AJC > Sports > Highschools > Blog > Archives > 2008 > February > 13 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USNon-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
Comments
By semiballcoach
February 14, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this
Craver had players from abou6 or 7 other high schools, which helps their haul.
By NAS
February 14, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this
Props to all the kids that get a chance to continue their playing career at the next level. That being said a lot of kids would rather utilize the Hope scholarship and go to big schools like UGA or GT as opposed to going to a small NAIA school to play football. Having a large number of kids go on to play college ball is a nice thing to boast about, but I prefer quality over quantity.
By Brooks
February 14, 2008 11:10 AM | Link to this
Todd,
I think it is great that all schools are able to have kids sign scholarships but it is misleading… Some of these schools with poor records have kids sign a scholarship yet many either never attend or go and quit… A year of free school is great but where is the true benefit of this and how many are actually finishing up and getting degrees? Studying to see how many sign scholarships and then either finish school or move on to other professional jobs would be more telling and informative than just saying that school A went 1-9 but had 15 sign scholarships…
By Dawgs 07
February 14, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this
What about team cohesiveness? Teams that went farther in the playoffs (i.e. Chamblee, Tucker) didn’t have dozens of “superstars”, but the entire team played well together as a unit. A lot of those players will be in college next year too. Especially Chamblee who has one of the highest SAT scores in the state and currently ranked 169 by Newsweek on the top high schools in America. Sometimes it’s not all about one or two great players.
By Shamrock Slinger
February 14, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this
Just great to see all of these kids sign to play at another level!
By jacks
February 14, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this
Hey NAS, There is no need to knock other college programs that way. The goal is to educate kids in all life skills. PERIOD! If a coach (who is a TEACHER by trade) works on getting kids into college on free rides via sport, then let the free money flow. The creme always rises to the top anyway no matter what school you attend. Funny how the NFL and NBA is full of non D1 athletes. College baseball doesn’t produce like the strong latino recruiting which bypasses college all together.
Let’s applaud coaches who balance their programs with two end goals in mind, State championships and college scholarships!
Congrats!
By GT
February 14, 2008 11:31 AM | Link to this
There has been an influx of NCAA division 1AA schools in this area over the last two years or so. In Georgia we just have Georgia Southern, but in South Carolina, a state with a small population, there is two just in Charleston and then there is Wofford, Furman, Presbyterian, Coastal Carolina…. There have been so many schools applying for a level increase that the NCAA has put a four year hold on applications just to see how the ones in the hopper digest into the system. The Big South Conference is colleges that 10 years ago either did not have teams or were playing in NAIA or NCAA II or below. These schools have done individual studies that tell them they are better off economically and academically having a bigger presence in college sports. It is surprising that the same areas that seem to surpass Georgia academically are the same schools that are expanding their sports programs. We have no teams in Georgia applying for higher status. North Carolina and South Carolina have dozens either already there or coming. We supply the players they supply the education.
By cantonfroggy
February 14, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this
A lot of can be driven by the age of the players. Perhaps the more dominant teams this year are populated by Juniors? Roswell shared the state championship last year with a team whose key players were Juniors. They did not have many kids sign last year but had 8 this year.
I could be wrong but most of the Lowdnes team who won this year is coming back next year, right?
By ValKat
February 14, 2008 11:49 AM | Link to this
Todd - one thing that you didn’t mention is the fact that a lot of the schools that didn’t have a significant number of players going to play college football is because the schools didn’t have a lot of seniors on their team, i.e. Lowndes.
By coaching matters
February 14, 2008 11:49 AM | Link to this
a douglass team with 11 d-1 signees lost to parkview 28-0 in 1999.
By Miss Manners
February 14, 2008 11:50 AM | Link to this
I think it has to do with the parents.
By Miss Manners
February 14, 2008 11:50 AM | Link to this
I think it has to do with the parents.
By Miss Manners
February 14, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this
I think it has to do with the parents.
By Ryan Chambers
February 14, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this
The AAAA champs had nearly a dozen signees, but none to D-1. QB Marques Ivory signed with Jacksonville State.
