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DEL.ICIO.USKing down to 3; Poole backs off Vols; Simmons high on Tide
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 05/09/07 10:32 AM
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Habersham Central wide receiver Tavarres King is down to three schools — and a decision is due soon.
King says he has whittled down his list to Clemson, Florida and Georgia. He plans to make an announcement on May 18.
“I just want to get it out of the way,” King said. “This recruiting thing is getting kind of overwhelming.”
The 6-foot-1, 165-pound King is ranked by Scout.com as the 71st-best junior prospect in the Southeast. He reportedly had scholarship offers from dozens of programs, including Georgia Tech.
King’s father, Anthony, is a former Clemson standout. The younger King would be a huge catch for the Tigers and coach Tommy Bowden, who starts salivating when he talks about the state of Georgia’s high school football talent.
“Georgia always is one of the top states in the nation,” Bowden told the blog Wednesday morning. “Not as big of a state as Texas or Florida or California, but in terms of productivity to population, there might be none better.”
Bowden can’t talk about specific players — guys like early Tigers commitment Jon Richt, the quarterback son of UGA coach Mark Richt. But he says this year is no different than other years. There are plenty of guys who can come in an make a difference right away, and Bowden is chasing a handul of those guys.
“We’re having a hard time breaking into Georgia, but this year, like every year, there’s a lot of skill players on both sides of the ball and some big linemen who can play right away,” Bowden said. “We’re recruiting guys like that, but it’s hard.”
Bowden might not get a lot of the top recruits out of Georgia, but the ones he’s gotten have paid off.
Atlanta’s James Davis figures to be one of the best running backs in the ACC this year, perhaps in the nation. Walton graduate Aaron Kelley will start at receiver for the second year and should take over as the main pass-catching threat now that Chansi Stuckey has moved on the NFL.
Clemson is also among the frontrunners for two-way Jefferson County lineman A.J. Harmon, who told Scout.com the Tigers and Georgia are the schools to beat for his services.
Harmon is especially high on the Bulldogs, telling Scout, ““They are still the two teams to beat,” he said.
Georgia seems to have the edge.
“I kind of want to go to Georgia. Think about it — they have A.J. Green coming, and he is the top receiver in the country. They will still have [Matthew] Stafford up there that first year that I would be up there, too. Their offensive line is young. Chris Little will probably play soon and [Trinton] Sturdivant starting as a freshman. They’ve got a lot of talent up there.”
Poole looking around
Stephens County running back Tauren Poole calls his commitment Tennessee “soft,” adding, “I’m still looking around a little bit.”
Poole continues to listen to overtures from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson and Georgia Tech.
Simmons high on Tide, Gators
Banneker safety Darrell Simmons is being courted by Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Michigan and Tennessee.
Simmons, who plans to graduate in December, is leaning toward the Crimson Tide and Gators.
“I think Alabama is going in the right direction,” he said. “And Florida has all the momentum.”
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By bob
May 9, 2007 11:57 AM | Link to this
Screw the DAWGIES. They will once again be Way overrated and overhyped going into the season and will once again have an average at best season. Gotta love Georgia fans.
By bob
May 9, 2007 11:58 AM | Link to this
Screw the DAWGIES. They will once again be Way overrated and overhyped going into the season and will once again have an average at best season. Gotta love Georgia fans.
By bob
May 9, 2007 11:59 AM | Link to this
Screw the DAWGIES. They will once again be Way overrated and overhyped going into the season and will once again have an average at best season. Gotta love Georgia fans.
By Reality Dawg
May 9, 2007 12:04 PM | Link to this
Hey Bob, go F yourself. YOu are acting like UGA is always goes into the season ranked high and always disappoints. Check the pre-season rankings versus final rankings since 2000 and you’ll come to a different conclusion.
So, Bob, go bob up and down on Zanjibar in the math lab’s penis like you GT guys like to do so much.
By Johnny Bravo
May 9, 2007 1:54 PM | Link to this
Ho hum, another bust considers the mutts. We don’t care if you don’t come to Florida or not, son. We have 10 WR’s that will be better than you. Go to UGA, they obviously NEED talent. If you do, we’ll look forward to pimp-slapping you as always.
You can play for a RING at Florida or you can play for BLING anywhere else! Choose wisely.
By William
May 9, 2007 2:10 PM | Link to this
Hey Reality Dawg: That ” Zanjibar in the math lab’s ” is perfect for Bob. Keep up the good work. The Dawgs will be fine in 2007. FL has the tight end at QB. Coach Martinez told the defense if TeBlow comes in the game, let him pass it but knock me back to the bench when he runs. He got up one time with his helmet on sideways looking for his girl friend. GT finally figured out Calvin was the real deal. Paul Oliver shut him down. GO DAWGS!!!
By Reality Dawg
May 9, 2007 2:39 PM | Link to this
For the record, I’ll be surprised if the kid does not end up at Clemson.
