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July 2008
Luella DB Roderick Sweeting is Tech’s 12th commitment
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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For the second day in a row, one of the state’s top prospects committed to Georgia Tech before its practice session.
Luella defensive back Roderick Sweeting told Tech coach Paul Johnson on Thursday that he intends to sign with the Yellow Jackets. On Wednesday, Newnan offensive lineman Raymond Beno also committed before Tech’s practice.
Sweeting is perhaps Tech’s most celebrated 2009 commitment thus far. He is ranked as the nation’s No. 20 cornerback by Scout, and picked the Yellow Jackets over Ohio State, Alabama, Clemson, Tennessee and Auburn, among 17 offers.
The 6-foot, 175-pounder said he spent most of Thursday touring Tech’s campus with his parents and finished it by committing. Said Sweeting: “I just felt great about Georgia Tech. They have been recruiting me very hard and showing a lot of love. Coach Johnson seemed excited. He told me I was always at the top of his list of cornerbacks.”
Luella coach Paul Burgdorf said Tech is getting a versatile player in Sweeting.
“I think in the ACC he could be looked at as a corner or safety,” he said. “He could also return kicks and punts. For us [at Luella], we’ve even got a quarterback package for him. He’s got great size and loves to hit. Georgia Tech is getting a pretty good student and a pretty good football player.”
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Newnan’s Raymond Beno picked Tech over childhood favorite
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Newnan’s Raymond Beno, who committed to Georgia Tech, said it was a recent offer by his childhood favorite college that increased his recruiting stakes.
The 6-foot-2, 285-pounder was offered by Miami about three weeks ago. Beno closely followed the Hurricanes while his family lived in Tampa, Fla., for the first 11 years of his life.
“When Miami offered me, yes, I think it made some other schools take notice,” said Beno.
Beno said he turned down Miami because he felt like Tech was the “perfect fit” for him. He took a tour of Tech’s campus last week, and was offered after a long conversation with coach Paul Johnson. When Beno returned to watch the Yellow Jackets practice on Wednesday, he revealed his decision to Johnson before workouts.
“My family and friends, they are all real happy for me,” Beno said. “Georgia Tech is where I needed to be.”
He was considering Tech among 12 offers, including Wake Forest and Southern Miss. Also, Georgia, Florida State, West Virginia and Auburn had not offered but have displayed heavy interest. Beno, however, said recruiting is over.
“I’m 100-percent committed to Georgia Tech,” Beno said. “That’s where I am going, and I’m excited about it.”
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Oklahoma State hot on the trail of Cedar Shoals LB Lattimore
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Cedar Shoals’ DeDe Lattimore saw his scholarship count climb to 15 last week after claiming an offer from Marshall.
The intimidating 6-foot-1, 225-pound linebacker already had offers from programs such as Central Florida, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan, Oklahoma State, South Florida and UAB.
“Oklahoma State is recruiting me the hardest,” Lattimore said. “I want to go there this fall. I also want to visit Michigan, Louisville and Central Florida.”
Lattimore, who lives in Athens, said he’s been a fan of the Wolverines for several years.
“My third grade teacher loved Michigan and he got me to loving them too,” he said.
Lattimore is scheduled to retake the SAT in September. He needs to improve on the 840 he scored in the spring.
“I’ve hired my own tutor to help me prepare,” he said.
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Tucker LB Jonathan Davis reschedules trip to South Carolina
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Tucker linebacker Jonathan Davis plans to visit South Carolina within the next few weeks.
The 5-foot-8, 205-pounder was scheduled to meet with the Gamecocks last weekend, but South Carolina assistant Ron Cooper told Davis to come at another time because coach Steve Spurrier was out of town at SEC Media Days.
“It works out for the better anyways because when I go this time, not only will I get to meet all the coaches, I’ll also get to see the team practice,” Davis said.
Davis denied published reports that he was leaning toward committing to South Carolina: “I like them, I like the direction that Coach Spurrier is taking the program. I feel like they can contend for a national championship soon. But no, I’m not pulling toward any school right now. I’m just checking out all the schools, and talking things over with my family.”
Davis said he has offers from South Carolina, Louisville, Penn State, Central Florida and Alabama-Birmingham.
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Peachtree Ridge’s Kevin Minter has chance to play early at LSU
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Peachtree Ridge linebacker Kevin Minter, who committed to LSU, said he liked the idea of playing for the defending national champions. However, Minter said he liked the opportunity to see early playing time for the Tigers even better.
“I thought it was the perfect time to go there if you’re a linebacker,” Minter said. “They won’t have a lot of depth at linebacker after this season, so I feel like I have a good chance of [contributing] as a freshman. That was a factor in my decision.”
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UGA among finalists for Carver-Columbus LB Jones
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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In the eyes of many, Carver-Columbus linebacker Jarvis Jones is the most coveted player in Georgia in the class of 2009.
Earlier this week, the 6-foot-4, 220-pound recruit indicated that he plans to sign a letter of intent in February with Clemson, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Texas or Southern Cal.
But the drama surrounding Jones’ recruitment will likely continue over the next five to six months.
Carver coach Dell McGee said earlier today he’d be surprised if his prized linebacker commits in the foreseeable future.
“I think it will be in January when he commits, unless he just gets a conviction over a certain school,” McGee said.
Jones’ most recent visit was to LSU earlier this month.
“He said it was nice,” McGee said. “It was just like every other D1 school: nice campus and the coaching staff was ok.
“He could see himself playing there.”
Jones, who is rated as the fourth-best outside linebacker in the nation and the 39th-overall prospect in the country by Scout.com, may see his stock rise even more this fall.
“Last season was just his first year starting at linebacker,” McGee said. “This year, I think he’ll see things a lot faster and be more comfortable and know what to expect.
“I think you’ll see a big improvement, especially from a leadership standpoint.”
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Alabama LB Nico Johnson wonders if he’s still UGA target
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Linebacker Nico Johnson of Andalusia, Ala., one of the nation’s top prospects, has said he will reconsider Georgia’s scholarship offer if the Bulldogs coaches let him know he’s still wanted.
Earlier this summer, the 6-foot-3, 230-pound Johnson said he got the understanding that Georgia had withdrawn its scholarship offer after three other linebackers committed to the Bulldogs. When pressed on where he got that information on Tuesday night, Johnson said, “One of my friends told me that. They either heard or read that Georgia was full at linebacker and not going to sign any more. So I guess I believed it.”
Georgia coaches are not allowed to comment on prospective student-athletes.
Johnson again denied rumors he was close to committing to Alabama, saying he has no favorites.
“I haven’t talked to them in a while, but I would look hard at Georgia if they need more linebackers,” he said. “It’s a great program, about the same as Alabama. A great defense, and just a great program.”
Johnson is ranked as the nation’s No. 30 overall prospect by Rivals.
Georgia has commitments from three players who are listed as linebackers, although they could change positions in college: Chase Vasser of Chestatee, Michael Gilliard of Valdosta and Dexter Moody of Emanuel County Institute. The Bulldogs are also in the running for linebacker Jarvis Jones of Carver-Columbus, arguably the state’s No. 1 prospect.
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Henry County loses TE Teknipp, makes adjustments
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Henry County is still adjusting to the fact that tight end Jimmy Teknipp moved to Ohio. The 6-foot-5, 245-pound Teknipp has committed to Central Florida.
Last year as a junior, he played a major role in Henry County’s spread offense. He was big target for Drew Little, one of the state’s top quarterbacks. He could also be counted on to attract the attention of the secondary, freeing defenders covering Jamal Patterson, one of the state’s top wide receivers. Patterson has scholarship offers from most schools.
“We were sad to see Jimmy go. We were looking at putting some [new twists] in our offense this year,” Henry County coach Mike Rozier said. “But we’ll be OK, and we wish him the best.”
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Warner Robins RB Rashad Wynes lists 15 offers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Warner Robins tailback Rashad Wynes has 15 scholarship offers, including South Carolina, Boston College and Louisville.
The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Wynes did not attend any camps this summer because he was enrolled in summer school.
Wynes is projected to start both ways this year. His play at cornerback has intrigued several colleges.
“Ole Miss is recruiting me as an athlete, and they said they could see me playing free safety,” he said. “It really doesn’t matter which position I play in college, just wherever I have the best chance to help the team.”
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UGA-bound QB Mettenberger assesses effort at Elite 11 camp
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Georgia was well represented in last week’s Elite 11 quarterback camp in Laguna Beach, Calif. Future Bulldogs Zach Mettenberger of Oconee County and Aaron Murray of Plant Senior High in Tampa, Fla. took part in the activities.
“It went really well,” Mettenberger said. “I definitely learned competition is a good thing.
“I learned a lot about coverage, especially deep coverages, and a lot of footwork stuff that I need help in.”
Mettenberger crossed paths with Georgia junior quarterback Matthew Stafford during the camp.
“He was there as a counselor,” Mettenberger said. “He mainly told me about coverage stuff.”
Mettenberger is done with camps and visits for the summer. The first day of class at Oconee County is Aug. 6. That’s the same day the Warriors go into full pads.
But the 6-foot-5 QB still hopes to continue finding time to make the short drive from Watkinsville to Athens on a regular basis.
“I’ve been going over there and working out at Butts-Mehre,” said Mettenberger, who is scheduled to enroll at UGA in January.
Mettenberger is rated as the 10th-best class of 2009 quarterback in the nation by Scout.com. Murray is listed as the fourth-best QB.
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Chattahoochee’s Brendan Cross picks Wake Forest
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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NFL analyst Randy Cross got some surprising news from a “caller from Atlanta” on his national radio show on Monday.
“How would it feel if your son was a Demon Deacon?” asked Chattahoochee coach Terry Crowder on “The Opening Drive” on the Sirius Radio NFL Network.
“That would be great,” responded Cross.
“That’s great, because he just committed,” Crowder responded.
After a brief moment of silence, the elder Cross realized what was going on and laughed, as did his son, Brendan Cross, who was in his coach’s office.
“I think we got him pretty good,” Crowder said. “Randy is so proud of his son and was very happy with Wake.”
The 6-foot-2, 198-pound Cross picked the Demon Deacons over Air Force, Bowling Green and Ohio University. He also had serious interest from Vanderbilt and South Florida. When Wake Forest offered on Monday, Cross quickly accepted it.
“It may look like a [rush decision], but it wasn’t,” Cross said. “I knew there was the possibility of an offer, and I had thought it all out. It’s a great fit for me for football and academics.”
As a junior last season, Cross passed for 1,043 yards and nine touchdowns, completing nearly 70 percent of his passes. He also rushed for 400 yards in helping the Cougars reach the Class AAAA playoffs.
“His arm strength is something all the colleges have bragged about,” Crowder said. “He makes great decisions. He’s a ‘football guy.’ He has just been around the game his whole life.”
