AJC > Sports > Football Recruiting > Blog > Archives > 2007 > April
April 2007
Brandon, Avery, Bolton consider football futures
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Northview wide receiver Xzavian Brandon is still awaiting his first major scholarship offer.
But that hasn’t stopped the 6-foot-3, 178-pound speedster from visiting several SEC campuses, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Ole Miss and South Carolina.
Brandon got an up-close view of the Gators and Bulldogs recently.
“I went to the spring game [at Florida],” Brandon said. “It was amazing. I loved it.
“They had about 75,000 for the spring game at The Swamp. The stadium was packed and it was loud. I could definitely see myself going there.”
Brandon was equally impressed following the G-Day game in Athens.
“The atmosphere and fan support [at Georgia] isn’t much different,” Brandon said. “But for some reason I like Florida more, probably because they throw the ball a little more.”
With spring practice set to begin on May 7, Brandon said his primary goal is to lead Northview to the school’s first playoff berth this fall.
“As a team, next year will be our sixth year in existence in the Georgia High School Association,” Brandon said. “The main thing we want to accomplish is to make the playoffs.
“I believe we have the talent and the coaching. We want to be taken seriously. Spring is just to have fun and get better.”
Brandon hasn’t set a timetable on when he’ll commit, once the offers begin arriving.
“I’m not too worried about offers right now,” he said. “I’m just focusing on getting better. I’ll just enjoy the process.
“Maybe I’ll commit this summer, maybe I’ll commit during the season or maybe it’ll come down to signing day.”
Offers pile up for Avery
Cedar Grove running back Xavier Avery is mulling over football offers from Georgia, Georgia Tech, Duke, Florida, LSU and Virginia Tech.
But according to the 6-foot, 185-pound Avery, he is solely interested in colleges that will allow him to play both football and baseball.
“I really don’t have a front-runner,” said Avery, a center fielder/pitcher for Cedar Grove who claimed his 35th stolen base this spring.
“I’ve visited Georgia and Georgia Tech. It was a good experience at both. I saw a lot of stuff at both that never knew was there.”
Avery, who rushed for more than 1,200 yards during his junior year at Cedar Grove, said it will be late summer, at the earliest, before he commits.
“I play baseball, so I can’t really commit yet because I might go in the [Major League Baseball] draft,” Avery said.
Bolton checks out Alabama
Norcross junior Devonta Bolton and his family were part of the capacity crowd that packed Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Saturday to watch Alabama’s A-Game spring scrimmage. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Bolton was able to meet new Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban.
“The campus is beautiful and amazing,” said Bolton, who has offers from Alabama, Boston College, Kentucky, Indiana and Mississippi State. “The atmosphere was perfect. And [Coach Saban] was pretty nice.
“[Alabama] is the kind of place I’m looking for.”
Bolton is being recruited by some programs to play safety, while others schools covet him at wide receiver. “I prefer to play offense,” Bolton said.
While refusing to label the Tide as his frontrunner, Bolton acknowledged that he plans to commit prior to his senior season at Norcross.
“I’m probably going to be committed by mid-summer,” he said. “I don’t want to have any distractions.”
Meyer rolls into Gwinnett
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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If the people at Buford didn’t already know who he was, the bling-bling on Urban Meyer’s finger was a good clue.
The Florida football coach was sporting a gaudy new national championship ring on his hand when he strolled into Buford High School Wednesday morning, Wolves athletics director Dexter Wood said.
Meyer, who was at the school to woo Buford defensive tackle Omar Hunter, said he was making the first of a number of recruiting stops statewide. He had plans to next visit Norcross, where he had blue-chip wide receiver Brice Butler had in mind.
The Gators have already extended offers to both Hunter and Butler.
Vols lead for Northside’s Bass; Alabama lands Marist kicker
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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With spring football drills set to begin in two weeks for defending Class AAAA champion Northside-Warner Robins, wide receiver Nick Bass will have at least two Division I offers in his hip pocket.
Indiana made an offer to the 5-foot-11, 195-pound in early April. Tennessee extended a scholarship offer to Bass earlier this week.
Bass, who has spent the past four months working on conditioning and lifting weights to prepare for his senior season, said Tennessee has the early lead in the race for his services.
“I’m very interested in Tennessee more so than Indiana because they’re in the SEC,” Bass said.
Bass hinted he will likely follow the recent trend of juniors committing prior to their senior season.
“After spring football, I’m going to go on and commit if I don’t have any other offers,” said Bass, who plans to visit Knoxville in May or June.
Bass’ immediate goals center on leading the Eagles to another championship.
“Our expectations are very high,” Bass said. “We’re working hard to repeat.”
