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DEL.ICIO.USRecruiting report: Holiday weekend news in review
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 01/01/07 8:50 PM
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In case you missed it, here’s a look at the recruiting headlines from the past three days. Come back to ajc.com/sports all week for a look at the latest online-only news on college football recruiting from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. AJC staff writers will update the daily blog as news develops throughout the day.
— Landmark Christian quarterback Matt Moody said Monday night he is fairly certain he will pursue plans to become a preferred walk-on at Georgia Tech. Considering the play of sophomore quarterback Taylor Bennett in the Gator Bowl and the commitment of highly touted quarterbacks Josh Nesbitt and Steven Threet, the odds will be stacked against the 6-foot-3, 213-pound Moody seeing much playing time for the Yellow Jackets. But Moody, who hasn’t ruled out offers from Dartmouth, Lehigh, and Liberty, is convinced he can contribute to Tech’s program. “You’re going to have competition anywhere you go,” Moody told the AJC’s Jeff Hood. “I’ll go there, work hard, and see what happens.”
— AJC national top 25 prospect Terrance Toliver told Scout.com he has narrowed his choices to two schools: Florida and LSU. “I have visited both so I have enough information to decide, but I’m not sure that I am ready,” the Hempstead, Texas wide receiver said. “I am going to think about it this week.”
— Georgia Tech had 20 percent or more of its recruiting class at the Gator Bowl on Monday, including Willie White Jr., D.J. Donley, Clyde Yandell and Mario Butler. Donley, the safety/wide receiver and Tech commitment who made the 45-minute drive from Folkston with his sister and a couple friends, said, “We’re sitting with the West Virginia people, and I don’t know how that happened.”
The Jackets are likely to sign 19 or 20 high school players next month. They’re still actively recruiting four players: Morgan Burnett, a safety from North Clayton; Jason Peters, a defensive end from Baton Rouge, La.; Lorenzo Edwards, a safety/linebacker from Orlando; and Malachi Lewis, a running back/linebacker/safety from Oxnard, Calif.
— Texas is still No. 1 in both Rivals.com and Scout.com’s 2007 class rankings. A look at both Web sites’ top 10 teams:
Rivals.com: 1. Texas, 2. Florida, 3. Tennessee, 4. Southern Cal, 5. LSU, 6. Notre Dame, 7. Georgia, 8. Nebraska, 9. South Carolina, 10. Illinois.
Scout.com: 1. Texas, 2. Florida, 3. Illinois, 4. Southern Cal, 5. Nebraska, 6. Tennessee, 7. Notre Dame, 8. South Carolina, 9. Georgia, 10. Auburn.
— Hammond, La., offensive lineman Rishaw Johnson told Rivals.com he remains committed to Ole Miss but plans to take official visits to Florida State (Jan. 12) and LSU (Jan. 19). “I don’t really know what they can do [to change my mind],” Johnson told Rivals of the Seminoles and Tigers. “But it’s going to take a lot.”
— Riverdale wide receiver Rashad Tukes has received offers from South Carolina, Memphis and East Carolina. The 6-foot-5, 168-pound Tukes, who intercepted eight passes at free safety for Riverdale this season, plans to commit in mid-January. “Rashad will make a visit to Memphis around Jan. 12, then he’ll make a decision,” Riverdale coach Kevin Jones told the AJC’s Jeff Hood. “Memphis is intriguing to Rashad because they’re thinking about playing him on both sides of the ball. Right now, South Carolina is recruiting him as a defensive back. They’ve already got several commitments at wide receiver.”
— AJC Super Southern 100 defensive end Carlos Dunlap has made a commitment. But the North Charleston (S.C.) Fort Dorchester star refuses to disclose his selection. “I have made a commitment to the school I am going to, but I am not wanting to announce where I committed to yet,” Dunlap told Rivals.com. “So I guess I am still kind of open. I am committed, but still taking visits.” Dunlap has narrowed his choices to South Carolina, Florida and Tennessee. He has already made an official visit to South Carolina, and will visit Tennessee on Jan. 12 and Florida the following weekend.
