ATHENS - One week from today ... it will be Wednesday again. There will be a new episode of "Modern Family." It will be the first day of February. Groundhog Day.
Oh, and it'll also be National Signing Day, otherwise known as Christmas for college football fans.
The UGA school plane has been flying around the East Coast over the past week, from south Florida to Baltimore, and circling the state of Georgia. (I keep wondering if there's drink service on the flight from Athens to Moultrie.) Most of the traveling has been to hold committed recruits, but a few undecideds remain on the big board.
Since we last updated this list, Georgia has actually lost one commitment - Chester Brown, the offensive lineman who was felled by an issue with his documentation. That leaves Georgia with 16 commitments. It can sign up to 27, but I continue to believe it won't sign close to that many.
Still, depth will be a concern, and Georgia doesn't want to sign too small of a class. So there are some new additions to the target list.
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Here is the current list of commitments, along with comments and projections on immediate playing time:
TB Keith Marshall (5-11, 195), Raleigh, N.C. ..... 5 stars (via 247sports.com)
Comment: Marshall has enrolled early at Georgia. Mark Richt will be free to discuss Marshall once he attends class, and I'll be interested to see what he says about him.
Projection for 2012: Marshall will contend to start, and at minimum will share carries with Isaiah Crowell and Richard Samuel.
OT John Theus (6-5, 305), Jacksonville, Fla. ..... 5 stars
Comment: The brother of Georgia freshman long snapper Nate Theus committed over the summer, and is one of the nation's top-ranked offensive linemen.
Projection: A serious candidate to start at left tackle. With Georgia losing both of its tackle starters, Theus has a great chance to start somewhere, with Kenarious Gates shifting from guard to one of the tackle spots.
K Marshall Morgan (6-3, 195), Fort Lauderdale, Fla. ..... 3 stars
Comment: Blair Walsh figures to be replaced by a fellow South Floridan.
Projection: It's not a certainty that Morgan will be the guy, but he'll get every chance.
DE-OLB Jordan Jenkins (6-3, 242), Hamilton, Ga. .... 4 stars
Comment: Jenkins is reminiscent of Ray Drew, in the sense of being a glue type of player that can be counted on to be a good locker room presence.
Projection: Jenkins is also like Drew in that he could play either end or outside linebacker, but probably will end up at OLB. Jenkins will play next year. How much depends on the future of Cornelius Washington, as well as how the incuments at OLB and end fare in the spring.
DT Jonathan Taylor (6-4, 317), Millen, Ga. ..... 4 stars
Comment: Also the nation's 55th-ranked overall player by Rivals.com. Jenkins County High School product committed in June. Gives the team another big, physical nose guard.
Projection: Despite presence of John Jenkins and Kwame Geathers, might be too good not to play some snaps as a reserve. Looked good in the Under Armour All-American game.
OL Mark Beard (6-5, 294), Coffeyville, KS CC ..... 3 stars
Beard is enrolled at Georgia, and will push in spring practice for playing time.
DL John Atkins (6-3, 305), Thomson, Ga. ..... 4 stars
Comment: Georgia has decided it can never have enough big linemen. Rivals has Atkins rated as a three-star prospect.
Projection: Atkins is listed as a defensive tackle, but that would be for a 4-3 team. At Georgia he figures to play more on the outside, so he would have an outside chance to play next year.
OLB Leonard Floyd (6-5, 211), Eastman, Ga. ..... 4 stars
Comment: Dodge County standout could also play defensive end, but would need to add weight.
Projection: Georgia's not hurting for outside linebackers, as evidenced by Drew struggling to see the field. But Floyd might be another player who's too good not to play.
P Collin Barber (6-1, 190), Cartersville, Ga. ..... 2 stars
Comment: Punters are never highly-ranked, but George felt enough about Barber to offer him a scholarship.
Projection: The punting job could be wide open. Some current walk-ons could get a shot as well.
