AJC > Sports > Football Recruiting > Blog > Archives > 2007 > February > 15
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Thursday: Top juniors ready to run
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Categories
On your mark … Get set …
Most of the state’s top juniors will be on display Sunday when they run 40-yard dashes and try to impress recruiting analysts at a high school combine co-sponsored by Scout.com at Duluth’s Competitive Edge Sports facility.
The event isn’t open to the public, but check back here afterward for reports on who turned in the fastest time, who shot up in the rankings and who may have gotten a better scholarship offer out of the experience.
Among those expected to work out:
— A.J. Harmon, a 315-pound offensive lineman from Jefferson County who already has offers from Florida and Georgia, among others. “Right now, I am trying to talk to some people who have been through this,” Harmon told the AJC recently. “I want to talk to people like Chris Little and why he picked [Georgia] and see what they were looking for and what I should be looking for.”
— Josh Jarboe, a Cedar Grove wide receiver who has offers from Georgia Tech, Kentucky and Virginia Tech. “He’s what everybody is looking for in a receiver,” Cedar Grove coach Ray Bonner said. “He can do it all.”
— Richard Samuel, a running back/linebacker from Cartersville’s Cass High who recently became the sixth junior to say yes to Bulldogs coach Mark Richt.
— Toby Jackson, a defensive tackle from Griffin who has offers from Auburn, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, Ole Miss and Tennessee. “Florida State and Tennessee are in the lead right now, but something might change in the future,” Jackson said. “I want get in there and concentrate on my education and have a successful season. I expect myself to go in there and get some action early.”
— Martin Ward, a running back from Mount Zion who already has committed to Georgia.
— Dontavius Jackson, a Heard County running back with early offers from Florida, Georgia Tech and Kentucky. “They’re all about the same right now,” says Jackson, who expects more offers to roll in soon.
Scout.com analyst Scott Kennedy said he’s most interested in comparing the three junior tailbacks expected in Duluth: Samuel, Ward and Dontavius Jackson.
“They’re three different kinds of backs in size and speed,” Kennedy said. “Also, Toby Jackson and A.J. Harmon are two of the best big athletes in the state, and they’ll get to show off their agility in front of one of the top training staffs in the world.”
Recruiting tid-bits from Gwinnett County
— Peachtree Ridge defensive lineman Trey Trip will be a preferred walk-on at Ole Miss, according to his father, Harold. The 6-foot-3, 235-pounder passed on offers at smaller schools for a chance to play in the SEC, Harold Trip said.
— Greater Atlanta Christian offensive lineman Devin Swirk has committed to play football at Faulkner University in Montgomery, GAC coach Jimmy Chupp said. Swirk is the sixth Spartans football player to commit this month.
