Georgia Bulldogs make last-second push for Dee Liner, No. 26-overall recruit

Georgia Bulldogs head coach Mark Richt reacts to the fans in the student section after defeating the Mississippi Rebels at Sanford Stadium. Georgia defeated Mississippi 37-10. (Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports)

Dee Liner was one of a number of elite prospects to have committed themselves to Auburn prior to the 2012 football season. However, the wheels fell off the Tigers wagon in spectacular fashion, resulting in the de-commitment of a number of top recruits, including the nation’s No. 26-overall high schooler in Liner.

At 6-foot-3 and 275 pounds and running a 4.86-second 40-yard dash, Liner has the size, strength and speed to be a disruptive force from Day 1 on campus.

However, since rescinding his commitment from The Plains, the question has obviously not been his ability, but where he will wind up showcasing all of that talent.

Nick Saban and Alabama have been hot on his trail for quite some time now since winning their third national championship in a four-year span. In fact, most reports have had Liner penciled into Bama’s recruiting class for the last few weeks.

However, a new player has emerged as a favorite for Liner’s services, and it is one that never expected to be in the running.

The Georgia Bulldogs.

“The questions almost everyone asked were: ‘Who initiated contact?’” Radi Nabulsi of DawgNation.com wrote. ” Is Georgia reaching out to Liner in a desperation move after getting bad news on Montravius Adams or is Liner not as happy with Alabama as some folks have made him out to be?

“According to my sources, Liner called Richt. I have also been told, although not by Liner himself, that Liner is going to take an official visit to Georgia this weekend.”

National Signing Day falls on Feb. 6, only days away as of writing. However, obviously a lot may happen between now and then.

Richt’s Bulldogs return nearly everyone from one of the nation’s most prolific offensive units in 2012. However, superstar linebackers Alec Ogletree and Jarvis Jones, as well as defensive tackle John Jenkins, are all presumably headed to the first round of the upcoming 2013 NFL Draft.

Liner will, according to the same report, be visiting Athens. Generally, recruiting one of the very best players in the nation takes literally years of time and patience.

However, Richt and Co. may have found themselves a replacement for the likes of Jones in one week, and with only a handful of phone calls.

MORE: Robert Nkemdiche is going to take a last-minute visit to LSU after all

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