AJC > Sports > Football Recruiting > Blog > Archives > 2007 > January > 22
Monday, January 22, 2007
Report: Florida State lands linebacker, lineman
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Categories
Scout.com reports tonight that Florida State landed a pair of commitments:
— Aaron Gresham, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound linebacker from Mayo, Fla., chose FSU over Louisville, Michigan State and South Florida. Gresham is Scout.com’s 49th-ranked middle linebacker prospect nationally.
— Anthony Grosso, a 6-7, 290-pound offensive lineman from Aberdeen, Md., picked the Seminoles over Purdue and Rutgers. Grosso is Scout’s 70th-ranked offensive tackle.
Permalink | |
UAB set to host Tift County kicker Edwards
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Categories
Charlie Edwards, Tift County’s all-state placekicker, will visit UAB this weekend.
The 6-foot, 190-pound Edwards, who booted 32 career field goals for the Blue Devils, has an offer from Valdosta State. He is primarily being recruited as a punter.
“What we’ve found out through this recruiting process with Charlie is that most kickers and punters have to walk-on,” Tift County coach Jay Walls said.
“He’s going to see what UAB is all about. We’re still sending film on him all over the place. He’s got a very strong leg.”
Permalink | |
Samford lands North Gwinnett’s McDaniel
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Categories
North Gwinnett wide receiver Ryan McDaniel made his college choice on Monday when he committed to Division I-AA Samford, coach Bob Sphire said.
McDaniel, who chose the Bulldogs over Western Kentucky, West Georgia and Illinois State, enjoyed a breakout senior season after being converted from free safety.
He had a Gwinnett County-best 69 receptions with 13 touchdowns to help the surprising Bulldogs reach the Class AAAAA state playoffs.
Permalink | |
Flashback: The AJC’s 2002 Super Southern 100
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Categories
All,
Trolling through the archives trying to get ready for national signing day and came across our Super Southern 100 team from this time five years ago.
Some hits, including the first pick in last April’s NFL draft (Mario Williams) and a candidate to go No. 1 in this year’s draft (JaMarcus Russell). And, of course, some misses. Thought you might be interested …
Quarterbacks (10)
Reggie Ball…… 6-1.. 185.. Stone Mountain (Stephenson)
Omarr Conner……6-2.. 190.. Macon, Miss. (Noxubee Co.)
Robert Lane…… 6-3.. 210.. Monroe, La. (Neville)
Chris Leak……..6-2.. 208.. Charlotte (Independence)
Justin Midgett….6-3.. 195.. Punta Gorda, Fla. (Charlotte)
Blake Mitchell….6-3.. 180.. LaGrange
Steven Moffett….6-4.. 195.. Winter Park, Fla.
Syvelle Newton….6-2.. 211.. Bennettsville, S.C. (Marlboro Co.)
JaMarcus Russell..6-5.. 212.. Mobile, Ala. (Williamson)
Andre Woodson…. 6-5.. 220.. Radcliff, Ky. (N. Hardin)
Running backs (11)
Alley Broussard.. 6-1.. 230.. Lafayette, La. (Acadiana)
Tim Castille……5-11..220.. Birmingham (Briarwood)
Jason Evans…… 6-1.. 190.. Kennesaw (Harrison)
Rashaun Grant…. 5-11..190.. Tampa (Jefferson)
Rodney Kinlaw…. 5-10..177.. Goose Creek, S.C. (Stratford)
Kregg Lumpkin…. 6-0.. 193.. Stone Mountain (Stephenson)
David Marrero…. 5-10..188.. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
LaRon McClain…. 6-1.. 245.. Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Tuscaloosa Co.)
Tyrone Moss…… 5-10..210.. Pompano Beach, Fla. (Ely)
Demetrius Summers 6-1.. 200.. Lexington, S.C.
