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Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Getting to know … Florida recruit John Brantley
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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We went one-on-one with Ocala (Fla.) Trinity Catholic quarterback John Brantley, who in two weeks will sign with Florida:
I hope to make an impact as … an athlete AND a person
Favorite QB of all-time: Johnny Unitas
Funniest recruiting experience: Seeing the Dawg Walk at Georgia
My style on the field reminds some of … Tom Brady
Hobbies: Wakeboarding, hunting, fishing
Last good book I read: “The Old Man and the Sea”
Favorite flick: “Wedding Crashers”
In 10 years, I hope to be … Happy, healthy and in the NFL
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List: Georgia Tech’s classes of 2007-08
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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With Georgia Tech dropping Detroit cornerback Cedric Everson this week, it has 18 commitments for the class of 2007 and one for 2008:
CLASS OF 2007
Morgan Burnett, S, 6-2, 190, North Clayton (College Park)
Mario Butler, CB, 6-2, 180, Nease (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.)
Nick Claytor, OL, 6-6, 312, Gainesville (Gainesville)
D.J. Donley, S, 6-4, 190, Charlton County (Folkston)
Jonathan Dwyer, RB, 6-1, 200, Kell (Marietta)
Joseph Gilbert, OL, 6-4, 280, Cartersville (Cartersville)
Kyle Jackson, LB, 6-0, 220, Union Grove (McDonough)
Brad Jefferson, LB, 6-3, 220, Johnson County (Wrightsville)
Roddy Jones, RB, 5-9, 190, Chamblee (Chamblee)
Tyler Melton, WR, 6-0, 182, Langham Creek (Houston)
Derrick Morgan, DE, 6-4, 260, Coatesville (Coatesville, Pa.)
Josh Nesbitt, QB, 6-2, 215, Greene County (Greensboro)
Albert Rocker, LB, 6-1, 196, Sparkman (New Market, Ala.)
Jerrard Tarrant, CB, 6-2, 189, Carrollton (Carrollton)
Steven Threet, QB, 6-6, 225, Adrian (Adrian, Mich.)
Logan Walls, DT, 6-2, 270, Dawson County (Dawsonville)
Willie White, WR, 6-3, 175, Camden County (Kingsland)
Clyde Yandell, OL, 6-5, 304, Nease (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.)
CLASS OF 2008
Chris Jackson, WR, 6-0, 190, Henry County (McDonough)
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List: Georgia’s classes of 2007-08
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Commitments from Drew Butler and Richard Samuel the past two days brings Georgia’s total to 23 (class of 2007) and six (2008):
CLASS OF 2007
Justin Anderson, OL, 6-5, 320, Hargrave Military (Chatham, Va.)
Neland Ball, DE, 6-6, 218, Jackson (Jackson)
Clint Boling, OL, 6-5, 270, Chattahoochee (Alpharetta)
Drew Butler, P, 6-0, 196, Peachtree Ridge (Suwanee)
Vance Cuff, CB, 5-11, 170, Colquitt County (Moultrie)
Rennie Curran, LB, 6-2, 200, Brookwood (Snellville)
Bruce Figgins, TE, 6-4, 245, Shaw (Columbus)
Logan Gray, QB, 6-2, 185, Rock Bridge (Columbia, Mo.)
Antwane Greenlee, OL, 6-5, 300, Hardaway (Columbus)
Ben Harden, OL, 6-4, 290, Hargrave Military (Chatham, Va.)
Scott Haverkamp, OL, 6-5, 298, Butler CC (El Dorado, Kan.)
Walter Hill, WR, 6-5, 200, East Hall (Gainesville)
Justin Houston, DE, 6-3, 240, Statesboro (Statesboro)
Corvey Irvin, DE, 6-4, 275, Georgia Military (Milledgeville)
Caleb King, RB, 5-11, 196, Greater Atlanta Christian (Norcross)
John Knox, S, 6-0, 190, Statesboro (Statesboro)
Tanner Strickland, OG, 6-5, 315, Berrien County (Nashville)
Trinton Sturdivant, OL, 6-5, 281, Anson (Wadesboro, N.C.)
