Georgia Football 2011: Alec Ogletree Could Become One of the All-Time Greats

There’s always that one player who stands out on a field. He’s the guy who everyone knows his name and knows he is going to take over the game at any given point.

That was the case for Alec Ogletree back when he was a blue-chip athlete at Newnan High School in Newnan, Ga. Ogletree was first team all-state and first team All-American according to USA Today and Sporting News. Ogletree was also considered the best safety in the country, as well as the best player in the state.

So when Georgia was able to sign the 6'3", 232-pound safety, they knew they had a player who could really go down as one of the greats.

Ogletree was able to get off to a good start his freshman year. He appeared in 12 games and made five starts at strong safety. With 34 total tackles and one forced fumble, Ogletree was named to the SEC Coaches All-SEC Freshman team and was also named the team’s Newcomer of the Year.

Back in the spring, Ogletree made the move from strong safety to inside linebacker. He got his first real test in the spring game and ended the day with seven tackles.

So if this keeps up, Ogletree could have a very successful career in Athens, but the question is how good can he be?

Some fans and experts like to compare Ogletree to another hard-hitting defenseman in Thomas Davis who now plays for the Carolina Panthers. Davis played for the Bulldogs from 2001-2004 and was named an All-American his junior year.

Davis was one of the most feared players in the SEC and was well respected though the entire country because of his style of play. Ogletree has the same build as Davis, except Ogletree is a few inches taller. Ogletree has a knack for making plays like Davis and can lay a lick on an opponent the same way Davis did.

But Davis was able to go to two SEC Championship games and a Sugar Bowl. But he also had a great group of guys that were also talented such as Greg Blue, Boss Bailey and three-time All-American David Pollack.

Ogletree is still young, so he has plenty of time to have a chance to reach the SEC Championship as well as the Sugar Bowl. And many people believe this could be the year Georgia is able to reach the conference title game.

If they do, it will be because the defense will be much improved from last year and don’t be surprised if Ogletree is one of the players that becomes a leader for the unit.

Can Ogletree have a great career and go down as one of the great Bulldogs in history? Only time will tell, but if he is able to put in the time and the effort and build on a successful 2010 season, don’t be surprised if Ogletree is talked about with the same group as Pollack, Davis, Knox Culpepper and Terry Hoage when is career in Athens is said and done.