AJC > Sports > Football Recruiting > Blog > Archives > 2007 > January > 29
Monday, January 29, 2007
Recruiting updates on Gwinnett County’s top juniors
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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— Buford defensive tackle Omar Hunter anchors a stingy Wolves defense. The burly 6-foot-2, 300-pounder will rank as one of the state’s top prospects next year and already has the attention of a number of major college programs. Duke, Auburn and Mississippi State have already offered scholarships.
— Buford linebacker T.J. Pridemore is fast becoming a hot-prospect among Division I coaches. The 6-2, 225-pound son of of former Falcons defensive back Tom Pridemore and the younger brother of Duke defensive back and former Buford standout Matt Pridemore has already received offers from Duke and Mississippi State, with Auburn also among those also very much interested.
— Peachtree Ridge junior running back Brandon Davis is also a guy major college programs are wooing already. Davis recently received his first offer, from Virginia Tech. Davis, the younger brother of former Peachtree Ridge standout Phillip Davis, ranked among the team’s stronger and faster players with a 330-pound bench press and 4.5-second 40-yard dash time.
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Tech lands Peters; Paige down to 3; Hanks to Alabama
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Hours after Malachi Lewis committed to Oregon, Georgia Tech landed the only other uncommitted senior it was still courting.
Our Matt Winkeljohn reports that Baton Rouge, La., defensive end Jason Peters has just committed to Tech, choosing the Jackets over Florida, LSU and Nebraska.
A full report on that story is in the “latest news” section to the right, along with updates on …
— Super Southern 100 wide receiver Ahmad Paige, who tells Jeff Hood he has it down to Florida, Tennessee and Southern Cal, where he’ll spend this weekend. o favorite yet, said Paige, who plans to reveal his college choice a week from today.
— Norcross’ Darius Hanks, who tells David Purdum he’ll sign next week with Nick Saban and Alabama.
— Peachtree Ridge defensive lineman Cameron Heyward — who will entertain Florida coach Urban Meyer on Tuesday night. We caught up with Heyward’s mom, who took her flu-stricken son home early from his weekend trip to Athens.
— Updates on dozens of in-state stars, including a few juniors of note, who are already piling up major offers.
If you’ve got anyone whose recruitment you’d like us to update, drop me a line and we’ll see what we can find out.
Paige’s final three: Gators, Vols, Trojans
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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AJC Super Southern 100 wide receiver Ahmad Paige of Sterlington, La., will take his final official visit Friday, to Southern Cal.
The 6-foot-2, 165-pounder told the AJC Monday night he has narrowed his choices to Florida, Tennesee and Southern Cal.
Paige visited Georgia last October.
“I’m going to Southern Cal this weekend just to see the campus and all the sights,” Paige said. “I really don’t know what to expect. I’ve never been there. I plan to hang out with the players some.”
USC coach Pete Carroll is expected to make in-school and in-home visits with Paige on Thursday, one day before the coveted receiver makes the trek to the West coast.
Paige said he’ll likely hold a news conference Monday to announce his decision.
He cautioned against the perception of the Trojans being his front-runner because they turned out to be his last visit.
“No, I don’t think that gives them an edge,” Paige said.
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Peach County QB Ellis commits to UAB
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Peach County quarterback Bryan Ellis has committed to UAB.
“Bryan liked the fact that it’s a Division I program and he was real excited about the coach that recruited him, Tyson Summers,” Peach County coach Rance Gillespie said.
“Tyson is from Tifton. They just hit if off real well. And he really liked all of the coaches.”
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North Gwinnett’s Williams lands at Air Force
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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North Gwinnett’s Jasper Williams committed to the Air Force Academy on Monday, coach Bob Sphire said.
Williams, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound converted linebacker who moved to defensive end this fall, is projected as an outside linebacker in the Falcons’ 3-4 defensive scheme, Sphire said.
He becomes the second Bulldogs player to settle on his college choice, joining Samford-bound wide receiver Ryan McDaniel.
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Touted recruiting class of 2002 marked by shortfalls
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Lorenzo Booker might have been Reggie Bush.
OK, the statement seems a stretch these days. Bush has a Heisman Trophy on his mantel, NFL millions in the bank, and nearly reached the Super Bowl as a rookie.
Booker spent his weekend at the Senior Bowl, seeking to raise his mid-round draft stock.
Five years ago, though, Booker was the recruiting gem who carried all the great expectations. The nation’s top prospect on most lists, he picked Florida State over staying close to home at Southern California.