Israel Troupe, WR, 6-1, 205, Tift County (Tifton)
Vince Vance, OL, 6-7, 300, Georgia Military (Milledgeville)
Aron White, TE, 6-4, 213, Rock Bridge (Columbia, Mo.)
Charles White, LB, 5-11, 209, Blythewood (Blythewood, S.C.)
Jarius Wynn, DT, 6-5, 275, Georgia Military (Milledgeville)
CLASS OF 2008
Dwayne Allen, TE, 6-4, 235, Sanford (Fayetteville, N.C.)
B.J Brand, OL, 6-4, 323, Coffee (Douglas)
A.J. Green, WR, 6-4, 184, Summerville (Summerville, S.C.)
Richard Samuel, RB/LB 6-1, 205, Cass (Cartersville)
Martin Ward, RB, 5-11, 185, Mount Zion (Jonesboro)
Cornelius Washington, DE, 6-4, 220, Burke County (Waynesboro)
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UGA lands sixth junior: Cartersville’s Samuel
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Georgia received a commitment today from junior Richard Samuel, a running back/linebacker from Cass High School in Cartersville.
“He is a very good athlete with just great explosion,” Cass coach Rick Casko said. “But the best thing about him is his attitude. He just loves to play and he will do anything to play. You ask him to go line up and play tight end this play and block that guy and he doesn’t ask any questions. He just says, ‘Yes, sir.’ “
Casko believes defense might be where Samuel winds up on the next level. The 15-year-old had 66 tackles, three sacks and 12 tackles for loss last year.
“I think he is a Division I outside linebacker,” Casko said. “You look at him and he is about 6-1, 205 or maybe a little less than that since he is playing basketball and he can power clean 320. Can you imagine what he can do when he is 19?”
Cass, who is from the Virgin Islands and moved to the United States prior to middle school, will be 17 as a freshman at Georgia.
Samuel was also considering Tennessee, Clemson and Florida. Georgia discovered Samuel when Casko took him to the Bulldogs’ on-campus football camp over the summer.
The Bulldogs now have six players committed for the 2008 class.
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Junior says yes to UGA; Tech drops Everson
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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One year and two weeks before national signing day 2008, Georgia is piling up the commitments.
The latest came Wednesday when Cartersville Cass running back Richard Samuel said yes to Mark Richt. He’s the sixth junior to commit to the Bulldogs.
More on that developing story in the “latest news” section to the right. That’s where you’ll also find updates on …
— Garner, N.C., star safety Chris Culliver, who chose Steve Spurrier’s South Carolina Gamecocks over Florida.
— Georgia Tech’s stretch run. If Malachi Lewis and Jason Peters pick Tech, there’s now room for two on The Flats. That’s because Yellow Jackets coaches have withdrawn their scholarship offer to Detroit cornerback Cedric Everson, the AJC’s Matt Winkeljohn first reported this morning.
— Clinch County defensive lineman Eugene Kinlaw, who will visit Georgia on Friday but says he will likely head to prep school before Division I.
— Peachtree Ridge defensive tackle Cameron Heyward, who drew quite a crowd to his basketball game against Norcross on Tuesday night. On hand: Six Georgia coaches, two from LSU, two from Ohio State and one from Florida.
— Greater Atlanta Christian quarterback Lee Chapple, who has his first Division I-A offer … c/o former Georgia Bulldogs assistant and new UAB coach Neil Callaway.
— A pair of possible future Georgia tailbacks who are brushing up for Saturday’s SAT.
— Dozens of top Southern prospects throughout the day.
As always, if there’s someone whose recruitment you’d like us to update, drop me a line and we’ll get right to it.
Spurrier beats Gators for star recruit
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Garner, N.C., wide receiver/safety Chris Culliver made it official this afternoon, choosing South Carolina over Florida.
