DALTON, Ga. — Mark Richt’s recruiting Dream Team added its latest member Sunday when Dalton High School rising senior Watts Dantzler committed to the University of Georgia.
It was no coincidence that the 6-foot-8, 330-pounder, widely regarded by scouts as the top offenisve tackle in Georgia, chose Father’s Day to announce his decision. Dantzler did it as a way to honor his later father, Danny, a former UGA player who died of Lou Gehrig’s disease last year.
Dantzler, who reported more than 40 scholarship offers, had recently narrowed his list to Georgia and Auburn. He said he would have been happy in either program but family ties to the Bulldogs were too strong.
“I want to thank all the schools that have taken the time to recruit me,” he said at a news conference Sunday. “I have been truly blessed to have had the opportunity to see some of the great schools in the country. Today being Father’s Day truly means more than anything in the world to me. I had, and still have, the best dad in the world, and I know he’s still looking down on me.
“I’ve rooted for Georgia since I was a little kid. Having my dad, mother and grandparents attend Georgia means I’ve had red and black running through my blood my whole life. Coach Mark Richt and my position coach, Stacy Searels, are the two best coaches in the country at what they do.