Marist star headed to Alabama
Marist All-State kicker Collin Gallagher has been invited to join Alabama’s football team next year.
Gallagher will be a preferred walk-on, given the chance to eventually earn a scholarship. He said he feels like he can contribute next year on kickoffs at the SEC school.
“Alabama was always my first choice, but things were delayed when they hired a new coaching staff,” Gallagher said. “They had one spot for a walk-on kicker and were deciding between another guy and me. When they picked me, I accepted very quickly.”
Gallagher booted 57 of 72 kickoffs out of the end zone this past season and was called the “greatest kicker in the school history” by longtime coach Alan Chadwick. He was also considering Georgia Tech.
King, Harmon, Hazelton update recruiting status
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Habersham Central receiver Tavarres King is picking up so many scholarship offers he has lost count.
King said he had received 13, but then listed 15: Georgia, Georgia Tech, Florida, LSU, Tennessee, Clemson, South Carolina, Auburn, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Stanford, Florida International, Vanderbilt and Florida State.
He’s in no hurry to narrow that list.
“I’ve got to take some time for high school,” King said.
— Jefferson County offensive tackle A.J. Harmon is not only being recruited by schools all over the South but has picked up interest from Michigan, he said.
The Wolverines will try to outrecruit Georgia, Florida, Florida State, Clemson, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Ole Miss, Auburn, Alabama and Tennessee, the other schools Harmon listed.
— Roswell defensive end Curtis Hazelton said he has four main requirements that will guide his college choice: A good football program, a good academic program, a large campus and quality academic assistance for athletes.
Hazelton said he is looking at Duke, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and Central Florida.
Top 100 list out: UGA recruit Green No. 3
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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The third-best high school football player in the class of 2008 will suit up for Georgia.
So says Scout.com, which today released its first batch of top 100 junior rankings. No. 3 on the list: Summerville, S.C., wide receiver A.J. Green, who has said he’ll sign with Mark Richt’s Bulldogs in February.
Other notes of interest:
— Green isn’t the only UGA recruit on Scout’s list. Statesboro defensive tackle Deangelo Tyson is ranked No. 24 overall. Georgia target Tyler Love, an offensive tackle from Mountain Brook, Ala., checks in at No. 56.
— The top-ranked overall player — uncommitted Wichita, Kan., middle linebacker Arthur Brown — lists Georgia among his long list of options, along with Florida, Florida State, Kansas State, Michigan, Oklahoma and Southern Cal.
— Tyson is one of three Georgians among Scout’s top 100. Others: Cedar Grove wide receiver Josh Jarboe (No. 51) and Jefferson County lineman A.J. Harmon (No. 62).
— The top-ranked quarterback is Terrelle Pryor of Jeannette, Pa., who has yet to pick a school. Among his main suitors: Clemson, Florida, Nebraska, Ohio State, Penn State, Pitt and West Virginia.
— Thirty-nine of Scout’s top 100 juniors have picked a college.
— After an off-year, Bobby Bowden and Florida State are off to a strong start, already landing commitments from three of Scout’s top 100 juniors: linebacker Nigel Bradham (No. 16, Crawfordville, Fla.); linebacker Nigel Carr (No. 71, Jacksonville); and safety C.J. Holton (No. 93, Crawfordville, Fla.).
— Oklahoma has more top-100 commitments (six) than any school. The Sooners’ Big 12 rival, Texas, is next with five.
— Ohio State and Southern Cal have four top-100 commitments.
— FSU, Nebraska, Notre Dame and UCLA have three apiece.
— Georgia is the only school with two.
— Programs with one: BYU, Clemson, Michigan, Missouri, Texas A&M and Washington.
— Remarkably, Florida has no top-100 commitments.
