Want to attack every day with the latest UGA football recruiting info? That’s what the Intel brings. This play sheet today offers up an interesting view from 4-star junior RB Lovesea’ Carroll after he was in Athens to watch that stunner versus South Carolina.
Lovasea’ Carroll was in Athens on Saturday. He was on hand to see the team he was once committed to this year (South Carolina) hand the team he grew up pulling for an improbable loss after two overtimes.
The word “improbable” does apply there. It also really applies to what was Carroll’s biggest takeaway from that visit.
Carroll had a unique response. It had nothing to do with what the coaches said to him during pregame warmups. Or what they said after the tough 20-17 loss.
When he was asked about his favorite part of the visit, his words were clear.
“I have got to say the fan base, man,” Carroll said. “It was unbelievable. The fan base was just unbelievable.”
The Dawgnation.com reader will take all of that into the proper context: This was a noon kickoff. It wasn’t prime time Sanford like Notre Dame this year. As far as home crowds go, this was the circle change. Not the 4-seam fastball.
Carroll drank it in regardless. All of it.
“Just how loud they were,” he said. “Even though Georgia was losing. They came prepared to prop up their team. They were still loud. Still loud on third down when South Carolina had the ball. Still loud when Carolina was about to score.”
Does he wonder what it would be like for a night game?
“I already know it would be crazy loud,” he said. “I have just got that feeling.”
The loss didn’t really alter his view of the Georgia program.
“It really didn’t affect me,” Carroll said. “I understand they lost to South Carolina from where they were as a top team like number three in the nation. To lose to an unranked team. Yet honestly I didn’t think anything negative about Georgia with it. At the end of the day, Georgia made plenty of mistakes and South Carolina capitalized on them. Any team can get beat like that.”
When he watched the Georgia offense, he felt that his skills would be a good fit.
“I saw them getting the ball in their running backs hands out in space on those swing routes and then running the ball on those inside zones,” he said. “That’s my style. I can see myself doing all of that.”
RELATED: Check out the get-to-know story on elite IMG Academy RB target Lovasea’ Carroll
Lovasea’ Carroll: How did the rest of his unofficial visit go?
Carroll said Saturday’s visit was “more of the same” in Athens. He got to chat with both Kirby Smart and RBs coach Dell McGee prior to Saturday’s game.
“They were both excited for me to be there,” Carroll said. “They were there before the game telling me how they wanted me and I am still a top priority for the 2021 class. They were glad that I came to the game.”
He said that he didn’t hang around to speak to the Georgia staff after the upset loss.
“Honestly I didn’t really talk to them after the loss,” he said. “I know it was a hard loss and I wasn’t really trying to talk to them after the game. I said goodbye to the folks on the recruiting staff and then I left.”
The quick-hit things to know about Mr. Carroll:
- Ranks as the nation’s No. 8 RB and No. 136 overall prospect (247Sports Composite)
- His first name is pronounced “Low-Va-See-Ay.”
- His Hudl profile page credits him with 4.44 speed in the 40. It does seem credible.
- Carroll plans to major in engineering
- Plans to work toward a top 5 and take those officials in the spring
- He’s put on about 10 pounds since coming to IMG earlier this spring
- Transferred to IMG Academy from Warren County High School in Georgia
- UGA made his top 8 earlier this month
- De-committed from South Carolina earlier this year
- Called himself a Georgia fan growing up
Carroll said his mother, who was with him, was also shocked that the Bulldogs lost. He said the visit went well and he will be back.
“Just because they lost it does not change anything,” he said. “Every team goes through an upset loss.”
RELATED: Georgia’s commits and top targets look back on that South Carolina loss
Lovasea’ Carroll on his boy Kaytron “Fatman” Allen
Carroll was also able to share a review of his IMG running mate Kaytron “Fatman” Allen.
“He is an unbelievable player,” Carroll said. “He’s humble. He just gets the job done as a sophomore. This stage that IMG plays on in big games and he’s up to the challenge. Especially when I’ve been hurt. He has filled in for my spot and came through the team you know. He is really just an unbelievable player.”
The “Fatman” comes in at 5 feet, 10 inches and 203 pounds. He might be a “Fatman” because of his plump rushing totals, but he picked up that nickname growing up.
“I was fat when I was a baby then that just always been my nickname when I was little when I made a name for myself back home,” Allen told DawgNation.
Allen now has 97 carries for 756 yards (7.8 yards per attempt) and 11 rushing touchdowns in 2019.
“He’s a patient runner,” Carroll said. “He’s like a Leveon Bell-type of guy. He goes and he’s got power and speed behind his carries.”
He feels that “Fatman” while eventually hold all the big offers that he does.
“Of course,” he said. “Those will all come for him after this season.”
Check out Allen’s freshman film below.