AJC > Sports > Football Recruiting > Blog > Archives > 2007 > February > 06
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Former Brookwood QB Pittman delays decision
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Former Brookwood quarterback David Pittman, who broke several passing records at California’s Pasadena City College this past season, said he is still weighing his options and might not decide on where he will play next season until as late as mid-March.
Pittman said Tuesday night that he has not ruled out returning for a second season at PCC, but is considering opportunities with several BCS conference schools.
“I really enjoy it out here and my teammates are really pushing at me to come back,” Pittman said. “But me and my family are going to think things out and not rush anything.”
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Gators get another one: Indianapolis’ Finch
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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National champion Florida’s recruiting coup continued Tuesday when 6-foot-1, 203-pound safety Jerimy Finch of Indianapolis Warren Central committed to the Gators.
Finch is rated as the 37th-best overall prospect in the nation by Rivals.com.
“I’m committed to Florida and I plan on signing with them [on Wednesday],” Finch told GatorBait.net. “That’s it. It’s over with.
“I got with them [on Tuesday] and had a little meeting over the phone with some of the coaches. I went ahead and made my commitment. I think they are the best school for me and what’s best for my future.”
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Marist kicker Gallagher to walk on at Tech
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Marist kicker Colin Gallagher will be a preferred walk-on at Georgia Tech.
Gallagher chose the Yellow Jackets over preferred walk-on status at Alabama.
“I felt like I had a better opportunity to make a big difference right away at Georgia Tech,” Gallaghersaid. “I’ll probably try to do summer school to get ahead and lighten my academic load.
“Right now, I’m working out to improve my leg strength.”
Gallagher has already established a personal goal for the upcoming season.
“As a freshman, I want to try to compete for the kickoff job,” Gallagher said.
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Eight-man football star headed to Shorter
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Eight-man football player Nicholas Donegan of Covenant Christian Academy in Loganville will sign a scholarship at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday, his father Charles Donegan reported.
Donegan (6-foot-4, 310 pounds) played nose guard, fullback and tight end at Covenant but was recruited as an offensive lineman by Shorter. Covenant is a member of the Independent Christian Schools of Georgia-Alabama, which plays eight-man football.
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Meyer, Gators making inroads in South Florida
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Major Wright of Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas is among the top high school defensive backs in the country. He lives in South Florida and grew up a Miami Hurricanes fan. Sean Taylor is his hero. But when it came time to pick a college, Wright chose Florida.
Losing lineman to Florida is one thing, but speedy homegrown defensive backs have been the company line at Miami for years. Wright’s reasoning for picking Florida should concern the Hurricanes. When asked why he wanted to be a Gator, Wright said he is moving to Gainesville to stay close to home.
“I just felt in my gut that I should be at Florida for five years,” Wright said.
Said St. Thomas coach George Smith: “Major grew up here and he loves Miami, but he just felt like he needed to get away from everything.”
And just like that, Florida coach Urban Meyer is winning the hearts and minds of players. It is a major shift in South Florida’s college football balance of power. Florida, the defending national champion, is getting stronger by dipping into South Florida to do it. With national signing day two days away, Meyer has 26 commitments, including several from this area.
“Urban Meyer has surrounded himself with some of the best recruiters in the country,” said Tom Lemming, a national recruiting analyst for CSTV. “They’ve always recruited the south well, but now they’re branching out to a national level comparable to USC and Notre Dame.”
Florida has two commitments from California, quarterback Bryan Waggener of Glendora and Duke Lemmens, a 6-5, 231-pound pass rusher from Westlake Village.
While Lemming and other national analysts believe UF is positioning itself to be the next national recruiting power, others closer to home have taken notice of another changing trend: UF is setting up shop in South Florida and, as Smith says, “cherry picking” some of the region’s best.
Smith has produced more than 500 college football players in 30 years. He says Florida has never recruited Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties as aggressively as this season.
“Before Meyer came to Florida, they didn’t recruit South Florida very well,” said Smith, who has sent two players to the Gators in two seasons. “But they’ve done that very well now.”
In addition to Wright, Florida also has an oral commitment from DeMarcus Van Dyke, a talented cornerback from Miami Monsignor Pace. Running back Bo Williams of Oakland Park Northeast committed to Florida last month and is already enrolled at the school. And then there’s Torrey Davis, a 6-5, 290-pound defensive tackle from Seffner Armwood, who is perhaps the Gators’ top commitment. “Florida’s inroads into South Florida are very evident,” former Miami Monsignor Pace coach Joe Zaccheo said. “I can sum it all up in two words: Doc Holliday.”
