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Thursday, January 18, 2007
Marietta junior QB catches recruiters’ eye
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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There is already a buzz among college recruiters over Marietta junior quarterback Stanley Jennings.
The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Jennings, who transferred to Marietta last fall after relocating from Miami, saw limited action but still managed to complete 40 of 68 passes for 578 yards, including eight touchdowns and no interceptions.
“He’s going to be a great athlete for us,” Marietta coach James “Friday” Richards said.
Richards said Jennings is among his current crop of junior players who are under review by college coaches.
“They’re going to look at tape on him,” Richards said. “He’s already got a lot of interest.”
Jennings is a one of the first players off the bench for the Marietta basketball team, which is currently 12-4.
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Updated: Ga. Southern set to hire Hatcher as coach
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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It didn’t take long for the jilted folks in Statesboro to get giddy about Georgia Southern football again. And with good reason, say those who know Chris Hatcher best.
Hatcher, the ultra-successful Valdosta State head coach, will be introduced as the Eagles’ new coach at an 11 a.m. news conference today in Statesboro. He’ll replace Brian VanGorder, who left Tuesday after one 3-8 season to become Bobby Petrino’s new linebackers coach with the Falcons.
“Everybody seems kind of excited about it,” said Bruce Yawn, owner of Snooky’s, the Statesboro restaurant Eagles legend Erk Russell used to frequent. “I think it’s a good fit. Him being from Macon, he should be familiar with the base as far as recruiting’s concerned. Everyone’s sitting around talking about it. The comment was made as to whether or not he’d run the triple-option, but it was decided we were more worried about winning than running the option or not.”
The triple-option offense was made famous at Georgia Southern under Russell. It helped the Eagles win six Division I-AA national titles, and made stars out of quarterback Tracy Ham and running back Adrian Peterson.
VanGorder abandoned the offense, to the point of having ads that said: “No Option Here.”
Hatcher, 33, has a 76-12 record at Division II Valdosta State, including a 2004 national championship. Before his seven-year stint as Blazers coach, he served as an assistant at Central Florida and Kentucky.
This year, he was a candidate for the head coaching job at Rice.
“The No. 1 thing that Chris brings to the table is his enthusiasm and his passion for the game,” said Hal Mumme, a former Kentucky head coach who’s now at New Mexico State. “He was that way as a player for us, as a coach at Kentucky, and has been that way since he got to Valdosta State. His enthusiasm is just infectious.
“Georgia Southern is a place that expects to win, but Chris felt that same pressure at Valdosta State. He knows what it is like to be at a place that has high expectations. I just think he is a perfect fit for Georgia Southern.”
Hatcher was not interviewed a year and a half ago by Eagles officials, but was a name many around the program had lobbied for, even up to the time when VanGorder was hired.
Another one of Hatcher’s mentors, former Central Florida coach Gene McDowell, said he was thrilled for Hatcher and that Georgia Southern probably doesn’t realize just what a good choice it made.
“He’s a great coach,” McDowell said of his former quarterbacks coach. “He’s extremely bright and knows football as well as anyone I’ve ever worked with. I’ve kept up with him pretty good over the years. He has such an ability to mix and mingle with any kind of person, and he’s extremely intelligent. He’s easy to know and a great teacher. Chris has got it all. He’ll be at the top of heap one day.”
Neither Georgia Southern nor Valdosta State would confirm Hatcher’s hiring. But VSU called a news conference for 2 p.m. today, three hours after a similar one in Statesboro, to make “an announcement regarding the Blazers’ football program.”
Hatcher and GSU athletics director Sam Baker did not return phone calls Thursday.
— Staff writer Tony Barnhart contributed to this article.
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Next stop for Etowah’s Singleton: Tuskegee
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Etowah linebacker Allen Singleton is headed to Tuskegee this weekend for an official visit.
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Singleton is also drawing interest from North Greenville University.
“Allen was our most improved player last season,” Etowah coach Bill Stewart said. “He was our leader on defense. He’s just a hard-nosed, athletic football player.”
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Former Roswell star commits to New Mexico St.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Former Roswell tailback Randell Bell, who is spending this year working on his academics at Virginia’s Hargrave Military Academy, committed on Thursday to New Mexico State, according to Roswell coach Tim McFarlin.
Bell rushed for 1,948 yards and 24 touchdowns as a Roswell senior. McFarlin, who has coached at the north Fulton school for 26 years, said Bell was “the best [tailback] I’d ever seen — period.”