Funny…Jacksonville State is D1. And so are other schools that signed kids out of Northside. I think you mean 1A.
By Ryan Chambers
February 14, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this
The AAAA champs had nearly a dozen signees, but none to D-1. QB Marques Ivory signed with Jacksonville State.
Funny…Jacksonville State is D1. And so are other schools that signed kids out of Northside. I think you mean 1A.
By Ryan Chambers
February 14, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this
The AAAA champs had nearly a dozen signees, but none to D-1. QB Marques Ivory signed with Jacksonville State.
Funny…Jacksonville State is D1. And so are other schools that signed kids out of Northside. I think you mean 1A.
By Drew
February 14, 2008 12:03 PM | Link to this
When i was in High School in Gwinnett, schools like parkview and brookwood had different drinking water…also, because of their reputations, families from all over the country flocked to these top tiered programs…but kudos to MISS MANNER’S for realizing the parental impact of their kids…gosh if only more people respected that
By Concepts
February 14, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this
Buck Godfrey is simply the BEST.. What is the total number of players and non players he has help get into college Thank you BUCK
By Cam
February 14, 2008 12:17 PM | Link to this
It’s all about coaches networking and colleges finding that recruiting pipeline. Schools will always find “Top 250” prospects but the majority of college players come from word-of-mouth and coaching relationships. Most schools just don’t have the recruiting budgets to seek others with talent that may not get noticed.
Al Hughes and Lovejoy High School does an exceptional job providing opportunities to athletes to play another four years. His program consistently does this despite losing a ton of players to the relatively new Mundy’s Mill High School. If it weren’t for that, you’d also see Lovejoy with many more Regional Championships.
By R
February 14, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this
Hey Todd, where is Cordellro Jones from MLK going?
By by a-town
February 14, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this
If you watch some schools that consistenly make the playoffs they will not have the best athletes. Take Parkview, by far one of the best staffs in the state, if not the best. If you have seen them the last few years they have not been blessed with the best athletes, but they still win. Also, North did not match-up with a lot of schools they played but still found a way to win. All coaches work hard in getting kids in schools. If the kid can play the college coach will find him.
By TA
February 14, 2008 1:08 PM | Link to this
As a former player and BCS college coach, there is a huge misconception by some parents, high school coaches, etc. that if a kid is good enough to play in college, schools will seek them out. That is furthest from the truth for most. You don’t need to be a superstar to play in college. Most football recruiting budgets are very tight and frankly, many players who can play in college go unnoticed. “Cam” is right about relationships and networking.
Good coaches and parents can be of value by taking initiative to contact colleges on their own. Just know that most parents and many high school coaches don’t have a pulse as to what level in college their son can play. Not a shot at them, its just that they don’t see college talent daily to know. They only see High School talent.
By Cougarmom
February 14, 2008 1:17 PM | Link to this
Some colleges have small recruiting budgets so they rely on alternative sources of information for extending scholarship money. i.e. combines, camps, high school coaches recommendations. Getting a player signed with a college is a joint effort between a players parents and his coach. For the most part, it doesn’t “just happen”. it isn’t a case of play and they will see you and offer you a free education. Kudos to the coaches and the parents who all had kids sign with collegges. Good job to all of you!
By Todd Holcomb
February 14, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this
Hey Todd, where is Cordellro Jones from MLK going?
Just got off the phone w/ MLK coach Corey Jarvis, and he expects Jones to sign with a junior college — Butler or Coffyville in Kansas or College of the Desert in California. Jarvis said no D-1 school was placing him there, so he’ll be wide open to recruitment two years later and probably wind up mid-major D-1A or D-1AA.
“Personally, I think he’s not going to be a running back,’’ Jarvis said. “He doesn’t want to hear that, but he was a pretty good defensive back my first year here, and I think that’s where he’ll wind up.’’
Funny…Jacksonville State is D1. And so are other schools that signed kids out of Northside. I think you mean 1A.
Correct, although when people say D-1, they usually mean 1-A. Now, it’s called something else, in fact.