Zaccheo calls John “Doc” Holliday, Florida’s associate head coach, one of the most respected recruiters in the country. Holliday left Chuck Amato and N.C. State in 2005 to join Meyer’s staff. Zaccheo says Holliday was the first coach to offer Van Dyke a scholarship.
“They were there from the very beginning,” Zaccheo said. “Even when he was at West Virginia, Doc Holliday recruited well here. Over the years, he has built up quite a few relationships.”
In an attempt to counter UF’s success, Miami has made efforts to strengthen its recruiting at home.
Smith says the Hurricanes’ Randy Shannon, who is a Miami native, has began reestablishing UM’s South Florida prominence. Meanwhile, Florida State rehired Amato and brought in Jimbo Fisher, considered one of the best young recruiters in the south.
“Florida has done a great job in South Florida,” Smith said. “Does that hurt Miami? Maybe this year but not in the future. It will be a great battle. Coach Shannon understands what’s going on and it will be corrected very quickly. Miami will battle and they will get back to controlling South Florida.”
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GAC quarterback commits to Georgia Southern
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Greater Atlanta Christian quarterback Lee Chapple committed to Georgia Southern Tuesday evening.
“I actually just called [new Georgia Southern] Coach [Chris] Hatcher,” Chapple told the AJC. “I told him I’m excited about coming to Georgia Southern.”
Chapple said it’s uncertain if he’ll be redshirted this fall.
“Coach Hatcher said it could go both ways,” said Chapple, who chose the Eagles over UAB, Richmond and James Madison. “If I’m ready and learning the offense, I’ll play some.”
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Three Warner Robins players set to sign
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Three Warner Robins players will sign letter of intents on Wednesday, including linebacker Brian Buford, defensive back Laron Scott and quarterback Mark Wright Jr.
Buford will sign with Valdosta State, while teammate Scott will head to Fort Scott Community College in Kansas. Wright will play college football for Clark Atlanta.
“Mark’s a good student and Clark Atlanta’s academic reputation played a role,” Warner Robins coach Bryan Way said. “Plus, he saw an opportunity to play early. He went up there and really liked it.”
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Nation’s No. 2 receiver picks LSU over Florida
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Terrance Toliver, a 6-foot-4, 185-pound wide receiver from Hempstead (Texas) High, committed to LSU on Tuesday.
Rated as the No. 2 receiver in the nation by Rivals.com, Toliver chose the Tigers over Florida.
“Yes, I did commit to LSU,” Toliver told Rivals.com on Tuesday. “It was where my heart has been forever. Both of them are two good schools, but I decided that LSU needed me more than Florida did.”
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Noel Devine shuns FSU, Tide for West Virginia
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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AJC Super Southern 100 all-state running back Noel Devine of North Fort Myers (Fla.) High chose West Virginia over Alabama and Florida State on Tuesday.
The 5-foot-8, 175-pound Devine rushed for 2,148 yards and 31 touchdowns last season.
“He verbally committed today,” North Fort Myers coach James Iandoli told Rivals.com on Tuesday. “Unless something happens, I plan on him signing with the Mountaineers.”
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The latest on the nation’s top uncommitted seniors
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Decision day is hours away for dozens of uncommitted seniors. The ones we’ll be watching especially closely all day on ajc.com:
Marvin Austin: Washington, D.C., defensive tackle will decide between Florida State, Maryland, North Carolina, Southern Cal.
Josh Bynes: Auburn, Louisville are final two for Lauderdale Lakes, Fla., linebacker.
Jerimy Finch: Florida battling Indiana, Michigan for Indianapolis safety.
Brandon Gibson: Mobile wide receiver considering Alabama, Auburn, South Carolina.
Broderick Green: Ohio State, Penn State, Southern Cal on Little Rock tailback’s short list.
Chad Jones: LSU fans hope Baton Rouge safety stays at home; Florida, Southern Cal also in mix.
Dwight Jones: Will Burlington, N.C., wide receiver land at Clemson, North Carolina or Tennessee?
Joe McKnight: Down to LSU, Ole Miss, Southern Cal for River Ridge, La., running back.
Brandon Paul: Auburn, FSU in running to land Tallahassee cornerback.
Ahmad Paige: Sterlington, La., wide receiver will pick between Florida, Southern Cal, Tennessee.
Rae Sykes: FSU, Tennessee are finalists for Alcoa, Tenn., defensive end.
Deonte Thompson: Belle Glade, Fla., wide receiver still at five: Florida, FSU, Miami, LSU, Southern Cal.
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Catch a rising star: UGA recruit Rennie Curran
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Eleven-year-old Rennie Curran was off to the races.
It was the youth league championship game and Brookwood Youth Association’s star running back was headed for a 60-yard game-winning touchdown. Soon after crossing the goal line, he had a realization.
