Greater Atlanta Christian is sending one linebacker to the SEC and another to the ACC.

Inside linebacker Blake Southerland, a 6-foot-2, 220-pounder, has committed to Vanderbilt. Outside linebacker Shane Mularkey, a 6-2, 210-pounder, has committed to North Carolina.

Southerland, the brother of Georgia fullback Brannan Southerland, ranked second on the Spartans team with 68 tackles last season. Mularkey, the son of Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey, enrolled at GAC in March after moving from Florida.

Both linebackers decided to commit early because they had no doubts about their selections.

Southerland picked Vanderbilt over Maryland.

"I love it there, so why not commit?" he said. "It's a cool city first of all —- what's not to like about Nashville? The university has the best academics around, and their football program is definitely on the rise.

"I have a good relationship with the coaches, more so than any other coaches who were recruiting me," Southerland added. "I just like how I fit up there. I just felt real comfortable."

Mularkey missed his junior season at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale while recovering from shoulder surgery. But North Carolina coaches were impressed by Mularkey's performance at GAC's spring practice and a subsequent camp at the university. Mularkey chose the Tar Heels over Central Florida.

"The campus is really unbelievable," he said. "I like the coaching staff, the athletic facilities are new and really nice, and I got along great with the linebackers coach.

"They have a good reputation of putting out good defensive players," Mularkey added.

GAC coach Ken Robinson called both players very deserving of these scholarships. "They both have been working extremely hard, and we're very happy for them," Robinson said. "Blake grew up in our program. Shane has been here since the beginning of last semester and is doing an incredible job, too."

Southerland said he was glad to put the recruiting process behind him as he enters his senior year.

"I think it will be good to concentrate on winning a state championship," he said.