The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder is Scout.com’s 12th-ranked safety prospect, but Gamecocks coaches have told him they like his abilities as a receiver.
“Speed is the name of the game these days, and he’s got tons of it,” Garner High assistant Corey Lyons told Scout.com. “He’s a little rough around the edges like a lot kids coming out of high school. He’s got a great work ethic, and he’s a strong kid.
“The coaches tell him that he bench presses more than any of the other receivers down there at South Carolina right now. His speed kills out there, and he’s got tons of it. If they get the ball in his hands, he’s got a ton of athletic ability and he can do a lot of things with the ball.”
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ACC announces 2007 football schedules
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Boston College
Sept. 1 Wake Forest
Sept. 8 NC State
Sept. 15 at Georgia Tech
Sept. 22 Army
Sept. 29 Massachusetts
Oct. 6 Bowling Green
Oct. 13 at Notre Dame
Oct. 20 Open
Oct. 25 at Virginia Tech (Thursday)
Nov. 3 Florida State
Nov. 10 at Maryland
Nov. 17 at Clemson
Nov. 24 Miami
Clemson
Sept. 3 Florida State (Monday)
Sept. 8 Louisiana Monroe
Sept. 15 Furman
Sept. 22 at NC State
Sept. 29 at Georgia Tech
Oct. 6 Virginia Tech
Oct. 13 Open
Oct. 20 Central Michigan
Oct. 27 at Maryland
Nov. 3 at Duke
Nov. 10 Wake Forest
Nov. 17 Boston College
Nov. 24 at South Carolina
Duke
Sept. 1 Connecticut
Sept.8 at Virginia
Sept. 15 Northwestern
Sept. 22 at Navy
Sept. 29 at Miami
Oct. 6 Wake Forest
Oct. 13 Virginia Tech
Oct. 20 Open
Oct. 27 at Florida State
Nov. 3 Clemson
Nov. 10 Georgia Tech
Nov. 17 at Notre Dame
Nov. 24 at North Carolina
Florida State
Sept. 3 at Clemson (Monday)
Sept. 8 UAB
Sept. 15 at Colorado
Sept. 22 Open
Sept. 29 Alabama (Jacksonville)
Oct. 6 NC State
Oct. 11 at Wake Forest (Thursday)
Oct. 20 Miami
Oct. 27 Duke
Nov. 3 at Boston College
Nov. 10 at Virginia Tech
Nov. 17 Maryland
Nov. 24 at Florida
Georgia Tech
Sept. 1 at Notre Dame
Sept. 8 Samford
Sept. 15 Boston College
Sept. 22 at Virginia
Sept. 29 Clemson
Oct. 6 at Maryland
Oct. 13 at Miami
Oct. 20 Army
Oct. 27 Open
Nov. 1 Virginia Tech (Thursday)
Nov. 10 at Duke
Nov. 17 North Carolina
Nov. 24 Georgia
Maryland
Sept. 1 Villanova
Sept. 8 at Florida International
Sept. 13 West Virginia (Thursday)
Sept. 22 at Wake Forest
Sept. 29 at Rutgers
Oct. 6 Georgia Tech
Oct. 13 Open
Oct. 20 Virginia
Oct. 27 Clemson
Nov. 3 at North Carolina
Nov. 10 Boston College
Nov. 17 at Florida State
Nov. 24 at NC State
Miami
Sept. 1 Marshall
Sept. 8 at Oklahoma
Sept. 15 Florida International
Sept. 20 Texas A&M (Thursday)
Sept. 29 Duke
Oct. 6 at North Carolina
Oct. 13 Georgia Tech
Oct. 20 at Florida State
Oct. 27 Open
Nov. 3 NC State
Nov. 10 Virginia
Nov. 17 at Virginia Tech
Nov. 24 at Boston College
North Carolina
Sept. 1 James Madison
Sept. 8 at East Carolina
Sept. 15 Virginia
Sept. 22 at South Florida
Sept. 29 at Virginia Tech