“Hey, I might be pretty good at this.”
He was right, even though his area of expertise evolved to the defensive side of the ball.
But he’s been much greater than “pretty good,” a notion that will be affirmed when he signs a national letter of intent Wednesday with Georgia.
In high school at Brookwod, the 5-foot-11, 220-pound linebacker moved to linebacker, became the Broncos’ all-time leading tackler and was twice named Gwinnett County Touchdown Club Defensive Player of the Year.
Brookwood coach Mark Crews remembers the specific play when he realized exactly what he had in Curran, someone he calls “one of the best defensive players and one of the greatest, most caring personalities I’ve ever coached.”
Curran broke into the Broncos’ lineup as a sophomore. In his first game, he lined up over the center against Shiloh.
Crews still marvels at what ensued.
“[Shiloh] was in four-wides [receivers],” Crews recalled. “Rennie hit the center, knocking him back into the quarterback. It was a quick three-step drop and throw out to the flat. As the quarterback threw the ball, he ran over, probably covering 18 yards and was standing there when the receiver caught the ball, and made the tackle.
“It was after that play that we began to think that Rennie doesn’t need to come off the field anymore.”
Soon, recruiters came calling. Phone calls, text messages and letters came pouring in. Curran listened to each one but didn’t always believe what he was hearing.
“Most coaches try to tell you what you want to hear,” explained Curran. “They’ll tell you stuff like you’re going to start or you’ll be a millionaire when you graduate from here.”
Curran said Georgia coach Mark Richt didn’t do that, and his honesty was a reason he picked the Bulldogs over offers from Auburn, Boston College and Georgia Tech.
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In recruiting, no means yes and yes means no and …
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Corvey Irvin finally just said no.
Polite, but firm, an unmistakable no.
No, the Georgia Military College defensive lineman wasn’t interested in South Carolina.
No, he wasn’t going to sign a letter of intent with Steve Spurrier’s Gamecocks.
No, he wasn’t going to change his mind.
That was more than two months ago. Seven weeks ago, when junior college recruits could begin signing letters of intent, Irvin did just that at Georgia.
Last week … “They are still sending stuff every day to my grandmother’s house,” Irvin said. “They never give up.”
Few Division I-A college coaches do these days. Recruiting is their lifeblood. Because of that, when a prospect says “no thanks,” that’s often just a coach’s signal to press harder.
“When the coaches first hear they are going to lose a kid to another school, that is really when recruiting begins since it is incumbent upon these coaches to win these battles,” said Allen Wallace, a national recruiting analyst for Scout.com. “You are a salesman. You are not going to keep your job as a salesman if you don’t knock on a lot of doors and change a lot of minds.
“If they just get another chance, they can get that sale. They think they are going to win. They think they are going to change their mind.”
Coaches have been especially effective doing that with the Class of 2007. Expect more switches today, national signing day for high school players, in what has been the year of the flip-flop. Florida alone lost committed recruits to Florida State, LSU and Miami, but stole others away from Texas and Notre Dame.
“No,” at least in recruiting, rarely means “no”. And even when it does …
“You always want another chance to talk to them,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said.
Richt can speak from experience. Today, he hopes to sign Columbus Hardaway offensive lineman Antwane Greenlee, a self-proclaimed Florida State fan who at one time committed to the Seminoles before changing his mind and switching to Georgia. But FSU never stopped calling and there has been speculation since that Greenlee would change his mind yet again. As of Tuesday night, he hadn’t.
But John Brantley did. The AJC Super Southern 100 quarterback from Ocala, Fla., originally said yes to Texas. But after hearing Urban Meyer’s sales pitch a few more times, he switched to Florida.
“It was the hardest call I have ever had to make,” Brantley recalled of his conversation with Longhorns coaches. “My family is true to their word and it really means something and is important to us. Then for me to decommit, it was tough.”
Recruiting analyst Tom Lemming didn’t think it could get any crazier than last year, when dozens of players had last-minute changes of heart.
“This year,” he said, “it is worse.”
Richt disagrees. He believes the recruiting world has remained the same. It’s just that fan and media interest have turned up the spotlight on what once was a private affair.
“If you are good, you can confuse a young man,” said Georgia Tech recruiting coordinator Giff Smith. “We don’t try to confuse a young man that is 18. But there are some people out there who would do that to gain an advantage.”
There are a few recruits out there who use the system to gain an advantage, as well.
“If a kid commits early, the attention that is put on him the Web sites and the sycophants is an enormous amount,” Lemming said. “They commit early and then they miss [the attention] and then they want to be part of it, so they open up their recruiting.”
