Georgia Sports News

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  Georgia basketball sophomore enters transfer portal

  ATHENS Georgia basketball sophomore Mike Peake has entered the NCAA transfer portal, according to multiple sources. The 6-foot-8, 220-pound Peake was a late addition to last year's class, signing in August out of Blue Valley Northwest High School in Overland Park, Kans. Peake played in 24 of 32 games last season, including the final 12 contests, averaging 9 minutes per outing with 2.3 points and 2 rebounds. Peake scored a career-high 8 points in the season-opening game against Delaware State and pulled down a season-high 6 rebounds in a season high 23 minutes against South Carolina on Feb. 26. Peake's departure brings the Bulldogs' roster down to 13 scholarship players. RELATED: Georgia adds big V-Tech center, over scholarship limit Georgia added Virginia Tech graduate transfer center P.J. Horne last week. Horne, a 6-6, 225-pounder, averaged 7.6 points and 4.2 rebounds per game last season. UGA Coach Tom Crean DawgNation Georgia basketball WATCH: Tom Crean opens up, tells all on UGA basketball Bulldogs upset Ole Miss in SEC tourney opener Anthony Edwards takes over final minute, UGA topples Arkansas WATCH: Georgia celebrates like crazy after Vandy win Bulldogs score resounding win over No. 13 Auburn UGA snaps four-game losing streak with Texas A&M win Perplexing loss for Georgia basketball at Missouri Georgia comes up short in hard-fought loss at Kentucky Sahvir Wheeler on clutch game-winner, 'been there a ton of times' Anthony Edwards lights up Michigan State for 37 in 93-85 loss The post Georgia basketball sophomore enters transfer portal appeared first on DawgNation.
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  Tony Grimes: Big potential development looms with the nation’s No. 1 CB for 2021

  Georgia already had the nation's No. 1 recruiting class for the 2020 cycle. Yet there's a chance it could go to another level with the addition of 5-star CB Tony Grimes. Let's simply couch the thinking here by saying there's a chance it could happen at this time. It could happen for Georgia or North Carolina or Ohio State or Texas A&M, too. Those were the four programs the nation's No. 1 CB prospect for 2021 (247Sports Composite) released as his top 4 schools on Sunday night. Grimes, who was already set to enroll early in January of 2021, is currently probing the possibility of summer graduation and enrolling at the school of his choice in August. That would make him a tremendous late addition to the 2020 recruiting class for one of those four programs. The reason? His father Deon Glover told DawgNation on Wednesday evening it would be because there's a chance that his Princess Anne program (Virginia Beach, Va.) might not have a football season this fall due to the novel coronavirus. Glover feels that his son would be able to reclassify as a class of 2020 recruit if that unfortunate situation presented itself. 'He could have graduated last year,' Glover told DawgNation on Wednesday evening. 'We pushed one class into this year so he could play his senior season. He only needs one class. He can take that online and be done in a month.' That's actually the same path that incoming Georgia Bulldog J.T. Daniels did as a reclassified prospect who joined the USC football program in the summer of 2018. That came after just three varsity seasons of high school football for Daniels. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound Grimes ranks as the nation's No. 1 CB for 2021 and the No. 7 overall prospect for 2021 on the 247Sports Composite ratings. RELATED: 5-star Tony Grimes is a special player both on and off the field If that presents itself to be the case, then the chance to play early doesn't look the same at Georgia as it does for the 2021 season. Grimes is a special talent, but there are three cornerbacks returning to the team this fall for what look to be their resume seasons to enhance their status as a future top 60 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Junior Tyson Campbell, Senior D.J. Daniel and redshirt junior Eric Stokes, Jr. all have that potential and the vast playing experience for the Bulldogs during the 2019 season as part of the nation's top-ranked scoring defense. Georgia also signed the nation's No. 1 cornerback for the 2020 cycle in former 5-star Kelee Ringo, too. DAWGNATION RECRUITING (the recent reads on DawgNation.com) Kirby Smart's comments of the 2021 recruiting cycle thus far laced with empathy and uncertainty Nation's No. 1 CB prospect Tony Grimes places UGA among his top four schools BREAKING: All-American OL Dylan Fairchild has made his college decision Brock Vandagriff: How does that family feel about the JT Daniels transfer? The JT Daniels to Georgia buzz seems very real BREAKING: Elite 2022 DB Marquis Groves-Killebrew commits to UGA Who is Chaz Chambliss? Carrollton staff shares the goods on the new Bulldog commit BREAKING: Chaz Chambliss commits to Georgia football Taking a deep dive at how well Georgia has been recruiting Metro Atlanta of late Elite 2022 defensive athlete Daniel Martin already has a 'family' feel at UGA Brock Bowers: Nation's No. 3 TE knows what he needs to do before his college decision De'Jahn Warren: The 'nugget' for the nation's No. 1 JUCO prospect with UGA Decrypting that recent tweet from 5-star LB Smael Mondon Jr. Prince Kollie: The ILB target who had 1,085 yards as a receiver in 2019 Lovasea Carroll: DawgNation goes one-on-one with the 2021 RB commit The post Tony Grimes: Big potential development looms with the nation's No. 1 CB for 2021 appeared first on DawgNation.
