AJC > Sports > Football Recruiting > Blog > Archives > 2008 > May > 29 > Entry

Stephenson LB weighing multiple offers

Duke, Central Florida, Georgia Tech, Marshall, Mississippi State, Northwestern and Purdue are among the schools that have offered Stephenson linebacker Nigel Mitchell-Thornton.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder is expected to spend much of the summer displaying his talent at camps at places such as Auburn, Florida and Tennessee.

The exposure will likely lead to additional scholarship offers.

“We had about 75 schools come through this spring,” Stephenson coach Ron Gartrell said. “And I can’t recall any one of them that wasn’t impressed with Nigel.”

The Jackets’ offer to Mitchell-Thornton may have coach Paul Johnson’s first recruiting class at Tech in a bit of a quandary.

“Tech was in a situation where they were recruiting three linebackers and they were only going to take two,” Gartrell said. “The other two have committed.

“I think their offer to Nigel is still on the table, but how serious they are I don’t know.”

Tech and every other school may have to wait until February to learn where Mitchell-Thornton will sign.

“He has shown indications that he will take this thing all the way to signing day,” Gartrell said. “I don’t even know if he’s sitting on a favorite.

“At some point this summer, he’ll cut his numbers down to five or seven schools. Right now, it seems like he’s enjoying working out and training.”

Permalink | Comments (27) | Post your comment | Categories: Tech

Comments

By nm

May 29, 2008 10:11 PM | Link to this

Go Jackets!

By HS Teacher

May 29, 2008 10:29 PM | Link to this

Would 3 linebackers be a bad thing? I say no way! Go Tech!!

By White and Gold

May 29, 2008 10:46 PM | Link to this

Please come to gt and help us get to Boise or some other meaningless bowl.

By Bulljoke

May 29, 2008 10:52 PM | Link to this

“White and Gold” - haha.. yeah.. funny.

By NC STATE

May 29, 2008 11:33 PM | Link to this

Come to North Carolina State, Nigel. We need LBs badly. You would be a beast in our 3-4 defense we want to run when we get more studs like you into our program.

By Paddy

May 30, 2008 8:15 AM | Link to this

I hope you stay at home in Ga.Tech is growing fast and playing there could be very satisfying and fun.

By LESD

May 30, 2008 8:45 AM | Link to this

Why go to tech when you could play your football at Central Florida, Duke, Marshall, Mississippi State, Northwestern or Purdue?

By LESD

May 30, 2008 8:50 AM | Link to this

Why go to tech when you could play your football at Central Florida, Duke, Marshall, Mississippi State, Northwestern or Purdue?

By LESD

May 30, 2008 8:50 AM | Link to this

Why go to Tech when you could play your football at Central Florida, Duke, Marshall, Mississippi State, Northwestern or Purdue?

By jacket fan

May 30, 2008 9:05 AM | Link to this

come be a bee nigel!! Boise is splendid in December!! You’ll love it!!

By steponmarbury

May 30, 2008 10:27 AM | Link to this

Tech be #1!

By ericmarbury

May 30, 2008 12:19 PM | Link to this

im eric marbury stephons brother and i didnt have the grades for tech so i went to georgia and i say it #1

By Vince

May 30, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this

Duke is building. New coach should have some success. Playing time should be available.

If you are content with a lot of losses but building a program, also with fine academics, might be a place to look at.

By boots

May 30, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this

Another close recruiting race between Tech, Duke and Northwestern! Perhaps the Varsity, the prospects of playing before a stadium with 25,000 fans or the proximity of drugs and crime to the Tech campus will help swing these recruits to Tech. Go Jackets!

By Buckhead Dawg

May 30, 2008 2:23 PM | Link to this

I promise you if Auburn, Florida and Tennessee get involved and offer him, he ain’t going to take the Nerd’s offer.

Shoot, Tech will have a hard time getting him just competing with the D-list schools that are already in the mix.

By steponmarbury

May 30, 2008 2:33 PM | Link to this

I be watchin the spellin bea today. Me got them all wrong!?!?!?!?

By kudzu

May 30, 2008 3:52 PM | Link to this

Well, many of you obviously don’t know but Boise is off the ACC rotation beginning next year…:) Now we get to chose between DC and Mobile…Better!

By Big Bee

May 30, 2008 9:21 PM | Link to this

Hey Boots, guess we have to remind you about throwing rocks if you live in a glass house. Thurman, Grant and others—- RING A BELL?

By North Ave Trade School

May 30, 2008 11:33 PM | Link to this

Come and “bee” a jacket! Use your stinger bzzzz

By BleedBlue

May 31, 2008 1:25 AM | Link to this

What the article isn’t including is that at last count this kid had about 18 offers. Stanford, Maryland, Arkansas, Wake Forest, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt are also in the mix. Don’t worry about Auburn, Tennessee, and Florida. If they are taking too long to make up their mind…You still have some great offers!

By TRUTH

May 31, 2008 1:42 AM | Link to this

Spent a lot of time watching high school football. #42 can flat out go. Not just speed but dissecting the plays. Just finds the ball. Plays smarter than a lot of higher ranked LBs. Whatever college he goes to will get a stud who can play all the LB positions plus DE.

By GA Tech Insider

May 31, 2008 2:31 PM | Link to this

Nigel, ignore the morons and keep up the great work. You have earned everything that is being offered, as well as the respect that should also be provided to you on these blogs.

It’s really a shame that adults act more like children than high schooler seniors ready to enter college, but remember, you are ready for whatever lies ahead and they will still be idiots.

Congratulations to you and your family. Best of luck wherever you choose to continue your academics and athletics.

By John Cocktoastin

May 31, 2008 7:13 PM | Link to this

Tech just secured a verbal from a mentally retarded Gerbil and they’re happy to have him.

By Clubhouse

May 31, 2008 7:46 PM | Link to this

Offers from schools like Northwestern, Standford, Duke, Vanderbilt, Georgia Tech. This kid must be pretty smart. Is he a good student?

By UCFFan

June 1, 2008 2:27 AM | Link to this

Hopefully Thornton’s GT offer will dry up and he can at least visit UCF. UCF needs LBs in the worst way in this class.

By Buzz Man

June 1, 2008 8:30 AM | Link to this

Guys: We are Yellow Jackets, not bees. Duh?

By Jag Blu

June 1, 2008 7:15 PM | Link to this

Good luck Nigel. Please stay within driving distance so we can have a chance to come and see you. 18 offers and counting…

Commenting is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. M-F

Post a comment



Remember me?

You may use the following formatting:
Bold: **this text will be bolded** = this text will be bolded
Italic: *this text will be italic* = this text will be italic
Link: [text to be linked](http://www.ajc.com) = text to be linked



There will be a delay of up to 5 minutes before your comment appears.


*HTML not allowed in comments. Your e-mail address is required.

 

Search AJC Archives

1985 to present     1868 - 1939 Advanced search

Kudzu.com services Find the right people for the job

Keyword     Business Name

AJCPets » The community for Atlanta pet lovers

Do Good Search for non-profit causes near you