THE RANKINGS
Arthur Brown, LB, Wichita, Kan. (Undecided)
Julio Jones, WR, Foley, Ala. (Undecided)
A.J. Green, WR, Summerville, S.C. (COMMITTED TO GEORGIA)
Terrelle Pryor, QB, Jeannette, Pa. (Undecided)
Darrell Scott, RB, Ventura, Calif. (Undecided)
Will Hill, S, Jersey City, N.J. (Undecided)
Matt Kalil, OT, Anaheim, Calif. (Committed to Southern Cal)
Jon Major, LB, Parker, Colo. (Undecided)
Patrick Johnson, CB, Pompano Beach, Fla. (Leaning toward Miami)
Mike Adams, OT, Dublin, Ohio (Committed to Ohio State)
Matt Patchan, OT, Seffner, Fla. (Undecided)
Justin Johnson, RB, Gilmer, Texas (Committed to Oklahoma)
T.J. Bryant, CB, Tallahassee (Undecided)
Jermie Calhoun, RB, Van, Texas (Committed to Oklahoma)
Shayne Hale, LB, Monroeville, Pa. (Undecided)
Nigel Bradham, LB, Crawfordville, Fla. (Committed to Florida State)
Kavario Middleton, TE, Lakewood, Wash. (Undecided)
R.J. Washington, DE, Keller, Texas (Committed to Oklahoma)
Marcus Forston, DT, Miami (Undecided)
Boubacar Cissoko, CB, Detroit (Committed to Michigan)
Aaron Williams, CB, Austin, Texas (Committed to Texas)
Dan Buckner, WR, Allen, Texas (Committed to Texas)
D.J. Shoemate, WR, Anaheim, Calif. (Committed to Southern Cal)
Deangelo Tyson, DT, Statesboro (COMMITTED TO GEORGIA)
Kyle Rudolph, TE, Cincinnati (Committed to Notre Dame)
Michael Brewster, C, Orlando (Undecided)
Josh Jenkins, OG, Parkersburg, W.Va. (Undecided)
Ethan Johnson, DT, Portland (Undecided)
J.B. Shugarts, OT, Klein, Texas (Undecided)
Lynn Katoa, LB, Salt Lake City (Undecided)
Daquan Bowers, DT, Bamberg, S.C. (Committed to Clemson)
Steve Filer, LB, Chicago (Undecided)
Michael Floyd, WR, St. Paul, Minn. (Undecided)
Marcus Robinson, LB, Homestead, Fla. (Undecided)
Landry Jones, QB, Artesia, N.M. (Committed to Oklahoma)
Stephen Good, OG, Paris, Texas (Committed to Oklahoma)
Deion Walker, WR, Christchurch, Va. (Undecided)
Chancey Aghayere, DE, Garland, Texas (Undecided)
Vinston Painter, OT, Norfolk, Va. (Undecided)
Etienne Sabino, LB, Miami (Undecided)
Daryl Stonum, WR, Sugar Land, Texas (Undecided)
Sam McGuffie, RB, Cypress, Texas (Undecided)
Anthony McDonald, LB, Sherman Oaks, Calif. (Committed to Notre Dame)
Maurice Simmons, LB, Compton, Calif. (Committed to Southern Cal)
Gerell Robinson, WR, Chandler, Ariz. (Undecided)
Rahim Moore, CB, Los Angeles (Committed to UCLA)
Austin Holt, TE, South Jordan, Utah (Committed to BYU)
Blake Ayles, TE, Orange, Calif. (Undecided)
Darius Fleming, LB, Chicago (Undecided)
Matt Meyer, OT, Stockton, Calif. (Committed to Southern Cal)
Josh Jarboe, WR, Ellenwood (Undecided)
Andrew Sweat, LB, Washington, Pa. (Undecided)
Sausan Shakerin, RB, Sandy, Utah (Undecided)
Blaine Gabbert, QB, Ballwin, Mo. (Undecided)
Lerentee McCray, LB, Dunnellon, Fla. (Undecided)
Tyler Love, OT, Mountain Brook, Ala. (Undecided)
Terrell Manning, LB, Laurinburg, N.C. (Undecided)
Jameel Owens, WR, Muskogee, Okla. (Undecided)
Garrett Goebel, DT, Lombard, Ill. (Undecided)
DeAndre Brown, WR, Ocean Springs, Miss. (Undecided)
No player listed
A.J. Harmon, OT, Louisville (Undecided)
Nolan Brewster, S, Denver (Committed to Texas)
Devoe Torrence, RB, Canton, Ohio (Committed to Ohio State)
Everette Thompson, DE, Burien, Wash. (Undecided)
Dayne Crist, QB, Sherman Oaks, Calif. (Undecided)
Chris Jordan, LB, Brentwood, Tenn. (Undecided)
Jacob Stoneburner, WR, Dublin, Ohio (Committed to Ohio State)
Kenny Tate, WR, Hyattsville, Md. (Undecided)
Trevor Robinson, OG, Elkhorn, Neb. (Committed to Nebraska)
Nigel Carr, LB, Jacksonville (Committed to Florida State)
Darius Barksdale, S, Batesville, Miss. (Undecided)
A.J. Alexander, RB, Altoona, Pa. (Undecided)
Senio Kelemete, OT, Seattle (Committed to Washington)
Dravannti Johnson, LB, Nederland, Texas (Committed to Texas A&M)
Damien Holmes, DE, Colton, Calif. (Committed to UCLA)
Aldarius Johnson, WR, Miami (Undecided)
David Snow, OG, Gilmer, Texas (Committed to Texas)
Quinton Coples, DE, Kinston, N.C. (Undecided)
Melvin Ray, WR, Tallahassee (Undecided)
Lucas Nix, DT, Clairton, Pa. (Undecided)
Wes Horton, DE, Sherman Oaks, Calif. (Committed to Southern Cal)
Andrew Jones, TE, Smithville, Mo. (Committed to Missouri)
Jerrell Harris, LB, Gadsden, Ala. (Undecided)
DeVier Posey, WR, Cincinnati (Committed to Ohio State)
Jarvis Humphrey, DT, Cedar Hill, Texas (Committed to Texas)