— Norcross wide receiver Darius Hanks is still hoping offers will come from Auburn, Clemson and Georgia Tech. In the interim, the 6-foot-1, 170-pound Hanks is being courted by schools such as Miami of Ohio, Bowling Green, Ohio, Ball State and East Carolina. “I think he would be an impact player who can step in and play right away,” Norcross coach Keith Maloof told the AJC’s Jeff Hood. “He’s one of the smoothest wide receivers I’ve ever coached.”
— AJC Super Southern 100 tailback Joe McKnight told Scout.com he’ll visit Miami this week. Louisiana’s Mr. Football also has trips lined up to Ole Miss (Jan. 12), Southern Cal (Jan. 19), LSU (Jan. 26) and Arkansas (Feb. 3).
— St. Pius all-state offensive lineman Patrick Wilson plans to visit Georgia Southern, Chattanooga and Western Carolina this month. St. Pius coach Paul Standard said Wilson, who played in Friday’s North-South All-Star Game in Columbus, is slightly leaning toward Georgia Southern but keeping his options open at this point. “Pat is a great run-blocker who, I think, can develop into a really good college lineman,” Standard told the AJC’s Jeff Hood.
— AJC Super Southern 100 safety Major Wright of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., told Scout.com that “distance won’t really be a big deal for me” when it comes time to choose between his final four. In the Wright running: Ohio State, Florida, Miami and Notre Dame. “You want to go somewhere that you love the coach, but you also want to go somewhere that you know the guys you’re coming in with are guys you can count on in tough times,” Wright told Scout. “It’s great to go to a school that has great players coming in with you, guys that you know you’ll live and die with on the field for four years. You want to go where you’ll be able to count on guys off the field, too. That’s just as important. I want to go to a school that has a great class coming in.”
— Collins Hill defensive end Bo Adebayo is considering an offer from Middle Tennessee State. The 6-foot-3, 235-pound Adebayo is also being heavily recruited by Chattanooga. “I’m thinking Middle Tennessee right now, but I’m waiting to see what else is going to be offered,” Adebayo told the AJC’s Jeff Hood. “When the [Middle Tennessee] offensive coordinator came to my school, I liked what he was saying. I especially like their schedule, since they will be playing Auburn and Clemson next year.”
— Academics may keep one-time Georgia Tech recruit Jacoby Monroe, a 6-foot-2, 283-pound defensive tackle from Jacksonville Sandalwood, from playing at the Division I level next season. “Georgia Tech is on the top of his list, but right now Jacoby is working real hard to get his grades up,” Sandalwood coach Adam Geis told the AJC’s Jeff Hood.
— A starter at running back and defensive end for St. Pius, Tyler Fish is being recruited by small colleges but currently has no offers. But St. Pius coach Paul Standard is confident several scholarship opportunities will come for the 5-foot-11, 215-pound Fish. “I’m hoping something will break late,” Standard told the AJC’s Jeff Hood. “Tyler Fish is the toughest football player I’ve ever coached.”
— AJC Super Southern 100 tailback Broderick Green remains committed to Southern Cal, but told Scout.com he plans to check out a few other schools before national signing day. “Right now my other two schools are Ohio State and Penn State,” the Little Rock standout told Scout. is interested in the two programs.
— Shiloh linebacker Christian Jordan is scheduled to visit Georgia Southern on Jan. 12. In addition to the Eagles, the 6-foot, 200-pound Jordan is considering Richmond and Eastern Michigan. “The thing about Christian is his speed,” Shiloh coach Nick Davis told the AJC’s Jeff Hood. “He runs a 4.6 [in the] 40. I think he’ll be a great special teams player with his speed.”
— Atlanta Westlake quarterback Cameron Newton reiterated in a weekend interview with Rivals.com what he told the AJC a week earlier: He will sign with Florida, no matter how many players Urban Meyer recruits at his position. “I am a Gator all the way,” Newton told Rivals. “I committed early in the season and ever since then, the Gators have been progressing and ever since then, people have been jumping on board. I mean, who wouldn’t want to jump on the bandwagon? You’ll get commits from here, there and everywhere. It’s a great deal just being a Florida Gator.”
