Rivals.com is reporting that Jon Richt, son of Georgia coach Mark Richt, has committed to Clemson. Jon is currently a junior at Prince Avenue Christian School in Athens, and he will be part of the 2008 signing class. He’ll be coming in behind highly-regarded quarterback Willy Korn, so it might be a while before he is heard from.

I think this is a wise move all around. For Jon, it’s reasonably close to home, and as much as we don’t like Clemson around here, there are plenty of schools with a worse football tradition. I also think that this decision lets both Jon and Mark avoid the ugliness that can creep up when family is involved. We heard grumblings, unfounded of course, of nepotism and favoritism this year with JT3, and his father isn’t even the head coach. Jon can make a name for himself now without the “coach’s kid” label over his head. Though many sons do end up playing for their fathers, it can be a very awkward situation and even a distraction.

Though Vince Dooley had family members involved in coaching the program while he was a head coach, Derek Dooley still went off to college at Virginia. I think it’s very appropriate that the Richts are following suit. Best of luck to Jon…unless we play Clemson any time soon.