Message:
Some recruitnik who posted here not long ago might be surprised at
comments from an ex-vol on one of our 2009 QB recruits. Read on...
Jim
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Even ex-Vol admires potential Dogs QBs
By CARTER STRICKLAND
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 05/09/08
— Tee Martin says Georgia is going to have a problem.
Before everybody jumps on the former Tennessee quarterback, hear him out.
"It's a good problem," Martin said.
Georgia, by Martin's evaluation, has commitments from two of the top
three quarterbacks in the country for the 2009 signing class.
"I would say the top three in the country are [Zach] Mettenberger,
[Matt] Barkley and [Aaron] Murray," Martin said. "Georgia has two
[Mettenberger and Murray] of the top three. Or at least two of the top
five."
He would know, too. Martin has worked with all three as a coach at
Nike combines and the Elite 11 camps. Last week, he was in Tuscaloosa,
Ala., and had a chance to work with Mettenberger.
"He is the first one on tour this year that we have seen who threw a
ball that whistled," Martin said. "He threw that first ball on a
slant, and it just whistled when it went by you."
"He is without a doubt one of the top three quarterbacks in the
country," said Rivals recruiting expert Barry Every, who has been to
combines in California, Texas, Florida, Louisiana and Alabama this spring.
Mettenberger, who is from Oconee County, is ranked as the ninth best
at his position by Scout.com. Rivals does not have Mettenberger ranked
in its top 100 overall. He is not ranked by his position either.
Mettenberger did not return a message left Thursday on his cellphone.
Every said part of the reason Mettenberger has not shot up the
rankings is that he hasn't had a chance to perform in games. Oconee
County is not blessed with a lot of talent around Mettenberger. The
team started to throw only toward the end of the season. As a result,
he completed 117 of 189 attempts for 1,333 yards, 10 touchdowns and
nine interceptions.
And the Warriors finished with a losing record.
Still, Martin said, "he has it all."
"You see guys that have the talent but are not ready; he is ready,"
Martin said. "He can make all the throws. But he also understands the
different types of throws that you have to make. He has the maturity
it takes. And this last time I started to see some of that leadership
in him. He can play in the SEC."
Martin worked with Mettenberger a year ago at a combine as well.
Rivals ranks Murray No. 48 in the top 100 players. Scout has the
Tampa, Fla., prospect ranked as the sixth best quarterback in the
country. He completed 201 of 329 attempts for 4,012 yards and 51
touchdowns with seven interceptions last season. Murray did not return
several messages left on his cellphone during the past week.
"They are two different guys," said Martin, who trains quarterbacks in
Atlanta through his company Playmakers Sports. "Murray reminds me of a
Tim Tebow type. He can make the throws, but he has the legs, too.
"Mettenberger is like Peyton Manning," Martin continued. "He is a
leader. He has the maturity. He thinks about what he is doing. And he
has very good mechanics."
The one knock on Mettenberger had been that he might be slow on his
feet. But Martin said he ran Mettenberger through a series of agility
drills and was impressed with his footwork and speed.
"Some guys come in there and they are huffing and puffing," Martin
said. "He was ready to go."
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