Oct. 6 Miami
Oct. 13 South Carolina
Oct. 20 Open
Oct. 27 at Wake Forest
Nov. 3 Maryland
Nov. 10 at NC State
Nov. 17 at Georgia Tech
Nov. 24 Duke
N.C. State
Sept. 1 Central Florida
Sept. 8 at Boston College
Sept. 15 Wofford
Sept. 22 Clemson
Sept. 29 Louisville (or Sept. 27)
Oct. 6 at Florida State
Oct. 13 Open
Oct. 20 at East Carolina
Oct. 27 Virginia
Nov. 3 at Miami
Nov. 10 North Carolina
Nov. 17 at Wake Forest
Nov. 24 Maryland
Virginia
Sept. 1 at Wyoming
Sept. 8 Duke
Sept. 15 at North Carolina
Sept. 22 Georgia Tech
Sept. 29 Pittsburgh
Oct. 6 at Middle Tennessee State
Oct. 13 Connecticut
Oct. 20 at Maryland
Oct. 27 at NC State
Nov. 3 Wake Forest
Nov. 10 at Miami
Nov. 17 Open
Nov. 24 Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech
Sept. 1 East Carolina
Sept. 8 at LSU
Sept. 15 Ohio University
Sept. 22 William & Mary
Sept. 29 North Carolina
Oct. 6 at Clemson
Oct. 13 at Duke
Oct. 20 Open
Oct. 25 Boston College (Thursday)
Nov. 1 at Georgia Tech (Thursday)
Nov. 10 Florida State
Nov. 17 Miami
Nov. 24 at Virginia
Wake Forest
Sept. 1 at Boston College
Sept. 8 Nebraska
Sept. 15 Army
Sept. 22 Maryland
Sept. 29 Open
Oct. 6 at Duke
Oct. 11 Florida State (Thursday)
Oct. 20 at Navy
Oct. 27 North Carolina
Nov. 3 at Virginia
Nov. 10 at Clemson
Nov. 17 NC State
Nov. 24 at Vanderbilt
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The latest on every recruit in Gwinnett County
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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A school-by-school look at football recruiting in Gwinnett County:
BERKMAR
Mario Arnold (FS, 6-2, 185): Interest from several Division I-AA programs.
Will Clark (RB, 5-8, 160): Leaning toward Union College.
Jerry Gross (WR/DB, 6-1, 178): Offered by Georgia Military College.
Jeremy Maness (C, 6-2, 270): Strong interest from Tennessee-Chattanooga.
BROOKWOOD
Rennie Curran (LB, 5-11, 215): Committed to Georgia.
Briley Hale (DE, 6-1, 235): Interest from West Georgia, LaGrange, Bethel, Brevard
David Kelley (LB, 5-11, 215): Interest from LaGrange, Bridgewater.
Mitchell King (OT, 6-1 1/2, 295): Interest from West Virginia Wesleyan, LaGrange College.
Buddy Marietta (C, 6-1, 260): Interest from LaGrange College.
Joe Moore (LB, 5-11, 215): Interest from Air Force.
Patrick Moran (WR/DB, 5-10, 185): Interest from Central Connecticut State.
Greg Townshend (C, 5-11, 250): Interest from LaGrange College.
Josh Turner (OG, 6-3, 265): Has visited Western Carolina, West Georgia, LaGrange, Bethel, Brevard
BUFORD
David Hendrix (WR, 6-5, 195): Committed to Furman.
Trey Hunsucker (LB, 6-3, 200): Colgate, Bucknell, Georgetown, Navy, Wofford, William and Mary interested.
Ben Jacoby (OL, 6-2, 270): Committed to Ball State.
Brandon McEachern (DE, 6-2, 225): Offers from Ball State, Tennessee Tech, Georgia Southern, UAB; strong interest from Tennessee-Chattanooga and Coastal Carolina.
CENTRAL GWINNETT
Collin Crawford (OL, 6-3, 300): Offer from Mars Hill.
