Many prospects see their recruitment start out the same way.

A recruit will get an offer from a school or two early in the process, but the big time programs usually don't start offering until later

That isn't the case with Carrollton defensive tackle Dontavius Russell.

Just a few weeks after his junior season ended, Georgia Tech and Florida came in with offers for the star defensive tackle.

Alabama offered just after the New Year, and a week ago, Russell received an offer from the home state school.

"I was in my class, actually, and my coach called me down to his office," Russell said. "When I got there, I met the new defensive line coach, Coach (Chris) Wilson, and he just told me that they were going to go ahead and offer me a scholarship and that they really like me."

Russell, who isn't a man of many words, had a simple reaction to the offer from UGA.

"I was really excited to get the offer," he said. "Georgia is a big time program and it is great to get an offer. Coach Wilson seems like a really good guy."

At 6-foot-3 and 305 pounds, Russell is an excellent athlete for a big man, so it is no wonder that big time programs came calling over a year before he could sign with a program.

That still hasn't stopped the humble standout from being surprised by the attention.

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