AJC > Sports > Football Recruiting > Blog > Archives > 2008 > July > 14 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USLoss of Griffin DE Jackson big blow to UGA’s heralded class
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Griffin’s Toby Jackson, who was rated as one of the nation’s top defensive ends last season, said he will honor his commitment to Georgia.
The 6-foot-4, 250-pound Jackson signed with the Bulldogs last February, but will attend prep school after not meeting college entrance requirements.
“I’m sticking with Georgia. I feel like it’s the best place for me and my family,” Jackson said. “I’m not opening up my recruiting again. Georgia is where I want to be, and I plan on being there in [January].”
By attending prep school, Jackson is technically a “free agent” to sign with any school this season. He took official visits to Southern Cal and Miami last year. He said LSU and Alabama have let him know in recent weeks that a scholarship is available if he changes his mind.
“It’s kind of disappointing, of course, to not be able to go straight to [UGA] because they are so high in the national rankings and will probably play for the national championship,” Jackson said. “The Georgia coaches really felt like I had a good chance at contributing this year.
“But I’m trying to look at this in a positive way. Instead of being red-shirted, like many of the freshmen at Georgia, I’ll get a lot of playing experience at prep school. Hopefully, that will make me better prepared to compete for a starting position at Georgia in the spring.”
There’s an outside chance that he could join the team later this season for bowl practices, as other incoming players have done in past years. Jackson said he had the qualifying grades, but needed a 20 on his ACT. He scored 18 on his final two attempts.
“I talked to [Georgia recruiting coordinator Rodney Garner] about it,” Jackson said. “He’s disappointed I won’t be there in August, but he tried to help me look at the positives of the situation. … I’ll be better person in the end because of it.”
Jackson will leave next month for Fork Union (Va.) Military. Prep schools traditionally do their best to encourage prospects to stay with their original college choices.
— Jeff Hood contributed to this story
Permalink | Comments (41) | Post your comment | Categories: Alabama, LSU, Other schools, UGA
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By Paddy
July 14, 2008 2:13 PM | Link to this
It happens every year at almost every school. Toby, good luck in prep school. See you in Athens next season. Hit the books as hard as you hit the other guy.
By replace reicht
July 14, 2008 2:15 PM | Link to this
another example and reason for us to ditch our coach—-mr. goody-two shoes—-too many convicts and idiots. We are a joke nationwide and will not even win our division un der this clown.
By Former AJC Subscriber
July 14, 2008 2:48 PM | Link to this
I’m sorry Michael, but I must have missed the part where UGA lost this guy. He didn’t qualify and has said point blank black and white clear as crystal that he will honor his commitment to Georgia if and when he does. Why are you trying to create a storyline that simply doesn’t exist?
Stir that pot AJC. Stir it hard.
By USCgamecock
July 14, 2008 2:52 PM | Link to this
If he got his head on straight…he’d opt for USC and play lights out for the GAMECOCKS!
By USCgamecock
July 14, 2008 2:54 PM | Link to this
If he got his head on straight…he’d opt for USC and play lights out for the GAMECOCKS!
By USCgamecock
July 14, 2008 2:54 PM | Link to this
If he got his head on straight…he’d opt for USC and play lights out for the GAMECOCKS!
By USCgamecock
July 14, 2008 2:55 PM | Link to this
If he got his head on straight…he’d opt for USC and play lights out for the GAMECOCKS!
By tom
July 14, 2008 3:02 PM | Link to this
He’s already said he didn’t want to play for Southern Cal! This reporter is so much better than the previous airhead it is a pleasure to again read this blog.
By Big Bee
July 14, 2008 3:06 PM | Link to this
Michael, sorry you missed on this opportunity, but better things may be down the road. If you wanto to go to UGA, then get the grades up and go!!!
By CaptDan
July 14, 2008 3:45 PM | Link to this
FUMA has a good track record of helping students prepare for SAT and ACT testing and improve their performance at both the high school and postgraduate/prep level. UGA’s Marcus Dowtin is a product of FUMA’s high school program and we look forward to watching his performance on the field this year!
CaptDan forkunion.com
By Realist
July 14, 2008 4:21 PM | Link to this
USCgamecock - its this simple:
PRESS THE ‘POST’ BUTTON JUST ONCE
By Black Panther
July 14, 2008 4:33 PM | Link to this
The article is referring to Southern Cal, not South Carolina when it says “USC”. This is a five star recruit, you know damn well that he isn’t looking at the gamecocks. Give me a break!! You C** fans are funny!!!