Twelve months later, Bush signed with USC. We know the rest.
Booker’s tale in a way personifies the outcome of National Signing Day’s Class of 2002. Upon review, it’s a class perhaps best noted for shortfalls by those at the top of the charts.
Booker never had a 1,000-yard season. Miami wideout Ryan Moore (No. 4) tailed off sharply and lost half his senior year to suspension. Ben Olson (No. 3) never threw a pass for BYU and now faces a job battle at UCLA.
“In retrospect, it may not have been a very good year,” said Bobby Burton, Rivals.com editor in chief. “You’re talking about some really good players that just never got going.”
The authorities were correct, though, when it came to projecting the big winner on campus.
Texas, ranked No. 1 by all four major outlets, corralled Vince Young and seven other starters for the 2005 Rose Bowl national champions that ended USC’s minidynasty.
Drafted No. 3 overall by Tennessee last April, Young recently was named the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year.
“He was the centerpiece,” Burton said.
OHIO STATE BONANZA
It also was a good year for Ohio State, which found a dozen starters to fuel a run of four BCS bowl games in their five-year window. Oddly enough, they didn’t necessarily come from the top of the class.
The Buckeyes garnered a No. 3 composite ranking with such names as running back Maurice Clarett, linebacker Mike D’Andrea and quarterback Justin Zwick. By 2005, none was a contributing factor.
Clarett made an immediate splash in helping OSU to the 2002 national title, but never played another down amid trouble with the NCAA and the legal system. Injuries cut D’Andrea’s career short, and Zwick wound up backing up a Heisman winner.
Troy Smith wasn’t on anyone’s Top 100 list in 2002, but now stands as winner of the second-most lopsided Heisman runaway ever. The Buckeyes also found a Lombardi Award winner in linebacker A.J. Hawk.
“There was even dissension on the Ohio State staff as to how good A.J. Hawk would be,” Burton said.
Florida, by the way, was rated a borderline Top 20 class in Ron Zook’s first effort — lowest among the state’s Big Three. When the Gators won the BCS crown three weeks ago, eight fifth-year seniors were in the lineup.
“That’s why football recruiting is an educated guess,” Burton said.
Not many, though, would have foreseen Booker’s modest production. After setting records with 8,502 yards and 137 touchdowns in high school, he never held the tailback job for himself. His best year was as a sophomore, with 887 yards rushing.
There are some who wonder what Booker might have done running behind USC’s blockers. And if he had claimed the job, whether Bush might have looked elsewhere.
Booker, for his part, isn’t interested in the what-if game.
“I’m not bothered,” he said before this past season. “It’s more than just football. I’ve had a lot of good relationships that I’ve developed at FSU.”
DISAPPOINTMENTS
The Seminoles found greater disappointment from elsewhere in the class. Within three years, half the class (11 of 22) had fallen by the wayside.
Four never got in academically, including five-star receiver DiShon Platt. Quarterback Wyatt Sexton fell victim to Lyme disease. Thomas Clayton transferred to Kansas State and became more productive than Booker.
“Those losses turn your class around,” Burton said.
To be fair, though, those Seminoles still won three ACC crowns and produced two first-round draft picks (Brodrick Bunkley and Kamerion Wimbley).
The Hurricanes’ class was ranked No. 6, but might end up best known for a kick-return specialist.
Devin Hester ran back seven punts or kickoffs for touchdowns, but never found a home on offense or defense.
“That’s an indictment of the player,” Burton said.
The Hurricanes also brought in four wideouts in 2002, but the most productive turned out to be the lowest rated — Sinorice Moss.
Moore, the state’s No. 1 prospect, sparkled with 44 catches as a freshman. He caught just 49 the rest of his career — derailed by injury, drops, poor effort and off-field issues.
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Jason Peters commits to Georgia Tech
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Just hours after Georgia Tech was disappointed to learn it won’t get one of the final two recruits the Yellow Jackets sought, coach Chan Gailey learned that he’ll get another as Baton Rouge (La.) defensive end Jason Peters committed to Tech.
Peters visited LSU over the weekend, and also visited Nebraska and national champion Florida.
The 6-foot-3, 255-pound Peters is ranked the No. 28 defensive end in the nation by Scout.com.
Either late Sunday or early Monday, Gailey learned that Oxnard, Calif., “athlete” Malachi Lewis had decided to attend Oregon.