Commitments, Wallace said, mean less now than they ever have. There’s even a lingo for it. When LaGrange defensive end D.J. Stafford said he was going to Kentucky, he called it a “soft” commitment. That’s the same term Mobile star Sidell Corley used when he picked Florida. A few months later, he switched to LSU.
There are varying degrees of “no” and “yes” in the recruiting game. Coaches must figure out which is which.
“If a recruit is 80 percent ‘no,’ but there is that 20 percent still there, then it is on,” Richt said.
Added Tech’s Smith: “It all depends on how the ‘no’ is relayed to you. There are the definite ‘nos’ and when that happens you understand that it is final and you don’t want to waste your time or his time.”
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Georgia’s ‘blue-collar group’ answered team needs
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Georgia took substance over sizzle this year.
Gone were many of the glamorous names and hyped games that have graced recruiting classes of old. Instead, the Bulldogs, with back-to-back top five signing class under their belts, went out in 2007 and found players to fit where they needed them most.
“This is a nuts-and-bolts type of class that absolutely filled needs,” said Scott Kennedy, a recruiting analyst for Scout.com. “There aren’t as many big-name skill players as we’ve seen in the past, though there are still guys like [Columbia, Mo., quarterback] Logan Gray and [Greater Atlanta Christian running back] Caleb King. This is a blue-collar group that is heavy on offensive linemen, and that was absolutely a need.”
And Georgia needed to get those players in early, which it did. Seven linemen, including five on offense, enrolled early and plan to take part in spring drills. Among them: five players who spent the fall at junior college or prep school.
“[Jarius] Wynn and [Corvey] Irvin will play a lot next year,” Rivals.com analyst J.C. Shurburtt said of the former Georgia Military College defensive linemen. “Wynn was more highly regarded, but some say Irvin had just as much upside — if not more.”
At the skill positions, King, East Hall wide receiver Walter Hill and Columbia, Mo., tight end Aron White will be three to watch in their first two years, analysts predict.
“[King] is a guy that Georgia can use in a lot of ways,” Shurburtt said. “And speaking of versatile weapons, watch Aron White, who could be used at wide receiver in some instances. White is one of the most athletic tight end prospects in the country.”
Georgia didn’t go all over the country for this class, as it has for its past two. White and Gray committed out of Missouri and represent two of just four out-of-state players expected to sign with Georgia. For the first time in the Richt era, no player was signed out of Florida.
That was due in large part to the quality of the in-state talent. But Georgia didn’t get all of that, either.
Hardaway offensive lineman Antwane Greenlee has vacillated between UGA and Florida State, although he is expected to sign with Georgia today. Creekside cornerback and AJC player of the year Eric Berry picked Tennessee. McIntosh County Academy’s Allen Bailey is headed to Miami. TPeachtree Ridge defensive lineman Cameron Heyward is Ohio State-bound.
“The worst thing [about the class] would probably be missing out on some of the state’s top high school talent, like Eric Berry, Cameron Heyward, Allen Bailey,” Shurburtt said. “[In-state recruiting] has been a staple of recruiting success for the [Bulldogs] under Richt and certainly any time Georgia doesn’t sign most of the state’s top players, it isn’t up to the program’s usual standards.”
There even remains some question about the players Georgia did grab: Tift County wide receiver Israel Troupe may play choose a professional baseball career if he’s drafted high enough. It’s unknown whether King has qualified. Hargrave Military Academy offensive lineman Ben Harden still needs to make the grade.
Still for all hiccups this class has had, Georgia is expected to sign no worse than a top 20 class.
Rivals.com’s Jeremy Crabtree projects the Bulldogs landing eighth or ninth in that Web site’s rankings. Said Crabtree: “I really love what Georgia did as far as meeting its needs.”
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Three Parkview teammates make college choices
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Parkview defensive back Tremayne Graham, a Gwinnett Super 11 selection, has committed to Richmond.
Graham chose the Division I-AA school over Chattanooga and Air Force, and he’ll sign during a 2:20 p.m. Wednesday ceremony in the Parkview cafeteria.
In addition, linemen Seth Baker and Grant Walker, who will walk on at Shorter College in Rome, will sign NAIA letters of intent, according to coach Cecil Flowe.
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Getting to know … Tri-Cities QB Giorgio Morgan
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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We went one-on-one with Tri-Cities quarterback Giorgio Morgan, who on Wednesday will sign with Kent State …
What I hope to accomplish in college: Earn a degree; 3.5 GPA; top national player of the year
Three words to describe me: Athletic, fun, trustworthy
What I drive: 2000 Ford Explorer
In my iPod: Lil Wayne
My style on the field reminds some of … Peyton Manning and Tom Brady for my vision, arm and decision making
Ten years from now, I will be … In the NFL, God willing. If not, trying to build up New Orleans with my personally owned architect and landscaping business.