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Spurrier welcomes one-time UGA recruit to campus
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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One-time Georgia recruit Clifton Geathers has enrolled at South Carolina, Gamecocks officials announced Thursday.
Geathers, who spent half of the fall semester at Hargrave Military Academy, plans to go through spring drills with the Gamecocks.
“We’re excited to have Clifton,” Spurrier said in a statement released by the university. “He is a player who can play on either the offensive or defensive line. We think he will develop into an outstanding player for us.”
He’s one of seven Steve Spurrier recruits to enroll early, joining Ladi Ajiboye, Ryan Broadhead, Larry Freeman, Stephen Garcia, Travian Robertson and Jonathan Williams.
Geathers committed to Georgia last season but headed to Hargrave after falling short academically. Bulldogs coaches stopped recruiting the South Carolina native in the fall.
Geathers is a 6-7, 290-pounder who attended Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham (Va.) last fall where he was coached by Robert Prunty and was a teammate of Ajiboye. The four-star prospect originally committed to Georgia before casting his lot with the Gamecocks. He also received offers from Clemson, Florida and Florida State. A native of Georgetown, S.C., Geathers played his prep ball at Carvers Bay High School where he was one of the nation’s top prospect. He participated in the Army All-American game in January of 2006. He is the younger brother of former University of Georgia and current Cincinnati Bengals’ defensive end Robert Geathers, Jr. and is the nephew of former All-Pro defensive lineman Jumpy Geathers.
Williams is a 6-4, 275-pounder defensive tackle who played at Mississippi Delta Community College in Moorhead, Miss. for coach Jay Miller. He was a two-year starter for the Trojans after initially enrolling at Butler (Kan.) J.C. He was a first team all-state selection in the Mississippi junior college ranks this season. He prepped at Glenn Hills High School in Augusta, Ga. where he earned all-state honors as a senior and all-area honors during both his junior and senior seasons. He was named his school’s Best Defensive Lineman for three straight years. Williams, who previously committed to Mississippi State, received a four-star ranking from Scout.com and a three-star ranking from Rivals.com. As a high school senior, he received offers from Alabama and Auburn among others. He will have two years to play two at South Carolina.
South Carolina’s spring drills are scheduled to begin Tuesday, March 20, with the annual Garnet & Black Spring Game slated for Saturday, April 14. The game time will be announced at a later date.
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Franklin, Butler headline UGA’s visit list
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Georgia is scheduled to host these eight prospects this weekend:
— Drew Butler, P, Peachtee Ridge: Liked Duke last weekend. Blue Devils have offered a scholarship to Kevin Butler’s son; Georgia has not
— Bruce Figgins, TE, Columbus Shaw: Committed to UGA
— Orlando Franklin, OL, Delray Beach (Fla.) Atlantic: Considering Georgia, Miami, Florida State
— Justin Houston, DE, Statesboro: Committed to UGA
— Caleb King, RB, Greater Atlanta Christian: Committed to UGA; yet to become academically eligible to play as a freshman
— John Knox, DB, Statesboro: Committed to UGA
— Israel Troupe, WR, Tift County: Committed to UGA
— Charles White, LB, Blythewood, S.C.: :** Committed to UGA
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Etowah’s Skrine set to visit Chattanooga
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Etowah running back/defensive back Buster Skrine will take an official visit to Tennessee-Chattanooga this weekend.
The 5-foot-10, 165-pound Skrine, who rushed for 1,092 yards and scored 15 touchdowns last season, has offers from Chattanooga, Furman, Eastern Illinois and Valdosta State.
Skrine is primarily being recruited as a defensive back.
“He shows a lot of leadership and just leads by example,” Etowah coach Bill Stewart said. “He gives a relentless effort.”
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QB Burns sticking to Auburn commitment
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Mitch Mustain’s has decided to leave Arkansas after one season, leading to speculation that the top-rated high school quarterback in the state will switch his commitment to the Hogs.
Not so fast, says Kodi Burns.
Burns, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound Fort Smith, Ark., star, doesn’t appear ready to renege on a November commitment to Auburn.
“It’s not a possibility at all,” Burns told Scout.com.
An in-home visit on Tuesday from Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville and offensive line coach Hugh Nall has apparently sealed Burns’ decision.
“It went real good,” Burns said. “It means a lot for them to come see me, especially Coach Tuberville being able to come to my house.