Given that development, it is believed that the Yellow Jackets will re-open recruitment of at least one additional athlete, most likely a defensive player.
Tech has 19 commitments after severing ties last week with Detroit cornerback/athlete Cedric Everson.
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Norcross’ Hanks commits to Alabama
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Alabama’s Nick Saban flexed his recruiting power today, swooping in to grab a commitment from Norcross receiver Darius Hanks.
The Crimson Tide hadn’t been on Hanks’ radar until Saban arrived on the Norcross campus last week. After speaking with the Tide’s new coach, Hanks visited Tuscaloosa over the weekend, liked what he saw and told Saban he was coming today.
“Coach Saban said I brought a smile to his face,” said Hanks, who until recently had only received offers from non-BCS schools like Kent State and Alabama-Birmingham.
“I didn’t think Alabama was ever going to come in.”
But they did, and now Hanks is headed to play receiver for the Tide.
“Coach said I’ll have an opportunity to play immediately,” Hanks said.
Along with the opportunity to play as a freshman, Hanks said one of his biggest reasons for his decision was that Alabama has agreed to let him to also play baseball. Besides being a standout wide receiver and defensive back, Hanks is a talented shortstop and is expecting to be drafted in Major League Baseball’s amateur draft.
Hanks wasn’t the only Norcross star to commit today. Linebackers James Simien and Matt Tribble also made their decisions.
Simien will head to Navy, and Tribble will be off to Austin Peay.
Defensive end Brooks Cunningham has already committed to Tulane, giving the Blue Devils at least three Division I signees.
Norcross quarterback Bryce Dykes could be the fourth. He’s currently weighing an offer from Air Force.
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Usher lands offers from Eastern Kentucky, Marshall
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Cedar Grove cornerback Frank Usher has scholarship offers from Eastern Kentucky and Marshall.
The 5-foot-11, 180-pound Usher is expected to choose between the two schools this week.
“He’s a cover corner,” Cedar Grove coach Ray Bonner said. “Frank can run and jump. And he has long arms, which helps him a lot.”
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Jackets, Hokies make pitches to Cedar Grove junior
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Georgia Tech, Kentucky and Virginia Tech are among the programs that have made scholarship offers to Cedar Grove junior wide receiver Josh Jarboe.
As a sophomore, Jarboe averaged 30 yards per catch for the Saints. Last season, he caught 47 passes for 912 yards. Jarboe rushed for 300 yards and passed for another 100 in limited action at quarterback.
The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Jarboe is also one of the top track and field athletes in the state.
“He’s what everybody is looking for in a receiver,” Cedar Grove coach Ray Bonner said. “He can do it all.”
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Cairo receiver considers Georgia Southern offer
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Chris Teal, a 5-foot-9, 185-pound wide receiver for Cairo, has offers from Georgia Southern, Samford and Valdosta State.
“He’s a small kid, but he’s fast and hard to hem up,” Cairo coach Tom Fallaw said. “He’s just a great athlete.”
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Habersham Central junior sold on Sooners
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Habersham Central junior linebacker Daniel Franklin remains solid in his commitment to Oklahoma.
“It was kind of quiet and near the end of our season,” Habersham Central coach Gene Cathcart recalled of the 6-foot-3, 230-pound Franklin’s decision, which came during the fall. “He doesn’t have many other offers because he’s so serious about his commitment to Oklahoma.
“Daniel is very strong and explosive. He is physically, very gifted.”
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Air Force joins hunt for Chamblee’s Parks
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Chamblee’s Chris Parks, a 6-foot, 215-pound middle linebacker, has an offer from Air Force.
Parks is also receiving interest from Carson-Newman and Georgia Southern.
“Chris will probably make a decision next week,” Chamblee coach Brent Miller said.
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Flashback: Scout.com’s top 100 seniors in 2003
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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We break away from the recruiting madness with this quick reminder: Player rankings are, well, a bit unscientific.