By 31906jacket
July 14, 2008 4:49 PM | Link to this
Why doesn’t the headline refer to UGA as the team that lost the player to grades?
By godawg
July 14, 2008 4:57 PM | Link to this
If you’re going to pretend to be a georgia fan, it might be more convincing if you spell the coach’s name right.
USCgamecock, just curious: What was your ACT score? Wait! Let me guess…4?
By SECCoachnDallas
July 14, 2008 6:04 PM | Link to this
Why would a top rated defensive end want to play for the COOTS? Players want to go to schools where they know who their coaches will be next year. That is the reason that you are having a tough time recruiting this year. The kids know that Spurrier will be leaving next year and that will bring in a new set of assistants. Your trend toward mediocrity is safe! Probably safer than your chances of going to a bowl game this year.
By Paddy
July 14, 2008 6:15 PM | Link to this
dumpCMR…Real knowledgeble fans don’t say that UGA is a laughing stock. CMR is the best thing to happen to UGA since I have followed them starting in ‘77. You must be from another planet?
By 3 Rivers jacket
July 14, 2008 6:45 PM | Link to this
What is FUMA? Does Georgia pay for the prep school directly or is it handled throught a “booster”. Where does the money come from. Georgia has a lot of these most years and I have never seen anyone address this question. since he is a free agent I do not think that it would be legal for UGA to pay the freight.
By Buddy El
July 14, 2008 7:08 PM | Link to this
“REPLACE REICHT’ is obviously not a UGA fan. No sane person would refer to CMR in such manner. I have heard of people who DON’T KNOW ANYTHING but “Replace Reicht” doesn’t even SUSPECT ANYTHING.
By GARY
July 14, 2008 7:09 PM | Link to this
As usual, UGA recruits cant make the grade, but the so-called UGA prep school will get him to pass so he can don the red and black. Anything for UGA athletics
By Buddy El
July 14, 2008 7:15 PM | Link to this
godawg that 4 you gave the USC chicken was mighty generous …………….in my opinion. Go Dawgs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By tiger7_88
July 14, 2008 8:16 PM | Link to this
If I wanted to behave like a typical Jawjaw Bullpup fan in this forum, I could note how STUPID this kid must be to not be able to get into a school where if you just drive across the campus they’ll just throw a diploma into your car.
But I’m not your typical Jawjaw fan.
So I’ll just say that I bet this kid has what it takes to get his act together and that he’ll be a great player for Georgia in the future.
By GAdevildawgs
July 14, 2008 9:06 PM | Link to this
who is Reicht? Guess the Yech fans need to spend more time in their ESL courses.
By New Old Guy
July 14, 2008 9:44 PM | Link to this
How dense must this kid be? He didn’t qualify for admittance to UGA?
In the past UGA has arranged for another student to take the entrance exams for Student Athletes that just couldn’t quite cope. What happened this time, I wonder?
By Gary
July 14, 2008 10:16 PM | Link to this
An 18 on the ACT? I sure would like 18 in me, my mom sure does. So who’s going to the pride march this weekend?
By Skydawg
July 14, 2008 11:05 PM | Link to this
You guys ripping UGA and Richt are laughable at best. First of all, if you’re going to take a stab at Mark Richt, atleast spell his name right you moron. And secondly, Toby Jackson is the first non-qualifier for UGA in 3 years. Oh and lets throw a little fuel on the fire. Guess what Nerds, it takes a higher HS GPA to get into UGA now than the North Avenue trade school. Yep that’s right. Average freshman entry GPA at UGA, 3.8. Average entry GPA at tech 3.73. Last year UGA was second only to Vanderbilt for freshman entry GPA in the SEC. So before you jagoffs come in here in spout off about academics at UGA, do your homework.
And lets get to the point of UGA recruiting nothing but thugs. Lets see here, UGA has 1 player break a guys eye socket and is charged with a felony. He gets kicked off the team as he should. Fair enough. All the other mishaps are basically alcohol related which is what nearly all kids do when they get away from home for the first time. They make stupid mistakes. Now at the Trade school, they get busted for dealing drugs and raping women. Let me pull out my scales here to measure this one off. Pot meet kettle. Call me crazy, but I’d much rather have some kids having a few beers than raping women and dealing drugs. Casting stones, glass houses kind of thing if you ask me.
So do your homework idiots before you spout off in here and make complete a*******es of yourselves. But for some of you I guess it just comes natural.