“My parents were already impressed by them when we went up for an unofficial visit. But for them to come down and explain things to us, you could just tell they are true and honest guys. Everybody is just fired up in my family. I’m ready to get up there.”
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Thumb surgery shelves Tech recruit Morgan
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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As Georgia Tech’s highest-ranked recruit, Derrick Morgan arrived on The Flats with expectations for himself and from others. But the defensive end from Coatesville, Pa., will have to wait to get busy, even though he’s already in school at Tech.
Morgan, ranked the No. 76 prospect in the nation by Rivals.com, had surgery last month on his right thumb. So while he can carry books to class, he can’t quite lift as much weight as he’d like.
“I had a torn ligament, and it will be about a week or two before I can get back to full activity,” he said. “I have a small cast, but I can still do some weightlifting.”
The 6-foot-4, 255-pound Morgan anticipates few if any problems with his thumb by the time spring practice begins in March, and figures to be able to do nearly everything asked of him when mandatory workouts begin at the end of January.
Even though they’re in school, Morgan and fellow early enrollee (and current roommate) Steven Threet, a quarterback from Adrian, Mich., can’t sign their letters of intent until Feb. 7, like everyone else. They plan to join several Tech commitments, chiefly from the state of Georgia that day.
“All the recruits are going to get together at ESPN Zone [in Buckhead] and have a signing party,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it.”
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Bynes: Petrino’s replacment ‘pretty cool’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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New Louisville coach Steve Kragthorpe made an in-home visit Monday with linebacker Josh Bynes of Boyd H. Anderson High in Lauderdale Lakes, Fla.
The 6-foot-2, 220-pound Bynes hosted Cardinals linebacker coach Reggie Johnson and Kragthorpe, who replaced new Falcons coach Bobby Petrino at the Louisville helm.
“It went real good,” Bynes told Scout.com. “I thought he was pretty cool. He seems like a good coach and I think he’ll do a good job at Louisville.”
Bynes, who is scheduled to take an official visit to South Carolina this weekend, is also considering Auburn and Iowa.
He plans to announce his collegiate plans on national signing day next month.
“That’s going to be real tough,” he said. “When I take my visits I look at everything, even the little things.
“Part of it will be if I think a school can help me get to the next level or not. And I think all of the four that I’m looking at can.”
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The list: Rivals.com’s new player rankings
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Rivals.com has released its final player rankings for the class of 2007:
Jimmy Clausen, QB, Westlake Village, Calif.
Joe McKnight , RB, River Ridge, La.
Eric Berry, CB, Fairburn
Ryan Mallett, QB, Texarkana, Texas
Carlos Dunlap, DE, North Charleston, S.C.
Everson Griffen, DE, Avondale, Ariz.
Marvin Austin, DT, Washington, D.C.
Ronald Johnson, WR, Muskegon, Mich.
Torrey Davis, DT, Seffner, Fla.
Josh Oglesby, OT, Milwaukee
Chris Galippo, LB, Anaheim, Calif.
James Wilson, OG, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
Terrance Toliver, WR, Hempstead, Texas
Chad Jones, ATH, Baton Rouge, La.
Noel Devine, RB, North Fort Myers, Fla.
Tray Allen, OG, Grand Prairie, Texas
Marc Tyler, RB, Westlake Village, Calif.
Chris Donald, LB, Huntingdon, Tenn.
Chris Culliver, WR, Garner, N.C.
Ben Martin, DE, Cincinnati
Curtis Brown, CB, Gilmer, Texas
Dwight Jones, WR, Burlington, N.C.
Ryan Miller, OT, Littleton, Colo.
Arrelious Benn, WR, Washington, D.C.
Donovan Warren, CB, Long Beach, Calif.
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Committed recruits flirt with other schools
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Israel Troupe vows he’s committed to Georgia. But if his parents will let him, he may take one final visit … to Florida.
Sidell Corley told Florida coaches months ago he couldn’t wait to be a Gator. But he still wants to hear what Alabama has to say before making it official.
Morgan Burnett made headlines last week when he became the latest big-name recruit to commit to Georgia Tech. But hold on, here comes Tennessee.
Welcome to college football’s silly season, when 18-year-old prospects say one thing, then do another.
We have a few stories along that theme — see Carter Strickland’s chat with Troupe in the “latest news” section to the right — plus plenty of other news from Jeff Hood and our hard-working team of correspondents, including an item on a Super Southern 100 star set to commit to Auburn.
As always, drop me a line if there’s anyone whose recruitment you’d like us to update and we’ll get cracking on it right away.