Skyler Thornton.. 6-0.. 195.. LaGrange
Wide receivers (14)
Sean Bailey…… 6-1.. 170.. Alpharetta (Milton)
Dwayne Bowe…… 6-3.. 200.. Miami (Norland)
Adarius Bowman….6-3.. 210.. Chattanooga (N. Dame)
Matt Caddell……5-11..170.. McCalla, Ala. (McAdory)
Andre Caldwell….6-2.. 180.. Tampa (Jefferson)
Antonio Cromartie 6-3.. 200.. Tallahassee (Lincoln)
DeCody Fagg…… 6-2.. 185.. Quincy, Fla. (Shanks)
Emmanuel Harrell..5-11..175.. LaGrange
Anthony Hill……6-3.. 200.. Jacksonville (First Coast)
Chad Jackson……6-1.. 196.. Hoover, Ala.
John Logan……..5-10..175.. Lexington, Ky. (Catholic)
Mike Mason……..6-1.. 175.. Rocky Mount, N.C.
Jayson Swain……6-2.. 205.. Huntsville, Ala. (Grissom)
Noah Whiteside….6-0.. 170.. Greenville, S.C.
Tight ends (3)
Keith Alleger…. 6-5.. 260.. Leesville, La.
Brad Cottam…… 6-7.. 230.. Cordova, Tenn. (Evangelical)
Coleman Watson….6-5.. 245.. Atlanta (North Springs)
Offensive linemen (15)
Will Arnold…… 6-5.. 325.. Centreville, Miss. (Centreville Acad.)
Andrew Bain…… 6-4.. 320.. Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Ely)
Jarrod Britt……6-5.. 275.. Powder Springs (McEachern)
Brett Byford……6-4.. 290.. Hartselle, Ala.
Tripp Carroll…. 6-5.. 295.. Charlotte (Myers Park)
Trey Chandler…. 6-6.. 255.. Buford
Donovan Davis…. 6-6.. 300.. Jackson, Miss. (Callaway)
Adam Kraus……..6-6.. 270.. New Orleans (Brother Martin)
Jordy Lipsey……6-4.. 272.. Alta. Springs, Fla.
Zeb McKinzey……6-3.. 280.. Lilburn (Parkview)
Aubrey McPhadden..6-6.. 315.. Jacksonville (First Coast)
Aaron Sears…… 6-4.. 300.. Russellville, Ala.
Jerry Sevin…… 6-2.. 296.. River Ridge, La. (John Curtis)
Isaiah Thomas…. 6-4.. 290.. Winston-Salem, N.C. (Carver)
Eric Young……..6-3.. 260.. Union, S.C.
Defensive linemen (20)
Cedric Boone……6-4.. 320.. Americus
Joe Cohen…….. 6-2.. 240.. Palm Bay, Fla.
Richard Cook……6-4.. 270.. Washington (Wash.-Wilkes)
Tez Doolittle…. 6-3.. 257.. Opelika, Ala.
Vegas Franklin….6-2.. 220.. Reserve, La. (East St. John)
Chad Green……..6-5.. 220.. Rocky Mount, N.C. (Northern Nash)
Quentin Groves….6-3.. 220.. Greenville, Miss. (Weston)
Devrick Hampton.. 6-3.. 275.. Greenville, Miss. (Weston)
Marcus Hands……6-6.. 250.. Wilmington, N.C. (Laney)
Dominic Lee…… 6-2.. 280.. Huffman, Ala.
Stanley McClover..6-4.. 245.. Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Dillard)
Sean Merrill……6-4.. 282.. D’Iberville, Miss.
Trannell Morant.. 6-6.. 265.. Miami (Braddock)
Bryan Pata……..6-4.. 280.. Miami (Central)
Kirston Pittman.. 6-5.. 25….Reserve, La. (East St. John)
Vince Redd……..6-6.. 250.. Elizabethton, Tenn.
