How It Went: Few recruits visit Georgia on Saturday

An early kickoff and non-SEC opponent were the primary reasons Georgia coaches wound up entertaining just a handful of recruits during the season opener against Georgia Southern on Saturday. Recruits at the game included Georgia commits Mike Gilliard of Valdosta, Abry Jones of Northside Warner Robins and Oconee County quarterback Zach Mettenberger. They were joined by senior receiver Michael Bowman of Ridgeland and Griffin junior MarKeith Ambles. “I think [the small turnout] was because it was a 12:30 p.m. game, and a lot of people didn’t want to make the trip,” said Mettenberger, who lives about 10 miles from Sanford Stadium. Mettenberger said Aaron Murray of Plant Senior (Fla.) High, Georgia’s other commitment at quarterback, is expected to visit Athens later this season. “Aaron is coming up for the Alabama and Vanderbilt games,” he said.

Sandy Creek QB visiting Tech, UGA with friends

Sandy Creek quarterback Rio Johnson, who committed to East Carolina, will be very busy over the next days. On top of football-related activities with Sandy Creek, Johnson will be attending Georgia Tech’s game on Thursday night with his teammate, defensive end Brandon Putnam, who has committed to Duke but is still being recruited by the Yellow Jackets. On Saturday, Johnson will be at Georgia’s game as a guest of Oconee County quarterback Zach Mettenberger, who has committed to the Bulldogs. The two quarterbacks became good friends after attending camps together over the years. “Yes, he’s a good friend,” Mettenberger said.

Georgia-bound QB Mettenberger sharp in Oconee scrimmage

Oconee County quarterback Zach Mettenberger tossed a total of five touchdown passes during the Warriors’ preseason scrimmage Friday night against rival North Oconee. The contest gave the community just south of Athens its first glimpse of first-year Oconee County coach Mitch Olson’s spread offense and launched the senior season of Mettenberger, who has committed to Georgia. “My completion percentage was really good, and I thought the team played really well for our first outing,” said Mettenberger, who is listed as the 10th-best quarterback in the nation by Scout.com and is a member of AJC’s Georgia Top 150 . The 6-foot-5, 233-pound Mettenberger plans to attend Georgia’s season opener on Saturday against Georgia Southern in Athens. “I’m taking an unofficial visit on Saturday,” he said. “I think I’ll try to take an official visit later in the season with [Georgia commit] Arthur Fontaine [a tight end from Massachusetts] to get to know him better.” Mettenberger said he’s aware of Glades Central (Fla.) receiver Rantavious Wooten, who plans to commit to Georgia or LSU on Friday. “I know Rantavious,” Mettenberger said. “He was there at Dawg night earlier this summer. The [Georgia] coaches really like him a lot and what he can offer.” Wooten is rated as the 28th-best receiver in the country by Scout.com and is No. 34 overall at the position at Rivals.com.

Oconee County QB Mettenberger will be a Bulldog

Georgia didn't have to go far to get its quarterback of the future. Oconee County's Zach Mettenberger, who has been around the program for more than a decade and who lives in neighboring Watkinsville, committed to the Bulldogs. "It was definitely like a lightning-bolt thing, " Mettenbeger said. "I had thought that I was going to take some visits and commit in the spring. But I decided I just wanted to do it and get it out of the way so I could concentrate on my senior season." The 6-foot-5, 205-pound quarterback also had offers from Boston College and Florida State. But ultimately it came down to being an environment where is comfortable. "Really it was the players, " Mettenberger said. "I have know a lot of those guys for a long time. And this is my home. This is where my family and friends are." Mettenberger has had a relationship with Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo since 1999. Mettenberger went to a passing camp last summer that was run by Mike Bobo's father, George. Zach's mother, Tammy, works in the football office but did not apply any pressure on her son's when it came to recruiting. "I want it to be Zach's decision, " Tammy said back in November. "I just told him I don't want him to go more than eight hours away because I want to be able to make it to all the games." The Georgia campus is six miles away from the Mettenberger's home.

"Dawg Night" attracts 86 prospects to UGA

Georgia coach Mark Richt welcomed 86 high school players for "Dawg Night" prospect camp on July 18. The most celebrated prospect in attendance was Branden Smith of Atlanta's Washington High. Smith, considered one of the nation's top cornerbacks with around 25 offers, opted not to participate in the camp. Defensive end Abry Jones of Northside-Warner Robins, who has committed to Georgia, was also an observer. However, three Georgia commitments decided to go through the workouts: lineman Dallas Lee of Buford, linebacker Michael Gilliard of Buford, and quarterback Zach Mettenberger of Oconee County. Mettenberger looked much sharper and crisp with both his technique and throws that he did at another Georgia camp earlier in the summer. He seemed to quickly develop chemistry with wide receiver Rantavious Wooten of Belle Glades, Fla. Wooten was perhaps the camp's most impressive player with his speed and quickness, attracting the attention of Richt and other members of the Georgia staff.