The elder Cross played 13 years in the NFL as an offensive lineman and was a three-time Pro Bowl selection.
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Newnan’s Powell picks hoops over football
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Newnan’s Russell Powell, who has scholarship offers in football and basketball, has decided on which sport he will play in college.
“Basketball — it’s my first love,” Powell said. “I’ve grown up playing basketball, and I play basketball every day.”
The 5-foot-9, 160-pound Powell plays quarterback for Newnan’s football team and has an offer from Air Force, which runs a similar spread offense.
Powell averaged 19 points at point guard last year as a junior. He has offers from Furman, Gardner-Webb, Toledo and Harvard.
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Stephenson LB has Tech high on wish list
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Stephenson linebacker Nigel Mitchell-Thornton doesn’t plan to use one of his five official visits on Georgia Tech, but he said the Yellow Jackets remain one of his favorites.
“I really like Georgia Tech,” Mitchell-Thornton said. “I’ve probably been to their campus more than any other college. And I plan on going to some games there this season. It’s just that I’ll probably save my official visits for schools that are a little farther away.”
The 6-foot-3, 225-pound Mitchell-Thornton has 19 offers and said Tech, Tennessee, Stanford and Mississippi State are his favorites. He said he also hearing from Auburn, Alabama and Clemson, but has not been offered by those schools. Mitchell-Thornton has decided two of his official visits will be to Tennessee and Stanford, although he has not set dates.
Mitchell-Thornton plans to enroll in college in January.
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Chamblee RB Norman picks Vanderbilt over Georgia Tech
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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One week after participating in a camp at Vanderbilt, Chamblee running back Warren Norman pulled the trigger on a commitment to the Commodores.
Norman confirmed to The State Sunday night that he will sign a letter of intent with Vanderbilt in Feb. 2009. He’ll join former Chamblee teammate Taylor Loftley, a freshman at the Nashville, Tenn.-based university.
“[Vanderbilt has] great coaches,” Norman told the AJC. “They just want to win. They feel like they need a couple of great players to win, and they said I’m one of them.”
The 5-foot-10, 191 pound back chose the Commordores over Georgia Tech and Iowa State.
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Perry’s Johnnie Farms plans Auburn trip
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Perry’s Johnnie Farms, who is one of the nation’s most heavily recruited offensive linemen, said he has one more college to visit this summer.
“Auburn, that’s where I want to go,” Farms said. “My high school coaches said they will take me there soon so I can look around.”
The 6-foot-3, 285-pound Farms said he only went to Alabama and South Carolina camps this summer. He has 38 scholarship offers and is ranked as the country’s No. 9 offensive guard by Rivals.
Farms has remained tight-lipped about which colleges are at the top of his list, but he said playing time and location will be the two most important factors.
“I’d like to play close to home so my family and friends can watch me play,” he said.
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Henry County QB Drew Little plays waiting game
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Henry County quarterback Drew Little is still waiting on his first offer.
The 6-foot-5, 240-pound senior attended seven college camps this summer and played in two national passing league tournaments. Little said he got positive feedback from scouts after each appearance, yet he remains without an offer.
“I’m being patient about the situation; everything will work out,” Little said. “Colleges take their time with quarterbacks. Many colleges will only sign one quarterback each year, and some might even skip a year. They really have to find someone who they feel will be a perfect fit for their [offense]. They seem to do a lot more evaluating for a quarterback than they do for many other positions.”
Little, a drop-back passer, said he went to camps at Alabama, South Carolina, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Jacksonville State and Georgia Southern. His teammate at Henry County, wide receiver Jamal Patterson, has nearly 50 scholarship offers.
“Drew doesn’t have anything right now, but he’s going to get something,” Henry County coach Mike Rozier said. “He’s a pure drop-back passer, [so] it’s just going to have to be the right system for him.”
Little said at least a dozen schools have told him that he is a scholarship candidate and that they will be observing his senior season. Little said he is doing his best to not think about recruiting.
“I’m playing football for Henry County,” he said. “I care about my high school season more than anything else right now.”
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ECI’s recruits prepping for upcoming season
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Washaun Ealey, J.C. Lanier and Dexter Moody, three of the state’s most coveted recruits, continue preparations to defend ECI’s Class A championship.
“They’ve been lifting and working and getting ready for the season,” ECI coach Milan Turner said. “It’s been a great summer. Those three guys have made all of the workouts.
“But they’ve done that for the past three years. I wouldn’t expect anything less from them.”
Ealey and Moody have committed to Georgia. Lanier is headed to Georgia Tech. Turner said each commitment is solid and nearly all rival college coaches have accepted that fact.
“They still get mail, but that’s about it,” Turner said. “I think [the other colleges] are pretty convinced where those kids are going to go.”
Ealey and Moody have visited Athens this summer, while Lanier has found time to make the trek from Twin City to Atlanta. To Turner’s knowledge, none of them have visted other colleges recently.
ECI’s team camp in Americus prevented Ealey and Moody from attending “Dawg Day” in Athens on Friday July 18.
Expectations are high in Twin City for another banner season and the opportunity to see the trio play on Saturdays in the not-too-distant future.
“I think everybody is excited and happy for those guys,” Turner said. “But they’ve got to finish their senior year first.
“We try to do a good job of keeping them grounded and focused. Right now, we’re looking at an Aug. 15 scrimmage against Evans and our first game against Savannah Country Day.”
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Tampa’s Orson Charles is elite TE, but also getting WR offers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Orson Charles of Tampa, Fla., is rated as nation’s No. 1 tight end by one recruiting service, but he has gotten a couple of scholarship offers to play wide receiver.
“LSU and Louisville are a few that have talked to me about playing wide receiver in college,” Charles said. “I’ve played a lot of wide receiver in high school, so I can see where they are coming from. But I feel like tight end will definitely be my main position in college.”
However, while Charles says he sees his future at tight end, he does like the idea of being able to switch to wide receiver in passing situations. Henry County coach Mike Rozier said the 6-foot-3, 227-pound Charles is athletic enough for both positions after observing him in a national passing league tournament this summer.
“He has a big enough [body frame] to play tight end, but he can play wide receiver, too,” Rozier said. “The best thing about this kid is that he catches everything in sight.”
Charles plays at Plant High with quarterback Aaron Murray, who has committed to Georgia. Charles is ranked as the nation’s No. 1 tight end by Rivals.
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Byrnes’ 2010 prospects attract UGA, Clemson, many others
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Georgia’s coaches will be making plenty of trips to Byrnes High in Duncan, S.C., over the next two years.
Byrnes has a star-studded junior class, led by Marcus Lattimore, of nation’s top-rated tailbacks for the 2010 class. Lattimore, who attended Georgia’s camp earlier this summer, has been offered by many of the nation’s top schools, including the Bulldogs.
The other two 2010 headliners are defensive lineman Brandon Willis and Corey Miller. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Willis was offered at Georgia’s most recent camp, and he ranks the Bulldogs third behind Florida State and Clemson but ahead of Texas A&M. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Miller said Georgia coaches told him they are interested, but have yet to offer. Miller already has an offer from Clemson.
Two of the top senior prospects from Byrnes, which is the defending S.C. Class AAAA champions, are safety Justin Bright and wide receiver Ricco Sanders. Bright, a lifelong Clemson fan, committed to Florida State after getting an early offer, while Sanders is deciding between Auburn, Clemson, Florida, FSU and Georgia.
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Washington High’s Goodwin gets early offer from UGA
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Booker T. Washington High’s Branden Smith is one of the nation’s most heavily-recruited cornerbacks. He said his teammate, wide receiver Antonio Goodwin, has just as much potential.
Goodwin, who is a rising junior, is virtually unknown on the recruiting circuit but picked up his first major-college offer from Georgia. The 6-foot-1, 170-pound speedster was offered by Georgia coach Mark Richt following the “Dawg Night” prospect camp.
“I knew [Goodwin] could do it, get the Georgia offer,” said Smith, who rooted on his teammate at the camp as an observer. “He’s a great player, and I think a lot more offers are coming. It’s just a matter of the word getting out about him.”
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UGA-bound Murray impresses Henry County coach
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Henry County coach Mike Rozier said quarterback Aaron Murray was worthy of all the high praise after recently observing the UGA-bound senior. Henry County played against Murray and his teammates from Plant High in a national passing league tournament.
“I think he’s going to be the starting quarterback at the University of Georgia one day,” Rozier said. “[Murray] is a double threat. I know it was passing league [where I saw him], but I’ve watched film, too. He throws on a line with great accuracy. He can also tuck it and run. I was very impressed with everything I’ve seen the kid do.”
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Sandy Creek’s Rio Johnson compared to ‘young’ version of Falcons QB
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Sandy Creek quarterback Rio Johnson, who has committed to East Carolina, is drawing comparisons to Atlanta Falcons quarterback D.J. Shockley.
“Rio reminds me of a ‘young’ D.J. Shockley,” said QB guru Tee Martin, founder of Playmakers Sports. “Rio has good passing mechanics and can get out of the pocket and make things happen with his feet. I’m not sure he was asked to do much running last year [at Sandy Creek], but he can do it. This kid can do everything at QB.”
The 6-foot-2, 175-pound Johnson committed to East Carolina over Alabama-Birmingham and Ohio.
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Milton long snapper Brodsky commits to Tulsa
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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With one eye on a preferred walk-on status at South Carolina, Milton long snapper Michael Brodsky went with a sure thing by committing to Tulsa on Thursday.
“I chose Tulsa because it’s a great football program, the coaches are awesome and because of the team they’re building,” Brodsky said. “I expect to graduate with bowl rings and Conference USA championships.”
Brodsky had alredy received serious interest from Georgia Tech, Houston, Miami (Ohio), Middle Tennessee State, North Carolina and UT Chattanooga.
But full-ride offers for long snappers are a rarity in college football.
“I’ve heard of it, but I didn’t really expect to get a scholarship,” Brodsky admitted. “I figured I’d get a walk-on. So I was really excited when [Tulsa] offered.
“There are some schools that use a tight end and have an average snapper. But they can lose a game without having a good snapper. I think it’s a really important position.”
Considered one of the premier long snappers in the nation, Brodsky mastered his position working with Chris Rubio of ChrisSailerKicking.com and Ben Fuller of prosnapper.com.
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Camden County’s Mike Green adds to school’s DB tradition
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Camden County has produced several major-college defensive backs in recent years, including Wake Forest’s Kevin Patterson and former Georgia Tech standout D.J. Jones.
However, Mike Green might have “the best cover skills” out of the group, according to his coach. Green has offers from East Carolina, Indiana, Illinois, Middle Tennessee State, and Memphis, among others.
“We’ve had some good ones, but Mike might be the best pure cover guy we’ve had,” Camden County coach Jeff Herron said. “Mike has got unbelievable ball instincts. He has good some good college opportunities, but I would’ve thought some of the big boys would be after him by now.”