RB Todd Gurley (6-1, 209), Tarboro, N.C. .... 4 stars
Gurley committed on Friday, and a day later Mike Davis made official his decision for the Gamecocks. Gurley and Marshall will be two of the most intriguing freshman next season, and Gurley has an outside chance to play, depending on what happens with the veterans at the position.
OT Greg Pyke (6-5, 290), Baltimore, Md. ..... 4 stars
Comment: Projects as a tackle, though Will Friend wouldn't have any problem plugging him in at guard for depth reasons.
Projection: Given all the depth issues on the line, if Georgia doesn't get a bunch of JUCO recruits at that spot, Pyke has a good chance of seeing the field next year.
TE Ty Smith (6-3, 230), Moultrie, Ga. ..... 3 stars
Comment: The Colquitt County High School star committed back in March, and has put on some weight since then. He's an athletic tight end.
Projection: If Orson Charles leaves, Smith has a chance to play right away.
FB Quayvon Hicks (6-2, 249), Blackshear, Ga. ..... 3 stars
Comment: Pierce County High School star committed in June, and has ideal size for a fullback.
Projection: Zander Ogletree returns, but Bruce Figgins is gone, so Hicks could play.
WR Blake Tibbs (6-1, 170), Lithonia, Ga. ..... 3 stars
Comment: A speedy prospect whom Rivals ranks as a four-star prospect.
Projection: Georgia should be loaded at receiver next year, but it likes to have about six-to-eight guys ready to play at the beginning of the year. Tibbs could squeeze his way in.
ATH Faton Bauta (6-2, 222), Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. ... 3 stars
Comment: A quarterback in high school who can also play tight end and fullback. He has also enrolled, and it will be interesting to see what Richt says about his position status.
Projection: Bauta's ability to play a lot of positions makes him an intriguing candidate for immediate playing time. A lot depends on Hutson Mason's immediate decision.
DE James Deloach (6-2, 249), Millen, Ga. ..... 3 stars
Comment: Teammate of Jonathan Taylor, hoping to put on some weight and could also play OLB.
Projection: A redshirt candidate because of the depth at the position.
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And now here are Georgia's top remaining targets, along with a comment:
OLB Josh Harvey-Clemons (6-5, 200), Valdosta, Ga. .... 4 stars
Florida State is now making a push for Harvey-Clemons, who is also considering Georgia and Florida.
OT Avery Young (6-6, 281), Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. .... 4 stars
Young was a major target for Georgia even prior to Brown's situation, but now the Bulldogs really need him. He's announcing on signing day afternoon.
WR Cordarelle Patterson (6-3, 205), Hutchinson Community College, Kan. .... 4 stars
It's still expected to be Georgia or Tennessee. He's announcing on signing day.
DE Josh Dawson (6-4, 220), Tucker, Ga. .... 3 stars
Announcing on signing day as well. The Vanderbilt commitment has been flirting with Georgia for a few weeks. He says he's still committed to Vanderbilt, but is also 50-50 between Georgia and Vanderbilt. Got it?
DE Dalvin Tomlinson (6-3, 270), McDonough, Ga. .... 4 stars
It's believed to be between Georgia and Georgia Tech.
ATH Sheldon Dawson (5-11, 178), Memphis, Tenn. .... 4 stars
Dawson can play tailback, cornerback or perhaps another position if a team sees fit. He's officially committed to Memphis.
CB Will Redmond (6-0, 180), Memphis, Tenn. .... 3 stars
Officially committed to Mississippi State. The longer he stays that way, the more likely he doesn't become a package deal with Dawson.
OG Graham Shuler (6-4, 268), Brentwood, TN .... 4 stars
The web sites were aglow with talk of a "secret recruit" for the Bulldogs, and on Tuesday night it was finally revealed to be Shuler - who is actually committed to Stanford. But Georgia is making a push for him.
OT Brandon Greene (6-5, 297), Ellenwood, Ga. ... 4 stars
Greene is committed to Alabama and has been since last March. But Georgia is trying to turn him.
WR Jaquay Williams (6-4, 200), Tyrone, Ga. ... 4 stars
Williams is committed to Auburn, but once again if he were to change his mind, Georgia would be there with open arms.