Carnell Stewart.. 6-5.. 285.. River Ridge, La. (John Curtis)
Marcus Thomas…. 6-4.. 285.. Jacksonville (Mandarin)
Ryan Watson…… 6-4.. 280.. River Ridge, La. (John Curtis)
Mario Williams….6-6.. 257.. Richlands, N.C.
Linebackers (10)
Jon Beason…… 6-1.. 215.. Hollywood, Fla. (Chaminade)
Daniel Brooks…. 6-2.. 227.. Jackson, Tenn. (Central Merry)
Ryan Brown……..6-2.. 240.. Moncks Corner, S.C. (Berkeley)
Earl Everett……6-2.. 210.. Bushnell, Fla. (South Sumter)
Ernest Jones……6-4.. 210.. Henderson, N.C. (S. Vance)
Tavares Gooden….6-2.. 220.. Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (St. Thomas)
Quinton McCrary.. 6-2.. 210.. Columbus, Miss.
Ernie Sims……..6-0.. 225.. Tallahassee (N. Fla. Christ.)
Danny Verdun Wheeler……6-2.. 220.. Thomson
Des Williams……6-2.. 237.. Dacula
Defensive backs (14)
Nick Child……..6-1.. 170.. Metairie, La. (Rummell)
Willie Cooper…. 6-1.. 195.. St. Augustine, Fla.
Quinton Culberson 6-0.. 205.. Jackson, Miss. (Provine)
Nick Felder…… 5-11..170.. Thomasville, Ala.
Adrian Griffin….5-10..160.. LaGrange
Jeramie Johnson.. 6-0.. 185.. Atlanta (Washington)
LaRon Landry……6-1.. 190.. Hahnville, La.
Maurice Nelson….6-0.. 175.. Sumter, S.C. (Crestwood)
Reggie Nelson…. 6-0.. 175.. Palm Bay, Fla.
Paul Oliver…… 6-0.. 180.. Kennesaw (Harrison)
Brandon Owens…. 6-3.. 200.. Delray Beach, Fla. (Atlantic)
Will Roach……..6-1.. 190.. Killan, Ala. (Brooks)
Kenny Scott…… 6-1.. 180.. Daytona Beach, Fla. (Mainland)
Dee Webb……….6-0.. 185.. Jacksonville (Ed White)
Athletes (3)
Michael Bush……6-3.. 220.. Louisville, Ky. (Male)
C.J. Gaddis…… 6-0.. 195.. Raeford, N.C. (Hoke Co.)
Ernie Sims……..6-0.. 225.. Tallahassee (N. Fla. Christ.)
Permalink | |
UK statement on death of recruit John Keye
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Categories
The University of Kentucky just released this statement regarding Wildcats recruit and Jackson High star John Keye, who died over the weekend in an automobile accident:
LEXINGTON, Ky. - In response to the untimely death of Kentucky football recruit John Keye, who died in a car accident on Saturday, following are statements from Kentucky head coach Rich Brooks and assistant coach Steve Brown, who had recruited Keye for UK.
“This is a tragedy for everyone involved - family, friends, coaches, and classmates,” Brooks said. “John was an outstanding young man, and as one of our earliest commitments this year, was excited about attending Kentucky. This is something you don’t really get over.”
“John was an absolute pleasure to know and recruit,” Brown said. “He was very polite and respectful and always had a smile on his face. Everyone I talked to at his school had nothing but good things to say about him. My heart goes out to his family, school, and community. He will be deeply missed.”
Keye’s family will be presented with a Wildcat jersey bearing his name and high school number.
Permalink | |
Football recruiting a five-star scandal, panel told
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Categories
Washington — College football recruitniks need to get a life.
That warning came from witnesses Monday before the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics who claimed that external pressures are warping the recruiting process, damaging the psyches of 17-year-old high school athletes and corrupting parents and coaches.
Web sites such as Rivals.com and Scout.com have become gospel for millions of fans who follow recruiting nearly as fervently as they follow the actual college football season, witnesses told the commission.