Herron said one concern colleges may have about Green is his speed. Green is not as fast as his teammate, wide receiver DeAngelo Smith, who has committed to South Carolina.
“Now if you put those two guys on a track, [Smith] will win every time. But if you put them on the football field, [Green] is going to just about always have great coverage.”
The 6-foot-1, 175-pound Green projects to play either cornerback or safety in college. Patterson and Jones both ended up at safety after leaving Camden County.
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Defending champion LSU tries to raid state’s top-rated prospects
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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LSU’s national championship is having a big impact on the school’s football recruiting effort in Georgia.
Cornerback Branden Smith of Atlanta’s Washington High and linebacker Jarvis Jones of Carver High of Columbus, arguably the state’s top two prospects, participated in LSU’s camp earlier this week. The Tigers already have commitments from two of the state’s top players, Tucker wide receiver Drayton Calhoun and Peachtree Ridge linebacker Kevin Minter.
“They [LSU] are the champs, and when the national champion comes after you, then I would think most players would have to take a serious look,” Minter said.
LSU always has recruited the state, with five Georgia players on its 2008 roster. But the Tigers are drawing serious interest from several of the state’s elite prospects. Attracting Smith and Jones to camp was a coup for LSU coach Les Miles. Also in attendance, but only observing, was Carver of Atlanta’s Darren Myles Jr., one of the nation’s top safety prospects.
“I wanted to go to LSU because I had to see what it was all about,” Smith said. “Everything speaks for itself there. They win national championships; they have great facilities and have a great coaching staff. It was my first time there, and I enjoyed the experience.”
LSU rarely beats out Georgia in head-to-head battles for home-grown players, but appears to have accomplished that with the commitment from Calhoun, who initially wanted to go to Georgia but committed after visiting LSU last February. Georgia is still recruiting Calhoun, who says he is Baton Rouge-bound.
“I’m 100-percent with LSU; it’s the best place for me,” he said.
Smith and Jones roomed together at the LSU camp.
“We talked about a lot of things, such as how recruiting was going and our expecations for our senior season,” Smith said. “We didn’t really talk about playing at [LSU together], but we both had a good time.”
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Henry Co. receiver planning trip to Notre Dame
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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With football practice set to begin at Henry County on Aug 1, Jamal Patterson intends to carve out enough time over the next week to make the trek to South Bend, Ind. to visit Notre Dame.
“I have a lot of interest in Notre Dame,” said Patterson, whose scholarship offer count recently surpassed 50. “Every offer I get is an honor. But getting an offer from a school like that is really special.”
The 6-foot-2, 195-pound receiver and his Henry County teammates are participating in a national seven-on-seven tournament in Hoover, Ala. today.
On an individual basis, Patterson’s summer has included visits to Auburn, Central Florida, Clemson, Florida, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Stanford and Wake Forest.
On Auburn: “Auburn is a great place,” he said. “Coach Tommy Tuberville is a great guy. Their offense is what we run, the spread offense. It’s what we run with our quarterback, Drew Little.”
On Stanford: “I loved coach [Jim] Harbaugh and the whole staff,” he said. “They’re energetic and into the game. It seems like they love doing what they do.”
If not for a scheduling conflict with a national seven-on-seven competition he participated in last week in Oregon, Patterson likely would have attended camp at Georgia on Friday.
The Dogs have yet to offer the talented receiver.
“I had plans to visit them,” Patterson said. “But I want to go to the schools that have offered.”
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Walton point guard Ryan Harrow picks N.C. State
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Walton point guard Ryan Harrow, who recently committed to N.C. State, is showing he is worthy of all the hefty praise this summer.
The 5-foot-11 Harrow is averaging between 20-25 points per game for his AAU basketball team, according to Walton coach Joe Goydish. Harrow sat out his sophomore season at Walton after moving from North Carolina.
“Ryan is really doing well,” Goydish said. “Between Ryan and [Glen Rice Jr.], our frontcourt should be really, really good this upcoming season.”
Harrow is a rising junior and picked N.C. State over offers from Wake Forest and Auburn, among others. Rice, a 6-foot-4 shooting guard, has committed to Georgia Tech.
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Walton’s Glen Rice Jr. says he’ll play basketball at Georgia Tech
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Walton’s Glen Rice Jr. called Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt after his AAU game on Thursday and committed to the Yellow Jackets.
It ended one of the state’s most intense recruiting battles, with the son of the former NBA standout picking Tech over Miami and Florida State, among others.
“Georgia Tech was my top choice all along, there wasn’t really anybody else really close,” Rice said over the telephone from Orlando. “It’s close to home, great academics, and I really feel like I could be part of something great with the rest of the [incoming recruiting class].”
The 6-foot-4 Rice said Hewitt was excited to hear the news: “He wasn’t surprised because he knew how I felt about Georgia Tech from the beginning. He just congratulated me on the decision and welcomed me to the family.”
Walton coach Joe Goydish said he got a call from Tech assistant Charlton Young several minutes after Rice’s announcement.
“[Young] is real excited about Glen’s decision, and feels like he really fits in well with what they do,” Goydish said. “They feel like he’s unbelievably skilled player who also has one of the highest basketball IQs that they’ve ever recruited.”
His commitment completes a monster stretch of recruiting by Tech, which also got commitments from 6-3 point guard Mfon Udofia of Miller Grove, who is ranked as one of the nation’s top guards, and 6-8 power forward Kammeon Holsey of Hancock Central. Tech also has a commitment from Brian Oliver, a 6-6, 200-pound small forward from Delaware.
Tech is also in the hunt for South Atlanta forward Derrick Favors, who is rated as the nation’s No. 1 prospect by several recruiting services.
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Vanderbilt, Georgia Tech pursuing Chamblee RB Norman
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Chamblee running back Warren Norman has landed a scholarship offer from Vanderbilt.
“I found out Monday night,” Norman said. “Vanderbilt had been recruiting me for two or three months. And I just came back from camp there on Sunday.
“They’ve got great coaches at Vanderbilt. They just want to win. They feel like they need a couple of great players to win, and they said I’m one of them.”
The 5-foot-10, 191 pound back is also weighing offers from Georgia Tech and Iowa State.
“I really like Georgia Tech,” said Norman, who attended a camp at Tech on June 14. “It’s real close to home and downtown. And they run the same offense we ran last year with [former Chamblee] coach [Jim] Showfety.
“But I’m probably going to take my time and check out other schools.”
When asked which school might be the next in line to offer: “That’s very hard to say,” Norman said. “I’d probably say South Carolina, but I don’t really know.”
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Kell TE Middleton rethinks South Carolina commitment, likes Rutgers
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Kell tight end Will Middleton has backed off his verbal commitment to South Carolina and now considers Rutgers, Indiana and Louisville his top three.
The 6-foot-5, 230-pound senior committed to the Gamecocks in early May, then de-committed in mid-June, deciding to look at other schools.
“I just made my decision too soon,” Middleton said. “I’d really just like have more time to think about my options. There’s a lot to think about when you’re looking at these schools.”
The Gamecocks had already landed the commitment of one other tight end prospect in Justice Cunningham out of South Carolina. Middleton will continue to consider South Carolina, Mississippi State and Auburn through the process. Last season, he caught 25 passes for 350 yards and two scores for the Longhorns.
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Georgia Tech frontrunner to net basketballer Glen Rice Jr.
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Georgia Tech appears to be the frontrunner for Walton guard Glen Rice Jr., son of the former NBA standout.
Rice is expected to make a college decision Thursday in Orlando, where he is playing in an AAU tournament with the Georgia Stars.
“I haven’t talked to Glen, but I’ve talked to his family and … I’m pretty sure he’s going to announce [Thursday], and I’m pretty sure it’s going to be Georgia Tech,” Walton coach Joe Goydish said.
Tech, Miami, and Florida State are the finalists for the 6-foot-4 shooting guard, who averaged 25.6 points and 6.4 rebounds last year as a junior. Goydish said Rice’s close relationships with Tech coach Paul Hewitt and assistant Charlton Young may have been the deciding factors.
“Glen really likes those guys, and he really seems to fit well into that system,” Goydish said.
Another factor in Tech’s favor is that two of Rice’s teammates on the Georgia Stars, Hancock Central forward Kammeon Holsey and Miller Grove point guard Mfon Udofia already have committed to the Yellow Jackets.
Udofia, who is 6-3, has been the starting point guard at the DeKalb County school the past three years. Last season, he averaged a DeKalb County-leading 24.3 points, 3.7 steals and 5.4 assists. He is rated the No. 6 point guard prospect in the country by Scout.com.
“I think it is a good fit for Georgia Tech and Mfon,” Miller Grove coach Sharman White said. “Tech is Point Guard U. He will fit in well with the guys they are bringing in.”
(Staff writers Matt Winkeljohn and Derrick Mahone contributed to this article.)
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Miami offers Newnan OL Beno
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Newnan offensive lineman Raymond Beno is no longer flying under the recruiting radar.
Miami recently offered Beno, a 6-foot-2, 280-pounder. Beno already had offers from Wake Forest, Southern Miss, Army, Navy and Air Force, among others. And his coach, Robert Herring, expects more colleges to get involved.
“Beno has so much going for him,” Herring said. “He’s a 4.0 student; he’s got size; he’s real aggressive, and he blocks very well. There’s a lot to like about him.”
Beno projects to play guard in college.
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Ridgeland’s Bowman considers offers from UGA, Auburn, others
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Ridgeland receiver Michael Bowman (6-5, 222) is touted by some to be the top receiver in the state and already has offers from Georgia, Auburn, LSU, Alabama and Oregon, among others.
But he’s working out as if he didn’t have any offers at all. It’s one of the tidbits of advice he has been getting from his big brother, Adarius Bowman, a star rookie receiver in the Canadian Football League. He’s trying to keep his little brother from making the same missteps that led Adarius to the CFL instead of the NFL.
Adarius was considered the top high school receiver in the state of Tennessee in 2003. During his sophomore season at North Carolina, he was dismissed from the team after an arrest for marijuana possession. He re-established himself as one of the nation’s top receivers at Oklahoma State and was poised to be a first-round draft pick in April. But poor workouts and another marijuana arrest caused him to go undrafted.
“We talk about it all the time,” Michael Bowman said. “He’s always giving me advice on the decisions I need to make.”
Michael Bowman says he is working hard to pattern his on-field game after his brother’s, who is having a standout season for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He had 112 yards receiving on six catches, including a 74-yard touchdown reception, in his CFL debut last month.
“I want to be more physical this season and aggressive like him,” Bowman said.
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Henry County WR Patterson unsure about new Ga. Tech offense
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Henry County wide receiver Jamal Patterson, who has about 50 scholarship offers, said he is taking a wait-and-see attitude with Georgia Tech.
