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Thursday, July 5, 2007
Hagans waits for Dogs, Jackets; Powers pursue Bryant
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Northview defensive lineman Cordian Hagans may be the state’s most heavily recruited player without a scholarship offer from Georgia or Georgia Tech.
The 6-foot-5, 285-pounder has 18 offers and counting, including ones from LSU, Auburn, Alabama, Clemson and Virginia Tech. While Hagans said he is “thrilled” with his recruiting situation, he admits the absence of in-state offers is a constant topic of conversation.
“There are a lot of Georgia and Georgia Tech fans around here [Alpharetta], especially Georgia,” Hagans said. “At least once or twice every day, someone asks me, ‘How can you have offers from all those big-time schools and not have one from Georgia or Georgia Tech?’
“It puts me in kind of an awkward situation because I don’t really know how to answer that question, other than to say, ‘You’ll have to ask them because I don’t know.’ “
Hagans said his only contact with Georgia Tech has been recruiting letters.
Meanwhile, Hagans said he has established a good relationship with Georgia assistant Stacey Searels, and two communicate two to three times a week via text message.
“[Searels] keeps saying they like me a lot, and they will be following me closely,” Hagans said. “I don’t know how to take that. I’m just guessing they probably have some other defensive linemen they like better than me, but I don’t know for sure.”
Hagans admits he grew a fan of the Bulldogs and often dreamed about playing in the red and black. Does it hurt his feelings his childhood favorite has not offered?
“Yes, of course, I would like to be offered by Georgia, it’s a great school,” Hagans said. “But I don’t think I can complain about anything when I have so many great options.
“So I’m not stressing out about Georgia or Georgia Tech. If it happens, it happens. If not, I’m just fine.”
The other offers to Hagans are from Arizona State, North Carolina, N.C. State, Boston College, Louisville, Mississippi State, Maryland, Ole Miss, Rutgers, Central Florida, Michigan State and Indiana. He also has about 15 other schools that have told him he is a scholarship candidate.
Hagans, who claims to have no early leader, has been on an unofficial visit to Auburn, and plans trips to Clemson and LSU within the next three weeks.
Bryant has offers aplenty
Peachtree Ridge’s Derrick Bryant and Virginia Tech-bound Cameron Demps will make up half of what might be arguably the best secondary in the state this fall.
LSU, Auburn, Alabama and Ohio State headline the list of schools that have made scholarship offers to the 5-10, 184-pound Bryant.
“Derrick is just a real versatile player who can player corner, safety or receiver,” first-year Peachtree Ridge coach Bill Ballard said. “He has a lot of upside. He’s real strong and can run well.
“He’s exactly what a Division I secondary coach is looking for.”
Though Bryant is being recruited as a cornerback, his ability to play multiple positions is a plus.
“He’s a no-miss guy because he can play receiver and return kicks,” Ballard said. “He’s very versatile.”
Demps committed to the Hokies on Sunday. Ballard figures Bryant will make an announcement fairly quickly.
“He’s trying to come down to a decision here pretty soon,” Ballard said.
Second-generation player eyeing Tech?
Marist’s Cooper Taylor is being recruited by Division I schools as a safety.
But in an odd twist of fate, the 6-4, 185-pound Taylor is spending his summer readying for his debut as the War Eagles’ starting quarterback.
“Cooper will start at quarterback and play free safety on occasion,” Marist coach Alan Chadwick said. “His specialty is free safety. But he had a real good spring and made great progress at quarterback.”
Taylor, who runs the 40 in 4.49 seconds, has offers from Georgia Tech, Virginia, Duke, Mississippi State and Marshall.
“They all like his athleticism,” Chadwick said. “His speed is really good for a tall guy. He has range and size. And he became a more physical player last year as a safety.”
Lining up behind center won’t be a totally new experience for Taylor this fall.
“He’s been a backup quarterback for the past couple of years,” Chadwick said. “He’s actually quarterbacked some as far back as the seventh grade. Several injuries have slowed him.”
Georgia Tech may have the inside track on Taylor, whose father Jim Bob Taylor is a former Yellow Jacket quarterback.
“His dad played at Georgia Tech, so I think they’ve got a slight advantage over some of the other schools,” Chadwick said.
O’Leary impresses Britain
North Cobb offensive tackle Matt Britain plans to take recruiting visits to Ohio and Western Michigan later this summer.
But the odds favor the 6-5, 280-pound Britain playing college football in a more tropical environment.
“I think my front-runner right now is Central Florida,” said Britain, who has scholarship offers from the Golden Knights, Ole Miss, Troy, Middle Tennessee State, UAB, Ball State, Ohio and Western Michigan.
“I like the coaches [at Central Florida] a lot. I like the camp and the facilities. I went down there for an unofficial visit a couple of weeks ago.”
Former Georgia Tech coach George O’Leary, who currently heads up the program at Central Florida, was a instant hit with Britain.
“Coach O’Leary is an awesome guy who is down to earth,” Britain said. “He’s a football coach and a great guy.”
While the Golden Knights sit atop Britain’s list, he claims he hasn’t ruled out playing football in the north.
“I can see myself playing up there in Ohio or Western Michigan,” Britain said. “But I’m not sure how my parents will feel about the distance yet.”
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