They said this has helped create a generation of players and parents who covet the sites’ five-star and four-star ratings. High school coaches are pressured by parents to turn out these highly ranked players, and college coaches are pressured by boosters to sign them.
“There are parents out there who are pulling guns on coaches,” said Harry Edwards, a sports sociologist, former professor and consultant to the University of Florida football team. In his native Oakland, Calif., he said, “I have seen shootings over a kid getting playing time.”
Often parents drive their sons hundreds of miles to participate in football camps where they are weighed, timed, tested and otherwise evaluated.
“The elite athletic prospect has become completely commoditized,” said Edwards, and in the process the very top recruits have become “hedonistic, materialistic and individualistic.”
Because of their inner-city backgrounds, he said, some of these recruits are also gun-toting gang members. Edwards said it is only a matter of time before one of these spoiled recruits “goes off” in the athletic department because he is not treated the same after joining the team.
There’s no doubt that high school players read the recruiting Web sites religiously, said Andrew Crummey, a junior offensive lineman for the University of Maryland football team.
“People can say some very hurtful things on message boards,” he said. In e-mails from adult fans, “17-year-old kids are getting bashed,” he said. “And players take it to heart.”
Assessing the potential of high school players is “still an inexact science” even for experienced college coaches, said John Bunting, former head coach of the University of North Carolina. But young athletes are being sized up by subscribers who have only viewed an online film clip.
“And on the Internet, anyone can say anything about anybody and not be held accountable,” Bunting said.
But Bobby Burton, chief operating officer of Rivals.com, said that the ratings are a service to subscribers, and noted that newspapers and magazines also publish rankings of top prospects. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Austin American-Statesmen both rank high school football players in their states.
Burton said Rivals.com has 25 employees who evaluate players according to an evaluation process that is explained on the site. They watched videos on 2,500 players to come up with this year’s ratings, he said.
“You’re going to miss on some players and where you rank them. Football is not a science. It’s an art,” Burton said.
Still, he acknowledged that the ratings “are a huge source of contention” and that players and parents contact him often to try to be bumped up a star or two.
There is not much colleges can do about the outside influences such as media, the witnesses said, but some recommended changes in the recruiting process.
“If we treated recruited athletes more like we did regular students in the admission process, we’d be better off,” said J. Douglas Toma, an associate professor at the University of Georgia Institute of Higher Education.
For these incoming football players, he noted, “there is no contact with the regular admissions process until the very end, if at all.”
Rather than “operating in different universes,” he said, the athletic department and academic admissions department should share the responsibility on deciding which athletes get into the school.
Recruiting has strayed far from its supposed mission of helping promising student athletes select a college that will best provide them a higher education, marveled one commissioner.
A whole industry has developed to help athletes market themselves to schools, evaluate prospects for alumni and other fans, and report on which prospects are considering which schools.
National signing day for college football players has become as sensationalized as the National Football League player draft, noted Malcolm Moran, a professor of sports journalism and society at Penn State University.
On national signing day next month, Burton said, Rivals.com expects 75 million visits to its site. On a normal day, he said, Rivals.com gets 12 to 20 million page views.
Bill McGregor, head football coach at DeMatha Catholic High School in Maryland, said he has seen dramatic changes in recruiting and in attitudes during his 25 years on the job.
He once met with college coaches, students and their parents, he said. Now coaches are instant messaging players in their classrooms or at home. While there are limits on phone calls and e-mails to players, there are none on instant messages, he said.
“Parents have changed too,” he said. “It’s ‘what can you do for me now’ (to get their son a football scholarship). Parents have fallen into it hook, line and sinker.”
The Knight Commission was set up in 1989 in response to problems in college athletics and has worked on reforms in a number of areas such as low graduation rates for college athletes, players accepting illicit payments and growing commercialization of college sports.
Their meeting Monday dealt in part with outside influences on recruiting.