“I met all the new coaches and really liked them,” Patterson said. “And they told me that they are going to throw the ball out of the [flexbone]. But I need to watch a few games first and see what’s going on before I really know how I feel about Georgia Tech.”
The 6-foot-3, 202-pound Patterson said Tech’s coaches have been understanding and invited him to some of the early home games to see the offense up close.
Patterson already has a closer feel to the situation than most other recruits. His teammmate last season at Henry County, wide receiver Chris Jackson, was an early commitment to Tech, but expressed concerns about the offense after the coaching change and signed with Alabama.
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North Cobb DE Lott to visit South Carolina, Oklahoma State
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North Cobb may have had a disappointing ending last season with a loss in the first round of the playoffs, but that hasn’t stopped college recruiters from flocking to the school.
Twelve players signed college scholarships last season, and three more Division I prospects are on the roster this year. Michael Emerson and Rico Mack are battling for the quarterback position, but both are being recruited as receivers. But the big catch at North Cobb is defensive end Derrick Lott.
“He’s a freak,” said North Cobb coach Shane Queen. “He is the total package.”
The 6-foot-4, 265 pounder has sub-4.8 speed in the 40 and already has offers from South Carolina, Southern Cal, Oklahoma State, Louisville and Ole Miss. He will take official visits to South Carolina and Oklahoma State, but is undecided on his other visits. Don’t expect an early commitment.
“I am going to let the process play out,” Lott said. “I will plan out my other visits, but I just want to play well my senior season and get more colleges to offer me so I have plenty of choices.”
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UGA quarterbacks gather near Los Angeles for Elite 11 camp
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Georgia’s quarterbacks of the present and future are working out together on the other side of the country.
Georgia starter Matthew Stafford is a camp counselor at the Elite 11, which is held near Los Angeles. Oconee County’s Zach Mettenberger and Aaron Murray of Tampa, Fla., who have both committed to Georgia, are two of the 12 high school quarterbacks from across the nation participating in the four-day camp that ends Thursday.
“There’s a lot of Bulldogs in the house,” said camp instructor Tee Martin over the telephone. Martin was quarterback for Tennessee’s 1998 national championship team.
Murray is Georgia’s most prominent 2009 commitment, choosing the Bulldogs over 53 other scholarship offers. The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder plays in the shotgun formation at Plant High, but has been switched to a different offensive scheme at camp.
“If there are question marks about Aaron, it’s if he can make the transition to taking snaps under center, which is what he’ll have to do when he gets to Georgia,” Martin said. “He has been doing it 100-percent of the time here and … looks phenomenal.”
Will Murray’s height be a concern in college? “There’s only a couple of inches that separate Aaron and [Stafford]. He’s shorter, but I don’t think he’ll get his passes knocked down a lot because he has such a high release point. Also, he’s very fast and athletic, and will be able to [scramble] to throw in the passing lanes.”
The 6-5, 235-pound Mettenberger is a classic pocket passer and has won rave reviews with his arm strength. Said Martin: “He was standing flat-footed and throwing balls to me 50 yards away with a zip. You just don’t see many high school kids with that type of velocity.”
Stafford is one of several Elite 11 alumni serving as counselors, along with Missouri’s Chase Daniel and Colt McCoy of Texas, among others. Georgia begins preseason practice next week.
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Georgia Tech among finalists for Flowery Branch DE Cross
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If Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson could magically turn the calendar ahead six months, he’d likely land a commitment from Flowery Branch defensive end Izaan Cross.
“If I had to commit today, I couldn’t go wrong going with Georgia Tech,” said Cross, who is also considering scholarship offers from Maryland, Mississippi State, Oklahoma and South Carolina.
“They need a defensive end. They’ll be losing both defensive ends next year. I’d have to say Georgia Tech is probably my top, or one of my top, schools.”
One of Cross’ other top choices is Mississippi State. A recent family visit to Starkville made a favorable impression on the 6-foot-4, 250-pound recruit.
“It was a pretty good trip to Mississippi State,” Cross said. “It was a beautiful campus. There’s not much to do there, but it was a beautiful campus.
“And coach [Sylvester] Croom is awesome. My dad loves him. He’s a great coach.”
Cross plans to take his five official visits this fall before making a commitment.
With classes slated to start in two weeks at Flowery Branch, will Cross visit another college this summer?
“I don’t think so,” he said late Tuesday. “I think it’s time to start buckling down on my high school team.”
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Tucker DB Lee breaks collarbone
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Tucker, which could have as many as five seniors sign with major colleges, will have one of its prized prospects on the sidelines with an injury for the next two months.
Defensive back David Lee, who has an offer from South Alabama and serious interest from several ACC schools, broke his collarbone in a freak fall at passing league. It was a big blow for Lee, who had made dramatic improvements since last season.
“He was really blossoming into a major-college prospect, and then this happened,” Tucker coach Franklin Stephens said. “However, he’ll make a 100-percent recovery, and join us in the middle of the season. He’ll still have plenty of time to show the colleges what he can do.”
The 6-foot-3, 190-pounder projects to play linebacker in college. Lee won the Class AAAA championship in the triple jump last year, and is consistently clocked around 4.5 in the 40, according to Stephens.
Tucker’s other top prospects are wide receiver Drayton Calhoun (committed to LSU), linebacker Jonathan Davis, defensive end Deion Roberson and quarterback Chris Beck.
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Tech lands nationally-rated Miller Grove point guard Udofia
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Miller Grove point guard Mfon Udofia committed to Georgia Tech Tuesday before playing in an AAU tournament in Las Vegas.
The 6-foot-3 Udofia has been the starting point guard at the DeKalb County school the last three years. Last season, he averaged a DeKalb County-leading 24.3 points, 3.7 steals and 5.4 assists. He is rated the No. 6 point guard prospect in the country by Scout.com.
He is the Tech’s third commitment for the 2009 class. Udofia chose the Yellow Jackets over Texas, Florida, Wake Forest and Virginia.
“I think it is a good fit for Georgia Tech and Mfon,” Miller Grove coach Sharman White said. “Tech is Point Guard U. He will fit in well with the guys they are bringing in.”
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Kentucky has pipeline to LaGrange, LB Huzzie
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LaGrange linebacker Qua Huzzie says having three former LaGrange players at Kentucky, including cousin DeMoreo Ford, made his commitment to the Wildcats this week an easy fit.
”That was a big factor,” said Huzzie, who is 5-foot-11, 210 pounds. “When I go up there, I talk to them, and they tell me the truth. It’s going to be fun playing with them.”
Ford is a senior wide receiver. Kentucky’s other former LaGrange players are Braxton Kelley, a senior linebacker, and Randall Burden, a freshman defensive back.
LaGrange has become Georgia’s “Linebacker” High School. Former All-SEC linebackers Wesley Woodyard (Kentucky) and Sam Olajubutu (Arkansas), both in the NFL, played at LaGrange. Tray Blackmon, a junior starting linebacker at Auburn, was the AJC’s all-class player of the year in 2004.
Another former LaGrange linebacker, Travis Hart, who played at Eastern Kentucky, is helping train Huzzie this summer.
”I used to watch film on all of them — Sam, Tray,” Huzzie said. “I talk with Trey a lot. I’ve worked with Travis on hands and footwork. I talk and work out with Braxton a lot, too.”
Huzzie also considered North Carolina, UAB, Duke and Vanderbilt. Huzzie made more than 100 tackles last season, 27 for losses.
“I think [Kentucky] liked the way I get to the ball, run around the field and get the job done,” Huzzie said.
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Smith says S. Carolina’s ‘a great fit’
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Camden County wide receiver DeAngelo Smith said there were several factors behind his decision to commit to South Carolina last week.
Smith picked the Gamecocks over East Carolina and Indiana, among others, and had emerging interest from Georgia and Florida.
Smith said he grew up in Charleston, S.C., and remained a fan of the Gamecocks. Smith said his decision also was influenced when he was informed by South Carolina assistant Steve Spurrier Jr. that the Gamecocks were going to sign four receivers and already had extended offers to many of the Southeast’s elite.
“I love South Carolina. It’s a great fit for me, and I didn’t want to take a chance on losing that scholarship by waiting too long,” Smith said.
It appears Smith made a wise decision. Three receivers, including Smith and Coffee County’s DeMario Bennett, told the elder Spurrier at South Carolina camp last weekend that they intend to sign with the Gamecocks.
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Westlake’s Warmack sticking with Alabama, Saban
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Westlake tackle Chance Warmack is sure that he will stick with his commitment to Alabama when National Signing Day comes in February.
The 6-foot-4, 320-pounder said he was impressed with the Crimson Tide tradition and coach Nick Saban that he is sure he will feel comfortable in Tuscaloosa attending college. Warmack, a Detroit native will graduate from the southwest Atlanta school in December so he can enroll at Alabama in time for spring drills.
“I just got one class this semester and I will be through,” he said. “Coach Nick Saban is a really good coach and a well-rounded person. He seems to care about his players and it was a family atmosphere over there.”
Warmack has visited the Alabama campus four times the last two years and plan an official visit this fall. Rivals.com lists him as the No. 28 prospect in Georgia. In addition to Alabama, South Carolina, Rutgers, Arkansas and Auburn were among the schools that offered.
He said he is also looking forward to playing for Crimson Tide offensive line coach Joe Pendry, who coached 19 years in the NFL and several years on the college level.
“He has been coaching just a long as my parents have been living,” Warmack said. “He has a lot of technique for you. I think it is a good fit for me.”
Womack works every day in practice with former Westlake standout and University of Georgia offensive lineman Resty Beadles. He is a close friend with former Westlake standout and Georgia starting right tackle Kiante Tripp.
Beadles said he spoke with Georgia coaches about Warmack, but the Bulldogs were set in recruiting for future linemen. Warmack said he understood about Georgia situation and is happy with the offers he has received.
“Coach Beadles is like a father to me, and I’m real close to Kiante,” Warmack said. “I wear his number. I wanted to look at other schools, and do my own thing.”
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Georgia offers rising junior
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Defensive end Brandon Willis of Duncan, S.C., ranks Georgia third behind Florida State and Clemson after the Bulldogs made an early offer at the “Dawg Night” prospect camp last weekend.
“I like a lot of things about Georgia. If I come here, I feel like I’ll have a good chance of playing early because of the depth chart,” said Willis, who is a rising junior at Byrnes High, the defending Class AAAA champions.
Willis may have more serious interest in Georgia than he is showing. Last Friday was his third appearance at Georgia camps. He was all smiles after being offered by Georgia coach Mark Richt.
“I guess the third time was a charm,” Willis said with a laugh. “I wasn’t upset about not being offered the other two times. I just became determined to work harder and come better prepared this time, and it paid off.”
Willis is part of star-studded 2010 class at Byrnes, which is headlined by Marcus Lattimore, one of the nation’s top tailbacks. Georgia also has offered a scholarship to wide receiver Ricco Sanders, who will be a rising senior at the school.
