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DEL.ICIO.USClemson and Michigan offer Bolton; Wells names six
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/27/07 9:46 PM
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Clemson extended a scholarship offer to Norcross safety/wide receiver Devonta Bolton Tuesday evening.
Less than 24 hours later, Michigan followed suit.
“They [both] text messaged me and asked me to call them,” Bolton said.
Bolton, who already had offers from Georgia, Florida, Auburn, Kentucky, Georgia Tech, Louisville and South Carolina, said the Tigers and Wolverines have opposite agendas for him.
“Michigan sees me as a strong outside linebacker who can stop the run and drop back in cover,” the 6-foot-4, 222-pound Bolton said.
“Clemson likes me on offense because of my agility, speed and height. I’m usually a mismatch with cornerbacks and linebackers.”
Bolton said he hasn’t ruled out playing football at Georgia or Georgia Tech.
“I love everything about Georgia,” Bolton said. “I love the facilities, program and the coaches. I love the whole environment.”
“And Georgia Tech would be a great place to get my degree and live downtown. They have one of the top schools in my degree, business management.”
Bolton, who plans to visit Florida on July 20, said the Gators’ recent national title won’t sway his decision.
“Winning seasons can fluctuate,” Bolton said. “Florida is a first-class type program, having won a national championship. But that won’t effect my decision at all because you never know who will win the next national championship.”
National powers court Wells
Gainesville defensive end Keith Wells said Wednesday evening he’ll likely play football for Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia Tech, North Carolina or Ohio State.
The 6-foot-5, 222-pound Wells had been scheduled to visit Notre Dame this week, but the trip was cancelled at the last moment.
The odds are against Wells being able to fit a visit to South Bend into his summer schedule.
“Honestly, I won’t be able to make it to Notre Dame to one of their summer camps,” said Wells, who has approximately 20 scholarship offers. “And as far as taking a visit, that will probably be impossible because we’ve got so much going on team-wise.”
Wells, who is being recruited as an outside linebacker by Auburn, Alabama and Notre Dame and a defensive end by all other schools, figures he will commit no later than October.
Wells critiques his contenders:
On Auburn - “I haven’t been there yet, but I plan on taking an unofficial visit there soon. I hear they have a great campus, but it’s not in the best area. It’s in the middle of nowhere. They do have a legacy of winning in football.”
On Florida - “As far as an all-around school with a great campus, academics, coaching and all of those things, Florida is probably my top all-around school because they have top points in almost everything, not just football.”
On Florida State - “I’ve never been there, but from what I hear the facilities are great. They have a legacy of winning and a lot of big name players have come out of FSU.”
On Georgia Tech - “The feel when I get on that campus is a feeling like everything and everybody is so close. It’s a great atmosphere. And I’m from Atlanta and very familiar with the city.”
On North Carolina - “Their coaching really stands out more than anything. They have [coach] Butch Davis and arguably the best defensive line coach in the nation in John Blake. They have a big business school, and that’s what I want to major in. The campus is beautiful and nice.”
On Ohio State - “I haven’t been up there to see it, but a lot of people are telling me their facility and campus is amazing. I want to see it for myself. Football and academics are two important things at Ohio State, and so is basketball.”
Wells plans to visit Florida, Florida State, Auburn and Ohio State in July.
Options brewing for Coffee’s Brand
Coffee County coach Jerry Odom supports offensive lineman B.J. Brand’s recent decision to decommit to Georgia.
“I don’t think the kid has really been anywhere else,” Odom said. “The only place he had visited was Georgia.”
Brand heeded his coach’s advice. He attended a camp at South Carolina earlier this month and plans to visit Florida and Florida State in late July.
“In my opinion, I still think Georgia is still probably the front-runner,” Odom said.
Georgia, South Carolina, Florida State, N.C. State, Clemson, Louisville and Maryland have each made offers to Brand.
Odom warned Brand, who is projected to play guard, that Georgia could run out of scholarships at his position.
“Like I told B.J., there’s always a chance they can fill up,” Odom said. “’If you’re shopping, they’re shopping. As long as you understand how this thing works, you’ll be ok.’”
According to Odom, Brand, who has limited high school playing experience, should develop into a solid college football player.
“He’s still raw, he’s not a finished product, and he’s got some work to do technique-wise,” Odom said. “But he’s got good work ethics.”
Bolden narrows list to five
Florida, Georgia Tech, South Carolina, Purdue and Wake Forest remain in the running to earn a commitment from Charlton County running back Ralph Bolden.
In addition to being an outstanding athlete, Bolden excels in the classroom.
“That’s one thing that makes him so recruitable; he’s such a good student,” Charlton County coach Rich McWhorter said. “He’s a very instinctive running back with a lot of burst.
“He’s a pull-away type. He has good vision and is a real natural at the running back position. He’s a pretty good defender also, but I think he’s got such a gift at running back.”
Though Florida is just 98 miles from Folkston, McWhorter doesn’t think that necessarily gives the Gators the upper hand.
“That would be close to home, but he’s also interested in Purdue,” McWhorter said. “When he knows, he’ll commit. I think he’s just really got a tough decision.”
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Comments
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By james
June 27, 2007 10:43 PM | Link to this
I bet Coach Richt isn’t exactly happy with Jerry Odom right now. Those HS coaches need to encourage those Ga boys to keep their commitments.
I see GT is listed for some good players. To bad they’ll drop off soon enough.
By Brian
June 27, 2007 11:05 PM | Link to this
Coffee County..thats no surprise really. Their county is backwards. They have a Sheriff arrested and indicted over there every other year so go figure!
