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DEL.ICIO.USNorth Gwinnett’s Pritchard commits to Central Florida
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/15/07 11:32 PM
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North Gwinnett defensive end Robert Pritchard will play for Central Florida starting next year, Bulldogs coach Bob Sphire said Friday afternoon.
Pritchard, a 6-foot-4, 220-pounder who played a key role on a stingy North defense as a junior, chose coach George O’Leary’s Knights over Memphis and Virginia.
“He made a couple of visits down there and he just fell in love with the staff, with the facilities and the whole campus,” Sphire said of Pritchard. “He felt like he was ready to pull the trigger.”
Pritchard plans to make his commitment a binding one when he signs a letter-of-intent during February’s national signing day.
Central Gwinnett recruiting update
Central Gwinnett coach Dennis Roland believes his defense contains at least five college prospects. Yet, only one, mammoth nose tackle Dewayne Cherrington, has received a scholarship offer.
Roland isn’t worried, though, and says it’s only a matter of time before college recruiters take notice of his defensive standouts.
As head coach at North Gwinnett in 2004, Roland had four players earn Division I scholarships: South Carolina’s Jared Cook, Air Force’s Brandon Reeves and Kentucky’s E.J. Adams and Ross Bogue.
None of those players received offers before their senior seasons.
“Everybody wants to be a part of that first wave [of players to receive offers],” Roland said. “But I just tell them to be patient and concentrate on improving every day.”
While the trend in recruiting is to get verbal commitments from juniors, Georgia Tech recruiting coordinator Giff Smith tries to leave a couple of scholarship offers open for players that blossom during their senior years, especially in-state prospects.
Roland says defensive ends Michael Longo and Josh Aiken-Phillips and linebackers * Zalton Brooks* and Jarvis Williams are just that type of players, ones that will see their recruiting interest increase throughout the season.
“Those guys are kind of sleepers,” Roland said.
Even Cherrington, the Knights’ most highly touted recruit, is flying a little bit under the radar. The 6-2, 375-pounder has offers from New Mexico State and Alabama-Birmingham.
“He had a good spring and a good semester academically,” Roland said. “He’s concentrating on getting in good shape.”
Gwinnett athletes recognized by Rivals.com
Eight Gwinnett county athletes were recognized in Rivals.com’s recently released national position rankings.
Greater Atlanta Christian’s * Christian Robinson* was the highest rated player from Gwinnett. The Georgia signee was ranked as the 10th best outside linebacker.
Norcross boasts two of the top receivers in the nation in Brice Butler and * Devonta Bolton*. Butler came in at No. 12, and Bolton at No. 61 at their position.
Buford defensive tackle Omar Hunter (No. 21), a Notre Dame commitment, and linebacker T.J. Pridemore (No. 25) also made the rankings.
Peachtree Ridge running back Brandon Davis (No. 43) joined defensive back Derrick Bryant (No. 23) on the rankings in their respective positions.
Dacula safety Khiry Battle came in at No. 42.
Kell’s Hicks a wanted man
Kell quarterback Nick Hicks has offers from Air Force, Buffalo and Newberry, along with heavy interest from Southern Miss, Furman, Middle Tennessee State, Marshall and Elon.
The 6-1, 190-pounder had some tough luck last year, getting injured in the season-opener.
It ruined his chance to display his talents in front of dozens of scouts that showed up for practices and games to watch his teammate, All-America tailback Jonathan Dwyer, who signed with Georgia Tech. Hicks missed the first fives games, but returned for the last four to throw for 800 yards and 8 touchdowns.
Offers continue to arrive for Sprayberry multi-purpose athlete
Sprayberry’s Brynden Trawick, who plays safety and quarterback, has 8 early offers and counting: They are from Boston College, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Indiana, Marshall, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee State and Connecticut.
Scouts rave about the 6-3, 215-pounder’s overall athleticism, as he was a three-sport standout at the east Cobb school, also playing basketball and track.
He won the Region 6-AAAAA championship in the triple jump, and finished third in the long jump. He also has attracted the attention of more than 20 other schools, including Ohio State and Alabama.