Rolando Dyer (WR, 6-1, 165): Expected to attend Butler (Kan.) Community College.
Logan Hunt (QB, 6-0, 195): Offer from Presbyterian.
Josh Keeler (DB, 5-10, 175): Offer from Rhodes College in Memphis.
Jonathon Massaquoi (LB, 6-2, 216): Offer from Butler (Kan.) Community College.
Bryce Smith (LB, 6-1, 230): Committed to Samford.
Kris Swanson (OL, 6-2, 250): Offer from Presbyterian.
Devin Sabina (K, 5-11, 185): Offer from Virginia Union; Interested: Valdosta State, Memphis, Tennessee-Chattanooga.
COLLINS HILL
Bo Adebayo (DE, 6-3, 245): Offer from Middle Tennessee.
Kurt Diel (WR, 6-2, 185): Interest from Campbellsville and Birmingham-Southern.
Taylor Gale (DB, 5-11, 180): Offer from Bucknell.
T.J. Greenstone (DE, 6-3, 260): Committed to Vanderbilt.
T.J. Hurless (OL, 6-4, 300): Committed to Tennessee-Chattanooga.
Craig Jackson (RB, 5-10, 175): Interest from Union College.
James Lewis (RB, 5-11, 190): Offer from Tennessee-Chattanooga; Planned visits to Eastern Kentucky, Western Kentucky, Georgia Southern and Richmond.
Michael Young (DB, 5-7, 160): Interest from Davidson and Rhodes.
DACULA
Cole Brodie (RB, 5-11, 185): Has visited Southern Miss; interest from Liberty and Albany.
Michael Butler (TE, 6-4, 250): Will visit Liberty; has visited Navy, Virginia Tech, Georgetown and Colgate
Dexter Daffin (LB, 5-10, 200): Visited Coastal Carolina ; Belhaven College (Miss.) and Southern Nazarene (Okla.) interested.
Cameron Kenney (WR, 6-0, 180): Looking at several junior colleges.
DULUTH
Greg Carson (DB, 5-11, 210): Offer from Tulane.
Jeremy Dixon (LB, 5-9, 180): Interest from Birmingham Southern.
J.D. Farrell (DB, 5-10, 190): Interest from LaGrange.
Andrew Higgins (OL, 6-3, 280): Committed to Tulane.
Broderick Simpson (DE, 6-1, 235): Offer from Eastern Kentucky.
Andre Williams (WR, 5-10, 180): Offer from Albany University.
GRAYSON
Conrad Obi (DE, 6-4, 250): Committed to Colorado.
Chris Cawthon (OL, 6-4, 320): Offers from Tennessee Chattanooga, Murray State, Hofstra, Albany State, Florida International, Murray State.
GREATER ATLANTA CHRISTIAN
Lee Chapple (QB, 6-2, 200): Offers from UAB, Richmond and James Madison.
T-Bob Hebert (C, 6-3, 260): Committed to LSU.
Caleb King (RB, 5-11, 208): Committed to Georgia.
Meko McCray (DB, 5-9, 180): Interest from Harvard, Princeton and Yale.
MEADOWCREEK
Cyhl Quarles (LB, 6-2, 202): Committed to Wake Forest.
MILL CREEK
John Certusi (WR/DB, 5-11, 170): Interest from Shorter College, Rhodes College.
Chris Tarver (OL/LB, 6-0, 180): Interest from Shorter College, Rhodes College
NORCROSS
Brooks Cunningham (DE, 6-3, 220): Committed to Tulane.
Bryce Dykes (QB, 6-1, 175): Offers from Air Force, Austin Peay, Samford, Elon, Bucknell, Colgate.
Leonard Foster (CB, 5-10, 175): Interest from Tennessee-Chattanooga, Tuskegee, Mars Hill, Virginia Union, West Georgia, North Greenville.
Darius Hanks (WR/DB, 6-1, 170): Offers from Kent State, Ball State, Bowling Green, Miami (OH), East Carolina, UAB, Jacksonville State.