By LegHummerHigh
June 28, 2007 12:13 AM | Link to this
“They have a Sheriff arrested and indicted over there every other year so go figure!” That is backwards.. In Athens we arrest the players.
By LegHummerHigh
June 28, 2007 12:14 AM | Link to this
“They have a Sheriff arrested and indicted over there every other year so go figure!” That is backwards.. In Athens we arrest the players.
By duff
June 28, 2007 5:08 AM | Link to this
People please…if a player decommits a verbal, let’s not start trashing his coach and his community. Anyone would agree its in his best interest to take a look at other schools and make an informed decision. Besides, chances are he will come out of the process more confident than ever that he is making the right choice to be a Dawg. After all, we have a superb overall program and coaching staff…he will just see how the other schools don’t measure up. Go Dawgs and Go Brand (to UGA)!
By alabamadawg
June 28, 2007 5:44 AM | Link to this
Well spoken duff, I agree 100%. Now will somebody please talk Tyler Love into becoming a dawg !!
By Citizen
June 28, 2007 7:24 AM | Link to this
Keith, I don’t know if you are so inclined but Tech is a special place. Our Tickle Piles are known to be the best in America. So if you are amoung that small percent that are in touch with themselves come on down. I’ll bet you are a beast on the field and in a tickle pile.
Kane
By ConfederateFlag Dawg
June 28, 2007 8:03 AM | Link to this
Don’t these BOYS know they sposed to play for the Dawgs. It’s their duty as a Georgian. They was bred to be Dawgs from way back. To go to another school is to betray their duty.
By ConfederateFlag Dawg
June 28, 2007 8:09 AM | Link to this
This education stuff is for sissies. You BOYS have a duty to behold to fight for the DAWGS!
By SEC is Football
June 28, 2007 8:57 AM | Link to this
AlabamaDawg…I can see why you guys want Tyler Love. He is a stud. In the end the battle will come down to UF and UA with UA pulling him. He has too many connections to the Tide and is a life long fan.
By Buck Cochran in the NW
June 28, 2007 9:40 AM | Link to this
somebodu help me here. Has Brice Butler reduced his # of schools down to 3 and Ga. isn’t one of them. Lets kill this rumor now. Does anyone know anything, proveable about Butler…….JEFF HOOD, COULD YOU CHECK ON THIS? OR SOMEBOBY ON STAFF IF JEFF IS OFF TO DAY.
By JustMe
June 28, 2007 10:37 AM | Link to this
Yeah. Forget about edumacation - just go to UGA. Who needs too spell right?
By JustMe
June 28, 2007 10:39 AM | Link to this
Yeah. Forget about edumacation - just go to UGA. Who needs too spell right?
By JustMe
June 28, 2007 10:41 AM | Link to this
Yeah. Forget about edumacation - just go to UGA. Who needs too spell right?
By boots
June 28, 2007 11:04 AM | Link to this
Tech is fighting it out again with Wake and NC State for some key guys. As a Georgia resident and native, I HAVE to pull for the home state here and would like to see Tech come through and pull some of those home-state boys through to enroll. Keep them in-state, Techies, and good luck with that tough ACC schedule.
By Kesler
June 28, 2007 11:20 AM | Link to this
Careful boots…..didn’t see NC State or Wake on the list for Mr. Wells, Bolton or Bolden…..and we didn’t do too bad last year at taking care of some pretty good in state talent.
See you (or hopefully not) at Boddy Dodd Stadium this November so we can introduce some of them to you. Hope Stafford can stay off the boos long enough to remain eligible for that game….
By Kendall
June 28, 2007 4:39 PM | Link to this
The ajc is so far behind. Bolton was interviewed and has narrowed his choices to 5. Tech isnt one of them. Wont say any more because if you guys cant afford Rivals, you dont deserve to know. And yes, Butler has eliminated the Dawgs. Good luck to him in the future. Next in line, step up please.
By alabamadawg
June 28, 2007 6:33 PM | Link to this
SEC is Football…I think your right, I was told both of his parents are UA grads, so it would seem to be a lock for the tide.Better them than Florida, I read somewhere the sooners were still in the running but can’t for the life of me understand why…
By Kendall
June 28, 2007 6:41 PM | Link to this
nice try confederate flag ….go back to your nerd camp and stay out of the real teams way.
By The Truth
June 28, 2007 7:26 PM | Link to this
Boots: You’re one of the many uninformed jackass’. Mocking schools like Wake and State, let alone Tech? Rubes like you continue to show yourselves and feed a bad stereotype.
Tom O’Brien just signed one of the top RBs in the nation in Brandon Barnes.
By FIUpantherMOM
June 28, 2007 8:45 PM | Link to this
NOW IN GEORGIA!!!
SunshinePreps, a site long known for helping get kids to colleges at all levels in Florida, expanded into Texas a couple of years ago. Now, they are bringing their stuff to the Peach State. These guys work very, very closely with colleges at the D-I, D-IAA, D-II, and D-III levels by providing them with top notch video and contact information on players of all skill levels. I am living proof that it works, as my son and 3 of his teammates were discovered by FIU by seeing their film on SunshinePreps. Any player or coach of a player who has film can send it in. They don’t have to have highlight film (and prefer not to have it). They edit game film and highlight the player in question. Check out their website at www.SunshinePreps.net and see for yourself. And….send in your tapes to Sunshine Preps P.O. Box 639 Cassville, GA 30123 ATTN: Darby. BELIEVE ME….THEY ARE GOOD!!