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July 2006
Looking for newbies
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The long, slow summer doesn’t officially come to an end until Sept. 23, but the boys of fall return to the field this week at Georgia Tech. Practice starts Thursday.
One of the things I’ll be looking for will be which of the new players can help Tech this season. Based on attrition since the 2005 season the No. 1 area would be the secondary, but Jon Tenuta doesn’t have much history of playing freshmen in his secondary.
Most redshirt or play on special teams; Kenny Scott played as a kick returner. It’ll be interesting to see if any of the freshmen contend for a return job in 2006.
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Tech has ACC’s attention
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A few observations from speaking with Joe Anoai and Calvin Johnson this weekend at the ACC football preseason news conference:
Anoai is really excited about his senior season; not just because of the talent on the defensive line and the fact it’s his senior season but also because he finally feels healthy. He said his shoulder and ankle problems meant he was never 100 percent as a junior. He might be the only guy at Georgia Tech who took something good away from that Emerald Bowl game against Utah; the rest between the season and the bowl game allowed him to heal enough that he was able to regain much of his health, and the resulting performance inspired him by reminding him how good he could be.
Johnson continues to give the same answer to the question of what he’ll do after his junior season: “When I came here I wanted to get my degree. I still want to get my degree from Tech. That’s where I’m headed right now. We’ll see what happens at the end of the year, but that’s still where I’m going.”
I’ve been at ACC media gatherings where the Tech players sat around while reporters interviewed the stars of other teams. That wasn’t the case this year. Calvin Johnson is a big story league-wide, and Tech’s opener against Notre Dame is generating publicity, too.
On the recruiting trail
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With the start of summer practice two weeks away (Aug. 3), footballs are not in the air yet, but football is, and Tech’s recruiting streak makes it easier than most summers to talk about the game.
With the addition of RB Roddy Jones, DL Logan Walls and DB Willie White, Tech’s got 10 commitments, and several are very solid.
They’re far from finished. Chan Gailey said last week he anticipates signing 16-18 players in February, depending on whether players leave the program, etc.
They’re getting a little thick on DB/WR-types, but they’ll certainly make room for Camden County High DB D.J. Donley if he wants to accept their scholarship offer. He figures to make a decision this week.
Also, even though Adrian, Mich., QB Steven Threet committed a while back, they want another QB, and they’re in the running for the No. 1 QB in Georgia, Josh Nesbitt of Greensboro. He, too, may make a decision soon.
A little different to be talking so much football before practice even starts, huh?
Claytor: No Tech commitment yet
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Nick Claytor’s one of the biggest recruits in coach Chan Gailey’s plan, figuratively and literally, but the mammoth offensive tackle told me Monday night he’s not about to commit to Georgia Tech.
Or Ohio State, or Auburn, or Florida State, or any school. Not yet, anyway.
Claytor, the 6-foot-6, 320-pounder from Gainesville High was rumored on some websites Monday to be nearing a college decision, with Tech sitting pretty according to some reports.
My guess is the reports began circulating for one reason - he called Gailey Monday with a list of “big” questions.
“I’m just starting to call [college] coaches and ask some of the tougher questions,” said Claytor, who is ranked as the No. 8 offensive tackle in the nation by rivals.com among rising seniors. “You kind of tip-toe around when you’re visiting [those schools], but you have to ask.
“I asked Tech outright today, coach Gailey, are they going to win? Are they going to be consistent. I went straight to the source. I just want to let people know I didn’t make a commitment.”
From the sound of it, Claytor - who’s from Ohio, with much of his family, including his father, still in Toledo - is down to Tech, Auburn and OSU, with Florida State on the edge.
He went to a seven-on-seven camp last month at Georgia, which has offered fellow Gainesville tackle C.J. Wood a scholarship. Claytor did not, however, go to one of Georgia’s full camps. “I took that time [at the seven-on-seven camp] to debate it and see if I really wanted to go there, and put forth the effort to try to get an offer,” he said.
And he opted against that effort. “This is one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever had to make, and that would have been added pressure,” he said, adding that he did not blow off Georgia, but rather never said he’d attend full camp in the first place.
As for a timeline, Claytor, whose father started on Kentucky’s 1978 NCAA championship basketball team (his mother ran track in college), is looking down the road. “In football season, or closer to it, maybe September or October,” he said, when asked when he expected to commit to a college program.
This is recruiting, where the world changes daily.
This much is real, though: Claytor strikes me as very bright, and said of Gailey’s answers to his questions: “I thought they were pretty impressive. I can see how he wants this to happen, and he has a vision for Tech. I’m just making sure I’m asking the harder questions.”
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Gailey fixating on Midwest recruits
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’m not sure if it’s an intentional pattern or a coincidence, but Georgia Tech’s making noise in the Midwest this year in football recruiting.
Gailey and Co. recruit the Midwest every year, obviously. But I wonder — with the early commitment from QB Steven Threet (Adrian, Mich.), not to mention recent camp visits by two prospects from Indianapolis and one from Detroit (in addition to others) — if the Jackets are focusing more energy in that region than in previous years.
I hope to speak with Coach Gailey this week, and I’ll ask. I’m curious. At any rate, we’re going to try to keep the flow of recruiting information up, a little moreso than in recent years.
Practice begins Aug. 3, I believe. That’s three weeks from Thursday. It’s coming fast.
What do you think of Cremins’ new job?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Former Tech coach Bobby Cremins, who has not coached since the 2000 season, has agreed in principle to become the next head coach at the College of Charleston. What do you think of the news? How will he do at this new position?
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