed and athleticism. He committed to Mark Richt in December, but made it public at the Army All-American game this past week. Because he is the highest rated corner prospect in the state (and #6 in the country), and the secondary was one of Georgia’s biggest weaknesses last year, he is a big “get” and another battle won in the war for in-state recruits. This also helps soften the blow from last weeks two recruiting losses for Georgia. Maybe others will follow his lead. However, I have a feeling this may hurt us with Malcolm Mitchell. He is a very similar type of talent. They are essentially the same size and have been told the same exact things by the UGA staff: "We'd like to play you on defense primarily, then we'd like you to possibly return kicks and punts, and we also have an offensive package in mind for you." With Branden Smith already getting the same treatment, and many fans speculating the same overtures were likely made to Nick Marshall, in addition to Mitchell, it appears UGA is sort-of over-hedging itself. We also have 5 DBs in this recruiting class now. So, this is good news, but it may have hurt us in regard to securing Mitchell.

4. TE Jay Rome - #2 GA – 5 star – Valdosta, GA (6’6″/240): He is the #2 player in the state of Georgia, the highest rated tight end in the country, and a rare five star athlete at the TE position, so why only #4? Well, Georgia currently has four tight ends on the roster – Aron White (Sr. next season), Bruce Figgins (Sr.), Orson Charles (Jr.) and Arthur Lynch (RS-So.). So, he may not be an impact player right away. However, two of those TEs will be seniors in 2011 and Orson Charles will be the consensus top tight end in the SEC next season, and possibly one of the best in the nation. Therefore, there looms the possibility he may leave early for the NFL after next season. Thus, we could lose three tight ends prior to 2012. Moreover, Arthur Lynch is more of a blocking tight end, as opposed to a pass catching tight end. Therefore, a talent like Rome could be used fairly early in his career. Not only that, but he’s the second best prospect in the state, and it would say a lot to – again – defeat the out-of-state schools for our own top-end talent. He’s looking at Clemson and Alabama, but those around him expect him to declare for Georgia in a matter of days. AJC’s Chip Towers reports that the other recruits declare him the de-facto captain of the “Dream Team.”

3. DE Ray Drew - #3 GA – 5 star – Thomasville, GA (6’5″/250): This kid is highly sought after by teams that deploy the 3-4 scheme because he may be the best 3-4 outside linebacker prospect in the country and the one most ready to contribute right now. With the possibility that Georgia may lose Justin Houston to the NFL draft, signing this prospect is considered a “must” for UGA. The analysts have had a tough time reading Drew throughout the recruiting process, though there was wide reports of a Facebook exchange between he and Christian LeMay in which Drew took the position that he would be on the other side of the ball pursuing LeMay. Though some have dismissed these reports as intentional misdirection, no one truly has a feel for where he is leaning. Most people seem to think it is Georgia and Auburn right now. However, Clemson, LSU and others may be in the mix as well. He has visited Auburn, Georgia and LSU, and has scheduled a visit to Clemson. This would be a huge “get” for the “Dream Team.” And for it to truly be a team worth dreaming about, he’d have to probably be on it.

2. DT John Jenkins - JUCO – 4 star – Meriden, CT (6’4″/340): I know, this is not an in-state recruit, which is what the “Dream Team” is all about. But hear me out. This is the biggest recruit we are following, in my opinion, outside of the #1 prospect listed below. Not only that, but he will probably start right away and could very well be the foundation of our defense next season. He is that good and our defense needs him that badly. At 6’4″/340, he is the perfect nose tackle for the 3-4 defense. So, no signing of a group of players will be very satisfying if this out-of-state, JUCO recruit is not included. Besides him, there are not many options for immediate playing time and impact at the DT position in the recruiting class of 2011. He is listed as a soft verbal to Oklahoma State, but has been looking around and people report on his recruitment as if he is wide open. He visited Oklahoma State in October, but also has visits to Georgia and Mississippi scheduled in January. He is also interested in Auburn. Rumors are that Georgia is putting the full-court press on this recruit. Rodney Garner apparently visited he and his mother (who apparently holds to key to his recruitment) before Christmas. I heard that Mark Richt and Todd Grantham are in mama’s living room as I type this. This will be an interesting recruitment.

1. RB Isaiah Crowell - #1 GA – 5 star – Columbus, GA (5’11/210): This guy is the one. He holds the keys to the “Dream Team.” It will not truly be a “Dream Team” if he is not on it. He is a prototypical, workhorse running back with great size and speed. He could be a difference-maker early on like Trent Richardson, Marcus Lattimore, Michael Dyer, and Knowshon Moreno. Georgia’s two starting running backs, Caleb King and Washaun Ealey, have struggled with discipline issues, injuries, fumbling problems, and all-around disappointing production. They are both in the dog house at UGA, and – as a result – the coaches could hand the starting job to Crowell if he comes in and impresses. Regardless, he will probably be the starter by the end of the 2011 season. He has to know this, and it is probably playing a part in his decision. Another good thing about Crowell is that he appears to be a laid-back and quiet “good guy,” more Ricky Williams than Washaun Ealey. He impressed at the UA All-Star Game, though he wants to wait and announce a decision on signing day. Right now, like so many other guys, he has pretty much eliminated his suitors to Georgia and Alabama. He has scheduled visits to Alabama, Georgia and Auburn in January. However, Auburn has several young guys at RB (Dyer, McCaleb, and now Quan Bray), and so does Alabama (Trent Richardson, recent commit Dee Hart, and another interested recruit – Barry Sanders Jr.). So, if Crowell is looking for playing time, Georgia may be the place for him… especially as there are no other running backs that Georgia is recruiting. This is the guy that Georgia needs, not only for purposes of winning on the field in 2011, but also for the perception of winning recruiting battles with behemoths like Alabama. This one is big.

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NOTE: We also picked up another recruit over the weekend. We got ILB Ramik Wilson from down in Florida, who is a 3 star prospect that chose Georgia over Florida, USC, Purdue and Rutgers. He is the #16 ILB in the country and the #58 overall player in the state of Florida. Solid pick-up for the Dawgs. Second ILB/MLB pick-up of the class.