''I would say our recruiting class is a lot like our year this year. We didn't have the kind of year that I wanted to have, but we still did a lot of good things. We won eight games. That's not good, but ...I'm not going to try to paint a picture that's any different than what it is ... we definitely lost some good players.”

Those words could have been uttered by Georgia coach Mark Richt yesterday on national signing day as Georgia's run of signing top 10 rated recruiting classes ended after eight straight seasons.

They actually were spoken by Jim Donnan on Georgia’s signing day in 2000 when
Donnan lost some in-state recruits to Georgia Tech and top lineman Sean Young to Tennessee.

There were rumors that Donnan was going to N.C. State and that Rodney Garner was going to leave coaching to become a sports agent.

Recruiting coordinator Rodney Garner spoke earlier this morning in the lobby of the Butts-Mehre building.

He addressed schools recruiting players that are committed in the final weeks.

Georgia lost receiver Da'Rick Rogers to Tennessee

“It’s a competitive business that we’re in. It’s like gameday. They’re not going to give up until the process (ends). You have to have respect for that. We have to make sure that we’re doing a great job of building on relationships, cultivating those relationships and ensuring those kids that what they’re doing is the right thing. They’ve felt UGA in their heart for nine of 10 months. Let’s stay consistent. Let’s stay the course.”

Defensive end Dexter Morant and offensive lineman Brent Benedict signed.

Running back Ken Malcolme and defensive end Jalen Fields from Dalton brings the number of signees now to 13.

Macolme played at Southwest Dekalb.

“He’s not that all flashy, but it seems like the best running backs around are the ones that can get you four or five yards when you need it every time,” Scout.com analyst Scott Kennedy said. “Ken Macolme is one of those guys when he’s healthy. He’s not going to hurdle over guys over juke four guys out of their shoes highlight runs like Knowshon Moreno had, but he’ll put his head in someone’s chest and be more of a Verron Haynes type of guy for rushed for a lot of yards when given the opportunity at Georgia.”

According to ABH reporter Roger Clarkson in Calhoun, Nash Nance just signed with Tennssee and Da'Rick Rogers is next.

The Ogletree brothers have signed.

Alec is the biggest get so far for the class. The safety is the No. 40 overall prospect in the nation by Rivals and No. 29 by Scout. Zander could play fullback or linebacker.

Quarterback Huston Mason from Marietta has some sick numbers. The Parade All-American threw for a state record 4,560 yards and 54 touchdowns.

Marc Deas also is on board. The safety was an early committ and actually stuck with it. His teammate,s B.J. Butler, was about to jump ship for Louisville when Georgia coaches took away his scholarship offer. Deas got a late offer from Hawaii.

Kenarious Gates was a Kentucky commitment two days ago. Now he has signed with Georgia.

The Bulldogs are listing the three-start product as an offensive tackle. The 6-5, 300-pounder is from Grantivlle and played at Greenville High.

That's now seven officially in this class so far. That includes early enrollees--safety Jakar Hamilton and offensive lineman Kolton Houston.

One of Georgia's top-rated recruits, defensive end/outside linebacker T.J. Stripling from Southwest Dekalb sent in his letter of intent. He's rivals No. 45 overall prospect.

“I’m not sure what they’re going to have me at, but I’m hoping it’s going to be at outside linebacker,” Stripling told me. "(Todd Grantham) coming in with the new defense, a 3-4, it’s a good look for me. That’s probably what I’d be at the next level if I’m looking up to the NFL.”

Linebacker Demetre Baker from Orange Park, Fla, is now officially in the fold.

Baker played in a USA vs. The World all-star game last weekend during the lead up to the Super Bowl down in South Florida.

Scout.com recruiting analyst Scott Kennedy thinks Baker could be a special teams standout early in his career before he develops into a more prominent role.

Rivals rates him as the No. 23 outside linebacker.

OK, so it's not Da'Rick Rogers. Georgia does have a receiver in this class.

Michael Bennett from Alpharetta is on board. He's rated as the No. 55 receiver in the nation by Rivals and No. 84 by Scout.com.

His fax came in at 7:02 a.m.

The Bulldogs also have the letter of intent from defensive end/outside linebacker Brandon Burrows from Walton High in Marietta.

Greetings from the Butts-Mehre building on signing day morning.

The fans haven’t arrived yet here, but the construction workers are already out for the expansion and renovation project for the building that houses the football offices. Chuck Dowdle, who hosts Mark Richt's coaches show, is in the lobby where he'll interview Richt later this morning and entertain fans.

The mood from the guys on 960 The Ref this morning was certainly downbeat.

That's because Georgia enters today's national signing day ranked 16th - now that Calhoun receiver Da'Rick Rogers, who gave the Bulldogs a nonbinding commitment in June, is expected to sign today with Tennessee. Quarterback commitment Hutson Mason told the Banner-Herald Tuesday that he heard from the Georgia staff that Rogers will sign with the Vols.

Georgia has added an offensive lineman to its recruiting class.

Kenarious Gates from Greenville High School, who was poised to sign with Kentucky, instead now will stay in the state to play for the Bulldogs.

The three-star prospect accepted a scholarship offer Monday night, Greenville coach Jeremy Williams said.

“They came in with (an offer) at the last minute last night,” Williams said this afternoon.

The 6-foot-5, 300-pound Gates will sign on Wednesday. He becomes the 18th commitment for Georgia.

“That was the one school that he always wanted to go,” Williams said. “They recruited him but they had a numbers game where they weren’t going to take another offensive lineman. That’s where he always dreamed of going so he jumped on it.”

Georgia had lost commitments from cornerback Nickell Robey and linebacker Deon Rogers in the past week.

The Bulldogs last new commitment was Lassiter quarterback Hutson Mason in December.