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Thursday, June 21, 2007
Tech courts Chamblee’s Uzzi; Update on Banneker’s Simmons
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Georgia Tech is recruiting Chamblee High lineman Omoregie Uzzi, but he hasn’t faced the Yellow Jackets’ super hard sales pitch yet.
For now, Tech coaches are biding their time, and their wildcard is laying low.
Incoming freshman running back Roddy Jones was a teammate of Uzzi’s at Chamblee High. He’s playing a patient game with his friend - so far.
“He’s telling me to just relax, and try to take visits, try to get as much information as I can,” Uzzi said.
Several southeastern schools are in the chase for Uzzi, who said Thursday he is 6-feet-5, 305 pounds. Georgia, Auburn, Clemson, North Carolina, Virginia and Alabama are among the interested.
He’s been to Athens a few times, visited Tech a few weeks ago, and said, “I’m probably going to go again, too, and I may be going to Alabama soon but I’m not sure.”
Although he would rather play defensive line in college, “everybody is telling me I may play guard. I’ve never played offensive guard. This coming season will be my first on the offensive line.”
Uzzi said Tech has recruited him chiefly as a defensive lineman, but he thinks he might end up on the side of the ball where there is a greater need in college. All of his campus visits so far have, of course, been unofficial.
Don’t look for this process to drag into autumn.
“I’m not sure if I’m going to take any official visits next fall because I might make my decision by the end of summer,” he said. “Georgia Tech isn’t very far away and Roddy is going there, but I have a few family friends that go to UGA and I like the program there.”
Banneker’s Simmons looking to move past arrest
Banneker coach Benny Crane believes his star safety, Darrell Simmons, will be acquitted of charges related to a burglary in Forest Park late last month.
“Everything is going to be fine,” Crane said. “He kind of got caught up in a car afterwards. He had no involvement with that.
“I’m hoping he will be exonerated soon and the truth will come out,” Crane said.
With scholarship offers from powers such as Florida, Michigan, Alabama, Auburn, Miami, Georgia, LSU, Tennessee and Ohio State, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound Simmons is one of the most sought after defensive backs in the country.
To Crane’s knowledge, each offer remains intact.
“No one has called to say ‘we’re withdrawing the offer,” Crane said.
Colleges are, however, eager to learn Simmons’ fate in court.
“They want to know as soon as possible,” said Crane, who is unaware of Simmons’ court date. “This thing is so fragile. He may be in trouble to a certain degree as far as having to go and earn back the trust from them.
“But we’re doing what we’re supposed to do on this end. He’s handling his business.”
Simmons is currently attending summer school, in hopes of graduating in December.
Once the burglary issue is resolved, Crane is confident a Division I program will land a stellar player.
“He is such an explosive athlete,” Crane said. “He stared at both quarterback and safety for us last year. He’s incredibly gifted.
“When you turn on the film and see this kid, the footage speaks for itself.”
UNC the latest offer for Jarboe
North Carolina is the latest school to offer Cedar Grove wide receiver Josh Jarboe.
The 6-foot-3, 195-pound said he’s looking forward to attending camp at LSU next month.
“Right now, I’ve got twenty-something offers,” Jarboe said. “I don’t have any front-runners. I like everybody.”
Don’t expect Jarboe, whose offers are from programs such as Georgia, Georgia Tech, Florida, LSU, Miami, Ohio State and Tennessee, to commit in the near future.
“It’ll be later on,” he said.
Wells preps for visits
Fresh off a visit to Florida, Gainesville defensive end Keith Wells is packing his bags in anticipation of one-day camps at Notre Dame and Ohio State this weekend.
Two years ago, Wells was playing basketball in Cornelia for Habersham Central. Following a transfer to Gainesville at the start of his junior season, he is suddenly rated as one of the nation’s top defensive end prospects.
“Keith had played basketball all of his life and I think suddenly his desire has changed,” Gainesville coach Bruce Miller said.
The 6-foot-5, 207-pound Wells, who played both football and basketball at Gainesville last season, is suddenly on everyone’s radar.
Florida, Florida State, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Ohio State and Tennessee headline his list of offers.
Following additional development, Miller is confident Wells will evolve into a special player on the college level.
“I think they’re getting a project,” he said. “He only started six games for us last year. He looks the part and runs extremely well for his size. I think his best football is ahead of him.”
Fowlkes’ stock continues to rise
Banneker defensive end Steven Fowlkes enjoyed the atmosphere at Clemson during a visit last weekend.
Meanwhile, a planned trip to Ohio State this weekend has been postponed.
Fowlkes currently holds offers from Clemson, North Carolina, Louisville, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Mississippi State, Purdue, Indiana, South Carolina and Alabama.
Banneker coach Benny Crane thinks the Tigers and Tar Heels have a slight advantage over the competition.
“He’s pretty much wide open,” Crane said. “But he’s high on Clemson and he likes North Carolina.”
Crane said Fowlkes his trying to convince college coaches that his 6-foot-6, 215-pound frame should be utilized at wide receiver.
“What he’s trying to do is get into a position to earn someone’s confidence as a receiver,” Crane said. “Everybody likes his size and athleticism at defensive end, which is where he did well for us last season despite missing four or five games due to injury.
“I think he would like to play receiver, but the defensive end position came so natural to him.”
Crane said he’s aware of at least one prerequisite for the program that signs Fowlkes.
“He wants to play for a team that has the best chance to play for a conference title,” Crane said.
Three offers for Bohannon
Willie Bohannon, a 6-foot-3, 240-pound defensive end for Mattie T. Blount (Ala.), has offers from Alabama, Kentucky and Lafayette, La.
He will participate in a one-day camp in Tuscaloosa on Saturday.
Bohannon is well aware of new Alabama coach Nick Saban’s reputation of maintaining an upbeat tempo during camps.
“It really won’t be any different for me because we already practice like that [at Mattie T. Blount],” Bohannon said.
Bohannon, who is leaning toward the Crimson Tide, said he gained interested in Alabama following Saban’s hiring earlier this year.
“I really didn’t have any interest in Alabama until Saban came onboard,” Bohannon said. “I just like my chances and the possibility of going to the NFL playing under him.
“It’s the school, coach Saban and the defense he runs.”
Norcross’ Butler down to 10
Georgia has made the first cut of the nation-wide recruiting battle for Norcross star wide receiver Brice Butler, who narrowed his list of college choices to 10 Thursday.
Butler said he’ll decide between Southern Cal, Florida State, Notre Dame, LSU, Arizona State, Florida, Penn State, Oregon, Oregon State and Georgia.
“I wanted to cut down my list because I’m planning on committing in July,” Butler, who has more than 40 scholarship offers, told the blog. “I want to get it over with so I can focus on the season and winning a state championship.”
He receives approximately 15 letters from colleges and more than 20 text messages each day.
The 6-foot-1, 175-pound son of former Falcons defensive back Bobby Butler has visited each of the schools on his list, except Oregon and Oregon State.
He plans to visit the Ducks and Beavers later this month, before ending his search.
Before this spring, Brice Butler had never traveled further west than Louisiana. Now, he seems to have become quite fond of West Coast’s climate.
“The climate out there is crazy,” said Butler of his visit to USC. “There’s no humidity. When it’s 90 degrees here, it’s kind of sweltering. There, it’s nice.”
USC’s Pete Carroll, Florida’s Urban Meyer and Alabama’s Nick Saban were among the numerous coaches that visited Norcross’ spring practice to check out Butler.
Saban’s Crimson Tide did not make the list.
When asked if USC was the favorite to land Butler, Norcross coach Keith Maloof said, “I try to stay out of it, so I don’t have to lie to anyone.”
