AJC > Sports > Football Recruiting > Blog > Archives > 2007 > June > 17
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Harmon explains why he chose Clemson over Georgia
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Two days after committing to Clemson, Jefferson County defensive lineman A.J. Harmon is confident he made the correct decision.
Some Georgia fans, however, appear to be thinking otherwise.
The 6-foot-5, 328-pound Harmon, who had narrowed his choices to Clemson and Georgia, said he is at peace with his decision to commit to the Tigers over the weekend.
Still, he expects there to be some backlash from the Bulldog nation.
“I know there will be a lot of pressure on me because my friends around here [in Louisville] are diehard Georgia fans,” Harmon said. “But I’ve got to do what’s best for me and my family.
“And I just feel more comfortable at Clemson.”
Harmon said his phone hasn’t been ringing off the hook with well-wishers just yet.
“My friends haven’t called me, so I’m guessing they must be mad,” he said. “But my teammates [at Jefferson County] are supporting me.”
Harmon said he’s had a love affair with Clemson for nearly four years.
“I’ve been a Clemson fan since the eighth grade,” he said. “I can’t wait to run down the hill and rub the rock.”
Harmon said he hopes to personally explain his decision to Georgia coach Mark Richt.
“I don’t have anything against Georgia because I love coach Richt,” Harmon said. “I’ll try to get in touch with coach Richt and talk to him. If Clemson wasn’t here today, I’d be a Georgia Bulldog right now.”
Harmon admitted that the Tigers’ depth chart at defensive tackle impacted his decision.
“I can start as a true freshman at Clemson,” Harmon said.
Mays wide receiver Heard impressive at Georgia combine
Corey Heard of Mays created quite a buzz at the Georgia combine on Friday after he was timed at 4.29 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
Heard, who claims he had never been clocked in the 40 prior to Friday, seemed shocked after being made aware of his time.
“When you run the 40, they normally don’t even tell you your time,” Heard said. “But the guy just looked at me and said ‘4.29.’ I didn’t think I could really do that.”
Heard, who has offers from Stanford, Kentucky and Georgia Tech, says the Yellow Jackets remain his front-runner.
But he’s hopeful North Carolina will make a run at him.
“They’re telling me they want me to come up there,” Heard said. “I want to get up there and visit.”
And then there were three in the running for Chamblee’s Loftley
Chamblee defensive end Taylor Loftley said Sunday evening he has narrowed his choices to Duke, South Carolina and Vanderbilt.
On the Blue Devils: “I like Duke because of the academics,” Loftley said. “And I think this is a football program on the rise.”
On the Gamecocks: “It’s just the coaching staff and tradition,” Loftley said. “I think South Carolina has the talent to win the SEC title. And playing for [coach] Steve Spurrier would be big. He’s a legend.”
On the Commodores: “I like Vanderbilt because of academics,” Loftley said. “And I think their football team is good and getting better.”
Loftley also holds offers from Ohio, Middle Tennessee State, Central Florida, Stanford and UAB.
Like father, like son: Ros commits to UGA
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Bryce Ros woke up Sunday a changed man.
All the indecision he had dealt with in recruiting was gone. All the questions were answered. Ros, a tight end from Kennesaw Mountain High, had made up his mind he was going to play college football at Georgia.
“I thought to myself, ‘What am I waiting for?’ ” Ros said. “So I committed.”
And just the perfect day to do it, too. Ros is the son of Frank Ros, the captain of the 1980 Georgia national championship team. On top of that, Sunday just happened to be Father’s Day, so you would think Bryce’s decision would be the perfect present for his father.
“Actually, I told my mom first,” Ros said. “I was just kind of messing with my dad.”
Ros is the 15th commitment for Georgia. He had been recruited by several SEC and ACC schools. Ros is projected to play tight end, but he has played defensive end in high school and could move to that position as well.
Georgia could receive its 16th commitment at the end of the week. Ben Jones, an offensive lineman from Bibb County, Ala., was offered over the weekend. Jones, whose father also went to Georgia and said the Bulldogs are a leader, will make a decision by as early as Friday.
