Brown, long thought to be a lock for the Bulldogs stated that his decision was not based on anything Georgia did, but rather some personal issues that arose with his family. As you can imagine, tongues are wagging as to what those reasons were—exactly.
While the message boards are heating up with a myriad of theories (some even suggesting that Georgia's current immigration law might have something to do with it) but, one thing is clear, Brown didn't want to leave Georgia and still hopes to return one day—if possible ($).
"I promised UGA that if everything works out like I am hoping and praying, that after a year at whatever college I go to, hopefully I will be able to transfer...I not really sure about that plan, but if everything works out I can do that. I still have love for the Bulldog Nation."
That said, grades nor a perceived lack of playing time seem to have factored into Brown's decision.
So, where does this leave Georgia as far as solidifying the offensive line is concerned?
For one, they are still in the mix for both Avery Young (FL) and Brandon Greene (GA), but neither is a lock.
Young, who most recently took a visit to Miami, is said to have been very impressed by what the Hurricanes had to offer ($) and commented that his time in Coral Gables "...opened my eyes to a lot of things I hadn't seen before."
He also reiterated his love of fishing and noted how Miami would put him right near the docks, and that is a big plus.
The State of Georgia has some pretty good fishing locales, but I don't believe the campus at the University of Georgia they can compete with Coral Gables—fishing wise. That said, it's clear that Young will make his decision on more than just where he can cast a line and, hopefully, Young still sees the Bulldog's lack of depth as a positive.
Young isn't expected to make his decision until National Signing Day.
Another target for Georgia has been Brandon Greene.
Greene is currently committed to Alabama and I don't see that changing, personally, unless Saban's class size starts to work against him and Greene is asked to wait to sign in next year's class—which is always a possibility with the Tide.
However, if Greene's own words are to be believed, Georgia has absolutely no shot at a last-minute flip.
"Yeah, I’m a 100-percent Bama, man," Greene said. "I’ve just been thinking about it for a long time and that’s where I really want to go."
Why did Greene visit UGA? "It was really just to take a visit. Everybody kept telling me I need to visit another school to have something to compare to Alabama, so I did it."
What was Georgia’s sales pitch? "Honestly, I really wasn’t even listening. I just went there to go on a visit. I’m 100-percent Alabama." [emphasis added]
What if UGA had offered earlier? Or at least before Alabama? Would that have made a difference? "Everybody keeps asking me that. I don’t even know. I can’t answer that."That's seems to be a change of tune from this past fall when Greene commented that an earlier offer from the Bulldogs might have made a difference:
"It would’ve been harder to decide," Greene said. "Parts of my family are Georgia fans and they are always like ‘Go to Georgia.’ The pastor at my church is a big Georgia fan. But I didn’t have a Georgia offer at the time so I didn’t think about it. If I did, it would’ve been a more difficult decision. I’m not saying my decision would’ve been different but it would’ve been harder to decide."Now, if rumors are to be believed, Greene's adamant reiteration that he's all Bama could have a lot to do with not wanting to ruffle the feathers of Tide head coach, Nick Saban. In which case, he's putting on a serious act but, at the same time, still listening to Georgia's pitch.
Either way, I don't see Greene setting foot in Athens unless he gets word that the Tide have no room for him in Tuscaloosa.
As of right now it appears that Georgia will be looking to land Young and will make their presence felt with him in this final stretch towards signing day.
Whether that will mean the difference between him putting on the 'red and black' or some other school's colors is anybody's guess.