The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Willis was difficult to block at camp, exhibiting an explosive first step and veteran-like technique.
Willis said he was surprised and satisfied by finally landing the offer.
“I finally did it, after all that hard work,” he said.
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Norcross players pick ACC schools
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Two Norcross football players committed to ACC schools on Monday.
Prince Kent, a defensive back and wide receiver, announced his intentions to attend the University of Miami, and D.J. Adams, a running back, said he will play at Maryland.
The 6-foot-3, 190-pound Kent also will play safety for Norcross. Scout.com has Kent ranked No. 38 among safeties in the country. He runs a 4.5-second 40.
Kent grew up in Fort Lauderdale and said he felt at home at Miami. He picked the Hurricanes over Georgia, Clemson, Florida and South Carolina.
Adams, who rushed for 1,462 yards last season, chose the Terrapins over Clemson, Notre Dame, Auburn and Georgia.
The 5-10, 212-pound Adams is a powerful runner with the ability to make people miss. Adams, who also runs a 4.5 40, is a good receiver, Norcross coach Keith Maloof said.
Adams said he chose Maryland, in part, because coaches told him that he’ll have the opportunity to play as a freshman. Adams is ranked No. 60 among running backs.
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Tucker’s Calhoun says Georgia offered too late
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Tucker’s Drayton Calhoun admitted he would be headed to Georgia, not LSU, if there had been different circumstances.
“If Georgia had offered me earlier, then I would’ve probably ended up there; yes you could say that,” Calhoun said. “But they didn’t, so I visited LSU and fell in love with the place.”
Calhoun, who projects to play wide receiver or defensive back in college, committed to LSU last February and was later offered by Georgia
“It was too late then,” he said. “LSU got to me first. That’s where I’m going.”
Georgia hasn’t given up on changing Cahoun’s mind before signing day in February, sending him letters to let him know he’s still wanted. Alabama also is chasing Calhoun, although he says he “really doesn’t communicate back” with either school.
“I’m 100-percent with LSU; it’s the best place for me,” he said.
Tucker coach Franklin Stephens said he was not surprised to hear Calhoun wanted to pick Georgia. The Bulldogs have signed most of the DeKalb County school’s top prospects in recent years, including Thomas Brown, Asher Allen and Patrick Pass. Calhoun also frequently visits family members who live in Elberton, which is located 35 miles from Athens.
“What [Calhoun] says makes sense … LSU just came out of nowhere,” Stephens recalled. “Drayton visited LSU for Junior Day, and when I saw the look on his face when he came back I asked him, ‘Are you about to commit?’ Stephens recalled. “He said he was thinking about it. And then the next day, he did commit. It was whirlwind thing.”
Calhoun said he hasn’t attended any college camps this summer, rather focusing on school so he can graduate early and enroll at LSU in January. The 6-foot, 175-pound Calhoun picked the Tigers over 15 offers, including Florida, Tennessee and Stanford.
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UGA makes early offer to Newnan safety
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Newan safety Alec Ogletree, who is one of the state’s top rising juniors, hasn’t ruled out making a college decision this year.
Georgia offered the 6-foot-3, 215-pound Ogletree during the weekend. He also has an early offer from Clemson, and his high school coach expects a dozen more by the start of the football season.
“I’m going to try to wait until my senior year to [commit], but I don’t know,” Ogletree said. “If I really like the school, the coaching staff and feel like it’s a place I have a chance at playing as soon as I get there, I might make up my mind sooner.”
Could that place be Georgia? “I don’t know, but I loved everything about my trip to Athens,” he said.
Ogletree got red-carpet treatment during Georgia’s “Dawg Night” prospect camp last Friday. Shortly after arriving, he was pulled aside for a one-on-one meeting with Georgia coach Mark Richt, who was impressed with Ogletree’s sophomore performances.
Because of Ogletree’s towering frame (6-foot-3, 215 pounds), some schools are scouting him at linebacker, but he prefers to stay at safety in college. During the Georgia camp, he ran through the drills at safety and finished with two interceptions and one more conversation with Richt.
“Coach Richt said he didn’t realize I could move that well at safety until seeing me in person,” Ogletree said. “He said, ‘I’d like to offer you a scholarship. We want you to be part of our team.’”
Ogletree said he was still in awe how everything seemed to happen so quickly at Georgia.
“The offer really surprised me; it caught me off guard. I wasn’t even expecting [Richt] to talk to me. I’m both shocked and really excited about it all.”
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LSU’s Miles reaffirms offer to Myles Jr. on weekend visit
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Darren Myles Jr. met in Baton Rouge on Sunday with LSU head coach Les Miles, who reaffirmed his scholarship offer to safety from Carver of Atlanta.
Myles Jr. then reaffirmed his desire to wait until after his high school season before making a decision but said that LSU was among his handful of favorites.
“Coach Miles told us that safety is a position of need, that he likes his ability to come up and force the run and he felt like he can help right away,” Darren Myles Sr., the player’s father and high school coach, said by phone from Baton Rouge. “He told us he was willing to take his commitment right now. Then he paused.”
And Myles Jr. did not answer.
“The [Miles] followed with, ‘Of course, you don’t have to make a decision now.’ Darren knows not to say anything. We’ve got an understanding. It’s not going to be a surprise. So I said, ‘At this time, we’re not going to commit. But of course, you stand right up there at the top. If we did a top five, you’d be in there. But to commit now is not something we’re ready to do.’ ”
Myles Jr. is rated the No. 5 safety nationally by Rivals.com and No. 12 by Scout.com. He was among several high-end recruits visiting LSU this weekend. Others included linebacker Jarvis Jones of Carver-Columbus, cornerback Branden Smith of Washington and quarterback Russell Shepard of Houston, who is committed to LSU. Myles spent much of his time with Smith, his rival from Atlanta city schools.
Myles Sr. said this was his son’s sixth unofficial visit to a top school. He also has seen Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia and Georgia Tech. He also wants to visit Ohio State and West Virginia, but those probably will not come until the fall as official visits, Myles Sr. said.
Myles Sr. grew up in Louisiana and attended Douglass High of New Orleans and was recruited by LSU in football before going to Purdue. Myles Sr. came to Atlanta’s Douglass High in 1996, when Myles Jr. was 6. But Myles Sr. said that his family’s ties to Louisiana would be no factor in his son’s decision.
“He hasn’t been there since he was 6,” Myles Sr. said. “Darren’s 17 now. Just because we’re from New Orleans, it’s not a shoo-in. It’s what they offer him now as a football player and student-athlete. It has to be a good situation.”
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Highly-regarded OL Jackson commits to Ga. Tech
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Will Jackson, a 6-foot-4, 280-pound guard for Farragut High in Knoxville, Tenn., committed to Georgia Tech on Saturday.
He chose the Jackets during an on-campus visit.
“The entire time Georgia Tech has stuck out to me,” Jackson told Rivals.com. “Basically, I sat down and kind of re-evaluated everything. I looked at the coaches. And Coach [Paul] Johnson has won everywhere he’s been, so I knew the coaches would be fine.
“There’s a lot of stability because it’s a new staff. The facilities and living conditions are great, the weight room, everything. They’re even making improvements to make it even better.
“The academics are great as well. Georgia Tech is one of the top schools in the country. It’s only two and a half hours away from my house. It was just everything. There’s not one thing I didn’t like about the program.”
Jackson, who is considered the 24th-best guard in the nation by Rivals.com and Scout.com, picked the Jackets over Kentucky, N.C. State, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt and Wake Forest.
He is Tech’s 10th commitment in the class of 2009.
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“Dawg Night” attracts 86 prospects to UGA
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Georgia coach Mark Richt welcomed 86 high school players for “Dawg Night” prospect camp on Friday evening.
The most celebrated prospect in attendance was Branden Smith of Atlanta’s Washington High. Smith, considered one of the nation’s top cornerbacks with around 25 offers, opted not to participate in the camp. Defensive end Abry Jones of Northside-Warner Robins, who has committed to Georgia, was also an observer.
However, three Georgia commitments decided to go through the workouts: lineman Dallas Lee of Buford, linebacker Michael Gilliard of Buford, and quarterback Zach Mettenberger of Oconee County.
Mettenberger looked much sharper and crisp with both his technique and throws that he did at another Georgia camp earlier in the summer. He seemed to quickly develop chemistry with wide receiver Rantavious Wooten of Belle Glades, Fla.
Wooten was perhaps the camp’s most impressive player with his speed and quickness, attracting the attention of Richt and other members of the Georgia staff.
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Former UGA running back’s son’s football career may be over
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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One of the nation’s most sought-after class of 2009 football recruits may not strap on a helmet and set of shoulder pads this fall.
Cartersville’s Donovan Tate, who has scholarship offers from powerhouses such as Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Texas and Southern Cal, may forego his senior season of football and focus exclusively on baseball.
“It’s 50-50, and I could understand either way,” Cartersville football coach Frank Barden said. “I’m not trying to contact them a lot and influence them one way or another. I want him to think about it.
“But I think him making the Team U.S.A. baseball team was a big indicator of where he stands in his class with baseball players in the country.
“I think he loves football and would love to play, but he has to weigh out the options of what his future holds.”
Tate, whose father is former Georgia running back Lars Tate, has been invited to play in the AFLAC All-American baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Aug. 9.
With football practice set to begin at Cartersville on Aug. 1, Barden has a contingency plan in place should his star player opt out of football.
“You have to plan that you won’t have him,” Barden said. “All spring and summer you have to practice and plan that you won’t.
“We’re trying to prepare the guys that may have to step up if he doesn’t play.”
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So. Georgia HS boasts big-time prospects
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Camden County is the early favorite to be the state’s high school to have the most seniors sign with major colleges later this year.
The Kingsland school has six players who have already been offered, including wide receiver DeAngelo Smith, who has committed to South Carolina. The other five are cornerback Mike Green (offers from East Carolina, Indiana, Illinois, Middle Tennessee St., Memphis), defensive end Ryan Attaway (Memphis, MTSU), fullback Marquevious Myers (Memphis, MTSU), linebacker Justin Orr (Memphis) and safety Robert Williams (Toledo, Ball State).
“Overall, we’ve got about 10 kids who have been offered by somebody, but not all them by [major colleges],” Camden coach Jeff Herron said. “It’s a strange year. Every college that came through here looking at one of our players ended up liking another one better.”
How does Herron feel about all the college attention for his players?
“It’s a good thing. It doesn’t help you win any football games, but it’s good for your kids. It just shows they’ve been doing the right things to put themselves in position to get the [college offers]. We’re proud of them all.”
Roswell led the state last year with four players signing with major colleges, while another three turned down big schools to sign at the I-AA level, including cornerback LaVelle Larry, who picked Georgia Southern over Louisville on signing day.
