Did UGA hire coach to get No. 1 prospect...Robert Nkemdiche

UGA recently hired Daryl Jones as its Director of On-Campus Recruiting, which is the most critical behind-the-scenes job in the recruiting department.

Jones was an assistant in charge of defensive backs, at Grayson High School for 2009 season, when a talented freshman named “Big Rob” split time between the freshmen team and varsity roster. Soon after, Jones took another job running Under Armour camps before he was hired by UGA.

Nkemdiche and Jones are friends. So now the popular question for Internet message boards – Did UGA hire Nkemdiche’s former coach to get an advantage?

Grayson coach Mickey Conn chuckled when he was asked about it. “I don’t think Georgia hiring Daryl Jones has anything to do with Robert.”

“Robert’s decision is going to be what Robert wants to do.”

Jones is well-connected and well-respected within the Georgia high school ranks after serving as a coach or athletics director in the state for 17 years. He will be making a $110,000 salary at UGA, according to FOI requests.

“Georgia is getting a great guy … a great coach and a great PR guy,” Conn said. “He’s real positive and a high-energy guy. He’s very organized. I think he’s going to do a fantastic job.”

Nkemdiche is considering Alabama, Ole Miss, LSU, UGA, Clemson, Texas, Mississippi State and Florida, among others.