Permalink | |
Gators get another one; big week for UGA
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Categories
Cameron Heyward is back from his “awesome” visit to Florida, Drew Butler still can’t believe Mark Richt offered him a scholarship, and Morgan Burnett insists that — no matter what you read elsewhere — he’s committed to Georgia Tech.
It’s Monday, Jan. 22. Just two weeks and two days until national signing day. Lots of news to report (see “latest news” section to the right for full reports throughout the day).
Some bad for Georgia fans — like Delray Beach, Fla., offensive lineman Orlando Franklin re-committing to Miami late last night. Plenty of good, though, too …
We’ve got an update on Bleckley County running back Zeke Rozier, who’ll take the SAT Saturday, then head to Athens for his official visit, where Heyward also plans to be. (And wait till you see which former area coach may be making a late push to sign Rozier).
We caught up with LaGrange linebacker D.J. Stafford, who says he’s thinking about signing with Kentucky but still wants to check out Auburn and Georgia.
We reached out to Antwane Greenlee, who wants to put to rest reports that he won’t sign with Georgia on Feb. 7. But he still plans to entertain Florida State’s Bobby Bowden next week.
We’ll try to find out what’s new with Allen Bailey, who’ll also be at Georgia this weekend, and Malachi Lewis, who just returned to California after checking out Georgia Tech.
We have the usual updates on state stars, including Hawkinsville cornerback Dequan Bembry, who liked what he saw last weekend at Kentucky, and three Peach County prospects who have made their college choices. We have news on what other SEC programs one-time UGA target and Tatum, Texas tailback Lennon Creer plans to look into.
And at a 5 p.m. news conference, AJC Super Southern 100 defensive end Carlos Dunlap announced he was headed to Florida. Dunlap picked the Gators over South Carolina.
As always, shoot me a note if there’s anyone whose recruitment you’d like us to update. We want to do whatever we can to meet your recruiting needs.
Super Southern star picks Gators over Gamecocks
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Categories
Five-star defensive end Carlos Dunlap made a commitment to the University of Florida during a news conference at Fort Dorchester High School in North Charleston, S.C., on Monday evening.
The nation’s No. 5 overall prospect picked Florida over South Carolina. Tennessee also was in the mix for the 6-foot-6, 240-pounder’s services.
Dunlap’s commitment gives Gators head coach Urban Meyer the top prospect in the state of South Carolina, wrestling him away from former Florida head coach Steve Spurrier, who now is the head coach of the Gamecocks.
In a further twist of irony, former South Carolina defensive coordinator Charlie Strong, not the assistant head coach and co-defensive coordinator at Florida, was the recruiter of record for the Gators.
Permalink | |
Grayson lineman bags first I-A offer
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Categories
Grayson offensive lineman Chris Cawthon received his first Division I-A offer during his visit to Florida International over the weekend.
Permalink | |
Central Gwinnett linebacker says yes to Samford
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Categories
Bryce Smith, Central Gwinnett all-county linebacker, has committed to Samford.
A solid student, Smith said Samford’s academics influenced his decision, along with the opportunity to play immediately.
Smith also had offers from Tennessee-Chattanooga and Coastal Carolina.
Permalink | |
Navy enters mix for North Gwinnett kicker
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Categories
North Gwinnett kicker/punter Chad Gross recently received his first Division I-A offer when the Naval Academy made a bid for his services.
Gross, who is yet to make any decision, has also received interest from Samford, William & Mary, Charleston Southern and a number of Division III and NAIA schools.
As a senior this past fall, he made 10 of 18 field goal tries, including a long of 48 against Walton, while averaging 35 yards per punt, to help the Bulldogs climb to the top of the state polls for much of the regular season.
For his career, Gross was successful on 25 of 38 field goal tries and 121 of 126 PATs with 81 touchbacks.
Permalink | |
Miami-Alabama quarterback switcheroo?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Categories
A one-time Miami quarterback recruit has switched his commitment to Alabama.
Now, a Crimson Tide prospect is thinking about doing the same.