The list: Scout.com’s new top 100 player rankings
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Thanks to Scott Kennedy and the Scout.com gang for allowing us to post the Web site’s new rankings of the top 100 high school football prospects. For complete college recruiting updates on where the uncommitted prospects on the list are headed, check out Scout.com.
Everson Griffen, DE, Avondale, Ariz. (Southern Cal recruit)
Joe McKnight, RB, River Ridge, La. (Undecided)
Marvin Austin, DT, Washington (Undecided)
Jimmy Clausen, QB, Westlake Village, Calif. (Notre Dame)
Ryan Mallett, QB, Texarkana, Texas (Michigan)
Marc Tyler, RB, Westlake Village, Calif. (Southern Cal)
Eric Berry, CB, Fairburn (Tennessee)
Tray Allen, OG, Grand Prairie, Texas (Texas)
Chris Galippo, LB, Anaheim, Calif. (Southern Cal)
Terrance Toliver, WR, Hempstead, Texas (Undecided)
Chad Jones, S, Baton Rouge, La. (Undecided)
Arrelious Benn, Washington (Illinois)
Ronald Johnson, CB, Muskegon, Mich. (Undecided)
Curtis Brown, CB, Gilmer, Texas (Texas)
Noel Devine, RB, N. Fort Myers, Fla. (Undecided)
Torrey Davis, DT, Seffner, Fla. (Florida)
Josh Oglesby, OT, St. Francis, Wis. (Wisconsin)
Aaron Corp, QB, Orange, Calif. (Southern Cal)
Caleb King, RB, Norcross (Georgia)
Anthony Davis, OT, Piscataway, N.J. (Rutgers)
Ben Martin, DE, Cincinnati (Tennessee)
Donovan Warren, CB, Long Beach, Calif. (Undecided)
Deonte Thompson, WR, Belle Glade, Fla. (Undecided)
Kristofer O’Dowd, C, Tucson, Ariz. (Southern Cal)
Eugene Clifford, S, Cincinnati (Ohio State)
Ryan Miller, OT, Littleton, Colo. (Colorado)
Tyrod Taylor, QB, Hampton, Va. (Virginia Tech)
Martez Wilson, DE, Chicago (Illinois)
J’Courtney Williams, LB, Christchurch, Va. (Virginia)
Andre Jones, DT, El Paso, Texas (Texas)
John Chiles, WR, Arlington, Texas (Texas)
James Wilson, OG, St. Augustine, Fla. (Southern Cal)
Justin Trattou, DE, Ramsey, N.J. (Notre Dame)
Carlos Dunlap, DE, North Charleston, S.C. (Undecided)
Aaron Hernandez, TE, Bristol, Conn. (Florida)
Joseph Barksdale, DT, Detroit (LSU)
Marshall Jones, S, Westlake Village, Calif. (Southern Cal)
Chris Jacobson, OG, Pittsburgh (Pitt)
John Brown, DT, Lakeland, Fla. (Undecided)
Lorenzo Edwards, LB, Orlando (Florida)
Cliff Matthews, DE, Cheraw, S.C. (South Carolina)
Kodi Burns, QB, Fort Smith, Ark. (Auburn)
Major Wright, S, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Undecided)
Da’John Harris, DT, Gardena, Calif. (Southern Cal)
Chris Rainey, RB, Lakeland, Fla. (Florida)
Allen Bailey, DE, Darien (Undecided)
Chris Donald, LB, Huntingdon, Tenn. (Tennessee)
Pat Bostick, QB, Lancaster, Pa. (Pitt)
Martin Coleman, OT, Huntington Beach, Calif. (Southern Cal)
Brian Price, DT, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Ryan Van Bergen, DE, Whitehall, Mich. (Michigan)
Michael Williams, CB, Ventura, Calif. (Michigan)
Lee Ziemba, OT, Rogers, Ark. (Undecided)
John Brantley, QB, Ocala, Fla. (Florida)
John Elliott, OG, East Meadow, N.Y. (Undecided)
Mike Ragone, TE, Cherry Hill, N.J. (Notre Dame)
Ron Brooks, WR, Irving, Texas (LSU)
Mark Barnes, S, Columbia (South Carolina)
Richetti Jones, DE, Dallas (Oklahoma State)
DeAngelo Benton, WR, Bastrop, La. (LSU)
Austin Box, S, Enid, Okla. (Oklahoma)
Willy Korn, QB, Duncan, S.C. (Clemson)
Duval Kamara, WR, Hoboken, N.J. (Notre Dame)
Rob Gronkowski, TE, Pittsburgh (Arizona)
Robert Elliott, RB, Okolona, Miss. (Undecided)
Dionte Allen, CB, Orchard Lake, Mich. (Florida State)
Ahmad Paige, WR, Sterlington, La. (Undecided)
Toney Clemons, WR, New Kensington, Pa. (Michigan)
Chris Izbicki, TE, Kirkland, Wash. (Washington)
Stefoin Francois, S, Reserve, La. (Undecided)
Jerimy Finch, S, Indianapolis (Indiana)
Robert Hughes, RB, Chicago (Undecided)
Gary Gray, CB, Columbia (Notre Dame)
Nick Sukay, S, Greensburg, Pa. (Penn State)