Robert Golden, CB, Fresno, Calif. (Undecided)
Dion Jordan, TE, Chandler, Ariz. (Undecided)
Bryce Givens, OT, Denver (Committed to Nebraska)
Brandon Harris, CB, Miami (Undecided)
Ben Habern, C, Dallas (Committed to Oklahoma)
Sean Cwynar, DT, Woodstock, Ill. (Committed to Notre Dame)
C.J. Holton, S, Crawfordville, Fla. (Committed to Florida State)
Robert Quinn, DE, North Charleston, S.C. (Undecided)
Baker Steinkuhler, OG, Lincoln, Neb. (Committed to Nebraska)
Chris Tolliver, WR, Rayville, La. (Undecided)
Alameda Ta’amu, OG, Seattle (Undecided)
Tyron Smith, OT, Moreno Valley, Calif. (Undecided)
Brandon Moore, TE, Trotwood, Ohio (Undecided)
Datone Jones, DE, Compton, Calif. (Committed to UCLA)
Six Georgians make top 100 cut; McRae likes Tech
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Six Georgians made Rivals.com’s list of the “pre-evaluation period top 100” rising seniors. That’s fourth-most of any state, trailing only Florida (13), Texas (12) and California (11).
The Peach State prospects among the top 100:
— Norcross wide receiver Brice Butler
— Jefferson County two-way lineman A.J. Harmon
— Habersham Central wide receiver Tavarres King
— Cartersville Cass running back Richard Samuel
— Statesboro defensive tackle DeAngelo Tyson
— Burke County defensive end Cornelius Washington
Samuel, Tyson and Washington have all committed to Georgia, which has four top-100 commitments. (Summerville, S.C., wide receiver A.J. Green is the other).
The Web site hasn’t yet ranked the players individually.
Dublin star likes Yellow Jackets
Georgia Tech has made a good impression on Dublin offensive lineman Nick McRae, who said he plans to announce his college choice at the end of spring practice in May.
“When I went there Saturday [for Tech’s final spring scrimmage] I got to talk to some of the players,” McRae said. “They made me feel like I was already part of the family.”
McRae also has received a scholarship offer from N.C. State.
Bulldogs, Yellow Jackets host special spring guests
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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It’s a busy recruiting weekend, with top prospects in Athens and Atlanta for spring football games. We caught up with two stars of the Class of 2008 — one who spent the day at Georgia, one at Tech.
XZAVIAN BRANDON
The 6-foot-3, 178-pound Northview wide receiver is still awaiting his first major scholarship offer. He says he’s in no rush to make a decision and will likely wait until after his senior season to choose a college.
Brandon spent Saturday at Georgia and plans to be in Gainesville next weekend for Florida’s spring game. Alabama, Arkansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Vanderbilt and Virginia Tech have all also expressed interest.
One state school surprisingly has not.
“Believe it or not, Georgia Tech is not even recruiting me,” Brandon said. “I haven’t even received a letter from them.”
A few other things you should know about Brandon:
Nickname: “X Factor”
A few words to describe me: Intelligent, athletic, confident, driven
The campuses I’ve liked the most so far: Alabama, Ole Miss, South Carolina
My style on the field reminds some of … Jerry Rice
Something people don’t know about me: I am very spiritual and put Jesus Christ first in my life. I firmly believe I can do all things through him.
Sports hero: My dad, an 11-year NFL veteran
Future major: Business law or communications
Favorite flick: “Friday”
What I drive: Whichever car has gas in it
Proudest high school accomplishment: The 2006 finale against one of our rivals, Alpharetta. It was a scoreless game that went into overtime. I caught the TD to put it in overtime, setting up another TD with seconds left on the clock. We won the game and the fans rushed the field. It was amazing.
Ten years from now, I’ll be … Breaking records and setting standards in the NFL while preparing for life after the game as an entrepeneur, lawyer or sports commentator.
DeRON FURR
The 6-foot-2, 217-pound Columbus Carver quarterback already has a handful of scholarship offers, including ones from Duke, Indiana, Kentucky and Tulane. Also on his list of possibilities: Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia and Georgia Tech.