Scout.com reported today that San Antonio’s Nick Fanuzzi, who in March said yes to the Hurricanes, switched this morning to Alabama. That led to speculation that Tampa’s Robert Marve would flip from Alabama to Miami following his weekend visit to Coral Gables.
“I am not going to base my decision on other people’s decisions,” Marve told Scout. “I am trying to find the right fit for me and the right spot that I can get my degree and be successful.”
“My trip to Miami was good. I had a lot of fun. I am visiting Hawaii this weekend and will make my decision after that.”
Permalink | |
Billy Donovan tries to lure Heyward to UF, too
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Categories
Peachtree Ridge star Cameron Heyward walked away from this weekend’s visit to Florida talking as much about Billy Donovan as Urban Meyer.
Heyward, a 6-foot-6, 282-pound defensive tackle who hopes to play football and basketball at the next level, joined his family and other recruits in meeting alone with Gator quarterbacks Chris Leak and Tim Tebow before attending a Florida basketball game against Ole Miss.
Following the basketball game, Heyward, a two-sport star in both football and basketball, was invited into the locker room, where he met with UF players men’s basketball coaching staff.
Donovan said Heyward would be welcome to come out for the basketball team following the conclusion of the football season, said the player’s mom, Charlotte Heyward-Blackwell.
She added that Donovan drew comparisons to former Florida two-sport (football and basketball) star Erron Kinney, who’s now playing tight end for the NFL’s Tennessee Titans.
Heyward-Blackwell sounded more impressed still with Florida’s academic support system and the 80 percent graduation rate the Gators boast, tops in the SEC and ranked 10th nationally.
“That impressed me,” she said. “If Cameron gets hurt, I know they’ll still be pushing him to graduate.”
Heyward is still yet to make a commitment, with more official visits to come at Georgia this weekend and at Ohio State the following one.
But his mother liked all she saw in Gainesville, not the least of which was Meyer and his football staff, the balmy weather and beautiful campus.
“It was great,” Heyward-Blackwell said. “I was very impressed with the coaching staff and the facilities. I was very impressed. It was an awesome weekend.”
Permalink | |
Getting to know … UGA recruit Justin Houston
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Categories
We went one-on-one with Statesboro High defensive end and Georgia recruit Justin Houston:
Nickname: “Big Tomb”
Where he ranks: 21st-best weakside defensive end nationally, according to Rivals.com
Why Georgia? Fulfillment of a dream; close to home; tradition
What I hope to accomplish at Georgia: Graduate within five years; be successful on and off the field
Three words to describe me: Energetic, dependable, trustworthy
In my iPod: Lil Wayne
Sports hero: LeBron James
If I wasn’t going to Georgia, I’d go to … Florida
College major: Undecided
My style on the field reminds some of … Jevon Kearse
Did you know? I was on the construction crew that built our new stadium at Statesboro High
Funniest recruiting experience: I was wearing a Boston Celtics cap when Coach [Jon] Fabris from UGA asked me who was a great player for the Celtics. I said Shawn Kemp, which was wrong. So much for my history of the game.
Ten years from now, I will be … The best I can be with whatever God has planned
Permalink | |
Wofford lands GAC receiver Bennett
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Categories
Greater Atlanta Christian receiver/kicker Landon Bennett committed to Wofford over the weekend, according to GAC coach Jimmy Chupp.
At 6-foot-3, Bennett was GAC’s leading receiver with 33 receptions for 559 yards and three touchdowns.
Bennett may also play baseball at Wofford.
Permalink | |
Recruiting advice from UGA-bound QB Gray
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Categories
We asked Columbia, Mo., quarterback and Georgia recruit Logan Gray for his words of wisdom on the recruiting process:
Most important tip: “I would say the biggest thing if you are going follow your heart. Don’t take advice from everybody. Go the place that you are going to be the most comfortable and that you are going to want to stay.”