Below, you’ll find Scout.com’s top 100 seniors in the class of 2003. The list includes Mario Williams (No. 27?) Reggie Bush (No. 35?), Brady Quinn (No. 95?) and other familiar names …
Ernie Sims (North Florida Christian) Tallahassee, FL Committed to Florida State
Lamarr Woodley (Saginaw HS) Saginaw, MI Committed to Michigan
Michael Bush (Male HS) Louisville, KY Committed to Louisville
Whitney Lewis (St. Bonaventure HS) Ventura, CA Committed to USC
Kyle Wright (Monte Vista HS) Danville, CA Committed to Miami (Fl)
Chris Leak (Independence HS) Charlotte, NC Committed to Florida
Wesley Jefferson (Gwynn Park HS) Brandywine, MD Committed to Maryland
Demetris Summers (Lexington HS) Lexington, SC Committed to South Carolina
Earl Everett (South Sumter HS) Bushnell, FL Committed to Florida
Nate Robinson (Irvington HS) Irvington, NJ
Prescott Burgess (Warren G. Harding HS) Warren, OH Committed to Michigan
Eric Young (Union Comprehensive HS) Union, SC Committed to Tennessee
Jarvis Moss (Ryan HS) Denton, TX Committed to Florida
JaMarcus Russell (Lillie B Williamson HS) Mobile, AL Committed to LSU
Tony Cade (Lewisville HS) Lewisville, TX Committed to Oklahoma
Kregg Lumpkin (Stephenson HS) Stone Mountain, GA Committed to Georgia
Ofa Mohetau (Trinity HS) Euless, TX Committed to BYU
Andre Caldwell (Jefferson Senior HS) Tampa, FL Committed to Florida
Donte Whitner (Glenville HS) Cleveland, OH Committed to Ohio State
Greg Olsen (Wayne Hills HS) Wayne, NJ Committed to Miami
Jordy Lipsey (Lake Brantley HS) Altamonte Springs, FL Committed to Virginia
Tommy Grady (Edison HS) Huntington Beach, CA Committed to Oklahoma
Paul Oliver (Harrison HS) Kennesaw, GA Committed to Georgia
Antonio Cromartie (Lincoln HS) Tallahassee, FL Committed to Florida State
Lawrence Jackson (Inglewood HS) Inglewood, CA Committed to USC
Moe Dampeer (MacArthur HS) Decatur, IL Committed to Oklahoma
Mario Williams (Richlands HS) Richlands, NC Committed to North Carolina State
Xavier Lawson-Kennedy (Duncanville HS) Duncanville, TX Committed to Oklahoma State
Joe Cohen (Palm Bay Senior HS) Melbourne, FL Committed to Florida
Will Paul (Parkway West HS) Ballwin, MO Committed to Michigan
Jorrie Adams (Jasper HS) Jasper, TX Committed to Texas A&M
Robert Lane (Neville HS) Monroe, LA Committed to Mississippi
Chad Jackson (Hoover HS) Hoover, AL Committed to Florida
Dee Webb (Edward H. White HS) Jacksonville, FL Committed to Florida
Reggie Bush (Helix HS) La Mesa, CA Committed to USC
Anthony Hill (First Coast HS) Jacksonville, FL Committed to LSU
Robert Meachem (Washington HS) Tulsa, OK Committed to Tennessee
Reggie Nelson (Palm Bay Senior HS) Melbourne, FL Committed to Florida
Tyrone Moss (Blanche Ely HS) Pompano Beach, FL Committed to Miami
Chris Barrett (Tustin HS) Tustin, CA Committed to USC
David Patterson (Warrensville Heights HS) Warrensville Hts, Ohio Committed to Ohio State
Turk McBride (Woodrow Wilson HS) Camden, NJ Committed to Tennessee
Robert Killebrew (Klein HS) Klein, TX Committed to Texas
None listed
Joe Thomas (Central HS) Brookfield, WI Committed to Wisconsin
Stanley McClover (Dillard HS) Fort Lauderdale, FL Committed to Auburn
Louis Irizarry (Ursuline HS) Youngstown, OH Committed to Ohio State
Victor Abiamiri (Gilman School) Baltimore, MD Committed to Notre Dame
Chauncey Washington (South HS) Torrance, CA Committed to USC
Ryan Harris (Cretin Derham Hall) Saint Paul, MN Committed to Notre Dame
Justin Midgett (Charlotte HS) Punta Gorda, FL Committed to Florida
Dareus Hiley (Glenville HS) Cleveland, OH Committed to Ohio State
Barrington Edwards (Bowie HS) Bowie, MD Committed to LSU
Justin Warren (Lee HS) Tyler, TX Committed to Texas A&M
Ian-Yates Cunningham (Hebron HS) Lewisville, TX Committed to Virginia
Kirston Pittman (East Saint John HS) Reserve, LA Committed to LSU
Brandon Maupin (Lakota West HS) West Chester, OH Committed to Ohio State