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Camden Co. WR picks South Carolina over Georgia, Florida
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Camden County wide receiver DeAngelo Smith decided to commit to South Carolina, despite emerging interest from Georgia and Florida.
Smith, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound senior, also declined offers from East Carolina, Indiana, and Illinois, among others.
“He went to South Carolina camp a couple of weeks ago, and Coach (Steve) Spurrier’s son spent a lot of time with him individually,” Camden County coach Jeff Herron said. “[Smith] came back and said he was considering committing. I told him he really needed to take time to think it about because it’s such a big big decision.
“Then, we were standing on the football field the other day, and [Smith] said he thought about it and was ready to commit to South Carolina. It seems like a good fit for him.”
Herron said Smith might’ve been initially overlooked by many SEC and ACC schools because of Camden County’s run-oriented offense, with Smith catching 21 passes during his junior year.
Neither Florida nor Georgia had offered Smith, but both invited him to work out at each school’s respective camps on Friday, with a chance to earn a scholarship.
“We’re proud for DeAngelo, and think South Carolina got a player with huge upside potential to him,” Herron said. “He’s a 4.4 [in the 40-yard dash] kid who runs good routes and catches the ball very well.”
Rob Morton contributed to this article
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Dogs, Gamecocks eye Thomson DB
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Thomson strong safety Darius Eubanks is among the sleepers in the state at defensive back in the class of 2009.
A two-sport athlete, the 6-foot-1, 190-pound Eubanks also plays basketball for the Bulldogs in McDuffie County.
“Georgia and South Carolina have shown interest in Darius,” legendary Thomson coach Luther Welsh said. “And he’s getting letters from Alabama and Auburn.”
Eubanks, who has visited the Dogs and Gamecocks, is also being recruited by Middle Tennessee State and Wake Forest.
His cousin is NFL player Roderick Rogers, a graduate of Stephenson High and Wisconsin.
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UGA courts Florida trio with ‘package deal;’ coach says they’re NFL material
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Georgia is one of many colleges offering a “package deal” to three teammates from Sanford, Fla.
Defensive end Dyron Dye, wide receiver Andre Debose and all-around athlete Ray Ray Armstrong are being heavily recruited.
Seminole High School coach Michael Cullison said he recently was contacted by several Georgia coaches about the threesome.
“Georgia wants them to come to camp, or at least visit the campus, but I’m not sending them to any more [colleges] this summer,” Cullison said. “It’s nothing against Georgia or any other college; they just don’t need to take any more trips.”
Cullison said Georgia got a good look at the trio during the spring, when three assistants showed up on the same day to watch practice.
How good are they? “I don’t say this a lot, but all three of these kids could make it to the NFL,” Cullison said. “I’ve got two [former players] in the NFL right now, and these kids are just as good.”
Would all three consider signing with the same college as a package deal?
“There’s always a chance. They’ve played together since Pop Warner,” Cullison said. “But it’s all going to come down to playing time. They want to go to schools where they can get on the field the fastest.”
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Junior Gainesville receiver invited to Athens
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Tyler Jones is among the rising junior recruits who plan to attend Georgia’s version of Friday Night Lights later this week in Athens.
Though he hasn’t received his first scholarship offer, the Dogs, Florida, Vanderbilt and Virginia are heavily recruiting the 6-foot, 170-pound receiver.
“I’ve grown up a Georgia fan, but there are still a lot of colleges that I like,” said Jones, who recently transferred from Roswell to Gainesville.
“I’d be really surprised if Georgia offers me Friday night. I don’t think they saw me play last year. For them to offer me Friday night, it would be like a luck of the draw. I’m not expecting that.”
But an offer from the Dogs in the near future isn’t out of the question.
Jones, who runs the 40 in 4.5 seconds, has already participated in recent three-day and one-day camps in Athens. He’s also spent time with Georgia coach Mark Richt.”
“He’s a good coach who is always upbeat,” Jones said. “Coach Richt always seems like he knows what he’s doing.”
Jones is the son of former Notre Dame and NFL standout Andre Jones.
“My dad gives me a lot of advice on not committing early and keeping your options open,” he said. “And he tells me not to get a big head just because I’m getting letters from colleges.”
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Former UGA recruit has no regrets leaving football
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Xavier Avery, who signed with Georgia last February but decided to play baseball after he was drafted in the second round, is playing outfield for the Baltimore Orioles’ rookie team in Sarasota, Fla.
“Until you just brought it up, I haven’t really even thought about football,” Avery said in a telephone interview. “My mind is 100 percent on baseball. I’m learning so much new stuff every day.”
Avery, who played at Cedar Grove, said Georgia’s coaches took it well when he told them he was going to sign with the Orioles. “They knew all along that it was part of the deal, that I might end up playing baseball,” he said. “They weren’t surprised. They just wished me the best.”
Avery has gotten off to a slow start in the Gulf Coast League, posting a .236 batting average through the first 19 games. He has struck out 24 times in 72 at-bats, and none of his 17 hits have been for extra bases. But Avery has been impressive with his speed, stealing seven bases in nine attempts.
“The pitching here is a lot better than I saw in high school,” Avery said with a laugh. “I’ll be fine. I’m working hard and getting better every day.”
Avery said he has lost touch with Georgia’s other freshman football players, but that he plans to attend one of the team’s games this season.
At Georgia, the 5-foot-11, 180-pound Avery was projected to play defensive back or wide receiver.
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Tee Martin identifies state’s hidden gems at QB
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Westlake’s Lewis Kindle and Henry County’s Drew Little are two of the state’s most overlooked senior prospects, according to one of the nation’s top quarterback evaluators.
Kindle and Little were two of the 13 Georgia quarterbacks that attended Tee Martin’s Playmakers Passing Camp last weekend. Martin was quarterback on Tennessee’s 1998 national championship team.
Kindle won the camp’s award for “Best Footwook.” Said Martin: “I like everything about the kid. He’s big (6-foot-2), can throw, and plays in great program. He was talking about Tennessee-Chattanooga and other [Div. I-AA schools], and there is nothing wrong with that. But with a great senior year, especially with all the big-time prospects around him at Westlake, I can see some of the big colleges going after him.”
Martin on the 6-5, 230-pound Little: “If he works hard, I can see him turning the heads of some big schools. If he really puts forth the effort, Drew can go as high as he wants to go. We’ll just have to see how it unfolds.”
About 30 southern quarterbacks attended the two-day camp. The Dual-Threat MVP was A.J. Highsmith of Fort Bend, Texas. A.J., the son of former NFL fullback Alonzo Highsmith, has committed to Miami, his father’s alma mater. Said Martin: “Before he came to camp, a lot of people were saying that he was an athlete who could play a lot of other positions. But what I found so surprising was his throwing skills and his knowledge. He won our ‘Student of the Game’ award for his attentiveness at our meetings. I hope he stays at QB at Miami because he can definitely play the game at QB.”
Tyler Russell of Meridan, Miss., who has committed to Mississippi St., was the Pro-Style MVP. Said Martin: “The knock of him is slow feet. But he looked very good in our footwork drills. He looked much quicker than he was when I saw him earlier this summer, plus he’s gained a few pounds of muscle mass.”
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NBA son Glen Rice Jr. has Tech on short list
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Walton’s Glen Rice Jr., son of the former NBA All-Star Glen Rice, was one of the most popular attractions among college basketball coaches at the Nike Peach Jam in Augusta.
Rice, who plays with the Georgia Stars in AAU basketball, is one of the state’s top uncommitted seniors. One published report had the 6-foot-4 shooting guard narrowing his list of schools to Georgia Tech, Miami and Florida State.
“I don’t know [about recruiting]; those three schools were just the most recent ones I talked to,” Rice said at the Peach Jam.
When pressed further about recruiting, the tight-lipped Rice said he wasn’t ready to name finalists, but admitted that he had been thinking a lot about two schools, Georgia Tech and Miami.
On Georgia Tech: “It’s close to home and has great academics. I like their style of play.”
On Miami: “It close to my father’s home in Miami.”
Rice said he likely will sign in November. Rice averaged 25.6 points and 6.4 rebounds as a junior at Walton.
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Georgia LB commit Vasser won’t make it to Athens on Friday
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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A hectic schedule will prevent Chestatee linebacker Chase Vasser from attending Georgia’s gathering of football recruits in Athens Friday evening.
“Our [high school] team is at West Georgia, and I just got back to take final exams this week because I’m graduating early [in December],” Vasser said Monday night. “And then we have passing league on Saturday at West Hall.”
Vasser, who committed to Georgia in January, got a taste of Georgia football during a camp in Athens last month.
“I got to hang out with [future Georgia teammate] Zach Mettenberger,” Vasser said. “I enjoyed it. I got pushed to the limit and got a good experience of college coaching.”
Once he enrolls at Georgia in January, the 6-foot-4, 211-pound Vasser plans to room Mettenberger, who is on pace to graduate from Oconee County in December.
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Florida TE open to Tech’s pursuit
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Orson Charles of Tampa, Fla., is one of the nation’s most coveted tight ends, holding 29 scholarship offers.
Charles said most SEC and ACC schools have offered him, with the exception of Georgia Tech. When asked about it, Charles said he has no explanation: “Georgia Tech has a new coach and new offensive system. Maybe they are just trying to figure out what type of [personnel] they want to fit with what they are doing. I’m really not sure.”
Is it too late for Georgia Tech? Would Charles be receptive if the Yellow Jackets extended a scholarship offer? “Yes, if they offered, I’d listen to what they would have to say, just like with all the other colleges. I’m open to it.”
Charles, who is one of rival Georgia’s top recruiting targets at tight end, transferred to play at Plant High School for his senior season. Plant’s quarterback is Aaron Murray, who committed to Georgia over 53 other scholarship offers.
The 6-foot-3, 227-pound Charles said he is being recruited by almost all schools at tight end, but that a few have discussed playing wide receiver. Charles would likely project at wide receiver in Georgia Tech’s scheme.
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Alexander’s Mitchell commits to Kentucky
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Alexander offensive lineman Kevin Mitchell says he will play football at Kentucky, his head coach, Kenny Palmer, said.
The 6-7, 295-pound senior had offers from Indiana, Louisville and Oregon and was being recruited by Mississippi State, Auburn, Georgia and North Carolina State. But an unofficial visit to Lexington last week, where he attended the Wildcats’ camp, convinced Mitchell that Kentucky was the place for him.
“He just fell in love with the school once he went up there,” Palmer said. “Just two weeks earlier, he had told me he was going to take all of his official visits. Then last week he asked me what I thought about his committing to Kentucky. I told him to go where he thinks he’ll be happy.”
Mitchell, who runs 4.95 seconds in the 40-yard dash, plays guard at Alexander in Douglas County, where the Cougars utilize his speed and athleticism to pull block on running plays. He likely will play offensive tackle at Kentucky.