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Analyst: ‘I really love what Georgia did’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Rivals.com recruiting analyst Jeremy Crabtree weighs in on thee debate over who has the better recruiting class, Georgia or Georgia Tech:
“I really think this Georgia class still is the better of the two, and that’s not a putdown on Georgia Tech because they’re a top 20 class without a doubt. Tech will land its best class in years, but I really love what Georgia did as far as meeting its needs. They knew they needed to get offensive linemen and they hit plenty of home runs with the numbers and the high quality of kids that they picked up.”
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Tuesday: Dogs deny Stafford; UGA-Tech too close to call
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Super 11 defensive end D.J. Stafford had a change of heart today. The LaGrange star wants to sign with Georgia.
Just one problem: When Stafford called Bulldogs coaches to break the news, they said “no thanks.”
“They didn’t want to take me so I am moving on,” Stafford told the AJC’s Carter Strickland. “I am going to Kentucky.”
So Georgia’s class remains at 23. Georgia Tech will sign 20 tomorrow.
Which got us to thinking: Which school has the better class?
“How close is it? Flip a coin,” Scout.com analyst Scott Kennedy tells the blog today. “I’d probably go with Georgia Tech’s class, because I generally don’t like a class loaded with junior college players, but in this case for the Bulldogs is was absolutely neccessary. Otherwise, they’re nearly identical. They’re both taking care of the offensive and defensive line, and both getting good skill players in the offensive and defensive backfield. If Tech can put together two or three of these classes in a row, they will have closed the talent gap between the two programs.”
“I would give Georgia the edge right now, but it’s very close,” Rivals.com’s **JC Shurburtt says. “Top to bottom, it’s a better class by a hair. It’s not the most flashy Bulldogs class, but the impact players along both lines of scrimmage, along with the depth they are building is outstanding. The difference between the No. 8 class nationally and the No. 18 class nationally is minimal, though, and certainly this being Tech’s best class in years there are many impact players in it as well. The Jackets gave the Dawgs a good fight in-state this year and made tremendous progress on that front with regards to in-state talent.”
“Very, very close,” Scout.com analyst Jamie Newberg says. “It’s splitting hairs. Right now I would give the slight edge to Georgia Tech.”
Some comparative data to mull over:
— Both the Bulldogs and Yellow Jackets have commitments from three AJC Super 11 signees .
— Georgia has seven Super Southern 100 commitments. Tech has five.
— Tech has Rivals.com’s top-rated prospect in Pennsylvania (Derrick Morgan). Georgia has the Web site’s top player in Missouri (Aron White).
— Georgia has three of Rivals’ top 10 players in the Peach State — Antwane Greenlee (No. 3), Caleb King (No. 4) and Israel Troupe (No. 9). Tech also has three — Morgan Burnett (No. 5), Jonathan Dwyer (No. 8) and Nick Claytor (No. 10).
For more on Stafford and the rest of today’s big news, check out the “latest news” section to the right.
Be sure to come back tomorrow, when we’ll have writers dispatched all over the state to bring you up-to-the-minute news. Well also have columnists weighing in at Tech (Jeff Schultz) and Georgia (Mark Bradley) and a few writers dedicated solely to tracking all the big news around the SEC and ACC.
I’ll be in around 6 to get the blog rolling. It’ll be one-stop shopping, with all the news off this page to the right, like we’ve been doing.
We’ll put out a nine-page signing day special section Thursday (pick it up) and then — get this — keep the blog rolling Thursday and beyond. It’s gone over so well thanks to your clicks, we’re going to try to make it a year-round feature. Let me know what you want to see on it.
Thanks for reading and happy blogging.
D.J. Stafford picks Georgia; Dogs say no thanks
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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D.J. Stafford changed his mind Tuesday and wanted to go to Georgia. But by that point, Bulldogs coaches said no thanks.
“They didn’t want to take me so I am moving on,” LaGrange’s Super 11 defensive end told the AJC. “I am going to Kentucky.”
Stafford said he’ll sign with the Wildcats tomorrow, but is likely to spend the fall at Virginia’s Hargrave Military Academy for academic reasons. At that point, he’d be free to be recruited by any school.
He was scheduled to visit Georgia last weekend but canceled, he said, because of bad weather. When he had a change of heart Tuesday, he said he figured Georgia would accept him.
Georgia is expected to sign 23 players tomorrow.
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Gailey: Recruits believe it’s title time for Tech
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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If you’re looking for surprises, today would not be a good day to look to Chan Gailey and his Georgia Tech coaching staff.