Demetrius Hill (RB, 5-9, 170): Considering several junior colleges.
J.R. Jones (DE, 6-1, 305): Considering several junior colleges.
Kendall Parks (WR/DB, 6-2, 180): Interest from Mars Hill, Tennessee-Chattanooga and Union College
James Simien (LB, 6-1, 210): Offers from Navy, Air Force, Ball State, Eastern Kentucky, Western Kentucky; Southern Miss interested.
Sam Snider (P, 5-11, 160): Considering walking on at Georgia Tech or Alabama.
Matt Tribble (LB, 6-0, 185): Offers from Hofstra, Austin Peay and Tuskegee.
NORTH GWINNETT
Ryan McDaniel (WR, 6-2, 175): Committed to Samford.
Jasper Williams (DE, 6-2, 210): Offers from Air Force, Austin Peay, W. Georgia, Citadel, Elon.
Chad Gross (K, 6-2, 176): Offer from Navy. Samford, William & Mary, Charleston Southern also interested.
PARKVIEW
Tremayne Graham (DB/WR, 5-10, 180): Offer from Air Force; interest from UMass, Tennessee-Chattahoochee; and Richmond.
PEACHTREE RIDGE
Aaron Blue (DE, 6-3, 230): Offer from Virginia Military Institute.
Drew Butler (PK/P, 6-2, 195): Offer from Duke. Georgia (walk-on). Memphis, Wake Forest also interested.
Phillip Davis (DB, 5-9, 165): De-committed from Navy; has interest from Tennessee-Chattanooga, Southern Mississippi, Georgia Southern and Wofford
Sidney Haynes (WR, 6-4, 200): Committed to Central Florida.
Cameron Heyward (DL, 6-6, 282): Narrowed list to Ohio State, Georgia, LSU, Florida.
Harold Trip (DL, 6-3, 235): Interest coming from numerous Division II schools.
SOUTH GWINNETT
Sean Christy (DE, 6-3, 225): Offer from Air Force.
Chris Grant (WR/DB, 5-11, 185): Will visit Union College.
Chris LaMar (DE, 6-2, 260): Awaiting an offer from Valdosta State.
WESLEYAN
Chris Alexander (DB, 6-1, 170): Interest from Maryville, Rhodes. West Virginia-Wesleyan.
Andy Merlino (WR/DB, 6-0, 180): Committed to Washington and Lee University.
Ed Van Winkle (OL/DL, 6-2, 240): Offer from Tenn.-Martin. Interest from Wofford, Citadel, West Virginia-Wesleyan.
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Air Force makes offer to Parkview star
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Parkview’s Tremayne Graham, a Gwinnett Super 11 selection, has been flying under the radar from most high-profile colleges, coach Cecil Flowe said. Leave it to the Air Force Academy to pick up on the talented defensive back.
Air Force offered Graham a scholarship this week.
He also has offers from Elon, Richmond and Tennessee-Chattanooga.
“The Air Force coach asked me, ‘How’s this kid not being recruited by the big schools?’ ” Flowe said. “I told him when you go 5-6 {Parkview’s record this season], the big dogs don’t come around anymore.”
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Auburn, FSU, UGA, Tennessee offer Griffin junior
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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College football coaches aren’t the only ones already monitoring the state of Georgia’s current crop of juniors.
Griffin coach Steve Devoursney believes Bears junior defensive lineman Toby Jackson is among the best in the state. He’s already lobbying for his standout lineman to be a member of this fall’s AJC Super 11.
“He can run and makes plays everywhere,” Devoursney said. “He’s an NFL kid if he keeps progressing like he is.”
Apparently, several major college programs agree with Devoursney’s assessment.
The 6-foot-4, 250-pound Jackson is already entertaining scholarship offers from Auburn, Florida State, Georgia and Tennessee.