“He’s a great kid and he works his tail off in the weight room,” Palmer said. “Once they get him in their weight lifting and nutritional program up there, he’ll get up to 315, 320 pounds easily.”
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Loss 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
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Douglass LB Atchison mulling over Alabama, Auburn offers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Douglass linebacker Jonathan Atchison grew up liking Auburn football, but every day in practice he hears about the Alabama tradition.
Douglass assistant coach Allen Hollie, who played for the Crimson Tide, makes sure of that.
“He is always talking about the tradition and the mystique of Alabama football,” Atchison said. “There is no escaping it. I’ve always liked Auburn when I was growing up.”
Both schools have offered scholarships to the 6-foot-3, 212-pound Atchison. Atchison also has offers from Central Florida, Mississippi State, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Maryland and Rutgers.
He had 112 tackles and 12 sacks last season and caught 14 passes for 370 yards and five touchdowns from his tight end position.
“I’m looking forward to taking my visits to the schools,” Atchison said. “I went to camp at Auburn earlier this summer, but I look forward to going back down there to meet all the coaches and see the facilities.”
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Tech lands first in-state basketball recruit — Hancock Central’s Holsey
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Kammeon Holsey, who led Class A Hancock Central to its first state title last winter, became Georgia Tech’s second basketball commitment for the 2009 class.
The 6-foot-8 Holsey chose the Yellow Jackets over ACC rivals Clemson and Florida State Sunday while playing in the Nike Peach Jam Classic in Augusta for the Georgia Stars AAU team.
Holsey averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds last season as he was named first team all-state in Class A. He was also named the AJC Class A player of the year.
“I was thinking a lot about the ACC, and felt Georgia Tech was the right place for me,” Holsey said by phone from Augusta. “I think coach (Paul) Hewitt is a great coach. I developed a good relationship with him and his staff.”
Earlier this summer, Oak Hill forward Brian Oliver committed to sign with the Yellow Jackets during the early signing period in November. Tech still remains in the running for several other top in-state players including the nation’s top recruit, Derrick Favors of South Atlanta.
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Tucker DE Roberson eyes UGA
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Tucker defensive end Deion Roberson, one of the state’s most intriguing prospects, said he is considering attending Georgia’s football camp on Friday.
The 6-foot-3, 265-pounder already has a dozen offers, including N.C. State, Michigan State, Maryland and West Virginia. Roberson said he has not been offered by Georgia, but was told by his high school coaches that the Bulldogs are very interested, pending further evaluation. How does he feel about the situation?
“I’m fine with everything with Georgia,” Roberson said. “I understand it’s all a process, and Georgia wants to see and know more about me.”
Roberson said his next offer may be from Tennessee, where he said he plans to take an unofficial visit on Saturday: “Tennessee has really been coming on strong. I feel like when they see me in person, there’s a good chance they may offer.”
Would Roberson commit if Tennessee offered? “Well, it would make me feel great if they offered. But I’m not ready to make any college decisions just yet. I need time to sit down with my family and take close looks at all the schools. When I make a decision, I want it to be the right decision.”
Roberson is being recruited primarily at defensive end by the colleges, but he said he is also getting looks at defensive tackle and tight end. Roberson has been overshadowed by his teammate, Drayton Calhoun (committed to LSU), but appears to be catching the attention of more colleges as the summer progresses.
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South Atlanta basketball star Favors embarks on recruiting tour
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Like most of the top basketball recruits in the state, South Atlanta center Derrick Favors will travel around the country this month playing in front of hundreds of college coaches.
College coaches are allowed by the NCAA to watch players during a July evaluation period.
South Atlanta coach Michael Reddick said as soon as he can catch up with Favors, his 6-foot-9 All-American center, they will sit down to begin trimming his list of potential colleges. Reddick said they likely will trim to at least six schools before classes begin on Aug. 11.
He said that Georgia and Georgia Tech are still in the hunt for Favors, who averaged 23.7 points, 17.1 rebounds and 9.1 blocked shots last season.
“My phone has been ringing off the hook,” Reddick said. “We haven’t eliminated anybody so far.”
Favors is not the only top undecided player in the state. Between AAU tournaments and summer camps, we caught up with some of the area’s top prospects:
•Fayette County guard/forward Noel Johnson has Georgia Tech very high on his list, according to his father, Cheese Johnson, a former professional player.
In addition to the Yellow Jackets, the 6-foot-7 Johnson also is interested in Southern Cal, Louisville, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest. Cheese Johnson said they will narrow the list by the end of the summer.
“They are all kind of [in the running] right now,” Cheese Johnson said. “We like the way all those coaches have developed players. Location is not a problem. I went from growing up in New York to playing college ball in Kansas.”
•Miller Grove point guard Mfon Udofia said he probably will trim his list on July 22. The 6-foot-3 Udofia is rated the No. 30 prospect in the country by Rivals.com and the No. 5 point guard.
He said he is interested in Georgia Tech, Florida, Wake Forest, Texas and Virginia. He said Georgia backed off because it had enough point guards, but that he would listen if the Bulldogs called.
ON SECOND THOUGHT: After committing to play at Ohio State, McEachern junior guard Trae Golden has decided to re-open the recruiting process this summer.
Last week, he backed off the commitment and informed Buckeyes coach Thad Matta of his decision.
“I just want to see what else is out there,” Golden said. “I keep hearing the recruiting process is crazy.”
Ohio State, Florida, Georgia and Georgia Tech are under consideration. Although North Carolina and UCLA haven’t offered, Golden said he has talked with the schools and would be interested.
CHASING ANOTHER RING: Norcross senior Taariq Muhammad said he was happy with the school promoting assistant coach Jesse McMillan to the head coaching position after Eddie Martin left to coach at GAC.
“It makes for a smooth transition,” said Muhammad, a heavily recruited point guard on two of the school’s last three championship teams. “We are just going to stay consistent and do what we have to do.”
Muhammad is trying to trim his college choices between Auburn, South Carolina, Miami, Oregon, Southern Cal, Virginia Tech, Clemson, Penn State, Minnesota and Tennessee.
FOR YOUR THOUGHTS ONLY: Football season is around the corner, but basketball is a year-round sport. What player or team impressed you the most during the summer leagues? What player or team is poised for a real big year?
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Carver LB unlikely to join brother at Auburn
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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LeRon Furr, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound linebacker for Carver, Columbus, likely won’t join his older brother, DeRon Furr, at Auburn. But he could still wind up playing football in the SEC.
“I’ve got offers from Duke, Central Florida, Ole Miss, UAB, Oklahoma State, Arkansas and Louisville,” LeRon Furr said. “Will I get an offer from Auburn? I don’t think so.”
The younger Furr has spent a portion of his summer on the recruiting trail.
“I went to Duke to a camp last week,” he said. “And I’ve been to Central Florida for junior day. I think I’m going to Mississippi State to a camp this weekend.”
As for recruiting advice from his big brother: “he told me to enjoy it and have fun.”
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Georgia lands 12th commitment of 2009
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Jordan Love of Glen Allen, Va., who said he was told by Georgia’s coaches that they might sign only one cornerback for next year, committed to the Bulldogs on Thursday.
“I called Coach Richt on his cell phone, he sounded like he was with his family,” Love said. “He didn’t recognize my number because I usually call from my mom’s phone. But when he realized it was me, he was glad I was calling. I told him I’m ready to commit, and he seemed excited.”
With 22 scholarship offers, Love is considered one of the nation’s top cornerbacks. He picked Georgia over Florida and Penn State, and called the other finalists to let them know he is going to sign with the Bulldogs.
Love is highly coveted because he offers a rare combination of size (6 foot, 185 lbs), speed (4.41) and athleticism at cornerback.
Georgia assistant Tony Ball observed Love during spring drills and extended an offer later the same night. Love fell in love with Georgia after visiting the campus last month: “It was a great experience. The coaching staff really made me feel like it was home. I have been thinking about committing ever since then.
“My mom told me to follow my heart. She told me whatever makes me happy, would make her happy. And I decided it made me happy to go ahead and commit to Georgia.”
How did Georgia land one of Virginia’s top players? Love said competing for SEC and national championships was appealing, and that he had relatives living nearby, with his father in Atlanta and brother in Spartanburg, S.C.
Georgia now has 12 commitments, including defensive back Shawn Williams of Early County. Love said Georgia defensive coordinator Willie Martinez projects Williams to play safety, and that he is targeting other cornerbacks. “[Martinez] said that they knew they were going to take one for sure, which I wanted to be me, but he would also take some Georgia kids at cornerback if it worked out that way. If they had some more commitments at my position later on, it wouldn’t affect my decision. Georgia is where I want to be.”
Georgia has offers out to several of the Southeast’s top cornerbacks, including Branden Smith of Atlanta’s Washington High School.
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Parkview star chooses Auburn
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Parkview two-sport star Brandon Jacobs has given a verbal commitment to attend Auburn on a football scholarship. The rising senior running back, who rushed for 881 yards and seven touchdowns and had 224 receiving yards and two scores as a junior, chose Auburn over interested schools such as Wake Forest and UAB.
“A lot of my family lives down at Auburn,” said Jacobs. “The fact that they’ll get to watch all our games and I’ll be close to home (influenced the decision).”
Jacobs had a breakout season in baseball as well, leading the Region 8-AAAAA runner-up Panthers in on-base percentage (.554); batting average (.500, 45-for-90) and RBIs (37). His status as a professional baseball prospect has risen in the past year and Parkview coach Chan Brown, who also coaches Jacobs on the Panthers’ summer team, thinks his star outfielder might have a choice to make soon.
“I think it’s good for him,” said Brown of Jacobs’ decision to go to Auburn. “(But) he’s become a big-time baseball prospect. We’ll see what happens with baseball.”
“I haven’t talked about baseball (with Auburn),” Jacobs said. “I’ll probably bring it up soon.”
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Alabama DE not scheduled to visit UGA
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Georgia appears to be a longshot for defensive end William Ming of Athens, Ala.
Ming, who has around 25 scholarship offers, said he has never visited the other Athens, nor does he have any definitive plans to check out Georgia before his senior season begins next month.
Ming’s only stop this summer has been at Alabama’s camp, where he just observed but did not work out.
“I’ve had a busy summer,” Ming said. “I’ve been doing things I’ve wanted to do. I’ve been on some vacations, I’ve also been working. I might check out some more colleges, maybe, but I really don’t know.”
Auburn and LSU are some of the other colleges that Ming has visited, which is important, because he is still considering announcing a college decision next month: “I originally thought I’d decide before my senior season, but I’m not positive. I may wait, at least that’s what I’m thinking now. I may go to some games and look around some more. We’ll see what happens.”
Even if Ming never sees Georgia before his decision, he still holds the Bulldogs in high regard: “Mark Richt is a great guy, and Georgia will probably win the national championship this year. Their program is definitely going in the right direction.”