Some had speculated Newton would look elsewhere after Ocala (Fla.) Trinity Catholic star John Brantley switched his commitment from Texas to Florida, becoming the third quarterback recruit in Florida’s class of 2007. “Certainly, John Brantley coming in will be an excellent challenge for me,” Newton told Rivals’ JC Shurburtt. “It’s going to make me a better athlete, better person and a better quarterback. I’m ecstatic about that.”
— One academic success at Georgia Tech got overshadowed by the academic ineligibility of three players for the Gator Bowl: Calvin Booker, the quarterback who transferred from Auburn, successfully completed his first semester at Tech and will be joining the team for the spring semester, coach Chan Gailey told the AJC’s Mike Knobler. Booker will be a junior in the fall. He appeared in one game for Auburn in 2005 and did not throw a pass. He threw for 1,417 yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior at Mays High School in Atlanta.
— Jacksonville Forrest star Brandon Hicks, Rivals.com’s fifth-ranked outside linebacker, told the Web site he’s leaning toward signing with Florida. “Right now, Florida is pretty high on my list,” Hicks said in a one-on-one chat with Rivals’ JC Shurburtt. “Florida is over Miami right now. I am supposed to take an official visit to Miami on Jan. 26, but we’ll see what happens.” Hicks is also scheduled to visit Clemson on Jan. 12.
— Navy and Air Force have made offers to 6-foot-1, 215-pound Norcross linebacker James Simien. UAB and Western Kentucky are also showing heavy interest. “James can play inside or outside at linebacker,” Norcross coach Keith Maloof told the AJC’s Jeff Hood. “He’ll be a force for somebody.”
— Nashville Pearl-Cohn wide receiver Rashad Mason told Scout.com he has lined up visits to North Carolina (Jan. 5), Michigan (Jan. 12), UCLA (Jan. 19), LSU (Jan. 26) and Ole Miss (Feb. 2). Scout.com ranks Mason as a four-star prospect.
— Tennessee has climbed into the top three for AJC Super Southern 100 safety Michael McNeil of Mobile, Ala. “Right now, my top three schools would be Florida State, Auburn and Tennessee,” McNeil told Rivals.com. “I had a real good visit when I went down to Tennessee and got to see where I would fit into their scheme.” McNeil visited Knoxville on Dec. 15. He also has trips lined up to Auburn (Jan. 12) and FSU (Jan. 19).
— Douglass running back Harvey English is considering Georgia, Clemson, Kentucky, N.C. State and East Carolina. The 5-foot-9, 187-pound English has offers from Clemson, Kentucky and East Carolina. English insists he will wait until signing day to announce his decision, but indicated on Sunday afternoon that he is leaning toward the East Carolina Pirates. “[East Carolina assistant] coach [Rock] Roggeman calls me every day, and that interests me,” English told the AJC’s Jeff Hood. “He tells me how I can make their program better.”
— Dunnellton, Fla., cornerback Taiedo Smith has committed to Kentucky, Scout.com reports. “It was such a nice campus,” Smith told Scout. “I really like the direction of the program as well. I saw their bowl game and how many people followed to the team. Their fans there are unbelievable.” Smith considered several schools, including Maryland and Stanford. “I’ve always wanted to play in the SEC,” he told Scout. “The fact that they won seven games this year with a tough schedule, was probably the biggest reason why I chose Kentucky. They not only play in the SEC, but they are on the way up.”
— McEachern free safety Martin Rolland has received an offer from Chattanooga, but remains in the waiting mode as he gauges interest from other schools. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Rolland was a three-year starter at McEachern. “Martin is a very physical free safety who is really a linebacker,” McEachern coach Jim Dorsey told the AJC’s Jeff Hood. “His forte is tackling.”
— Kayman Sutton, a 6-foot, 205-pound linebacker for Creekside, is still awaiting his board scores but appears headed to a to-be-determined junior college. Sutton was an AJC Class AAAA defensive choice. “Kayman was the heart and sole of our defense,” Creekside coach Kevin Whitley told the AJC’s Jeff Hood. “He led us in tackles the past two years. We’re really going to miss him.”