Gerald Jones, WR, Oklahoma City (Tennessee)
Josh Nesbitt, QB, Greensboro (Georgia Tech)
Nate Oliver, S, Lakewood, Ohio (Ohio State)
Greg Little, WR, Durham, N.C. (Notre Dame)
Christian Ballard, DE, Lawrence, Kan. (Iowa)
Lennon Creer, RB, Tatum, Texas (Undecided)
Devon Torrence, S, Canton, Ohio (Ohio State)
Russell Carter, DE, Houston (Texas)
Chris Strong, LB, Batesville, Miss. (Ole Miss)
Luther Davis, DE, West Monroe, La. (LSU)
Simi Fili, DT, Salt Lake City (Oregon)
Derrick Stephens, LB, Houston (Texas A&M)
Dez Bryant, WR, Lufkin, Texas (Undecided)
Brandon Saine, RB, Piqua, Ohio (Ohio State)
Manny Abreu, LB, Union City, N.J. (Rutgers)
D’Angelo McCray, DT, Jacksonville (Illinois)
Marcus Gilchrist, CB, High Point, N.C. (Clemson)
Broderick Green, RB, Little Rock (Southern Cal)
Akeem Ayers, DE, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Tydreke Powell, DT, Ahoskie, N.C. (Undecided)
Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Marietta (Georgia Tech)
John Williams, CB, Breaux Bridge, La. (LSU)
Ryan Pugh, C, Hoover, Ala. (Auburn)
Rashad Mason, WR, Nashville (Undecided)
Michael Reardon, DE, Orange, Calif. (Southern Cal)
Stefen Wisniewski, OG, Pittsburgh (Penn State)
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Report: Auburn set to land Ziemba
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Lee Ziemba, a 6-foot-7, 295-pound offensive tackle from Rogers (Ark.) High, is reportedly set to commit to Auburn on Friday.
The Northwest Arkansas Times reported that Ziemba told Tigers coach Tommy Tuberville last weekend during an official visit that he intends to sign with the Tigers on Feb. 7.
Prior to last weekend, Ziemba had narrowed his choices to Arkansas and Auburn.
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BC lands two top 20 offensive linemen
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Boston College landed commitments from 2 offensive guards ranked among the top 20 nationally by Scout.com:
— John Elliott, a 6-foot-5, 290-pounder from East Meadow, N.Y.. Scout.com’s fourth-ranked guard also considered Michigan, Rutgers and Virginia.
— Mark Spinney, a 6-3 1/2, 255-pounder from Nashau, N.H. Scout.com’s 16th-ranked guard switched his commitment from Syracuse to BC.
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Mays lineman Lockhart high on Grambling
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Mays defensive lineman Trezley Lockhart, an AJC all-state selection, has a scholarship offer from Grambling. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound plans to take an official visit to the school Friday.
Lockhart handicapped the odds of committing to Grambling this weekend as “very high.”
Lockhart registered 20 sacks and 25 tackles for losses during his senior season at Mays.
“You’ve just got to get to the ball every time,” Lockhart said when asked about his ability to wind up in the opponent’s backfield.
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Dacula teammates set for campus visits
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Two Dacula recruits will on the move in the next few weeks.
Tight end Michael Butler will visit the Air Force this weekend, and wide receiver Cameron Kenney will check out Dean College in Boston the following week.
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Collins Hill star set for Vandy visit
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Collins Hill defensive end T.J. Greenstone will take his official visit to Vanderbilt this weekend.
The 6-foot-3, 260-pound Greenstone, who has already committed to the Commodores, attended two Vanderbilt games last fall and went to camp there last summer.
So will coach Bobby Johnson and his staff roll out the red carpet this weekend?