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Getting to know … Collins Hill’s Bo Adebayo
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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We went one-on-one with Collins Hill defensive tackle Bo Adebayo, who is leaning toward signing with Middle Tennessee State:
Nickname: “Big Bo”
College I root for: I’m a big fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes because I grew up in that area
What I’m looking for in a school: A college that wants to win and is trying to improve all around; a college where they focus as much on academics as football; a college that’s in the process of building a great team.
Hopes to major in … Sports medicine, culinary arts or accounting
Hobbies: Playing “Madden,” working out
My game reminds some of … Julius Peppers
In 10 years, I hope to be … A successful player in the NFL or successful in a major that I choose
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Stone Mountain junior grabs recruiters’ attention
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Coaches from Georgia Tech and Ole Miss made a stop at Stone Mountain earlier this week to inquire about junior cornerback/wide receiver Charles Reeves II. A coach from Virginia Tech is expected to drop by on Thursday.
“These coaches sit down, look at tape and make their evaluation,” said his father and coach, Charles Reeves. “And I’m hearing that my son will be a national recruit.”
The 6-foot, 180-pounder is a three-year varsity starter, including his freshman campaign at Grady. He led DeKalb County in receiving yardage last season.
His dad believes his son’s blazing speed may be his greatest asset.
“He slipped at Auburn at a camp last summer and still ran a 4.3 in the 40,” Reeves said. “He tells me he can run faster.”
Aside from viewing tape, why are college coaches camped out at Stone Mountain?
“I think, basically what they want him to do is commit early,” Reeves said.
So what advice is the father/coach offering his son?
“I’ve left it up to him,” Reeves said. “If he finds the college that’s right for him, go ahead and commit. But that’s his decision.”
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UGA, Tech, Auburn, South Carolina offer Statesboro junior
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Statesboro junior defensive tackle Deangelo Tyson is already creating a buzz among major Division I programs.
The 6-foot-2, 286-pound Tyson has offers from Auburn, Georgia, Georgia Tech and South Carolina.
Statesboro coach Steve Pennington says Tyson is among the best defensive linemen he’s seen at this stage.
“If we can coach him, he’s going to be pretty dadgum good,” Pennington cracked. “Actually, he’s got all the tools. He’s got the total package.
“It’s all a matter of how dominant he wants to be.”
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UGA target Kinlaw likely to take prep school detour
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Clinch County defensive lineman Eugene Kinlaw will take an official visit to Georgia this weekend.
But the 6-foot-3, 280-pound Kinlaw’s immediate future may be at Virginia’s Hargrave Military Academy.
Kinlaw, who has to receive a scholarship offer from the Bulldogs, plans to arrive in Athens late Friday.
“They’re talking to me,” Kinlaw said. “If they make an offer, it will be tied into a prep school.”
Kinlaw confirmed that his GPA will likely prevent him from becoming academically eligible for a Division I program.
He’s thinking about Georgia in a long-term sense, but looking forward to his trip to Athens this weekend.
“I’ll be visiting some of the team, the defensive end coach, going to a basketball game and going out to dinner,” Kinlaw said.
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Kent State lands Tri-Cities QB Morgan
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Tri-Cities quarterback Giorgio Morgan will play college football for Kent State.
The 6-foot-3, 189-pound Morgan made his decision over the weekend and three weeks after taking an official visit to Kent State.
“Giorgio is going to be a kid that has the ability to impact their program,” Tri-Cities coach Morris Starr said. “I think he’ll be a kid who can step in and challenge for the job in a year or two.”
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Six Georgia coaches watch Heyward play basketball
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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As if top-ranked Norcross and Gani Lawal weren’t enough to occupy Cameron Heyward’s attention Tuesday night, the Peachtree Ridge senior had a full-court press coming from the stands.
With two weeks to go until national football signing day, more than a dozen assistant football coaches joined 2,500 students, parents and fans packed into the Norcross gym. A seven-row section of the bleachers was cordoned off to accommodate them.
Wait — football coaches there to see a basketball game?
