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Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Bryant likes LSU; Gators land Savannah teammates
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Decision day is looming for Peachtree Ridge defensive back Derrick Bryant.
A commitment could come as early as next weekend. That’s when the 6-foot, 185-pound Bryant heads to Baton Rouge to visit the LSU Tigers.
“I’ll visit LSU on July 20,” Bryant said. “That definitely could be a commitment.”
In the interim, Bryant insists he is focusing on scholarship offers from LSU, Alabama, Auburn, Ohio State and Virginia Tech.
Peachtree Ridge defensive back Cameron Demps’ recent decision to commit to Virginia Tech apparently won’t have a major impact on where Bryant plays college football.
“I know [Cameron] is a teammate of mine, but who knows,” Bryant said. “In college, I could play at safety or corner. They’re looking at me at both safety and corner. [Cameron’s decision] won’t really affect my choice.”
Bryant and Demps may or may not play in the same secondary on the next level. But they will compose half of one of the state’s best defensive backfields this fall.
Bryant said he is aware some of the competition will be tempted to test Peachtree Ridge’s pair of Division I defensive backs.
“I hope teams try to come after us,” Bryant said. “I don’t want them to think it’s a bunch of hype. I hope we are targeted.”
Bryant breaks down his top five:
— LSU: “They’ve got a great program. I think I have a good relationship with the recruiting coach. It seems like a place where I fit, can get a good education and, if at all possible, see some early playing time.”
— Alabama: “They’ve got a great coach in Nick Saban. He’s coached in the NFL and other college teams, including LSU. I know he puts a lot of emphasis on his defensive backs. And I know that can help get me to the next level. It would be a great learning experience for me.”
— Auburn: “An SEC school with a winning record year after year. They’ve got a good program. It’s the only college I’ve visited. I like the campus. And the coaches are good.”
— Ohio State: “They’re in one of the strongest conferences. They’re a good team year after year that competes at the highest level in college football. I’d like to get up there and see what it’s all about.”
‚ Virginia Tech: “Their defensive backfield coach [Torrian Gray] is really cool to talk to. According to him, they had the number one pass defense in the nation last year. That’s impressive to me as a defensive back. And I know they have great special teams every year. [Coach Gray] is one of the best defensive back coaches there is.”
Davis picks O’Leary’s Knights
Peachtree Ridge running back Brandon Davis has committed to Central Florida, choosing George O’Leary’s program over more than a dozen schools.
“UCF had been recruiting me highly ever since they offered me in early March,” the rising senior told UCFSports.com. “They’ve always been texting me, I’d talk with them on the phone and they’ve been coming after me strong, probably the strongest out of all the schools that offered me.
“Coach George O’Leary is a great coach and he’s a man of his word. After talking to the coaches and doing research, looking at the Web site and doing my due dilligence as far as what I needed to look for in a school, UCF was the best opportunity for me to be successful on the field and off the field academically as well.”
The powerful Davis rushed for 1,168 yards and 10 touchdowns as the Lions shared the 2006 Class AAAAA state championship. One of his teammates at Peachtree Ridge, wide receiver Sidney Haynes, is an incoming UCF freshman who is already enrolled in summer school.
“I did talk to him to kind of get a feel for what they had to offer,” Davis told the Web site. “It’s nice to play with somebody from high school, but that had nothing to do with my decision. I looked at everything and UCF was the best place for me.”
Davis also had offers from Virginia Tech, Maryland, South Carolina, North Carolina and Purdue, among others.
Brookwood’s Davis picks Wake Forest
When Wake Forest came calling, Brookwood’s Terence Davis was listening.
On Sunday, Davis received a text message from Wake Forest quarterbacks coach Jeff Mullen. By Monday, he was committed to the Demon Deacons.
“Syracuse was my first offer and I have one from Troy,” said Davis, “but once I got that text from Wake Forest on Sunday, I knew that was where I wanted to be.”
Davis attended a camp at Wake Forest in June and was impressed by the campus and the coaching staff’s ability to mesh with the players. The Demon Deacons were impressed by his versatility.
Davis, a 6-2, 180-pound senior, will likely play wide receiver, defensive back and even a little quarterback from Brookwood this year. He plans to stick to wide receiver at Wake.
“Coach Mullen said part of the reason they’re really excited about Terence is because of his versatility,” said Brookwood coach Mark Crews. “He’s such a great kid and such a great athlete.”
Davis moved New York to Gwinnett after his seventh-grade year. When he arrived at Brookwood, he had never imagined that one day he’d be playing Division I football. He credits the level of play in Gwinnett to helping him land at Wake.
“The speed of the game is so much faster down here compared to New York,” Davis said. “But I think I’ve adjusted pretty well.”
Longtime friends commit to Florida
Jenkins defensive end Chaz Sutton preferred to delay a public announcement.
But when rumors began circulating on Wednesday that the 6-foot-4, 242-pound lineman from Savannah and teammate Franklin Green, a running back, were both committing to Florida, Sutton decided it was time to do the Gator chomp.
“Word wasn’t supposed to get out,” Sutton said. “It was going to be a silent commitment.
“But it’s cool. I’m really very excited about it.”
Sutton, who was also considering offers from Virginia Tech, South Carolina, Rutgers and West Virginia, had hoped to tour several of those campuses this summer.
His plans were derailed on Monday.
“I was going to visit some other schools,” Sutton admitted. “But now that word has gotten out, I’m going to Florida.”
When asked if his commitment to the Gators is firm, Sutton said “I’m 100 percent with Florida.”
Sutton said he never seriously considered Georgia.
“I caught some grief about that early,” Sutton said. “I went to Georgia for a junior day, but I wasn’t too impressed with it.”
Sutton claims it was mere coincidence that he and Green wound up committing to the same program.
“It really wasn’t planned,” Sutton said. “Florida was always his No. 1 school. I finally decided that I wanted to go to Florida. It just felt like home.”
Sutton said he’s eager to play alongside Green for another four seasons.
“We’re good buddies,” Sutton said. “We grew up together. This is all kind of like a dream come true.
“It’s a blessing to make it to this day because I never thought anything like this would happen to a kid like me.”
Charlton’s Bolden to visit Purdue
Charlton County running back/cornerback Ralph Bolden plans to visit Purdue on July 21.
His father, Ralph Bolden Sr., said the 5-foot-9, 195-pound back is receiving plenty of attention from major college recruiters in the small town of Folkston.
“He’s getting a lot of text messages from Georgia Tech and Wake Forest,” Bolden Sr. said. “And he’s getting a lot of mail from Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Clemson and N.C. State.
“Everybody that is sending him something has already offered.”
Bolden Sr. said his son wants to play running back in college. But most coaches have him pegged as a defensive back.
“That’s one of the biggest hang-ups he’s got because most of the major colleges are looking at him at cornerback,” Bolden Sr. said. “But he definitely wants to play the running back position.
“I told him ‘if that’s your goal and your dream, shoot for it.’”
Bolden Sr. said Charlton County alum Champ Bailey, a former Georgia standout and current NFL star, takes time to speak with his son about recruiting when he visits Folkston.
“Champ actually comes home pretty often,” Bolden Sr. said. “I let Champ talk with him and give him some advice.
“He tells Ralph that he sees some of the attributes that he possesses can work if he’s put into the right position.”
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