Todd - one thing that you didn’t mention is the fact that a lot of the schools that didn’t have a significant number of players going to play college football is because the schools didn’t have a lot of seniors on their team, i.e. Lowndes.
Good point. Lowndes started nine juniors and SEVEN sophomores last year. (I’ve got starting lineups of state champs back to 2002, so if someone wants to know the record for sophomore starters, I might have time to look that up!)
Lowndes’ 2005 state championship team wound up sending 16 of 22 starters to college football, and TE/LB Matt Harper is playing baseball at Georgia Tech. Pretty strong.
Studying to see how many sign scholarships and then either finish school or move on to other professional jobs would be more telling and informative than just saying that school A went 1-9 but had 15 sign scholarships.
That would be intersting to track, although keep in my point wasn’t to measure how well a high school or team is furthering the education of its players, but simply to correlate winning to the number of players w/ the talent to play at the next level. …
Some good points are being made about the role of parents and coaches in helping kids get scholarships. That’s why it’s often unfair to ask a coach why his team had more college signees, but didn’t do as well on the field. Might be that the coach has made contacts that keep college coaches coming to him and trusting his judgment. On the other hand, it could be poor just coaching, too! Depends on the situation.
By GA Buckeye
February 14, 2008 2:28 PM | Link to this
This is a good discussion. Informative and non-attacking. The biggest improvement I would like to see in HS football is a greater focus by parents, players and coaches to make sure the players that can play at the next level (D1 BCS, D1 FCS, D2, NAIA, etc.) are getting the grades and the SAT/ACT scores to get the opportunity. My fear is that there are far too many good players state-wide that are missing out on opportunities to advance their education via football because they were ill-prepared to qualify.
By tjs
February 14, 2008 5:58 PM | Link to this
Contacts for high school coaches mean everything, if you got um, you can get marginal prospects into some college. Even if their NAIA , div 11, wahtever…I just hope these kids can do the academic work, and use the scholarship for their own good..Unlike their brethern who go to Div 1A schools, who all think they will be in the NFL, and never graduate. And are left on the scrap heap of big time college football failures… tjs
By ST
February 14, 2008 7:00 PM | Link to this
I agree. I think parents and coaches need to do a better job preparing these kids in understanding that it is a priviledge to play another four years but are really there to get their degree.
In addition, coaches and kids tend to underestimate the NAIA. The top teams are able to play with many lower to mid NCAA BCS and mid to upper FCS teams. While smaller schools, they do have alot of positives.
By Cougarmom
February 14, 2008 9:54 PM | Link to this
The NCAA currently has a great commercial airing to the effect that most NCAA scholarship recipients turn pro in something OTHER than their “sport”. We stressed over the years to children we coached in rec. league that sports was tool to obtain the ultimate goal - a good education. I couldn’t agree more about parents communicating to their children the importance of taking full advantage of a scholarship ride….their degree should be the ultimate goal.
By Cougarmom
February 14, 2008 9:55 PM | Link to this
The NCAA currently has a great commercial airing to the effect that most NCAA scholarship recipients turn pro in something OTHER than their “sport”. We stressed over the years to children we coached in rec. league that sports was a tool to obtain the ultimate goal - a good education. I couldn’t agree more about parents communicating to their children the importance of taking full advantage of a scholarship ride….their degree should be the ultimate goal.
By Brian
February 14, 2008 11:24 PM | Link to this
Hard to take an article serious when you mistake facts. Jacksonville State is D-I and has been for over a decade. Northside had two players sign with Georgia Southern which has been D-I for over two decades.
By educate2elevate
February 15, 2008 8:36 AM | Link to this
While recruiting is not the job of a highschool coach, I figure I put that out there before I say this - Since it has become a big business for many coaches to go to the next level; build their resume; make the papers; and transfer schools why not TEACH/SHOW/EDUCATE all coaches to market their athletes. Kudos to those coaches who do it. Shame on those schools and coaches who put coaches in positions that can’t/won’t even ask how to! They are hurting the overlooked. Stop grandfathering people into positons and put qualified people who can take kids to the next level even if it is outside YOUR COUNTY. Hire qualified coaches not hire because they have been their for 95 years. Principals, AD, you are hurting the kids when you do this. Again kudos to the coaches who do it, shame on those who are too selfish that don’t; congratulations kids and parents.
