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Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Clemson and Michigan offer Bolton; Wells names six
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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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.”