Most of them were there to see, or be seen by, Heyward, a cross-over talent and one of the top uncommitted football prospects in the Southeast.
Six coaches from Georgia, two from Ohio State, two from LSU and one from Florida watched Peachtree Ridge lose to Norcross 76-59 - coaches from the four schools Heyward has narrowed his choices too. But they saw Heyward score 10 points and grab 10 rebounds.
More importantly to them, they watched him bang with Lawal, set monstrous picks, and take one guy to the deck who tried to drive though him to the basket.
It was a rare chance to see Heyward and his 6-foot-6 280-pound physique with no shoulder pads hiding the cuts in his arms and the width of his shoulders.
“I wasn’t really worried about it,” said Heyward, who shook a couple hands with coaches after the game. “I was just trying to focus on the game. There are always college coaches at AAU games and football games. You’ve just got to play through it.”
It’s not that strange to Heyward to see football coaches at a basketball game, because, he said, they know he wants to play both sports in college. It’s also not strange considering Heyward has had coaches from LSU and Georgia at his younger brothers’ eighth grade basketball game, just to be around him and his family.
On Tuesday, coaches jockeyed not necessarily for the best view of the court, but for the ear of Charlotte Heyward-Blackwell and her husband Corey Blackwell, Cameron’s stepfather. Florida co-defensive coordinator Greg Mattison seemed to win those stakes, getting a bleacher seat to Corey Blackwell’s left. The rest watched the game from across court.
“I try not to show preferential treatment,” said Charlotte Heyward-Blackwell, who was greeted by coaches at the door and on the way to her seat. She realizes in a way, she is being recruited too. Lately has been taking phone calls her son chooses not too. “It’s just overwhelming.”
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Ex-Georgia assistant courts GAC’s Chapple
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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GAC quarterback Lee Chapple has gotten his first Division I-A offer — from the University of Alabama-Birmingham, where he visited last weekend. Former Georgia offensive coordinator Neil Callaway just took over as head coach there.
“I really enjoyed it,” Chapple said. “They’ve got a real good coaching staff.”
Chapple also has offers from Richmond and James Madison, both Division I-AA schools.
“I don’t know where I’ll end up,” Chapple said. “I’m still sitting, waiting to see if somebody jumps up.”
Somebody, he means, who is a little bit bigger fish in Division I-A. The most he’s been offered from Georgia, Chapple said, is a chance to be a preferred walk-on. He said the other big-time Division I-A school he’d heard from the most was Arkansas, but the Razorbacks just got commitments from two quarterbacks over the weekend, so that door is closed.
Chapple said he might wait until next weekend before he makes his decision, but he said Alabama-Birmingham has asked for his decision as far as the Blazers are concerned by the first of next week.
Chapple passed for 4,901 yards and 46 touchdowns in three years as a start for GAC.
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Tech withdraws offer to Detroit’s Everson
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Georgia Tech’s list of committed players dropped to 18 Tuesday night, when coaches called Detroit speedster Cedric Everson and withdrew the scholarship offer they made months ago.
Everson, ranked the No. 17 “athlete” in the nation by Rivals.com and No. 27 cornerback by Scout.com, is noted for his outstanding speed, but he’s been intolerably slow to respond to calls from Tech coaches for several weeks.
He also made an unexpected visit to the University of Iowa in December fall after committing to Tech in October, although his father, Cedric Sr., explained that the visit was in connection with a funeral the family attended. When scheduling problems arose this week as Yellow Jackets coach Chan Gailey tried to set up an in-home meeting with Everson, staff officials decided to pull his offer.
Tech is still recruiting two players, Oxnard, Calif., “athlete” Malachi Lewis and Baton Rouge, La., defensive end Jason Peters.
The Jackets can take both, in part because one of those commitments, Houston wide receiver Tyler Melton, will not count against this year’s scholarship numbers if he does not enroll full-time until next January as expected while rehabilitating from reconstructive knee surgery.
If Tech lands only one of these two players, Gailey’s staff may not sign another.
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