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          On The Trail

          Recruits react to Mark Richt stepping down at Georgia

          Nov 29, 2015, 01:56 PM ET

          After 145 wins, nine top-10 poll finishes and two SEC titles, Mark Richt stepped down Sunday as head coach at Georgia. Richt will coach the Bulldogs in their yet-to-be announced bowl game.

          While rumors had been swirling that Georgia was prepared to make a change since the loss to Florida the last weekend in October, recruits were still caught off guard on Sunday when they learned of Richt’s dismissal.

          That list includes ESPN 300 running back Devwah Whaley, who committed to Georgia on Thanksgiving night and joined the Bulldogs' No. 7-ranked recruiting class.

          “Wow," Whaley simply said when informed of the news. "I wasn’t expecting him to [step down]. Wow.”

          Whaley, one of two running backs committed in the 2016 class along with fellow ESPN 300 Elijah Holyfield, isn’t sure what the next step is in his recruitment.

          “It kind of stirs it up. I guess I may have to open it back up and take a look around.”

          Another ESPN 300 commitment for Georgia totally caught off guard was cornerback Chad Clay.

          “I’m just shocked because I didn’t see this coming,” said Clay.

          The reactions are also pouring in from some of the top uncommitted targets on the board, including five-star tight end Isaac Nauta, who took an official visit to Oklahoma State this weekend.

          “He’s a great man and a great coach,” Nauta told ESPN via text. “We have built up a great relationship and he will be successful wherever he goes. But at the end of the day, college football coaching is a business and the people up top are going to make decisions they think they need to happen for a program. That’s just the business of it, but I’ll always be a Mark Richt fan regardless of where he is at.”

          Nauta, who is considered a battle between Michigan and Georgia, said the Bulldogs remain solidly in contention for his signature.

          Another top in-state target remaining on the board in Athens is ESPN 300 No. 29 Mecole Hardman. Harmdan, who has been considered a Georgia lean this season and a battle between the Bulldogs and Tennessee Volunteers shared his thoughts while on his official visit to Michigan, while making it known that Georgia remains in contention for his signature.

          “I’m shocked they did it,” said Hardman. “We’ll have to see what happens. Georgia is still up there for me. It hurts Georgia a little, but I’m going to wait and see who is hired.”

          Several other top targets responded on twitter, including ESPN 300 defensive tackle Derrick Brown.

          Brown had long been considered a Georgia lean with Auburn and Tennessee closing the gap during the season. Mississippi State is also in the mix.

          ESPN 300 offensive tackle and former Georgia commitment E.J. Price also joined the reactions on social media.

          Price tweeted out his final five schools Saturday night with Georgia being joined by Oklahoma, Michigan State, Auburn and Southern California. He is planning to announce a decision on national signing day.

          ESPN 300 tackle Ben Cleveland got in on the act as well, saying he remains committed to Georgia.

          The class of 2017 could also be affected by the firing of Richt. ESPN Junior 300 defensive back William Poole tweeted a thank you to Richt.

          Georgia currently has the No. 7-ranked recruiting class according to RecruitingNation with 17 commitments, including 10 ESPN 300 verbals.