There will not be any last-minute additions to the 20-man recruiting class on national signing day, and it would be an upset if any players changed their minds and decided not to sign their letters of intent with the Yellow Jackets.
Many analysts have labeled this Tech’s best recruiting class in years, perhaps ever, although Gailey admits only that this class has received much more attention than its immediate predecessors.
Fans may not have to wait the usual three years to render a grade.
For the same reason Tech will have high expectations for 2007, the Jackets will enter 2008 with many questions — and some chances for this class to step up.
Tech is losing three starters from each side of the ball from last year’s team. But five projected offensive starters, eight defensive starters, punter Durant Brooks and kicker Travis Bell will be seniors this fall.
So this seems a great occasion for a talent infusion of 10 offensive and 10 defensive players — before it is needed yet in time for young players to grow.
“I think Georgia Tech addressed its needs and then some,” Rivals.com analyst JC Shurburtt said. “Right now, it’s the ACC’s top class. They have two explosive playmakers in Jonathan Dwyer and Josh Nesbitt, and two excellent offensive tackles in Clyde Yandell and Nick Claytor.”
Gailey’s staff has a reputation among NFL teams for developing more pro-caliber players than one might have predicted based on what years earlier were considered mediocre recruiting classes.
Coming off a berth in the ACC championship game, with 16 starters back and bluebloods coming in, the future of Tech football looks bright as long as Gailey’s staff keeps coaching ’em up.
“What the guys in this recruiting class have talked about, and what we’ve tried to sell them is we are taking the next step to go compete at the highest level, for the championship,” Gailey said. “They have taken that to heart. They believe that we can get there.”
Scout.com analyst Jamie Newberg said, “I love what they did at quarterback, running back, linebacker and safety. I have been covering Georgia Tech recruiting for 15 years and this may be their best effort.”
Shurburtt said, “They have difference-makers on the defensive line in Derrick Morgan, Jason Peters and Logan Walls, and at safety in Morgan Burnett. On top of that, they have a quarterback of the future already enrolled in Steven Threet.”
Fans can meet many incoming players today at the ESPN Zone in Buckhead, an unofficial party that by NCAA rules cannot include Tech officials.
From 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Downtown Hilton (255 Courtland Ave.) Gailey, recruiting coordinator Giff Smith, coaches, cheerleaders, Tech’s pep band and current players will sign autographs, hand out information about recruits and watch video of the new players. NCAA rules prohibit recruits from attending.
The cost is $10. There will be appetizers and a cash bar.
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Is this Gamecocks’ best class ever?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Imagine what South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier could do if people thought he liked recruiting.
On the eve of national signing day, Spurrier is set to bring in what some experts consider the top recruiting class ever at South Carolina. The Gamecocks have 31 commitments and with a day to go, stand sixth in the country in Scout.com’s recruiting rankings and seventh in Rivals.com.
Prospects can officially sign with a college Wednesday.
“If you go strictly by ranking, this would be the best class that South Carolina has ever had in the modern era,” said longtime Palmetto State recruiting reporter Phil Kornblut of the South Carolina News Network. “This may be the highest ranked class by any team in the state of South Carolina.”
And all from a coach who some considered aloof over wooing recruits.
That was among the speculation why he left Florida for the NFL’s Washington Redskins after the 2001 season. Those whispers persisted when he came to the Gamecocks in 2004.
Spurrier’s shown any doubters he can bring in top recruits. “He’s gotten personally involved with a lot” of the newcomers, said Rivals.com Southern analyst JC Shurburtt. “He’s showing those criticisms were unfounded.”
The Gamecocks got a jump on things with several signees already in school, including standout quarterback Stephen Garcia of Tampa, Fla., and defensive lineman Travian Robertson of Laurinburg, N.C.
Some see Garcia as Spurrier’s quarterback of the future, a strong-armed player who can fulfill the ball coach’s goal of bringing the Gamecocks a Southeastern Conference title.
Among the highly regarded players expected to join the Gamecocks on Wednesday is Chris Culliver, a receiver from Garner, N.C., considered among the top 20 players in the country by both recruiting services.
On Monday night, heralded tight end-defensive end prospect Weslye Saunders from Durham, N.C., gave his pledge to Spurrier’s Gamecocks.
Part of Spurrier’s success came from tapping into old ties in Florida and cultivating new ones in states like North Carolina.
Of South Carolina’s expected signees, 12 come from the Sunshine State and eight are Tar Heels. By contrast, only six of the newcomers are from South Carolina.
“Spurrier’s still a big name in Florida,” Shurburtt said.
