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Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Sandy Creek DE Brandon Putnam proud of Duke’s recruiting
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Sandy Creek defensive end Brandon Putnam, who committed to Duke, said he is not surprised to see the Blue Devils have so much recruiting success this year.
Duke, under first-year coach David Cutcliffe, has 22 commitments for its 2009 class, beating out more successful teams for many players. Defensive tackle John Drew of Columbus switched his commitment from Georgia Tech to Duke, and tailback Desmond Scott of Durham, N.C., picked the Blue Devils over offers from Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Clemson, Alabama, and Auburn, among others.
“It’s the coaching staff … they are committed to winning and they guarantee success,” Putnam said. “Coach Cutcliffe is very serious about building a great program, and he feels like this [recruiting] class will be the one to turn things around.”
The 6-foot-3, 230-pound Putnam is a member of the AJC’s The Georgia 150 and picked Duke over Arkansas, Minnesota and Stanford.
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Marshall may be next to offer North Gwinnett QB Tamburo
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Quarterback Michael Tamburo, who led North Gwinnett to an appearance in last year’s Class AAAAA championship game, said Marshall may be the next school to offer.
The 6-foot-1, 185-pound quarterback is a member of the AJC’s The Georgia 150.
“Marshall has sent me some letters, telling me I’d be a great addition to the team,” Tamburo said. “We’ve called up there, and waiting to hear back from them. I’m excited, Marshall has a top program.”
Tamburo has offers from Tulsa, Air Force, Louisana-Monroe, Toledo and Bowling Green, while drawing interest from several other schools.
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Eagle’s Landing junior QB Shaddix on the recruiting radar
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Dylan Shaddix, a junior quarterback at Eagle’s Landing in McDonough, is sure to be under the watchful eye of college recruiters during the upcoming season.
Part of his summer included participation in a camp at Kentucky and an Under Armour combine at the Georgia Dome.
“It was crazy at Kentucky,” the 6-foot-2, 208 pound Shaddix said. “I got to see all the facilities. It was really cool.
“The thing at the dome was basically a combine, more than a camp. I didn’t do many quarterback drills. I did all the testing, though.”
Shaddix, who is just starting to receive letters, hopes one of his first scholarship offers is from Alabama.
“My team is Alabama,” he said. “I was born and raised here [in metro Atlanta], but most of my family is from Alabama.”
The Golden Eagles are expected to give Shaddix, a pocket passer, plenty of opportunities to shine this fall.
“We ran the ball a lot last year, but we’ll run out of the spread a lot this season,” Shaddix said.
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Florida lineman picks Duke over Tech, others
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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David Harding of Orlando, one of Georgia Tech’s top targets at offensive line, has committed to Duke, according to GoGamecocks.com.
Harding’s coach said academics and his relationship with Duke coach David Cutcliffe were the deciding factors. The 6-foot-5, 275-pound Harding had 17 offers, withSouth Carolina and Central Florida being the other finalists.
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Tech recruits don’t mention Jackets during interview
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Georgia Tech is recruiting Dominique Allen and Marsalis Teague of Henry County High in Paris, Tenn., but neither mentioned Tech in an article Monday by Tom Kreager of the Nashville Tennessean newspaper.
Allen has committed to Tennessee but appears to be re-considering after a visit to LSU. Tech sees him as a B-Back. Tech is recruiting Teague as a cornerback.
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Ridgeland WR has ‘backup plan’ if UGA doesn’t offer
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Ridgeland wide receiver Michael Bowman is determined to play for Georgia, which he said told him they would offer if he raised his test scores. However, Bowman admitted he has a “backup plan” in case things don’t work out with the Bulldogs.
“Georgia is where I want to be, it always has been,” Bowman said. “However, I’m not going to prep school. If Georgia didn’t take me, then I’d go to Auburn or LSU.”
Permalink | Comments (21) | Post your comment | Categories: Alabama, LSU, UGA
Inside the Stat Q&A: How Chamblee RB Norman scored 27 TDs
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Warren Norman, a 5-foot-9, 185-pound running back from Chamblee, has committed to Vanderbilt. Norman, listed on the AJC’s The Georgia 150 list, put up a big number in 2007 — 27 touchdowns.
The encore preparation? “Continue to work hard in the weight room. Get in better condition and maybe do more this year.”
More scores last season? “I think so, since the first couple of games I wasn’t really 100 percent and I didn’t get as many carries as I got later in the season. I imagine I could have had about 40.”
More carries in ‘08? “I think so, especially seeing how other running backs got more than I did. I think I can carry the team on my shoulders, and I kind of like it.”
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UGA youth movement: Dogs offer Warner Robins junior
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Warner Robins defensive tackle Jeffrey Whitaker is one of only a select few rising juniors who already has been offered by Georgia.
“I’ve never had a player receive an offer sophomore year,” Warner Robins coach Bryan Way said. “But it’s happening all over the country, so it’s not that surprising.”
The 6-foot-3, 295-pound Whitaker is difficult to hide from college recruiters, despite having two years left to play in high school. Whitaker also has offers from Clemson and North Carolina. Florida and Alabama are showing heavy interest.
Whitaker, who has been clocked at 5.2 seconds in the 40-yard dash, registered 65 tackles and five sacks as a sophomore. “He has the ability to dominate,” Way said.
- Michael Carvell contributed to this article
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Tucker LB Davis doesn’t measure up for many colleges
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Tucker’s Jonathan Davis, arguably the state’s best football player, has a some very good scholarship offers, including South Carolina, Penn State and Oklahoma State.
But many observers agree that if the 5-foot-7, 205-pound Davis was three inches taller, he’d be one of the nation’s top prospects. Said one SEC recruiter, who asked to remain anonymous because of NCAA rules: “I love everything about the kid. But our staff just can’t get past the height.”
Tucker coach Franklin Stephens is disappointed that height is being held against Davis. “I think [Davis] is the best player in the state,” Stephens said. “If there’s one better, I’d like to watch that tape.”
“If Jonathan was 5-11, you’d see a ‘Tray Blackmon War’ with recruiting,” said Stephens, referring to the current Auburn linebacker who was ranked as the nation’s No. 1 outside linebacker from LaGrange in 2005.
Davis, a recent AJC Super 11 selection, has mixed emotions about the issue. He was happy to see his teammate, Drayton Calhoun, get offered by most of the national powerhouses before committing to LSU. But he is disappointed about getting overlooked by the same schools.
“I can’t control the way God made me,” Davis said. “I can’t change my height. If I get taller, then I do. If I don’t, then I don’t, and I’ll just go to one of the schools that likes me just the way I am.”
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