By bobbylee
May 9, 2007 2:55 PM | Link to this
So how come a black player get suspended for drinking, but the white qb can drink and party in Alabama and gets off scott free. Jesse, you listening ?
By richtfan
May 9, 2007 3:14 PM | Link to this
bobbylee—you doubling as al sharpton today?
what a ridiculous statement.
stafford didn’t get arrested for anything.
By ugalaw
May 9, 2007 3:15 PM | Link to this
Bob — Nice attempt on the “overrated” quip. The link below, unfortunately, proves otherwise:
http://preseason.stassen.com/over-under/all-teams.html
But hey, Bob, don’t let the facts get in the way of a good argument.
By bobbylee
May 9, 2007 3:32 PM | Link to this
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
By D-Bo
May 9, 2007 3:40 PM | Link to this
Bobby Lee is a white boy trying to sucker you all into playing the race card! Hell, I am black and if UGA suspends Stafford, the Dawgs are f’ed. Unless he rapes someone, gets arrested for murder, or something crazy let that Stafford guy hoist all the kegs he wants!
By Mike Bobo 17 INT
May 9, 2007 4:49 PM | Link to this
Nice article Bob and we are all on the same page with you. Overhype about UGA recruits that do nothing. 2006 proved that UGA cannot groom the talent they land and the program is terribly overrated.
LSU and Florida are already picked to lead the SEC in 2007 with UGA placing at beat 3rd or maybe 4th. Even the AJC has come to terms with the fact that the UGA program is in decline with no improvement in sight.
Quite frankly, King needs to select Florida, which is much superior program to UGA (15 of 17) and he has a better shot at a national title at Florida.
UGA will lose the opener to OSU by 10, lose to Alabama by 3, then get drill by Florida with 21 or more. This does not even include the thrashing from Tennessee.
The baseball team is in the tank, so they have to fall back to tennis, golf and lady gymnastics. Maybe the gymnastics coach to replace CMR, at least she knows how to win. Maybe the tennis coach.
Basically, no one pays any attention to those Oakley wearing, blue jean short, goatie rednecks from Athens. UGA continues to have the dubious title of having the most overrated and ignorant program in the the SEC or D-1A.
They are a joke.
By johnny
May 9, 2007 4:52 PM | Link to this
Hey BobbyLee, the answer lies in the fact that there is no pic. of the golden boy consuming alcohol. Oh yea, and he did not get cited by the authorities twice in two months for underage drinking. You’re obviously just as smart as ol’ Al and Jessee. Keep it up…
By johnny
May 9, 2007 5:03 PM | Link to this
Mike, Mike, Mike…Last I looked, Florida is beating everyone. NOt just Ga, not just teams in the SEC. They are on an incredible run and rightly deserve credit. But to say the UGA football program is a joke is downright ignorant. Oh yeah, last i checked it is the Florida fans with the reputation for wearing cut off levis, wife beaters, and tank-tops to ball games (and i am referring to the male gendered gators). Maybe you should check your sources!
By W&M Chris
May 9, 2007 5:23 PM | Link to this
Wow! Being a sports fan is supposed to be, among other things, fun. Reading this nonsense from “Bobo 17”, and clowns like him, is pretty disgusting. Be an advocate; but, seriously, get a grip.
By Matt
May 9, 2007 8:23 PM | Link to this
Mike, go f@#* yourself. Hard. When you’re done, you meet me anytime you want and I’ll show you what being a Dawg is all about. No one outside of Gainesville Fla wants to have anything to do with your redneck jean shorts (Jordache in fact) greasy haired wife beater mullet low income zero education idiot white trash that your fan base has become.. and that’s just the faculty…..
You beat Georgia by one td, and the Vols by a few pts, and snuck by LSU, Bama, and a horrible FSU team, and beat the crap out of the Buckeyes because they were terribly overrated. Ya’ll out-thugged them, along with every other D1 team with the exception of Miami. Kiss my a*#, and never log onto this site again
By bobbylee
May 9, 2007 9:46 PM | Link to this
hey johnny, underage possesion will get you arrested and you don’t have to be drinking. I know — the keg was bone dry…
By MikkUGA
May 10, 2007 2:51 AM | Link to this
Where do you all find these tools that UF and GT call fans. If you think UF is going to do anything this next year you are delusional. GT will be lucky to break into the top 25. Once Tebow gets a feel a those SEC defenses for an entire game..yea whatever he can’t come in a play Mr. run to the left FB the entire game and expect to get anywhere. Your defense is so thin they moved a RB, Manson to cb. That was an intelligent move and they have still to find a RB. Get real UGA is going to clown stomp UF this year and the east will come down to UGA and UT.
By Murph
May 10, 2007 5:29 AM | Link to this
“Bob” and “Mike Bobo”:
Observations:
2006 proved nothing except that Richt can win ball games even in a down year for talent. The team lost a couple of close games to lesser teams but finished 9-4 with three straight wins over ranked teams. They were one fumble away from depriving the Gators a chance to play for the national title. Brandon Coutu’s injury likely cost them victories against Vandy and Kentucky (and another 11-2 season). 2007 will be a different type of year (10-2 or so, in all likelihood) and 2008 will be a banner year for the Dawgs. The idea that “Uga is in decline with no improvement in sight” is a delusion that is not supported by reality.
