ATLANTA — Over the last couple years, the Georgia Bulldogs have garnered some top running back prospects who can immediately contribute. Knowshon Moreno was a prime example of Georgia’s depth last season, rushing for almost 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns as a redshirt freshman during a season when a couple of seniors suffered injuries.
With Moreno and highly touted running back Caleb King, it would seem the Bulldogs are set for the next few years. But Georgia will still try to restock on the upcoming national football signing day Feb. 6.
The Bulldogs have already received nonbinding commitments from three running backs, who are rated as four and five-star prospects by Scout.com.
Richard Samuel, a 6-foot-1, 205-pounder from Cartersville, is an elusive ball carrier who can run between the tackles. He led Cass with 1,429 yards rushing and 24 touchdowns as a senior, ranking him the fourth-best running back in the country.
Dontavius Jackson of Franklin was a workhorse for Heard County. As a junior, he had 42 carries for 405 yards and five touchdowns.
Even though Carlton Thomas has a small frame, he could be useful as a running back and receiver. The 5-foot-7, 175-pound of Frostproof, Fla., is the type of ball carrier who runs with finesse, with the ability to slip out of tackles. "They told me that they could use me in a bunch of different ways," Thomas told Scout.com last September.
More height
The Georgia Bulldogs have five flankers who stand at least 6-foot-2. After signing day, they should have one more — maybe better than the rest.
A.J. Green, a five-star prospect, is a 6-foot-4, 190-pounder from Summerville, S.C. The soft-spoken Green was an All-American, catching 72 passes for 1,437 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Three-star galore
Georgia Tech might not have any four or five-star prospects. But at least they have a group of three-star players, just a couple of weeks before signing.
Seventeen of the Yellow Jackets’ nonbinding commitments are all rated the same. The biggest prospect of the pack so far is Richard Watson, a 6-foot-1, 220-pound fullback of Tallahassee, Fla. Coach Paul Johnson could use Watson as a B-back in his wing-T offense — a style that Johnson ran while coach at Georgia Southern. The new offense has also had a major effect in recruiting as there are no receivers who have given a verbal commitment yet.
Georgia Tech is currently ranked 50th in recruiting by Rivals.com.
Still no word
Washaun Ealey, the player of the year in Georgia, still has not indicated which school he’ll attend in the fall.
The 6-foot, 195-pound running back helped Emanuel County Institute win its first state title in school history last season. He ran for 272 yards and scored three touchdowns in the championship game.
Ealey currently has medium interest for Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Clemson, Georgia and Georgia Tech.