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Alabama, Auburn tops in scholarship stakes for Carver’s Dennis
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Carver-Atlanta senior Demond Dennis has scholarship offers from eight schools, but Alabama and Auburn appear to be on the top of his list.
In addition to the two SEC schools, the 5-foot-9, 190-pound running back/cornerback also has received offers from Miami-Ohio, Louisville, Illinois, East Carolina, Alabama-Birmingham and Western Kentucky.
He plans on visiting Alabama, Auburn and Louisville this fall, then make a decision on other visits.
“I like Alabama and Auburn,” said Dennis, who rushed for 1,600 yards and 13 touchdowns despite missing two games with an ankle injury.
Dennis recently was on the Alabama campus for an elite football camp and visited Auburn during a school trip. He said he would like a little more time to tour the campuses before making a decision.
Carver coach Darren Myles said some schools are recruiting Dennis as a cornerback. Dennis started at cornerback as a sophomore at Carver, but switched to running back last season.
“I think he can play running back at the major-college level,” said Myles, who coached current NFL running back Jamal Lewis in high school. “He can put on about 10 more pounds and still have his speed.”
Dennis said he wears No. 24 because he is a fan of former Cadillac Williams, a former Auburn running back.
“I’m just looking to see how I fit into the programs that are recruiting me,” Dennis said. “I’m not ready to commit yet.”
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Future Georgia QBs headed to California camp
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Oconee County’s Zach Mettenberger and Aaron Murray of Plant Senior High in Tampa, Fla., a pair of Georgia commits, have been invited to participate in next week’s Elite 11 quarterback camp in Laguna Beach, Calif.
Mettenberger is looking forward to going head-to-head with his future teammate in the prestigious four-day camp that begins on Monday.
“Competition is just part of it,” Mettenberger said. “Aaron and I are friends, and we text on occasion.
“But I kind of approach our situation like [current Georgia quarterbacks Matthew] Stafford and [Joe] Cox. Joe isn’t the starter, but he and Matt are best friends.
“I definitely want to have a friendship with Aaron. [As for playing time,] we’ll see down the road who the coaches like more at the time.”
Mettenberger will return from California next week in time to attend a mini-camp in Athens.
“I’ve already been to Georgia’s two day camp and the one day camp,” he said. “They’re having a nighttime camp on Friday July 18. I’ll be going to that one too.”
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GAC LBs Southerland, Mularkey commit to Vanderbilt, North Carolina
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Two rising senior linebackers at Greater Atlanta Christian have announced their college choices.
Inside linebacker Blake Southerland has committed to Vanderbilt, while outside linebacker Shane Mularkey has committed to North Carolina.
Southerland, a 6-2, 220-pounder who ranked second on the Spartans in tackles last season, is the brother of Georgia fullback Brannan Southerland. Mularkey, a 6-2, 210-pounder entering his first season at GAC, is the son of Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey.
“They both have been working extremely hard, and we’re very happy for them,” GAC coach Ken Robinson said Wednesday. “Blake grew up in our program. Shane has been here since the beginning of last semester and is doing an incredible job, too.”
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UGA-bound Murray encourages teammate to commit to Dogs
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Tight end Orson Charles of Tampa, Fla., said he was advised to commit to Georgia before he leaves Thursday for an unofficial visit to Florida State.
Not surprisingly, the encouragement came from quarterback Aaron Murray, his teammate at Plant High School, who has already committed to Georgia.
“Yeah, we talk all the time, and Aaron will also send me text messages telling me I should commit,” Charles said with a laugh.
The 6-foot-3, 227-pound Charles said he does not plan to pick a college until he takes his five official visits, and he has yet to narrow down to five schools.
Charles and Murray have been longtime friends, but have never been on the same team until this summer. Charles transferred to Plant for his senior year, and has high expectations.
“Aaron is amazing, he makes me look so good, I thank him all the time,” Charles said.
“I know he is great, but I didn’t realize how great, until I went to a ton of college camps without him there. So many of those other quarterbacks just weren’t the same [caliber], it was frustrating.”
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Georgia withdraws offer to recruit
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Nico Johnson of Andalusia, Ala., one of the nation’s top linebackers, said he was “disappointed” when he found out that Georgia was no longer offering a scholarship. The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder has 15 scholarship offers and counting, including ones from Alabama, Auburn, Southern Cal, Florida, Florida State, Tennessee and Texas A&M.
“I found out recently that Georgia took everybody they needed at linebacker for this year,” Johnson said.
“It was disappointing because I was really looking closely at Georgia. But everything is ok. I’ve still got a lot of great colleges to pick from.”
Georgia has commitments from 11 rising seniors, including three linebackers: Michael Gilliard of Valdosta, Chase Vasser of Gainesville, and Dexter Moody of Twin City.
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Carver DB pencils in visit to Georgia
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Georgia coach Mark Richt and his staff hope to welcome Carver’s Darren Myles to Athens two days before the talented safety is scheduled to visit LSU.
“Darren will be going to LSU on the 20th of July and will hang out there a couple of days,” Myles’ father and Carver coach, Darren Myles Sr. said.
“We may pass through and stop at Alabama. And we’re going to try to go back over to Georgia on the 18th.”
The 6-foot-1, 175 pound Myles, who was recently named as the 74th-best player in the class of 2009 by Rivals.com, holds scholarship offers from programs such as Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Purdue, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia.
But Myles isn’t prepared to declare a frontrunner or top 10 just yet.
“In his mind he may have a [favorite], but he has a couple of other schools he wants to visit,” Myles Sr. said. “For instance, he wants to get up north to Purdue and Notre Dame before school starts back on Aug. 11.”
Myles, who scored a 1,340 on the SAT and 19 on the ACT, has a 2.9 core GPA. He said he’s beginning to enjoy being in the national recruiting spotlight.
“I’m having fun,” he said. “At first I felt some pressure. But I’m learning to enjoy it.”
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Georgia makes token contact with LSU recruit
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Tucker running back/cornerback Drayton Calhoun is having no second thoughts about his February commitment to LSU.
“I’m graduating early from high school and will be enrolling at LSU in January,” Calhoun confirmed earlier today.
The 6-foot, 175-pound Calhoun chose LSU over scholarship offers from programs such as Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee.
“They’ve all kind of backed off recruiting me, but schools like Georgia still write me now and then and say ‘good luck’ or ‘come and visit us,’” Calhoun said.
Calhoun, who was recruited by the Tigers as an athlete, will likely see the Dogs in action on Oct. 25 when LSU hosts Georgia.
“I’m going to try to go to the Georgia game at LSU,” said Calhoun, whose most recent visit to Baton Rouge was to attend the Tigers’ spring game in April.
Calhoun, who averaged 8.8 yards per carry last season, has no plans to visit any school other than LSU this fall.
“I talk to the coaches at LSU every week,” he said. “I really like the coaching staff there. Coach [Les] Miles is a caring, family guy.”
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Tucker hoops star picks Hokies over Georgia Tech
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Tucker High senior Manny Atkins, a member of the school’s Class AAAA 2007 boys’ basketball championship team, has verbally committed to sign with Virginia Tech in November.
The 6-foot-6 guard/forward chose the Hokies over Georgia Tech and Marquette. Last season, he averaged 20.5 points and 10.4 rebounds while shooting 54 percent from the field.
“From what I seen from my visits, I thought Virginia Tech had a lot to offer,” Atkins said. “I liked my (future) teammates and the coaching staff.”
Atkins will join former AAU teammate Terrell Bell, a former standout at Stone Mountain, at Virginia Tech. Bell was a freshmen this past season for the Hokies.
“Terrell showed me around up there and told me what to expect,” Atkins said. “I was able to get a lot of information from him.”
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SEC programs intrigued by Eastside receiver
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Kentucky and Vanderbilt continue to show strong interest in Eastside-Covington receiver Anderico Bailey.
“He already has a full offer to Akron and Presbyterian,” Eastside coach Rick Hurst said.
When it comes to lighting up the scoreboard, Hurst doesn’t hesitate to call on his 6-foot-1, 175-pound playmaker.
“He’s very athletic and he led the team in receptions and touchdowns the last two years,” Hurst said. “He has tremendous leaping ability.
“Anderico is fearless when it comes to getting the football out of the air. He’s a good prospect.”
Bailey, who has already visited Kentucky and Vanderbilt, will see some action at free safety this fall.
“He played some cornerback for us last year,” Hurst said. “I would like to limit him to the offensive side, but I’m not going to lose by having my best players sitting on the sidelines.”
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College players’ off-field conduct factoring into pro teams’ draft decisions
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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While checking out the latest recruiting news, this headline from the July 1 edition of the Memphis Commercial Appeal grabbed our attention:
“Nets officials praise CDR’s character; No shady players on Jersey’s draft list”
Shady players? Color us intrigued. Here’s the gist of the article, spotlighting the Nets’ picks in the recent NBA draft:
“When New Jersey Nets president Rod Thorn introduced the team’s three new draft picks Monday, he praised the trio as much for their reputations off the court as their ability on it.
‘You always look for ability, but you also have to have character,’ Thorn said as he introduced first-round selections Brook Lopez and Ryan Anderson and second-round pick Chris Douglas-Roberts. ‘That’s what we like about all three.’
In the past two years, the Nets gambled with first-round picks, taking Marcus Williams in 2006 and Sean Williams last year - players who had shady pasts and run-ins with the law during their college days at Connecticut and Boston College respectively.”
What’s your take? In light of this week’s stories regarding arrests of UGA football players and rape allegations against Tech footballer Jerrard Tarrant (suspended indefinitely from the team), we ask you how important off-the-field conduct should be when pro teams scout college players for drafting. Is it fair for pro teams to judge prospects based on personal conduct rather than playing stats? If you were a pro GM looking to draft, would a player’s character factor into your decisions?
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Arkansas’ Petrino dislikes ‘Internet recruiting,’ having to ‘offer more guys’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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You won’t find Razorbacks head football coach Bobby Petrino jumping onto Alabama coach Nick Saban’s webcam-recruiting train. Unless he absolutely has to, that is.
The former Falcons coach, now preparing for his first fall campaign at Arkansas, thinks online recruiting isn’t good for the game. Currently, football players must wait until the regular signing period between February and April 1 of their senior year to sign a national letter of intent. Petrino particularly dislikes being forced to offer a greater number of players than in the past, thanks to the cornucopia of websites available for showcasing the nation’s top recruits.
“I don’t like it. It is a trend, and it is because they’re reading people on the Internet,” Petrino told The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette this June. “We’re having to offer more guys because of Internet recruiting. That’s basically it.”
SEC coaches voted in May 9-3 in favor of adopting an early signing period of college football. Petrino was among the three voting against the measure.
But don’t look for a slew of early signees hitting SEC football fields anytime soon. The vote was only a recommendation to SEC college presidents and athletic directors, who tabled the proposal.
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