By Todd Davis
February 15, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this
I believe that it has a lot to do with coaching. Some coaches get more out of their players. It is shameful for a coach to have 15 college football signees and not even make the playoffs.
By Todd Davis
February 15, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this
I believe that it has a lot to do with coaching. Some coaches get more out of their players. It is shameful for a coach to have 15 college football signees and not even make the playoffs.
By Todd Davis
February 15, 2008 9:31 AM | Link to this
I believe that it has a lot to do with coaching. Some coaches get more out of their players. It is shameful for a coach to have 15 college football signees and not even make the playoffs.
By Division Correction
February 15, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this
If not mistaken I believe Jacksonville State is a Division 1AA school.
By Don't Jump to Conclusions
February 15, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this
To Todd Davis - one would have to also look at the mix of schools 1A, 1AA, D2, D3. Jr College etc.. before coming to that conclusion.
By the dude
February 15, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this
Southwest Dekalb had one D-1 signee, Manley Waller. He’s going to Akron
By Duh
February 15, 2008 1:08 PM | Link to this
White people are inferior athletes but have more money. That’s why they win games at rich high schools and cannot compete at the top colleges.
By NSHS FAN
February 15, 2008 5:17 PM | Link to this
To By Duh: Please Stop it! Each time I see race brought into a sports situation, I wonder if its a low class person trying flame bad feelings beteen the races. I hope bloggers overlook the ignorance.
By NSHS FAN
February 15, 2008 5:17 PM | Link to this
To By Duh: Please Stop it! Each time I see race brought into a sports situation, I wonder if its a low class person trying flame bad feelings between the races. I hope bloggers overlook the ignorance.
By HS FOOTBALL FAN
February 15, 2008 7:51 PM | Link to this
NSHS FAN, I AGREE SOME PEOPLE ARE JUST PLAN IGNORANT.
By Wituka
February 17, 2008 6:22 AM | Link to this
Correction Southwest Dekalb had 13 and Defensive Back Manley Waller signed D-1 to Akron so they are tied for 3rd.
By Wituka
February 17, 2008 6:24 AM | Link to this
Correction Southwest Dekalb had 13 and Defensive Back Manley Waller signed D-1 to Akron so they are tied for 3rd.
By slalom1
February 19, 2008 8:04 PM | Link to this
To: TODD HOLCOMB, Appreciate the title of “super blogger”. The transfer issue is one that the GHSA should begin to take a hard look at. I referred to not only Gwinnett County, but Muscogee County, as well. I am certain that these two counties do not stand alone in allowing any high school athlete to transfer to any school in the system, provided that they can handle their own transportation. In Muscogee County, there are 7 public high schools. Enrollment varies from 950-1500. Here is the problem: For years, during the Charles Flowers era at Shaw, what took place was basically an “all-star” team, composed of the best athletes in Columbus, Ga., regardless of school districts. When Coach Flowers left Shaw, and Dell McGee took over at Carver, the tables were turned. Now, Carver has the “all-star” roster. As an example, during the 2006 season, Carver was the beneficiary of 7 Shaw transfers, plus Deron Furr, a Pacelli transfer. What kind of message does this send to the high school athlete? I don’t claim to know the answer. But, something is wrong with this. Would enjoy some input from everyone. Todd, glad you are keeping the blog up during the “off-season” And…Where is my brother “Yo”?
By slalom1
February 19, 2008 8:20 PM | Link to this
To: Carver-Columbus fans, Having read my most recent post, I am expecting to get some “hate” mail. So, I would like to be more specific. First of all, I believe that Dell McGee is a great high school coach. Secondly, I believe that there are enough kids in the Carver school district to field a championship caliber team, year after year without going outside of their district.I was proud of what Carver accomplished in 2007. But, would it have not been sweeter, had there been no transfers?