On arranging campus visits: “I think it is kind of hard. Really, you just have to take as many visits as you can and get the best feel for the places. [Gray took 12 visits but only one official one, to Georgia.] Then you can narrow your field and see what feels right.”
On not getting caught up in the hype: “Right after you go somewhere, you are in a position to make you most irrational decision because every place is great when you are visiting. But you have to hold off and keep weighing your options.”
On what to look for during campus visits: “The layout of the campus. How you feel. What you feel like going to that school. The feeling of how [the players] interact with each other and the coaches. The feeling the players give the other players is going to mean a ton. But you also have to remember when you visit a place, there is always going to be something that is not perfect.”
Permalink | |
Middle Tennessee lands three in-state stars
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Categories
Three Peach State stars committed to Middle Tennessee State during official visits over the weekend.
According to Scout. com, Hawkinsville defensive end Sacoby Carter, Charlton County quarterback Dwight Dasher and Swainsboro defensive end Dwight Smith have each elected to play college football for the Blue Raiders.
“I decided to commit to Middle Tennessee State,” Carter told Scout.com. “I’ve been around schools like Florida, South Carolina and Georgia Tech, but I just really wanted to go somewhere that I was comfortable and coach [Rick] Stockstill provided that atmosphere for me, academically and athletically.”
Permalink | |
Sandy Creek star down to Indiana, Marshall
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Categories
Sandy Creek defensive lineman Fred Jones is set to decide between Indiana and Marshall this week.
The AJC’s Fayette/Coweta co-defensive player of the year, the 6-foot-5, 235-pound Jones returned home on Sunday from an official visit to Marshall. He visited Indiana the previous week. Jones has also made stops at Kentucky and Central Florida.
Jones, who registered 47 tackles and seven sacks last season, said he’ll be ready to announce by mid-week.
“I’ll know by Wednesday,” Jones told Scout.com. “Marshall and Indiana are the two I’m thinking about — that’s it.”
Permalink | |
Hawkinsville’s Bembry likes what he sees at UK
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Categories
Hawkinsville cornerback Dequan Bembry is leaning toward signing with Kentucky after returning from Lexington on Sunday following an official visit with the Wildcats.
“It went great,” the 5-foot-9, 170-pound Bembry told the AJC Sunday night. “I really liked the atmosphere and the coaching staff.”
While readily admitting that Kentucky is in the lead, the AJC all-state player said he’s still considering offers from Georgia Southern, Marshall and Middle Tennessee State.
“Hopefully I’ll make a decision, not this week, but the following week,” Bembry said.
Permalink | |
UGA target Orlando Franklin commits to Miami
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Categories
Former Delray Beach (Fla.) Atlantic High School offensive lineman Orlando Franklin has recommitted to the University of Miami.
He returned Sunday from an official recruiting visit to the University of Georgia and made his choice with advice from his mother and Atlantic assistant coach Bill Ceasar.
The 6-foot-6, 330-pound tackle was a prized recruit for the Hurricanes last year. He took summer classes at UM, but the NCAA Clearinghouse ruled him academically ineligible, citing two English courses he took while living in Canada.
Franklin also took an official visit to Florida Atlantic.
— Chuck King
Permalink | |
D.J. Stafford to check out Auburn, Georgia
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Categories
LaGrange linebacker D.J. Stafford plans to visit Auburn this weekend, followed by a Feb. 2 stop in Athens to meet Georgia coach Mark Richt and his staff.
The 6-foot-3, 251-pound Stafford committed to Kentucky in late November. But he’s often labeled the commitment as “soft.”
When asked if he still plans to sign with the Wildcats, Stafford told the AJC, “It’s a big possibility.”
Although the Kentucky coaching staff stays in touch with him on a regular basis, Stafford said he wants to be certain that Lexington is the place for him before national signing day on Feb. 7.
“I just want to take a couple more visits and compare those schools to Kentucky,” Stafford said.
Permalink | |
