Isaiah Crowell Announcement: What It Means for Georgia Football, SEC
Isaiah Crowell, a can't-miss 5-star running back prospect, has announced his college decision.
Crowell will be putting on the red and black uniform of the Georgia Bulldogs when he moves on to the next level of football in the fall of 2011.
The decision came down to two traditional powerhouses in the SEC, but in the end the Bulldogs reigned supreme over the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Any time there's a big commitment like this, the impact is quite far-reaching. Read on for the players and teams affected by Crowell's decision.
To track all the top recruits, click here: National Signing Day 2011: Tracking Where the Top 100 Recruits Sign.
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Isaiah Crowell Himself
1 of 8The talented running back ended up making the choice that was best for his own future.
Crowell played in an option-style offense in high school, so there will be a bit of a transition to the running game deployed by the Georgia Bulldogs, but that's nothing that just a single offseason can't help him with.
He will be able to come into Athens and almost immediately take over the role as the starting back. Had Crowell gone to Alabama, he would have been stuck behind Trent Richardson for at least a full year.
Demetrius Hart
2 of 8Demetrius Hart is one of those players that got a huge boost from the Crowell announcement.
Hart is a top running back prospect who committed to Alabama earlier in the year. Now that Crowell is taking his talents to Athens, Hart is the top incoming back for the Crimson Tide.
He'll still be behind Trent Richardson on the depth chart for the foreseeable future, but that's a much better position than being stuck behind both Crowell and Richardson.
Now Hart will have a chance to make a real impact for a championship-contending Alabama team.
Alabama Crimson Tide
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One would think that Alabama would be considered a real loser here after missing out on the nation's top running back prospect, but the truth is that the Crimson Tide will be fine.
Alabama still boasts an incredible recruiting class, one that contains a top running back.
When the regular season rolls around, Trent Richardson, the rest of the Crimson Tide's returning players and the incoming freshmen will all be in great shape to make a title run.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Aaron Murray
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Aaron Murray has to be loving National Signing Day.
Without a truly great running back in the Georgia backfield, there was going to be a lot of pressure on the talented young quarterback. Murray was going to have to make all the plays, even without the services of A.J. Green.
Now, Isaiah Crowell can ease some of that pressure. Defenders aren't going to be able to drop back into coverage to the same extent that they would have been able to. Crowell is a serious threat to break a big run at any time, and opposing defensive coordinators will have to respect that.
Mark Richt
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Mark Richt still has it.
Even though people were calling for his head last season (and some still are), Richt still assembled a wonderful recruiting class.
People may still be able to question his abilities as a head coach, but his skill in recruiting was proven once more. How many coaches could convince a 5-star running back to spurn an Alabama team projected to contend for the national title and come to a Georgia team that finished just 6-7 last season?
Well, the answer is at least one.
Georgia Bulldogs
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As a whole, this move helps the Georgia Bulldogs immensely.
Not only does it give the team a lot more talent to put on the field, as the previous slides have discussed, but it also changes the mentality of the team.
With Crowell carrying the rock, the Georgia Bulldogs are going to truly believe that they're a threat to score every time they have the ball. That confidence is sorely needed after last season's disappointing ending.
Also, Georgia fans are now going to be significantly more excited about their team. The 2010 season was a major letdown, but there are signs that it's turning around quickly in 2011.
Other SEC Running Backs
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Allow me to be a Georgia homer for a minute.
Trent Richardson, Michael Dyer and Marcus Lattimore, you have been put on notice. Isaiah Crowell isn't going to roll over and let the three of you become the uncontested elite running backs in the SEC.
Crowell wants to have a say in that.
Now that he'll don the red and black uniform, the running back will receive the playing time necessary to challenge your apparent superiority.
Watch out.
Boise State Broncos
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The final team impacted by this decision is one that appears to be extraordinarily unrelated at first glance.
The Boise State Broncos aren't even in the SEC, and they weren't competing for Isaiah Crowell. How can they be affected?
Well, the Broncos open their season against the Georgia Bulldogs in the Georgia Dome on September 3, 2011.
It will be Crowell's first game, and you can bet that he'll be eager to justify the hype.
I feel sorry for the Boise State defenders.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
