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Tuesday, February 5, 2008
10 Signing Day quotes you’ll never hear
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wednesday is Signing Day — the day every recruiting junkie lives for. And with Mark Richt at Georgia raking in just about every significant prospect in the state this year, it has even more potential for buzz than usual. But as soon as the players start talking, the buzz dies down a bit. The quotes?
“They just felt like family” and “I really liked what I saw at both places, but …”
So we started wondering what it would be like to live in a world where the players said what was really on their minds when they officially made their decisions. And so, with the help of Take 10 Vice Presidents Chris Whitfield and Derrick Mahone, we’ve listed the top 10 quotes we wish we would hear Wednesday … but won’t.
10 Things Signees Never Say On Signing Day
10: “I knew I was going to State U. after my visit; I just strung everybody else along.”
9: “I really wanted to go to USC, but when they didn’t offer I figured State U. would have to do.”
8: “Honestly, the only reason I chose State U. was because they had the hottest girls.”
7: “Their first-string running back really isn’t very good, so I know I should be able to start the first game.”
6: “Did you see the size of the jet State U. sent to pick me up for my visit?”
5: “It didn’t really matter which school I chose because I’ll be in the NFL the first chance I get, anyway.”
4: “I just signed with them to give me some leverage in the baseball draft. I won’t be going anywhere near campus once I get drafted.”
3: “Academics was important to Mama, but I really liked the club scene in Tallahassee.”
2: “Awwwww… I wasn’t seriously gonna go to Michigan. Do you know how cold it is up there in January?”
1: “I’m glad they don’t know that I tore my ACL last week in a pickup basketball game.”
Go on. Take Ten. What kind of refreshing honesty would you like to hear from the signees on Signing Day? What words would just be fun to hear come out of their mouths? Give us your (clean, good-natured, witty, non-Make Us Hit The Delete Key type) thoughts here.
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Don’t overlook underrated recruits
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This week, the AJC’s Todd Holcomb offers another extra special Extra Point in advance of national signing day, Feb. 6.
I’m no recruiting guru, but I do watch a lot of high school football, and every year there are players who look much better on the field to me than they do at Rivals.com.
The best linebacker I ever saw in high school was Jon Abbate of Harrison, now on an NFL roster. But in-state schools ignored him, and he went to Wake Forest and became the best defensive player in the ACC. Other players in that mold are Eric Norwood and Kenny McKinley, now all-SEC players at South Carolina, and T.J. Yates, North Carolina’s starting quarterback.
Those players are from Cobb County, where I’ve seen the most games. But they are players just like them throughout the state. With the help of some of my colleagues on our high school sports staff, here are just a handful to get you started.
• Garrett Embry, Roswell — Best instincts and body control of any wide receiver I saw last season. And he’s 6-3, 210 pounds, going to Oregon, but somehow he’s not rated among Georgia’s best five at his position.
• Bernard Smith, Mays — Marist’s Alan Chadwick and Northview’s Jim Showfety (formerly at Chamblee) say Smith, a defensive end, might be the best defensive player they’ve seen in 20 years. But he’s only a three-star recruit who didn’t get SEC offers. He’s headed to West Virginia.
• Walter Lenard, Landmark Christian — He’s a 6-2, 205-pound quarterback who has played football for only two years. Our Derrick Mahone calls Lenard “a steal” for Furman.
• Charles “Chip” Reeves, Stone Mountain — One of my favorite quotes from 2007 was the assessment of Stone Mountain’s coach when asked to compare Reeves to Cedar Grove’s four-star receiver Josh Jarboe: “We played against them last year. Chip guarded Jarboe. Jarboe caught one pass. Chip caught 10. In a foot race, it ain’t even close.” It should be noted that Stone Mountain’s coach is Reeves’ father, Charles Sr. And Reeves Jr. and Jarboe are close friends, so no offense intended. Reeves, a three-star, is headed to Troy but is never mentioned among Georgia’s top receivers.
• Eric Eberhardt, North Gwinnett — The classic example of a great high school player who lacks the size (6-foot-1) to get major D-1 looks as a lineman. Coach Bob Sphire calls Eberhardt the most productive defensive player he has ever coached. Eberhardt led the Class AAAAA runner-up in tackles and sacks. He’s headed to Wofford.
Kick off the debate: Who are the players statewide this year who are better than their recruiting rankings? Let us know.
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