DANTZLER A DAWG: Huge OT commits to UGA as tribute to late father

"One thing my dad taught me is ‘Go Dawgs sic em, woof woof woof!’ " Watts Dantzler exclaimed to a packed commons at Dalton High School today. "That is all I can say."

The 6-foot-8, 330-pound offensive tackle prospect today became the 12th commitment in the 2011 recruiting class for the Georgia Bulldogs. He chose Georgia over nearly 20 other scholarship offers, although coming into today, only Auburn and Georgia remained possibilities.

Dantzler told UGAsports.com earlier in the process that he had narrowed his choices to just the Bulldogs and Tigers.

"I like Coach Gene Chizik and Coach Grimes since I met them last summer. I enjoyed the two games I went to last year and all the junior days I went to as well," said Dantzler. "It is not too far from home. I like how they talk about it being a family atmosphere and I have always kind of liked Auburn growing up.

"Georgia has always been the hometown team and I was raised a Georgia fan. Red and Black has pretty much been in my bones my whole life. I like Coach Mark Richt and what he stands for and I feel like Coach Stacy Searels is one of the best offensive line coaches in the entire country," he said. "It is not too far away from home and I have always grown up a Georgia fan."

Dantzler waited to announce his decision on Father’s Day, in honor of his late father who passed away in February of 2009. The Dalton Catamount was originally scheduled to make his decision last November on his birthday, but elected to delay the announcement until today.

"It means a lot for me to be able to announce on Father’s Day," Dantzler said. "He raised me with the utmost respect and was admired by everyone who knew him. My dad set a good example on the football field, in the classroom and in the community. He told me that whatever I dreamed for I could achieve my goals and that the sky was the limit for me as long as I worked as hard as I could. For me to commit on Father’s Day it is special because I know he is looking down on me and I hope he is very proud."

Dantzler is the latest in a string of highly-regarded high school prospects to commit to UGA recently. Mark Richt and his staff are bent on signing a "Dream Team" made up of the best Georgia high school prospects. Eleven of UGA’s 12 commits are from the Peach State.