— Griffin’s Bobby Rainey is waiting for a Division I offer — any offer. The 5-foot-8, 180-pound running back is not getting a lot of love from the major Division I-A programs. He said he’d like to go to either Auburn or Georgia Tech but that both teams told him “they already have their running backs.” As a result, Division I-AA is appearing the most like route to college for Rainey. He’s visiting Tennessee-Chattanooga on Jan. 8 and Western Kentucky on the 19th. He’s also talked to coach Brian VanGorder at Georgia Southern but has not set up a visit.
Rainey’s most likely shot at D-I appears to be East Carolina, which he hopes to also visit next month. “I’m ready to get it over with,” Rainey told the AJC’s Chip Towers, referring to the recruiting process. “I just want to get my college paid for somewhere.”
— Lufkin, Texas standout Dez Bryant, Rivals.com’s ninth-ranked wide receiver, told the Web site he plans to visit four schools before signing day: Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, LSU and Florida.He said he’d like Baton Rouge to be his first visit, but hasn’t scheduled it yet. Louisville and Texas A&M also might sneak into the picture, he told Rivals.
— Creekside’s 6-foot, 250-pound Jason Stanley, an AJC Class AAAA all-state defensive lineman, is leaning toward Valdosta State. “If Jason was three inches taller, he’d be recruited by every team in the country,” Creekside coach Kevin Whitley told the AJC’s Jeff Hood. “But he’s still one of the best players in the state.”
— When the Southwest DeKalb defense was plagued by injuries this season, 6-foot-3, 213-pound linebacker David Davis came to the rescue for legendary coach Buck Godfrey. Davis, who led the Panthers in tackles with 178, gets his turn to play on the collegiate level after committing to Miami of Ohio. “David finished with the most tackles for us and stepped in when nobody else wanted to,” Godfrey told the AJC’s Jeff Hood.
— Georgia coach Mark Richt is taking a closer and more critical look at the medical histories of the offensive linemen he has recruited this year and will recruit in the future. “I think what we need to make sure is these guys have the types of bodies to withstand what they have got to go through,” Richt told the AJC’s Carter Strickland. “We have got to sign some bigger bodies. We have had trouble with some of the kids’ bodies holding up. If we didn’t lose any for medical reasons, we would be in good shape right now.”
In February’s class, Trinton Sturdivant had back issues that kept him out the early part of the season. He is scheduled to participate in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Jan. 6. Richt said he would delve more deeply into the medical histories of prospects in the future.
“[The prospects] will pretty much tell you what they have been through surgery-wise,” Richt said. “We brought in a good many guys that had shoulder surgeries in their high school careers and we have got to be a lot more careful about it. You have got to look at the big picture and take the guys you think would hold up the best.’’
— Darien McIntosh defensive end Allen Bailey, widely regarded as the top uncommitted senior in Georgia, told the AJC’s Rob Morton he plans to take his first official visit on Jan. 12 — to Alabama. The rest of the schools in the Bailey running? “The same four,” Bailey said, referring to Florida, Georgia and Miami, which have been the top schools on his list, along with Alabama, for several weeks. Morton reports that Georgia Tech-bound offensive lineman Nick Claytor of Gainesville had his way with Bailey in Friday’s North-South All-Star Game in Columbus.
— Norcross junior receiver Brice Butler figures to be one of the top 2007 prospects at his position and he’s already landed one SEC scholarship offer — from Mississippi State. Auburn, Georgia, Virginia Tech and Clemson have also shown interest. The leaders for Butler — if they should offer — would be Louisville and Hawaii, he told the AJC’s Bill Sanders. “My dad has talked to [Hawaii coach] June Jones and sent him a tape and he liked what he saw,” Butler said. “And they throw it like every time. Louisville throws it a lot too out of the spread.” Butler hopes to make a couple of official visits as early as this spring, he said.
— Clinch County defensive tackle Eugene Kinlaw told Scout.com he has scholarship offers so far from Arkansas, Mississippi State and Georgia Military. “I am probably going to have to go to junior college, but I am not sure where,” the 6-foot-2, 280-pounder told Scout. “My coach was telling me that someone may sign me and get me set up with a junior college.”
— AJC Super Southern 100 running back Robert Elliott remains committed to Ole Miss, but told Scout.com on Saturday he plans to check out the competition. Elliott told Scout he’ll visit Florida State on Jan. 19 and Mississippi State on Jan. 26. Of the Seminoles, he told the Web site, “Florida State has great tradition in football and they are winning games. They just came off a big bowl game win. I like that about them.”
