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Monday, April 28, 2008
QB recruit helps UGA land star lineman
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Georgia has once again stepped outside of the state and secured a commitment for the Class of 2009.
Austin Long, an offensive lineman from Briarcrest Christian Schools in Memphis committed to Georgia Monday night, according to Scout.com. The 6-foot-5, 270-pound lineman is the Bulldogs’ 10th commitment and second straight from outside the state. Aaron Murray, the top quarterback prospect in Florida, committed to Georgia last week.
It was Murray who took the lead in recruiting Long.
“I was hoping to narrow it down to two or three schools over this weekend,” Long said. “I really thought about it and talked to my parents about it and prayed about it. Then I was talking to Aaron Murray and he really helped. I asked him all kinds of questions and if he was still happy now that he has committed.
“He told me he was happy and he was going to recruit me until I committed,” Long said. “He told me he wanted to be a part of the No. 1 recruiting class.”
To get that class Georgia may have to secure a few more top prospects, one of which Long has already started to work on.
“Soon as I talked to [Georgia offensive line coach Stacy] Searels, I called Marlon Brown and told him I was going to start working on him,” Long said.
Brown is considered one of the top prep wide receivers in the nation. He has a list of 15 schools, of which Georgia is one.
Long had offers from several schools in the Southeastern Conference and was also drawing interest from Florida State. He visited the Georgia campus during spring practice. He also took unofficial visits to North Carolina, Florida, Florida State and Alabama.
Long is rated as a top 10 tackle by Scout.com.
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Georgia-bound RB fully-recovered from ankle injury
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Emanuel County Institute coach Milan Turner had a few anxious moments earlier this spring after learning that prized junior running back Washaun Ealey had injured his ankle while playing baseball.
“Initially it was like ‘the kid never gets hurt,’” Turner said. “It swelled up a little bit, but it wasn’t really that bad.
“But you’re not going to slow Washaun down. He works extremely hard. And the ankle healed up as fast as any I’ve seen before.”
The 5-foot-11 Ealey managed to bulk up to 210 pounds during the winter and early spring despite nursing a sore ankle for several weeks.
“He’s already lifting weights again,” Turner said. “He’s benching well over 300 pounds now and is really strong. He’s running at full strength. He’s going to be special.”
Opposing coaches continue to ask if Ealey and ECI teammate Dexter Moody, who has also committed to Georgia, might be wavering on their commitment to the Dogs.
“Coaches from Florida and Ole Miss were in my office just today asking that question,” Turner said Monday evening. “I don’t see it happening.
“They haven’t visited anywhere except Athens.”
The Class A program will likely wind up with at least four players on its roster this fall who go on to play football on Saturdays.
ECI defensive lineman J.C. Lanier has already committed to Georgia Tech. And teammate Mark Slott is starting to attract lots of attention from recruiters.
“Vanderbilt, Wofford, Georgia Southern, Western Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Ole Miss have asked about him,” Turner said. “He’s a 6-foot, 210-pound linebacker who transferred in from Screven County last year.
“He was our defensive player of the year last season after making 172 tackles. His film and statistics went out over the winter, so a lot of colleges are just now getting wind of him.”
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