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Sunday, October 14, 2007
Waller commits to Ohio; Tate receives interest
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Cornerback Manley Waller of Southwest DeKalb has committed to Ohio.
“I just felt like I had a real good relationship with all of their coaches, especially their head coach Frank Solich,” the 5-foot-9, 168-pound Waller said. “He’s not forcing me to gain 20 pounds like a lot of other colleges wanted.”
Waller, who also had scholarship offers from Akron, Bowling Green, Central Michigan and UAB, felt the timing was right to announce his decision.
“I wanted to commit earlier versus later because later on things start getting heavy and you’re not in your right mind when you’re forced to make a decision,” Waller said.
“And Ohio will be able to move on in their recruitments of cornerbacks. I think they need one other defensive back because they’re losing two seniors in the defensive backfield.
“I think I have a great chance of starting in my freshman season, based on me doing what I need to do.”
Tate drawing football and baseball interest
Cartersville junior Donovan Tate, whose father Lars Tate is a former Georgia running back who went on to enjoy a career in the NFL, is appearing on the recruiting board of Division I powers.
“It’s a lot like most of the kids who are high on recruiting lists,” Cartersville coach Frank Barden said. “He’s getting interest from USC to Georgia to Florida.
“He’s been asked to come to the Army [All-American Bowl] combine. It’s just the normal things that kids who are high on lists are asked to participate in.”
The 6-foot-3, 188-pound Tate, who played receiver and safety for Cartersville as a sophomore before moving to quarterback this season, is also a standout baseball centerfielder.
“He’s a Jeff Francoeur type athlete,” Barden said. “He’s a talented young man.”
Camden County junior receivers making headlines
DeAngelo Smith and Michael Green, a pair of highly-touted junior receivers at Camden County, has ground-oriented Wildcats coach Jeff Herron rethinking his offensive strategy.
“I hate to say it, but we’ve changed our offense a little bit this year,” Herron said. “The play of these kids has made us take a second look at it.
“We’ve kept our Wing T, but we’ve opened up our offense more because of these kids. And we’ll probably open it up even more next year.”
Smith (6-foot-1, 175-pounds) has been heavily recruited for several months. Green (6-foot, 175-pounds), who moved to Kingsland earlier this year from Miami, is starting to receive interest.
“DeAngelo is getting letters from everybody,” Herron said. “He has good height, speed and hands. He’s more of a finesse kid who runs good patterns.
“Michael has good hands and is smooth. He’s been playing mostly defense for us this year at cornerback, but we certainly try to get him on the field if we throw the ball.”
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