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Published Thursday, July 02, 2009 in Sports

Photo by Jeffrey Leo

Ranked as the nation’s No. 1 high school senior safety by Rivals.com, Newnan defender Alec Ogletree decided not to wait until next February to announce that he will attend the University of Georgia after verbally committing last Friday.

Ogletree lets cat out of the bag with college choice

By Chris Goltermann

The Times-Herald

The picture that now adorns Newnan senior Alec Ogletree's profile on the popular Internet networking site Facebook this week is worth a 1,000 words -- or at least 500-plus.

Ogletree has been on nearly every major Division I college football program's recruiting list, and as close to the top as possible, regarding the Class of 2010's most highly touted high school seniors. The popular recruiting Web site Rivals.com named the 6 foot 3, 210 pounder as the nation's No. 1 prep safety and The Sporting News recently included the Cougar standout among its "SN100" list of prospects.

As of this week, though, that picture has shifted. And so has Ogletree's Facebook image accordingly to include two identifying marks. Both say almost all that's needed in the chase for his incredible talents.

The first distinction was a smile. And the other was a cap emblazoned with the University of Georgia's 'G' logo.

The rest is impending history for Bulldog football fans -- who may still be awaiting another Ogletree on campus next season. Alec's twin brother Zander, who led Newnan in tackles last season at linebacker, is receiving attention from Georgia and already has a standing scholarship offer from Florida State.

Deciding not to wait any longer following a full-year of letters, phone calls and visits both to potential choices and from college coaches to Newnan -- a host of them that arrived this spring to watch 10 days of allotted practices -- Alec made a verbal commitment to accept a scholarship offer from Georgia and head coach Mark Richt on Friday while attending a banquet in Rome.

Out of those in attendance for the Scout.com/GAVSV.com's "kickoff party" -- a group that included both Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo and Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart -- no one outside Ogletree knew what was coming.

And only one of the above former Bulldog teammates may have liked what the Newnan All-State defender had to announce.

"Well, I just felt like I didn't have to wait any longer and decided to get it over with," said Alec. "We had just finished our passing league at Georgia Tech and had made up my mind to go and do it then (at the banquet). Georgia just felt like the right place for me."

Ogletree made his decision from approximately 50 scholarship offers he's received since his freshman season, and a majority that came while helping lead Newnan to a record-setting 2008 football season highlighted by a trip to the Class AAAAA state semifinals. He finished the year with 67 tackles, six blocked kicks and two touchdowns without having played a down on offense.

But if colleges in pursuit were thoroughbreds, Georgia might have been the long shot heading into the turn of the new year. As of March, Alec told a Miami-area publication that the Hurricanes held the No. 1 spot in his heart and Florida was No. 2.

"Georgia was probably my second or third team (on my list)," he said. "I really wasn't considering them at first."

Yet the more Ogletree talked with Richt and his staff, the more Ogletree's choice came closer to home.

"I talked with just about every one of the coaches including Coach Richt," he said. "The thing I liked was that they treated me not just like another football player."

Ogletree made a second trip to Georgia during the prep basketball season just "to see how everything worked around (campus)." As the school year wound down, Georgia returned the favor, as defensive coordinator Willie Martinez attended "a couple" of Newnan spring football practices, one of which on May 14.

As one of eight seniors to verbally commit to Georgia in June, the decision allows Alec to turn his full attention to the field, where Newnan will have to replace all 11 starters on offense. It also puts the full spotlight on Zander, who will be in Athens in mid July for a summer camp.

At 5-11, 205 pounds, Zander doesn't have the physical size of his twin, but may be a more polished defender fundamentally from scouting reports that have even included the opinion of twins' mother, Allyson in an interview last March with Atlanta newspapers.

"I still think there's a chance for us both," said Alec. "I think when most of the schools found out (about him), they liked what they saw because he's a really good player too."

Both expect to expand their workload as well during the 2009 season. During spring, Alec lined up at wide receiver and Zander expects to join the Cougars backfield as a running back. It's somewhat unfamiliar territory for the duo. Alec said he's spent almost his entire career on the defensive side of the ball after getting grouped with defensive backs as a freshman.

Newnan reached the final four of its recent passing camp outing at Georgia Tech, knowing it will be replacing its top passer (Russell Powell), receivers (Alan Bonner, Russell Johnson) and running back (Kendreas Wynn) from last year's 12-1 team. All signed college scholarships in either football or basketball.

"Freshman year I got into the wrong line, and I've been with the DBs ever since," he said. "It'll be a little different. I feel real good about it."

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