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  What the national media is saying about Georgia’s quarterback position

  For months, there was a lot of hype surrounding Georgia quarterback Jamie Newman. He flashed some impressive traits and tools in his time at Wake Forest, and with some improved talent around him at Georgia, many in the national media expected big things to come from the quarterback. Some had tabbed him as Heisman Trophy contender, while NFL draft experts pegged him as a possible first-round pick. Then Georgia added an equally talented transfer quarterback in JT Daniels. He announced his intention to transfer to the program last Thursday. And this caused some that were hyping and praising Newman to take a step back and re-evaluate at the quarterback situation. Perhaps no one had a bolder take on what the Daniels addition could mean than Barrett Sallee of CBSSports. He stated that if Daniels gets eligibility for this upcoming season, he'd likely put Georgia over Florida in the SEC East. If JT Daniels is immediately eligible which isn't known at this time I'll likely jump Georgia back over Florida in my 2020 SEC East predictions https://t.co/MaAU8fUMDY Barrett Sallee (@BarrettSallee) May 28, 2020 Daniels has applied for a waiver for immediate eligibility but it is not yet known if it that will be granted. If it is not, Daniels would not be eligible to suit up for the Bulldogs until the 2021 season. As a freshman, Daniels threw 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 11 starts. He tore his ACL and meniscus in the opening game of his sophomore season for the Trojans. Daniels did indicate though that he's healthy enough to work out, as he posted a picture of himself alongside former USC quarterback Sam Darnold and quarterback trainer Jordan Palmer earlier this week. View this post on Instagram Back to work A post shared by JT Daniels (@jtdaniels) on May 31, 2020 at 11:03am PDT As for what skills Daniels brings to the table, former Georgia quarterback Hutson Mason provided a brief overview on Twitter, before going even deeper into the matter with DawgNation's Mike Griffith. @GeorgiaFootball adds another 5 QB in JT Daniels. The more tape I watch of him the more impressed I become. pic.twitter.com/yEgWPkLdqH Hutson Mason (@HMason14) May 29, 2020 Related: First look at new Georgia quarterback JT Daniels from Hutson Mason By comparison, Newman threw for 26 touchdowns to 11 interceptions at Wake Forest last season. He also added 574 rushing yards and 6 rushing touchdowns, showing off his dual-threat ability, something Georgia hasn't had from a starting quarterback since the days of DJ Shockley. At the moment, given the uncertainty regarding Daniels' health and eligibility, the national media is still acting under the idea that Newman will be the starter for Georgia come the season-opener against Virginia on Sept. 7. ESPN's Bill Connelly added that if Newman is able to live up to some of the hype bestowed upon him Pro Football Focus ranks him as the No. 3 quarterback in the country entering the 2020 season it will go a long way in turning Georgia into a national title contender. 'Newman dominated the ball at Wake Forest last season, averaging both 29.5 pass attempts and 12.2 non-sack rushes per game,' Connelly wrote. 