As far as the North Carolina success goes, the credit is shared by 28-year-old recruiting coordinator David Reaves and first-year South Carolina assistants Brad Lawing and Fred Chatham, Shurburtt says. Lawing, whose hometown is Hickory, N.C., was a North Carolina assistant coach from 2003-05. Chatham, whose hometown in Elkin, N.C., was a Duke assistant from 1989-2005. Reaves played quarterback at Appalachian State.
The Gamecock staff also did a good job of recovery, Kornblut said, when one of their high profile prospects, Richland Northeast defensive back Gary Gray, reneged on his commitment this summer. Gray said last March he would attend South Carolina and convince other top prospects to come to Columbia. In July, though, Gray rethought things and pledged to Notre Dame, where he enrolled last month.
Instead of that dragging down recruiting, the coaches dug in to turn other prospects, like Cheraw defensive end Cliff Matthews and Culliver, to the Gamecocks.
Spurrier might have an inkling of what was coming last November. Right after the team completed a 3-5 mark in the SEC — Spurrier’s first-ever losing league campaign — Spurrier talked of raising the team’s goals to compete for titles.
“Guys can sense that we’re maybe a few players here and there away from really competing for the SEC championship,” Spurrier said. “I think we’re going to have an excellent recruiting class this year, and I think we’re going to have some players come in that can help us next year.”
All Spurrier needs now is the paperwork — the signed national letters of intent.
“I think there’s reason for the giddiness,” Kornblut said. Spurrier and his staff “have worked their tails off and gotten it done.”
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How much is too much for Meyer, Gators?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Ahmad Black wasn’t going to let it, or John Brown, go.
The Lakeland (Fla.) High defensive back bugged Brown about signing with Florida “all the time” until finally Brown decided to. The star defensive lineman committed last week, giving Florida seven players from the same high school team that will sign today.
Brown’s commitment put a cherry on top of a Gators class that has been ranked No. 1 nationally for weeks. Urban Meyer’s haul includes:
— A national-best 12 members of the AJC’s Super Southern 100.
— Nine “five-star” prospects, according to Scout.com.
— Five players ranked No. 1 or 2 nationally at their positions by Scout.com.
“You look at the talent that has been stockpiled there in the past couple of years and it is staggering,” said Allen Wallace, recruiting analyst for Scout.com.
And the defending national champs may not be done just yet. Florida remains in the mix for several top prospects set to announce their decisions during signing day ceremonies today, including wide receivers Terrance Toliver (down to UF and LSU) and Deonte Thompson (also considering LSU, Miami, Ohio State, Southern Cal).
But such an influx of recruits — especially after landing the AJC’s top class a year ago — can create problems, Wallace said.
“Meyer is going to start running into the same problems [Southern Cal’s] Pete Carroll does in recruiting,” Wallace said. “He has got all this talent and then has to go into a recruit’s home and try and tell him he is going to play. You can’t do that. The recruits are too smart for that.
“They look at that roster and they see eight cornerbacks — five five-stars, two four-stars and a three-star — and expect to play? They are going to go somewhere else where they can play.”
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Hoover’s Murphy sticking with Tide commitment
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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AJC Super Southern 100 defensive tackle Kerry Murphy is sticking with his commitment to Alabama, the Hoover, Ala., high star told Scout.com.
The Hoover (Ala.) High star had also considered Miami, which he visited this past weekend.
“Kerry has unlimited potential,” Hoover defensive line coach Chris Davis told Scout.com. “He may be the best ever prospect we have had at Hoover since I have been here and that includes Chad Jackson.
“You’re not going to find many 6-5, 325-pound defensive linemen that are athletic as Kerry. He can do several back flips in a row. That’s unreal for a guy his size.”
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Decisions are in for three Henry County stars
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Categories
Air Force has picked up another metro area athlete.
After nabbing North Gwinnett’s Chad Gross and Jasper Williams, the Falcons received a committment from Henry County safety/running back Ron Windham. The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder, who also played receiver, chose Air Force over Navy and several Division I-AA schools.
Two other Warhawks players announced their decisions over the weekend as well, according to Henry County coach Mike Rozier.
Tight end D.J. Ralls (6-2, 210) will sign with Tusculum, and defensive end John Hellesoe (6-1, 230) will sign with West Virginia Tech.
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Report: VanDyke flips from Gators to Hurricanes
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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LSU raided Florida’s class for Sidell Corley. Florida State took one-time Gators commitment Bert Reed. Now, here comes Miami.
Miami Monsignor Pace defesive back Demarcus VanDyke is set to sign with the Hurricanes on Wednesday, his coach told Rivals.com.
VanDyke originally committed to the Hurricanes, switched to Florida after Larry Coker was fired, now is going back to his original plan.
