ATHENS - Well, it's here. National Signing Day is upon us, and yours truly is ensconced here at the Butts-Mehre facility, ready for a busy day.

I'll keep this thread updated with news, notes and quotes. I'll also have separate blogs on the bigger news.

Finally, we'll try to wrap up the day with another live chat at 4 p.m.

Please check in here as often as you like, and enjoy the show.

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7:43 a.m.

The day gets off to a bad start for Georgia, which misses out on JUCO receiver Cordarelle Patterson. The top-ranked prospect has chosen Tennessee, according to multiple reports.

Patterson wasn't a must-get for Georgia, which is pretty loaded at receiver. But the Bulldogs thought Patterson was enough of a difference maker that they pursued him heavily, and he would have had a chance to play right away.

7:47 a.m.

John Theus, the offensive tackle from Jacksonville, Fla., is the first player to fax in his letter-of-intent, according to Georgia.

Theus was one of the nation's top-rated offensive lineman. Expect him to contend to start at one of the tackle spots, perhaps protecting Aaron Murray's blind side.

7:56 a.m.

Punter Collin Barber's LOI has arrived. The prospect from Florida is expected to step in for the graduated Drew Butler.

That makes two LOIs in, both from players likely to start right away.

8:38 a.m.

Add Todd Gurley's name to the official list. The tailback from Tarboro, N.C., has faxed in his letter-of-intent.

Gurley had been considered sending his LOI in later, as he's attending an all-star game in Texas. But he's apparently found a way to get it done.

(We're also waiting to see if OLB Jordan Jenkins decides to send his LOI in, despite plans to hold a signing ceremony on Friday so his sister can attend.)

8:40 a.m.

On a separate note, there was a glitch on the UGA web site that briefly showed Chester Brown as having signed. It had a picture and bio and everything.

But it was fixed pretty quickly. It did show that Georgia has bios and pictures ready for a bunch of prospects, including apparently one who has already signed with Central Florida.

8:46 a.m.

Next up: Greg Pyke, the offensive lineman from Baltimore. Pyke is rated a four-star and some consider him a sleeper prospect because he committed early, and played at a small private school in an area that doesn't have much football interest.

But Georgia was interested in him, and Pyke is now in the fold. That gives Georgia three signed offensive lineman, including the above-mentioned John Theus and the already-enrolled Mark Beard.

Now Georgia waits on Avery Young, the south Florida prospect who is announcing at 2 p.m.

8:53 a.m.

Georgia wasn't expected to land Henry County defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson. And indeed, Tomlinson has chosen Alabama, donning a Crimson Tide hat on local Atlanta television.

Twenty minutes from now, Georgia is hoping for good news from Josh Harvey-Clemons, who is set to finally announce. Or maybe he'll just cut his list down to two. Who knows anymore.

8:57 a.m.

Defensive lineman John Atkins has faxed in his LOI. That makes eight players officially in the fold.

But we still await Harvey-Clemons. Now getting indications he's heading to Georgia ... but gotta wait for it to be final.

9:16 a.m.

Georgia gets its man: OLB Josh Harvey-Clemons has announced for the Bulldogs on ESPNU.

Harvey-Clemons is the top-rated recruit in Georgia, according to ESPN, Scout and Rivals.

"I knew when I went there that that was where I want to go," Harvey-Clemons said on ESPNU. "It felt like home. They seem like they want to win and go on to win a national championship."

He joins Jordan Jenkins - whom 247sports rates the top player in Georgia - who is signing with Georgia. Both are edge linebackers, and would seem likely to replace Jarvis Jones and Cornelius Washington in 2013.

9:32 a.m.

A very busy last 15 minutes or so:

First off, WR Jaquay Williams has stuck with his verbal commitment to Auburn and signed with the Tigers.

Meanwhile, Georgia received an LOI from Blake Tibbs, who now appears to be the only receiver Georgia will get in this signing class. That's unless they use one of their open spots for an under-the-radar prospect.

