AJC > Sports > Highschools > Blog > Archives > 2008 > February > 13
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Non-playoff schools boast most signees
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The recruiting rankings are out. Not the college stuff. That’s old news. We’re talking high schools. Who’s No. 1? Based on the number of signees per school, the results will surprise you.
It’s a tie between Carver-Columbus, the state champs of AAAA, and Stockbridge, which didn’t make the playoffs in AAAA. Each had 15. That’s according to superfan Steve Slay, who has compiled the totals and shared with us. Keep in mind that there is no official statewide count of signees per school so if there are errors or omissions, let us know.
Most surprising is that most of the 11 schools with at least nine signees did not make the playoffs, or they lost in the first round. How did Stockbridge, Southwest DeKalb and Lovejoy have more signees than victories?
Was it chemistry? Coaching? Tough region? Or does getting a football scholarship mean you’re a prospect, not necessarily a great high school player? Or do certain coaches work harder than others to place their kids on college teams? Here’s another issue: How can Buford, a Class AA school, have nine signees (six to D-1) and four more preferred walk-ons, while Parkview is sending just three players to college? How can Carver and Stockbridge have 15, and McEachern have two?
I know there are magnet schools for science and math, but do we have magnet schools for football, too? Does that explain why Carver and Buford have so much talent? Do the top athletes choose these schools for athletics? (Thanks to superblogger “Slalom!” for some of those questions.)
The rankings
• Stockbridge (15) — Maryland got QB Tyler Bass off a team that went 6-4 due mainly to injuries and brutal Region 4-AAAA.
• Carver-Columbus (15) — The Class AAA champions sent QB DeRon Furr to Auburn and WR Jarmon Fortson to FSU. Most of the rest were Division II or junior college signees, but still an amazing haul.
• Lovejoy (13) — DE Tory Allen went to Virginia. Lots of small-school prospects off this 5-6 team.
• Southwest DeKalb (12) — No D-1 signees. Coach Buck Godfrey might be the state’s best at working to get his kids on college teams.
• Northside-Warner Robins (11) — The AAAA champs had nearly a dozen signees, but none to Division 1-A. QB Marques Ivory signed with Jacksonville State.
• Valdosta (11) — The Wildcats had more signees than crosstown Lowndes, although most are headed across town for college to Valdosta State, or to a junior college. RB David Arnold (Georgia Southern) was the top recruit.
• Creekside (10) — Florida State nabbed DB Terrance Parks. Most of the rest went JUCO.
• Grayson (10) — So Grayson is Gwinnett’s real football factory? Who knew? LB Tristan Strong, who signed with Vandy, is the blue-chipper off an underrated team.
• Buford (9) — Six are D-1 — WR Melvin Harris (Mississippi), FB Alex Hunt (Indiana), DL Omar Hunter (Florida), RB Demetris Murray (South Florida), LB T.J. Pridemore (Florida) and LB/TE Jay Tee Swanson (Miami-Ohio).
• M.L. King (9) — Ole Miss got OL Aaron Hawkins, and WR Daniel McKayhan is headed to Georgia Tech.
• North Cobb (9) — All-state QB Matt Roark will follow his father to Kentucky, where he’ll play receiver. LB Nnandi Ezenwa signed with Purdue.
• Schools sending eight to college — Marietta, Walton, Cedar Grove, North Gwinnett, Roswell, Tucker, Kendrick, Grady.
Kick off the debate: Why are some schools more talent-blessed than others? Share your theories here.
Permalink | Comments (45) | Post your comment | Categories: Extra Point