By jacketbacker
July 15, 2008 12:25 AM | Link to this
another genius Ugay signee….first of several i’m sure…..we are even getting beat by the fleabags with the local police as well…..7 arrests to 1…..we can’t get a break!……can’t wait to the fall…..GT finally has a coach with a clue…record might not be great but at least we have something to look forward to…..another huge letdown coming in athens….they have had enough talent to win 5-6 NC’s in the past 20 years but NEVER get it done…..THWG….
By Skydawg
July 15, 2008 1:11 AM | Link to this
jacketbacker…another one of the long list of idiots in these blogs. Yeah lets see jagoffbacker..thats 7 to 1. One punch to an eyesocket, a dropped weapon charge, throw in a few alcohol related incidents VS a freaking rape charge. I say the Nerds still lead in this one. IDIOT!
By Mike
July 15, 2008 7:08 AM | Link to this
Skydawg…yes, it’s STILL 7 to 1, even after your prtestations about how weak the charges are agaainst your beloved Dawg players. ‘Course, CMR decided one of them was serious enough to kick the guy off the team. The rape charge meanwhile is highly suspect (no DNA evidence of rape) and could easily result in a dismissal of charges or an acquital. So, it is 7 to 1 in arrests and 1 to 0 in guys thrown off the team. Sorry, SEC still stinks, and stinks bad, when it comes to athletics over academics.
By Goldtimer
July 15, 2008 7:16 AM | Link to this
Wow, a UGAg player doesn’t make the cut as a student and it makes the news? Time to go flip the burgers Toby
By dp34
July 15, 2008 8:44 AM | Link to this
OLDTIMER, I mean goldtimer, you guys must not have anything better to do buy bad mouth a kid. It really shows what kind of personal you are. Anyway Toby had the grades and the test scores, the ncaa didn’t accept his test score because he went from a 19 to a 23 on his ACT and they consider it questionable. So he took it a third time and made the latter score. And to keep from getting on the bad side of the ncaa he was advised just not try to fight it. He’s still in a position that a person like you would love to be in, you jack a—.
By joel
July 15, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this
gary,does spoungebob know your on the computer.
By SimpleDawg
July 15, 2008 9:14 AM | Link to this
People advocating the dumping of Mark Richt should go back to their crack pipe and shut TF up.
As for you little Techeads, go back to playing with yourselves and leave the grownup commentary to those who have a valid opinion. Not making the ACT or SAT requirements is not a disgrace….giving up and saying the hell with it, is.
By Bow Wow
July 15, 2008 10:21 AM | Link to this
There are more crack pipes in the athletic dorm at Georgia than on this blog.
By Gadawg
July 15, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this
Ignore all these idiots Toby, at least your not raping, shooting up heroine or using someone else’s credit card. Get your grades, get back to Athens an you can shut these idiots up on the feild.GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By K
July 15, 2008 10:32 AM | Link to this
Good luck Toby, you’ll be a better student athlete when you arrive back in Athens. Keep your head up!
By Sid
July 15, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this
Hey “replace reicht”
You can’t spell and you are an idiot!!! Go play some more computer games.
By chris
July 15, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this
replace reicht- U are the biggest idiot this side of the mississippi. Mark Richt is one of the best coaches in college sports. U hav no right to say hes and idiot. Every team has a few players that mess up. Their college kids. We just seem to have more because were the biggest thing this offseason and get a lot of attention. How are you gonna tell me that this coach who is ranked like 3rd in win percentage is a bad coach. U are a dumb@$$
By Jay Bird
July 15, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this
Didn’t this story break last week? It is laughable how bad the AJC’s recruiting coverage is. You AJC morons should stick to what they know and do best…race baiting and half truths.
By Paddy
July 15, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this
Dump CMR…I guess you have been told off. That was about as dumb of a comment ever posted in this paper. Does your mom know you are on the computer? Finish your homework you have a spelling test tomorrow.
By jacketbacker
July 16, 2008 12:00 AM | Link to this
i think chris is an english major from Ugay…..nice job!
By JStrom
July 18, 2008 2:37 AM | Link to this
The most arrests this year of any school in the entire SEC. Might as well fit this guy for his (do they wear orange jumpsuits in GA or red and black ones?). Of course you peeps seem to have forgotten about your basketball players gang raping that girl a couple of years ago, but the one who set it up and yeah, he was in the room with them when it happened…he stayed on the BBall team. If only Harrick could’be “tutored” him or been one of his “professors”, he coulda been a STAR, baby! Oh, and one last parting note…had any football players (gang) take batting practice with their shiny metal baseball (or were they softball?) bats on, say, two hapless students camping out? WOW! It’s hard to get arrested in Assens these days.