'He took more sacks than departed starterJake Frommand averaged fewer adjusted net yards per attempt (ANY/A*) as well: 7.5 for Fromm, 7.2 for Newman.' While Newman did not get a chance to work in any practices with the new Georgia offense, he has taken part in some 7-on-7 drills with his new teammates. And Newman will likely be at the forefront of those players returning to campus, with Georgia allowing players to begin voluntary workouts come June 8. Daniels' game is more similar to that of Fromm, but with superior arm strength and slightly better athleticism. He also had a propensity to turn the ball over much more than Fromm ever did. Newman, on the other hand, is a much better athlete and also throws a better deep ball. But he too has some concerns, with durability being among them. It will be very interesting to see which quarterback Georgia goes with it and what the decision says about the direction of the offense under Todd Monken. As for a direct comparison between the two, ESPN's David Hale put the quarterbacks into tiers. He put Newman in tier 3, with the likes of Kyle Trask, Kellen Mond and KJ Costello. Quarterbacks who have all flashed tools of being elite playmakers, but have not done with the same consistency that Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields have. Daniels was in a lower-tier, largely due to concerns about his eligibility. Because of that, Hale put him in the wild-card tier, though adding that he is ,as talented as any QB outside of the big two (Lawrence and Fields).' More Georgia football stories from around DawgNation Alabama legend Gene Stallings reflects on friends Pat Dye and Johnny Majors Georgia football: Kirby Smart's comments on the 2021 recruiting cycle laced with empathy, uncertainty ESPN lays out 3 big questions Georgia football must answer to be a national title contender Former Georgia All-American, Auburn coach Pat Dye dies Addition of JT Daniels continues Georgia football inroads into California recruiting BREAKING: Nation's No. 1 CB Tony Grimes includes UGA in his top four Opinion: A bold prediction for JT Daniels and UGA in 2021 Kirby Smart, Georgia assistant coaches speak out regarding death of George Floyd, protests The post What the national media is saying about Georgia's quarterback position appeared first on DawgNation.
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  Florida coach expects Gators ‘to go undefeated this year’

  Florida coach Dan Mullen has sky-high expectations this year for the Florida Gators: 'I expect us to go undefeated this year,' Mullen told the Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday, via 247sports. 'I'm not guaranteeing it, because I'll be honest with you, I have two national championship rings here at Florida and we didn't go undefeated in either of those two seasons. We still won a national championship.' For Mullen's Florida Gators to go undefeated this season, that means they'd have to defeat UGA, his nemesis in the SEC East. The Bulldogs have posted three straight wins against the Gators. Mullen is known to say brash things every offseason, including verbal jabs at Georgia. For Wednesday's boldness, Mullen said it's all about instilling confidence in his team. 'When I look at our schedule every year, I assume we are (going to go undefeated),' Mullen said. 'If I looked at it (the other) way and said, Hey, I don't see us winning that game,' I guess I'd tell the coaches, Hey, why don't you guys go home? We're not going to win this one anyway,' so this time of year you assume you go undefeated every year. 'If we don't say stuff like that, nobody has anything to talk about. People have to understand there's a big difference between confidence and cockiness. When you sit there and you say, Hey, we expect to win the game this weekend,' that's not cockiness, that's your confidence in Hey, I'm going to work hard and prepare the right way.'' Chatting with @CoachDanMullen on how @GatorsFB team are handling getting players back on the field for the upcoming season #PatMcAfeeShowLIVE pic.twitter.com/VeOewcQ1Gm Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 3, 2020 The post Florida coach expects Gators to go undefeated this year' appeared first on DawgNation.