“He told me this morning that it’s Miami,” Pace coach Joe Zaccheo told Rivals. “He told Florida that, too. He told the coaches at Florida that he’s coming to Miami. I got a call from the Florida coaches yesterday and that they said the mom told them he’s going to Miami.
“He said he’s pretty sure it’s Miami. So that means it’s Miami.”
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Impress your friends: How to speak ‘recruitnik’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Categories
One player “decommitted.” Another made a “soft verbal.” Most of them took “official visits.”
Football recruiting has its own colorful, if grammatically challenged, language. Here’s a guide to some of the terminology developed by the bureaucracies that govern college athletics and fanatics whose shorthand helps them cut to the chase.
Analyst: Also expert, guru, authority, swami, etc. One who evaluates talent and compiles ratings of prospects for fans to memorize and debate endlessly on message boards.
Athlete: Designation for one being recruited for an undetermined position but probably not the one he played in high school. Usually a speedy quarterback thought to have greater college potential as a wide receiver or defensive back.
Blue chip: Old-school jargon for five-star (see below).
Bubble: Spot for athletes whose academic status is uncertain (on the academic bubble).
Camp: Summer sessions, often on college campuses, where players receive specialized coaching and the top prospects are evaluated.
Combine: Where prospects are evaluated in categories such as speed, strength and agility. Often sponsored by a sporting goods manufacturer. Like the SATs of athletics.
Commitment: A recruit’s nonbinding promise to accept a school’s offer. Commonly called a “verbal commitment” (to the horror of copy editors, who know “verbal” can mean spoken or written).
Contact: According to NCAA regulations, any time a coach meets face-to-face with a recruit or his parents off the college campus and says more than hello, or has any contact at one’s high school or any location of competition or practice.
Contact period, dead period, evaluation period, quiet period: Specified dates when various types of contact between coaches and recruits are allowed or prohibited.
Decommitment: When a prospect changes his mind after making his choice public, often because something better came along.
Five-star: Analysts’ highest possible rating for a prospect. The supposed cream of the crop, as judged by the gurus.
Grayshirting: When a student-athlete delays initial enrollment until the winter or spring term after the traditional academic year begins. Students who “grayshirt” often use the fall to take classes part time.
Highlight DVD: A player’s self-produced promotional reel for college scouts.
National letter of intent: A legally binding contract by which an athlete agrees to attend a school for one academic year in exchange for specified financial aid; commonly called an athletic scholarship.
Offer: Shorthand for “make an offer,” as in “LSU is expected to offer this week” or “He has been offered by Michigan.” (Intransitive usage frowned upon by many a five-star grammarian.)
Official visit: Any trip to a campus with expenses paid by the college. Limits: One visit per college, no more than five colleges.
One-star: Lowest rating, but one that still might apply to players of interest to, say, national champion Florida.
Partial qualifier: (Division II only) One with the requisite test scores or academic record, but not both. He can receive a scholarship but can’t play his first year.
Preferred walk-on: Player who is promised every opportunity to make the team, but not offered a scholarship.
Pulling an offer: The college’s version of decommitment (see above). Might happen when a player has committed but keeps making other visits.
Qualifier: A student who has met the NCAA’s eligibility requirements for core classes, grade-point average and standardized test scores.
Recruitnik: Obsessed follower of recruiting.
Redshirt: One who is enrolled full time at a school but does not play for an academic year for the purpose of saving a season.
Signing period: Feb. 7-April 1.
Soft verbal commitment: When a recruit says definitely maybe. (“Probably, coach, but don’t hold me to it.”)
Unofficial visit: Any trip to a campus paid for by the player or his parents. Some complimentary tickets are allowed.
Walk-on: Student without a scholarship who becomes a member of a team.
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Updates on Buford’s top recruits
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Buford linebacker Trey Hunsucker has committed to Colgate.
In other Buford recruiting news …
— Defensive end Brandon McEachern is now a solid commit to Georgia Southern. McEachern had originially chosen the Eagles in January, but had backed off that committment somewhat following the sudden departure of former coach Brian VanGorder.
— Junior defensive tackle Omar Hunter figures to rank as among the state’s top prospects for next year. The 6-foot, 300-pounder recently received scholarship offers from LSU and Ole Miss. He’d already received offers from Virginia Tech, Mississippi State, Duke, Auburn, Maryland and Clemson.
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North Gwinnett kicker commits to Air Force
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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North Gwinnett kicker/punter Chad Gross committed to the Air Force Academy.
Gross, a. 3.5 student who had also been considering Navy, will join teammate Jasper Williams in signing with the Falcons on Wednesday.
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