Daniel Brooks (Jackson Central-Merry HS) Jackson, TN Committed to Tennessee
Steve Smith (William Howard Taft HS) Woodland Hills, CA Committed to USC
John Sullivan (Greenwich HS) Greenwich, CT Committed to Notre Dame
Emmanual Harrell (LaGrange HS) LaGrange, GA Committed to Kentucky
Justin Ostrowski (Portage HS) Portage, WI Committed to Wisconsin
Tarell Brown (North Mesquite HS) Mesquite, TX Committed to Texas
Jim Presley (West Highland Christian Academy) Milford, MI Committed to Michigan
Jayson Swain (Virgil Grissom HS) Huntsville, AL Committed to Tennessee
Dennis Dixon (San Leandro HS) San Leandro, CA Committed to Oregon
Carnell Stewart (John Curtis Christian) River Ridge, LA Committed to LSU
Mike Jones (H L Richards HS) Oak Lawn, IL Committed to Iowa
Sean Bailey (Milton HS) Alpharetta, GA Committed to Georgia
Tim Crowder (John Tyler HS) Tyler, TX Committed to Texas
Isaiah Gardner (Salem HS) Virginia Beach, VA Committed to Notre Dame
Jake Long (Lapeer East Senior HS) Lapeer, MI Committed to Michigan
Kevin Brown (Polytechnic HS) Long Beach, CA Committed to UCLA
Erik Hardeman (Pflugerville HS) Pflugerville, TX Committed to Texas
Jerry Sevin (John Curtis Christian) River Ridge, LA Committed to LSU
Tony Hills (Elsik HS) Houston, TX Committed to Texas
Mark Bradford (John C. Fremont HS) Los Angeles, CA Committed to Stanford
Vernon Davis (Dunbar HS) Washington, DC Committed to Maryland
Tim Washington (Dulles HS) Sugar Land, TX Committed to LSU
Tripp Carroll (Andrew Jackson HS) Jacksonville, FL Committed to Virginia Tech
Doug Van Dyke (Marshall HS) Marshall, MI Committed to Purdue
Quinton Culberson (Provine HS) Jackson, MS Committed to Mississippi State
Drew Radovich (Mission Viejo HS) Mission Viejo, CA Committed to USC
Craig Chambers (Henry M Jackson HS) Mill Creek, WA Committed to Washington
Tommy Zbikowski (Buffalo Grove HS) Buffalo Grove, IL Committed to Notre Dame
Zeb McKinzey (Parkview HS) Lilburn, GA Committed to Georgia
Sedrick Ellis (Chino Senior HS) Chino, CA Committed to USC
Darrell Blackman (Williamsport Area SHS) Williamsport, PA Committed to North Carolina State
Philip Brown (Phoebus HS) Hampton, VA Committed to Virginia
Akim Millington (Wheaton North HS) Wheaton, IL Committed to Oklahoma
Syvelle Newton (Marlboro County HS) Bennettsville, SC Committed to South Carolina
Shawn Crable (Washington HS) Massillon, OH Committed to Michigan
Donovan Davis (Callaway Sr HS) Jackson, MS Committed to Mississippi State
Sam Baker (Tustin HS) Tustin, CA Committed to USC
Brady Quinn (Dublin Coffman HS) Dublin, OH Committed to Notre Dame
Mike Mason (Rocky Mount HS) Rocky Mount, NC Committed to North Carolina
Anthony Gonzalez (St. Ignatius HS) Cleveland, OH Committed to Ohio State
Jermaine Dias (Hackensack HS) Hackensack, NJ Committed to Virginia
Martin O’Donnell (South HS) Downers Grove, IL Committed to Illinois
Marcus Thomas (Mandarin HS) Jacksonville, FL Committed to Florida
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Cairo’s Barron to sign with Georgia Military College
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Rodderick Barron, a 6-foot-2, 250-pound offensive lineman for Cairo, plans to sign with Georgia Military College next Wednesday.
“Rodderick is a kid with extremely good feet,” Cairo coach Tom Fallaw said. “He may be a little undersized height-wise for the Division I level. His feet and ability to pass-block is his biggest asset.”
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Central Carrollton QB down to EKU, West Georgia
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Central Carrollton quarterback Kyle Padgett has narrowed his choices to Eastern Kentucky and West Georgia.
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Padgett threw for nearly 1,800 yards last season and another 2,400 as a junior.