— One year after being forced to miss his junior season due to academics, Creekside lineman Kevious Watkins rebounded in grand style to help anchor an offensive line that protected Georgia player of the year quarterback Eric Berry. Bethune-Cookman, Hampton, Troy and UAB have each expresed interest in the 6-foot-4, 330-pound Watkins. “I was proud of him because last year he was ineligible but he made it back this year,” Creekside coach Kevin Whitley told the AJC’s Jeff Hood. “I think if he had played [during his junior year] he’d be a Division I [prospect].”
— McEachern outside linebacker Lonnie Burton, a participant in Friday’s North-South All-Star Game in Columbus, plans to visit Murray State, Villanova and Furman. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Burton sat out his junior season to focus on track. But a productive senior season for the football Indians has placed him on the radar of several colleges. “Lonnie’s a track guy that’s extremely fast,” McEachern coach Jim Dorsey told the AJC’s Jeff Hood. “He’s kind of an unknown [to college recruiters].”
— Albany State, Coastal Carolina and Fort Valley State are courting AJC Class AAAAA all-state defensive back Jay Gaskins of Tift County. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Gaskins was a mainstay on Tift County coach Jay Walls’ defensive unit. “He’s a physical player, who is a very good hitter,” Walls told the AJC’s Jeff Hood. “On the college level, he’s suited better for free safety or outside linebacker.”
— Brookstone tailback Nate Copeland rushed for over 1,300 yards during his senior season for the Cougars and, in the process, captured the attention of Troy, Georgia Southern and Missouri-based William Jewel College. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Copeland was clocked at 4.6 seconds in the 40. “He’s a power runner who runs behind his pads real well,” Brookstone coach Blair Harrison told the AJC’s Jeff Hood.
— Tift County kicker Charlie Edwards has an offer from Valdosta State and is being heavily recruited by Georgia Southern. Edwards, the AJC’s Class AAAAA all-state first-team kicker, handled the kicking and punting chores for the Blue Devils this season. “Charlie is a also a very good baseball player, so he may try to go to a school where he can play both sports,” Tift County coach Jay Walls told the AJC’s Jeff Hood. “He has a very strong leg and, from the 35-yard line in, is very consistent. He can do both [punt and kick], and I think that’s what makes him special.”
— Brookstone coach Blair Harrison blames a shoulder injury sustained by 6-foot-1, 250-pound Andrew Marvets as the reason his prized offensive lineman for the Columbus-based school isn’t being actively recruited. Marvets, who has fully recovered from the injury sustained during his junior season, was an AJC Class A all-state pick. “It’s puzzling, but right now there is just no interest,” Harrison told the AJC’s Jeff Hood. “He can play center at the next level. He’s got the size and strength. And he’s a very good student.”
— Georgia Southern, Bowling Green, Hampton and Northeastern are showing strong interest in Creekside defensive back Kemaray Funderburk. “Kemaray was our most valuable defensive player last year [as a junior], but he actually took his game to another level this year,” Creekside coach Kevin Whitley told the AJC’s Jeff Hood.
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By Mark
January 2, 2007 7:27 AM | Link to this
What is the story on WR/DB Branden Shepperd of Rockdale Co.? The kid lead the Dekalb/Rockdale area in TD receptions (11) and yardage per TD reception (46.9). He played in the North/South All-Star Game and was the second leading receiver in that game. The kid has great talent and tremendous speed. Please give us some insight.
By Tim
January 4, 2007 8:03 PM | Link to this
Tim Jeffereson, Jr. the 6’1”, 195lb senior QB/DB for Woodward Academy has offers from Air Force and Navy, Central Florida, Bucknell, Lehigh, Rhode Island and considerable interest from Florida and Auburn. Already accepted at Auburn. Three year starter, rushed for over 1000 yards leading Woodward to a 7-3 mark in tough 2AAAA region. Excellent speed, was second to Eric Berry in rushing yards in the region and has strong throwing arm in Woodwards triple option offense. Check out his highlight video.