Georgia also got an LOI from Sheldon Dawson, the defensive back from Memphis, who committed on Monday.

(Opinions diverge on Dawson, at least ranking-wise: While he's the top-rated prospect in Tennessee according to 247sports, and is No. 2 according to Scout.com, Rivals has him No. 11 and ESPN has him No. 28.)

10:08 a.m.

Score another edge rusher for Georgia: Josh Dawson of Tucker High School has signed with Georgia, after being committed to Vanderbilt for awhile.

Dawson can play defensive end and outside linebacker. So he joins the crowded group at that position.

10:11 a.m.

Speaking of those edge rushers, Georgia has officially received an LOI from Jordan Jenkins. By my count that makes 12 signed/enrolled, with seven more committed.

And it may be quiet for awhile until 2 p.m., when Avery Young is due to announce.

10:33 a.m.

Defensive end Leonard Floyd from Eastman has faxed in his LOI. The Telegraph is at his ceremony and will have word from there.

10:45 a.m.

Three more letters have arrived via the ol' fax machine:

DE James Deloach, TE Ty Smith and DT Jonathan Taylor.

The biggest name is Taylor, who has a chance to be the nose tackle of the future. Smith (now going by Flourney-Smith, according to the UGA web site) could be third on the depth chart, after Arthur Lynch and Jay Rome.

By my count, the only announced commitments yet to send in their LOIs are kicker Marshall Morgan and the two that announced today: Josh Harvey-Clemons and Josh Dawson.

12:10 p.m.

Sorry, I've had to step away to wait for Mark Richt and his staff to address fans. They finally did, and here are some highlights:

- There's still some drama left in the day, as indicated when Richt had to step away from the microphone to take a phone call.

"We're working," he said. "We're working."

- He also alluded to further work when asked how many offensive linemen they would sign.

"I don't know for certain because the day's not over yet," Richt said. "I know I"m thrilled about the ones that have already signed on the dotted line. The biggest issue that we felt that we had was at the tackle position. And I feel like we did a tremendous job there."

Georgia signed John Theus, a tackle, and is still waiting for word on Avery Young, who announces at 2 p.m.

Offensive line coach Will Friend was asked by a fan how many offers they still have out to O-linemen.

"We have a few out. But not that many," he answered.

- Richt also took an opportunity to praise a freshman who redshirted this season: Offensive tackle Xzavier Ward, whom Richt said has put on 40 pounds since he got to college.

- As for the total number of players who will sign - Georgia has 18 signings, and Josh Harvey-Clemons will make it 19 - Richt said the final number "is still up in the air."

- While Keith Marshall and Todd Gurley get the main attention in the backfield, Richt and running backs coach Bryan McClendon had good things to say about fullback Quayvon Hicks.

"We definitely think after having him in camp and seeing him on film, he's everything plus more that we're going to want at that position," McClendon said, comparing him to Shaun Chapas and J.T. Wall.

- A stat I wasn't actually aware of: Richt said the Bulldogs' 10-game win streak this season was the first since 1981.

12:56 p.m.

Sorry, forgot to mention earlier: K Marshall Morgan and OLB Josh Dawson did fax in their letters of intent. So Georgia is just waiting on Josh Harvey-Clemons, who committed this morning.

I'm headed off to Mark Richt's signing day press conference, which is due to start at 1 but will probably be delayed.

In any case I'll have highlights on this blog, and probably some separate blogs with news.

Avery Young, the offensive lineman from south Florida, just committed to Auburn. That's a bit of a surprise for people who had him ticketed for Georgia.

So that means Georgia's class may stand pat at 19 - and that's assuming Josh Harvey-Clemons isn't having any second thoughts. He announced for Georgia this morning, but his letter-of-intent still hasn't arrived, and Mark Richt was talking around him during his press conference.

Speaking of which, I'll have comments from Richt and defensive coordinator up on the blog in a bit.