“He’s a thrower with a good, strong arm,” Central Carrollton coach Randy Padgett said. “He’s a good decision maker.”
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Ga. Tech, Va. Tech, Kentucky offer Cedar Grove’s Avery
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Xavier Avery, a 6-foot, 185-pound junior running back/defensive back for Cedar Grove, has scholarship offers from Georgia Tech, Kentucky and Virginia Tech.
Coaches from Maryland and North Carolina are expected to converge on the DeKalb County school today to make inquiries.
Avery already has a baseball scholarship offer from Tennessee.
“He’ll probably get drafted next year in the baseball draft,” Cedar Grove coach Ray Bonner said. “He can play any position in the secondary.”
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Report: Malachi Lewis commits to Oregon
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Malachi Lewis, one of two players Georgia Tech was still activly recruiting, told Scout.com he has committed to Oregon.
“I am just felt more comfortable at Oregon than anywhere else,” Lewis told the Web site. “I got back in from my Arizona State official visit this afternoon, and I decided enough was enough.
“I went with my heart. I can’t wait to help them win some more championships.”
Lewis is Scout’s sixth-ranked strongside linebacker prospect. He could also play running back or wide receiver at the next level.
His commitment leaves Tech in the hunt for just one uncommitted senior — Baton Rouge, La., defensive end Jason Peters, who visited LSU this weekend.
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Big weekend commitments at a glance
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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A list of the biggest weekend commitments, courtesy our friends over at Scout.com:
— Blinn (Texas) Junior College safety Walner Leandre said yes to Arkansas on Sunday night. The 6-foot-1, 220-pounder also visited Utah and Hawaii.
— Adam Herring became the 22nd player to commit to Auburn. Herring, the son of Arkansas defensive coordinator Reggie Herring, is a linebacker at Arkansas’ Shiloh Christian. He joins Kodi Burns and Lee Ziemba as Razorback State stars to commit to Tommy Tuberville.
— Louisville landed AJC Super Southern 100 running back Victor Anderson of nearby Male High, Scout.com reports. Anderson, who visited the Cardinals campus over the weekend, chose his hometown team over West Virginia.
— Junior college safety Nevin McKenzie of San Antonio said yes to Tennessee, picking the Vols over Arkansas and Oklahoma.
— Philadelphia defensive tackle Wayne Crawford switched his commitment from Tom O’Brien’s old team, Boston College, to the coach’s new one, N.C. State.
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UGA, Tech, Auburn court Habersham Central junior King
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma and Vanderbilt have made scholarship offers to 6-foot-3, 180-pound Tavarres King of Habersham Central.
The junior wide receiver has already shattered several school receiving records.
“He’s the best I’ve ever seen,” Habersham Central coach Gene Cathcart said. “He’s a phenomenal player and a good student.
“Tavarres was electronically clocked in the low 4.3s in the 40. And he has incredible football speed. He’s elusive and quick.”
King is the son of former Clemson football standout Anthony King, a graduate of Habersham Central.
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Urban Meyer in town this week to check out Heyward
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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It could be just a routine cold or even perhaps the overall strain of the recruiting process, but Peachtree Ridge defensive tackle Cameron Heyward wasn’t feeling all that good for most of his official visit to Georgia this weekend.
“It was good,” his mother, Charlotte Heyward-Blackwell, said Sunday night. “Cameron was just feeling a little bit under the weather.”
The 6-foot-6, 282-pound Heyward and his family had attended the Bulldogs’ basketball game with LSU on Sunday afternoon before meeing with football coach Mark Richt at halftime. The son of late NFL star Craig “Ironhead” Heyward then chose to return home immediately, scrubbing plans to meet with UGA basketball coach Dennis Felton and his players following the game.
Heyward, who has narrowed his list of schools to Florida, Georgia, LSU and Ohio State , hopes to play both football and basketball at whichever school he chooses.
He’ll take his final official visit this coming weekend, when he visits Ohio State. He previously took an unofficial trip to the Big Ten school back in November, when he attended the Buckeyes’ showdown with rival Michigan.
In the meantime, the race for his services continues to heat up as signing day approaches. Ohio State co-defensive coordinators Jim Heacock and Luke Fickell are both expected to visit Heyward at Peachtree Ridge on Monday, followed by a stop at his home that evening.
Gators head coach Urban Meyer has given word that he’ll be at the Lions’ Region 7-AAAAAA date with visiting Forsyth Central to watch Heyward play basketball on Tuesday night.
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