Dogs on hold

Georgia salvaged one mark of football consistency in December by defeating Texas A&M in the Independence Bowl, clinching a 13th consecutive season with eight or more wins.

The Bulldogs are looking to extend another in recruiting, as Georgia is the nation's only program to finish in the top 10 of Rivals.com's team rankings every year since 2002. Georgia is ranked ninth on the eve of Wednesday's national signing day but has slipped from the top five as a result of not having any commitments since Dec. 22.

"It's another good group, and I think they've done well to hold on to all those guys considering the old defensive staff is gone outside of Rodney Garner," Rivals.com national analyst Jamie Newberg said. "They have done well on the defensive line, and I think Da'Rick Rogers is one of my favorite players in this year's class. He is every bit the athletic freak on the perimeter as Julio Jones and A.J. Green."

Rogers made his nonbinding pledge to the Bulldogs last June but has visited Tennessee the past two weekends and has scheduled a news conference for Wednesday at 9:45 a.m. at Calhoun High School. He is rated by Rivals.com as the nation's No. 2 receiver and No. 9 prospect overall.

Another uncertainty for the Bulldogs is Nickell Robey, the nation's No. 9 cornerback prospect out of Frostproof, Fla. Robey committed to Georgia last July but has been courted in recent days by Southern Cal, West Virginia and South Florida.

Newberg has considered Robey "the biggest steal" in Georgia's class, comparing him to Greg Reid from Valdosta. Reid chose Florida State over Georgia last February.

Opting to leave the Peach State on Monday were Warner Robins defensive tackle Jeffrey Whitaker and Valdosta linebacker Telvin Smith. Whitaker, the nation's No. 5 defensive tackle and No. 54 prospect overall, became the first top-100 recruit from Georgia to pick Auburn since LaGrange linebacker Tray Blackmon in 2005.

Smith committed to FSU last July and used Monday night as an opportunity to reaffirm his choice of the Seminoles.

Not in attendance

Former Georgia coach Vince Dooley will not attend Sanford Stadium on Oct. 9, when the Bulldogs host a Tennessee team led by his son, Derek Dooley. The elder Dooley made his decision known this past weekend while participating at a celebrity quail hunt in Albany.

"I've really decided now that I will sit home and watch the game," Dooley told the Albany Herald. "I think that I'll be a little bit of a distraction going to the game, so I'll watch it at home on TV."

Dooley, who guided the Bulldogs to 201 wins, six SEC titles and the 1980 national championship during his 25 seasons, said his wife, Barbara, definitely will be in attendance.