Furr spent Saturday at Tech watching the Yellow Jackets’ spring game. He has been to Tech and UGA “numerous times,” and says, “I like both of them.”
A few other things you should know about Furr, who hopes to pick a college sometime this summer.
Three words to describe me: Drive, desire, determination
What I’m looking for in a college: A degree that will help with my profession after sports. I will look to gain experience with different ethnic groups and cultures. This will enable me to communicate better.
The campus I’ve liked the most so far: Georgia
My style on the field reminds some of … Vince Young
Sports heroes: My parents, DeRon and Brenda Furr
Favorite flick: “Scarface”
In my iPod: Yo Gotti
What I drive: 1995 Tahoe
Proudest high school accomplishment: My team going deep into the playoffs
Ten years from now, I’ll be … In the NFL
Love headed to UGA; Vick’s buddy likes Yellow Jackets
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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One of the nation’s most highly regarded offensive line prospects will make a second visit to Georgia this weekend.
Tyler Love, a 6-foot-7, 285-pound junior tackle at Mountain Brook (Ala.) High, said Thursday he’ll be in Athens for G-Day. He also dropped by for UGA’s junior day and liked what he saw.
“I really like their coaching staff a lot and the leadership of their team,” Love told the AJC Thursday.
Love is in no hurry to make up his mind and said he’ll likely wait until after his senior season to choose a college.
He has also been to Alabama, Auburn, Florida and LSU. He also plans to watch Alabama’s spring game.
Love, who hopes to major in finance, said his style on the field reminds some of former Alabama All-American Chris Samuels. The three things he’s looking for in a college: “strong academics, football tradition and a fun student body.”
Tech high on Reamon’s list
The son of Michael Vick’s high school coach has Georgia Tech high on his list.
Tommy Reamon Jr., a junior quarterback at Gloucester (Va.) High, said Thursday he’s still in the evaluation stage but will strongly consider signing with Georgia Tech next winter if a scholarship offer comes.
“I’ve been down there probably five times and could see myself playing there,” Reamon told the AJC. “Like one out of every five graduates is a millionaire, so I’m not going to argue with that.”
The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Reamon’s most memorable recruiting experience so far came at Tech, when former recruiting coordinator Geoff Collins showed him the campus in a golf cart. “He thought he was a NASCAR driver,” Reamon said with a laugh.
Reamon said he already has offers from Boston College and Missouri. Alabama, North Carolina and N.C. State round out his current list.
He has gotten to know, and like, Atlanta while visiting Vick, the Falcons’ star quarterback.
“Since my dad coached him in high school, we got real close,” Reamon said. “He calls me his god brother.”
Hayward awaits offers
Perry High’s Casey Hayward Jr. said he plans to make a second visit to Georgia this weekend. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound quarterback/free safety prospect has already been to Georgia Tech twice and also has interest in Vanderbilt, Troy and Middle Tennessee.
He plans to take the SAT sometime in the next two months, and hopes the scholarship offers will pour in after that.
“I might go to the [school] that offers me first,” he told the AJC Thursday.
Hayward describes his style as a passer as “Mike Vick — with less arm strength.” He hopes to major in “something to do with math,” and says schools’ academic reputation will play a big part in his decision.
Wake signee runs for football
You’ll forgive Meadowcreek’s Cyhl Quarles if he had the bigger picture in mind when he first decided to run track a year ago.
“Basically, I’m just running track for football,” said Quarles, a Wake Forest football signee. “It’s a good thing. The faster you can run, the better your chances are of playing [in college].”
The quid pro quo arrangement has proven beneficial for both sides. The speedy 6-foot-3, 215-pound Quarles has developed into one of the state’s better sprinters to give the Mustangs additional scoring punch.
Quarles, a senior, has vastly improved his speed as he prepares to begin college football this summer.
He shattered the school record in the 200-meter dash in last week’s Clarke Central Gladiator Invitational with a time of 22.26 seconds while also running a leg on the team’s 4x100 relay team that set a school record. Quarles added a second-place finish in the 100 and anchored the Mustangs’ third-place 4x400 relay team.
He also has run legs on his team’s record-setting 4x200, sprint medley and distance medley relay teams.
Meadowcreek coach Matt Henson has been impressed.
“We knew he was athletic,” the coach said. “We knew potentially he had the power to be a great runner.”
Quarles attributed his success to the added strength and experience he’s gained over the past year.
But even he admitted to having been somewhat taken by surprise by things.
“Things are going great,” he said. “I didn’t really expect anything like this. Track is my secondary sport.”
— John Hollis