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  Alabama legend Gene Stallings reflects on friends Pat Dye and Johnny Majors

  ATHENS Gene Stallings took time Wednesday to share his feelings on two men he was once hired to beat, revealing friendships that pre-dated rivalries. Stallings, 85, coached at Alabama from 1990-1996, overlapping with former Auburn coach Pat Dye (1981-1992) and former Tennessee coach John Majors (1977-1992). RELATED: Former Georgia All-American Pat Dye dies Dye passed away on Tuesday at the age of 80 years old, and Majors died on Wednesday at 85. Iron Bowl Friendship 'Pat Dye and I have been friends for a long time, let me tell you two or three things about Pat,' Stallings, who still lives on his ranch in Paris, Texas, said in a phone interview on Wednesday. 'We competed against each other in games and also recruiting, and we never had a cross word. 'Pat always conducted himself as a gentlemen. He was very competitive, his teams played well.' Stallings and Dye served together on the board for Great Southern Wood for more than 20 years. The two had gone on a hunting trip together last year with former UGA quarterback and head coach Ray Goff. Dye replaced Stallings on Paul 'Bear' Bryant's Alabama coaching staff as an assistant in 1965. Stallings left the staff to become head coach at Texas A&M, before his 14 years on Tom Landry's Dallas Cowboys' coaching staff (1972-85). Stallings returned to the SEC as the Tide's head coach in 1990 after a stint as the St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals head coach in the NFL. By then, Dye had taken over as Auburn's head coach (1981) after stints at East Carolina (1974-79) and Wyoming (1980) and put the Tigers' program 'on the marquee.' Dye had, in fact, changed the course of the Auburn-Alabama rivalry. The Tigers had won four straight over Alabama for the first time in almost 30 years before Stallings snapped the streak his first year back in Tuscaloosa. Dye, also acting as Auburn athletic director, also persuaded the Tigers' boosters to playing the 'Iron Bowl' in Auburn rather than Birmingham where the gamehad traditionally been played dating back to 1904. 'That had been done before I got back, but if it were up to me, I'm not sure I would have changed it,' Stallings told DawgNation, asked about going to a home-and-home. 'I think it was a good thing they changed it. But when Pat retired (1992), we were still playing the game (in Alabama home years) in Birmingham.' Third Saturday Handshake Alabama was also playing its home games against Tennessee in Birmingham, rather than Tuscaloosa, when Stallings coached the Tide to the 1992 national championship. Alabama had to get through Majors and the Vols in Knoxville that season, gutting out a 17-10 win in a rivalry Stallings said was at times more fierce than Auburn, despite his friendship with Majors. 'Johnny was an assistant coach at (Mississippi State), when I was coaching at Alabama,' Stallings recalled. 'We would meet together in Nashville and we would recruit, and then we'd meet together and have dinner that night. 'I've always loved and appreciated Johnny Majors. One of the things he did, he raised his grandson. Johnny took the grandson and raised him like he was is and I always appreciated Johnny for that.' Stallings' family priorities have been well documented. He authored the book 'Another Season: A Coach's Story of Raising an Exceptional Son.' The writing is about Stallings' relationship with his late son, John Mark, who was born with Down syndrome and a hear defect. But on the football field, Stallings, Dye and Majors were all business. 'When the game gets started, you don't worry about who is coach on the other side of the field, you get ready for the team, not the coach,' Stallings said. 'When my team played Coach Bryant, I loved Coach Bryant, but when the game got underway, it was Texas A&M playing against Alabama. 'It was the same thing with Johnny. We were friends, and I showed him respect.' Rivalry perspective The Tennessee game, like the Auburn game, was historically a big deal and many still feel the same way. 'Coach Bryant, he had rather beat Tennessee than Auburn in those early years,' said Stallings, who played for Bryant at Texas A&M before serving as an assistant under him. 'I know things have a tendency to change, but he really got the team ready to play Tennessee. Auburn was not a great team in those years, and then Pat (Dye) put them on the marquee. 'But before that, we'd get ready for Tennessee two weeks before the game. 'If you're going to be accepted at the University of Alabama, you have to beat Tennessee, you have to beat Auburn, and eventually you have to win the national championship.' Stallings went 3-0 at Alabama against Dye and Majors some three decades ago en route to joining them in the College Football Hall of Fame. On Wednesday, he mourned losing both of them. The post Alabama legend Gene Stallings reflects on friends Pat Dye and Johnny Majors appeared first on DawgNation.