“I hope so,” Greenstone said with a chuckle. “They’re actually bringing in all 14 of us that have committed this weekend. Coach Johnson said we’ll kick back, learn the ropes and have a good time.”
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Riverwood’s Blue set to sign with Memphis
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Riverwood linebacker Jarvarus Blue appears headed to Memphis.
The 6-foot-3, 235-pound Blue told the AJC that Central Florida, Florida A&M, Akron and Bowling Green are still in the running, but he strongly hinted he’ll become a Memphis Tiger on national signing day.
“I’m just going to wait until signing day to make an announcement to make sure it’s the college I want to attend,” Blue said. “But I like Memphis. I think they’ve got a great program and a great set of coaches. And I really like the linebackers coach a lot.”
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Brookwood end looks at LaGrange, W. Georgia
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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It’s been a slow year from recruiting at Brookwood so far, but defensive end Briley Hale is staying busy.
Hale has talked throughout the season with LaGrange College and will be visiting the campus this weekend. He’ll also be checking out West Georgia in the upcoming weeks.
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Adebayo leaning toward Middle Tennessee
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Collins Hill defensive end Bo Adebayo has offers from Middle Tennessee State and Campbell. The 6-foot-3, 245-pound Adebayo is leaning toward signing with Middle Tennessee and plans to take an official visit there later this month.
“I really like the coach [from MTSU] that came to talk to me,” said Adebayo, who predicted he will likely wait until signing day to announce his decision. “He said I’d have a pretty good opportunity to play this year.”
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Star lineman switches from Southern Cal to Florida
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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St. Augustine (Fla.) Nease star James Wilson, rated as the No. 2 offensive guard in the nation by Scout.com, pulled an about-face when he withdrew his commitment to Southern Cal and shifted his allegiance to national champion Florida.
Wilson, who is close friends with Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, said the USC coaching staff took the bad news in stride.
“They took it well and were very gracious and understanding,” Wilson told Scout.com. “They were sorry it happened and wished me the best. They knew I had to do what was best for me.”
Wilson began second-guessing his commitment to the Trojans two weeks ago, when he traveled to San Antonio to participate in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
“When I got back I realized how homesick I might become after talking with so many friends and family members,” Wilson said. “Why do something and hurt over it? So I decided to look hard at Florida once again.”
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Ole Miss, Southern Cal lead way for Bryant
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Ole Miss and Southern Cal appear to have the inside track in the scramble to land a commitment from 6-foot-7, 375-pound Kevin Bryant of Boyd H. Anderson High in Lauderdale Lakes, Fla.
Ranked as the 17th-best offensive tackle in the nation by Scout.com, Bryant will visit Ole Miss on Friday. He plans to take an official visit to Southern Cal the following weekend.
But new North Carolina coach Butch Davis is making a late run at the mammoth tackle.
“He came by my house [on Tuesday],” Bryant told Scout.com. “He let me know they were on my tail, and they are going to schedule a visit for me real soon.”
Georgia, Ohio State and Oklahoma have also extended scholarship offers to Bryant.
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Griffin’s Rainey has questions for recruiters
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Griffin running back Bobby Rainey will take an official visit to Western Kentucky on Friday, then travel to Tennessee-Chattanooga the following weekend.
Rainey has scholarship offers from Western Kentucky, Eastern Michigan and Albany State.
The 5-foot-8, 180-pound Rainey, who rushed for over 2,000 yards and 31 touchdowns last season, said East Carolina, Troy University, Appalachian State, Bethune-Cookman and Valdosta State are interested.
“Academic-wise, I want to see if Western Kentucky fits me,” Rainey said. “And I want to see if they play freshmen and ask if you can’t play football, do you lose your scholarship?”
Rainey insists he will stick to his plan to visit Chattanooga on Jan. 26.
“I’m not going to commit this weekend,” he said.
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UGA recruit Troupe may check out Florida
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Tift County wide receiver Israel Troupe is firmly committed to Georgia and will take his official visit to Athens this weekend.
But he may also take a visit to Florida the weekend of Jan. 26.
“I have to talk my parents into it,” Troupe told the AJC. “But really they want me to go wherever I am happy. I told them that Georgia is where I am going, but if anything were to ever happen with Georgia that Florida is where I would go.”
Troupe has made an unofficial visit to Florida, but did not attend a football game. He has also been to Georgia.
Troupe was also courted by Ohio State but decided not to take an official visit to Columbus.
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