We’ll see how Urban Meyer handles a transition year this season.
By kriddi
May 10, 2007 8:17 AM | Link to this
those pics of stafford were taken in the infied of talledaga. there were plenty on empty beer kegs around to bench press.
By alodawg
May 10, 2007 11:20 AM | Link to this
Mike Bobo 17 INT: You’re dumb. To tell us to look at the recruiting class of 2006 for UGA and say that UGA can’t groom talent is absolutely rediculous. If you knew anything at all about what you were talking about, you would know that UGA redshirted 18 of the 27 signed recruits in 2006. You’re just making yourself look even more uneducated than you actually are. We’ll see how your QB in Gainesville does with no prior starting experience, no leadership, and with a team that graduated many, many quality players. I think he threw a few passes against a Quality Western Carolina team. I know he couldn’t do $#!T against Georgia last year except fumble.
By Todd
May 10, 2007 11:29 AM | Link to this
Kentucky will win the SEC this year, sorry.
By Sobecat
May 10, 2007 11:31 AM | Link to this
Kentucky will win the SEC this year, sorry.
By shane
May 10, 2007 11:32 AM | Link to this
finally a chance to talk football,if you guys can stop trash talking long enough. i didn’t like it when i played and don’t like it now.bet 90% of you never played a down.cmr spoke in albany last night and the faithful loved it.usual coachspeak.i hope he took a good look around while he was in southwest ga.we have some good boys playing at small schools down here that could contribue to the program if given a chance,ala thomas davis and steven white.sometimes recruiters get too caught up in going after 4 and 5 star players when they should be looking for FOOTBALL players.guys that appreciate the chance to play and bust their butts for the team.and keep their noses clean! other schools ,especially auburn and fsu work this area very hard,and some kids want to play closer to home,but there is tons of talent in this area,as cmr knew when he was at fsu.
By johnny
May 10, 2007 12:14 PM | Link to this
bobbylee: Keyword=”can get you arrested” not arrested twice in 60days
By tenn.DAWG
May 10, 2007 4:59 PM | Link to this
Right on que,as I was reading some of the ignorent comments on here, the radio station here in Knoxille was asking the daily trivia ?.What SEC team has had the most wins in the last 10 yrs.Yeah,that’s right,the DAWGS.
By ugalaw
May 10, 2007 10:19 PM | Link to this
“Mike Bobo” is a Techie posing as a Florida fan who’s citing preseason predictions to support his argument.
Really, really sad…
By tim
May 11, 2007 1:34 PM | Link to this
Screw DAWGIES? How about 96 wins since 1997 most in the SEC.
By UFownsUGA
May 11, 2007 7:26 PM | Link to this
Your right Gainesville sucks so much that it was just named the #1 place to live in the country. The Gators suck so much that they have won the last 3 major sports titles in a row and have more overall (all sports combined) SEC titles than any other school. The Gators are so bad compared to UGA they have beaten them 15 of 17 times. UF fans are such rednecks and uneducated that UF ranks higher than UGA in just about EVERY academic category by US news and World report and is the #2 ranked public school by Kiplingers. Tebow has such a bad arm that he set almost every PASSING record in the State of FLORIDA. UF has NO talent at all that they have been ranked in the top 2 in the last 2 recruiting seasons. Florida has so many thugs that UGA players have ten times more arrest in the last 5 years. Florida sucks and has no history because UGA owns the overall series lead even though you have to be over 50 to have seen a winning record vs. UF in your lifetime.
You guys are right UF is awful.
By UFownsUGA
May 11, 2007 8:14 PM | Link to this
and how many National Titles has UGA won in those ten years?
UGA has as many wins vs. UF in the last 17 years as the Gators have won National Titles in that time.
You guys should stick to talking smack to Tech and keep your mouths shut when it comes to the NATIONAL CHAMPS.
By Dawg Rant
May 13, 2007 9:13 AM | Link to this
Bob is a certified goof.
By fayncdawg
May 14, 2007 12:38 PM | Link to this
To Mike Bobo 17INT: You are an idiot!! All the sudden the AJC with their anti-Dawg mindset is a reliable source for the statse of the Dawg football program?? Two words; NO WAY!!! I still believe that GT has a journalism school the all the AJC writers graduated from!! Trust me; the Dawg nation (i.e. boosters) will be the most reliable source of whether or not the team is on the decline. And based on what I am hearing about spring practice, My only concern on the 2007 schedule is the team whose #1 QB needs to be playing TE. Simply put, the Dawgs offense barring TOs, will simply be too potent for most teams on the schedule to handle. And don’t let the CALEB KING IS ELIGIBLE news become official! If it is official then CMR could go back and do the play calling (please don’t let that happen!) The Dawgs finish AT WORST 10-2!