This week we bring Georgia recruitniks a special treat, as I break down the six offensive players committed to the Bulldogs thus far. Below is my positional analysis of those six. Keep in mind, however, that in the world of recruiting, anything and everything can change in an instant.
THE BIG UGLIES
Chris Burnette: At 6-foot-2, 300 pounds, Burnette’s build will justify his spot at offensive guard upon arrival in Athens. The mammoth guard from Troup County is well respected among recruiting services, as Scout.com lists him as a four-star recruit and ranks him the sixth-best offensive guard nationally. According to Rivals.com, Burnette is a four-star athlete, the seventh-best player in the State of Georgia, the fifth-ranked player at his position, and is rated as the 80th-best overall player in the country. Watching Burnette on film, a few things in particular stand out. For a player his size, Burnette possesses great speed and exceptional agility. Most impressive, however, is his ability to explode off the line and finish blocks with brute strength and power. He will need to work on body positioning and technique before becoming an impact contributor at the next level.
Dallas Lee: Lee, much like Burnette, is highly regarded in recruiting circles. The Buford guard stands at 6-4, 290 pounds, is a four-star recruit according to Rivals.com, and was awarded three stars by Scout.com. Despite other reports, on film, Lee looks to be a bit tall and plays a little too upright for the guard position and, thus, will most likely make the transition to tackle on the next level. Lee does, however, have a strong lean off the line, good strength, and the feet to have success on the edge.
Austin Long: The last of Georgia’s offensive line commitments is Mr. Long from Briarcrest Christian in Memphis, Tenn. Long is a four-star recruit according to both of the aforementioned recruiting services and is the ninth-ranked offensive tackle nationally on Rivals.com. At 6-5, 268 pounds, Long displays great body control and the ability to play with a wide base. Additionally, on the field, the Memphis tackle shows good strength and solid technique. He will, however, need to add some bulk before making his move to Athens.
THE BACKS
Zach Mettenberger: At 6-5, 230 pounds, the Oconee County quarterback is considered by most standards to be a pro-style quarterback. On the field, Mettenberger displays excellent arm strength, good pocket mobility for a quarterback of his size, and the ability to throw well on the run. Additionally, Mettenberger has good vision downfield and throws a great deep ball with good accuracy, though he would benefit from playing with more patience at times. Overall, he has the look of a talented passer as well as a good leader on the field. According to Rivals.com, he is a four-star recruit, the ninth-best pro-style quarterback in the country and possesses the third-strongest arm of any quarterback in the country.
Aaron Murray: Murray, a 6-1, 198-pound quarterback from Tampa’s Plant High School, is in a slightly different mold than Mettenberger. He also is a four-star QB according to both Scout and Rivals.com, and is the 50th-rated player nationally according to Rivals. On the field, Murray is a dual-threat player who can burn teams with both his arm and feet. Through the air, he displays tremendous accuracy to go along with an absolute cannon for an arm. Murray’s only noticeable drawback at this point is his relative lack of height, as he may need to utilize his ability to throw on the run outside of the pocket in order to be an effective passer on the next level.
Washaun Ealey: Ealey (pictured), the highest ranked running back in the state, is a big-time talent that led Emanuel County Institute to a state championship last season. The 5-11, 205-pound back is a four-star athlete according to both recruiting services and is listed on Rivals as the 11th-best player nationally at his position and 92nd overall. On the field, Ealey is an absolute beast of a back, consistently running with tremendous power and lean. He is mostly an inside runner and displays spectacular leg drive through the hole. For a back his size, Ealey also shows good speed and vision and has the ability to take it to the house. He isn’t a shifty, change-of-direction kind of guy – Ealey makes one or two hard cuts and is gone.
Janovitz can be reached at sjanovitz@scoreatl.com.
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