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Sunday, August 24, 2008
Clemson offers Flowery Branch DE Cross
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Just when it appeared that Georgia Tech might have the inside track on scoring a commitment from Flowery Branch’s Izaan Cross, ACC rival Clemson officially threw its hat in the recruiting ring last week after extending a scholarship offer to the talented defensive end.
Cross, who also has offers from Arkansas, Florida State, Maryland, Mississippi State, North Carolina, N.C. State, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Central Florida, wasn’t surprised when Clemson’s offer arrived.
The Tigers have been recruiting him aggressively for several months.
“With Clemson, the recruiting coach has been to my school, but the defensive line coach wanted to see me before they offered me,” said Cross, a member of the AJC’s Georgia Top 150. “But with me not being able to get over there yet, they finally said ‘we’ll go ahead and offer you.’”
Cross will likely take a road trip to Clemson this fall.
“I would say so,” he said. “I’m going to try to get up there to one of their games this year, and it possibly might be one of my five [official visits],” he said.
“As far as two or three of my other [four official] visits, I’d say Georgia Tech and probably Mississippi State.”
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment | Categories: Clemson, FSU, South Carolina, Tech
Top 10 most wanted: Best football recruits still on the market
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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About half of Georgia’s top 25 recruits remain uncommitted. Here are the best 10 still on the market. Three of our reporters then make predictions on their final destinations.
Darren Myles, Carver-Atlanta: The only surprise would be if Myles, a Super 11 safety, committed early. He’s very interested in LSU and Georgia, but the sense here is that he’ll be swayed by something in early winter, not the fall. This battle is just beginning.
Predictions:
Michael Carvell: Georgia
Jeff Hood: Georgia
Todd Holcomb: LSU
Jarvis Jones, Carver-Columbus: The consensus No. 1 recruit in Georgia, Jones is another who’s not likely to commit until after the season. Best guess is that this linebacker will go with Clemson, Florida, Georgia or LSU, but he has not ruled out Miami, Texas or Southern Cal. He could wind up a safety in college.
Predictions:
Carvell: LSU
Hood: Clemson
Holcomb: Georgia
Jamal Patterson, Henry County: This swift wide receiver told our Michael Carvell this month that he’ll make official visits to Stanford and Central Florida. His other choices are Florida, Tennessee, Clemson, Auburn and Oregon. Great student, which is one reason he made our Super 11 list.
Predictions:
Carvell: Central Florida
Hood: Central Florida
Holcomb: Stanford
Johnnie Farms, Perry: This Super 11 lineman says he’d like to stay near home. He has gone to camp at Alabama and South Carolina and recently visited Auburn. He’s believed to be an Auburn lean.
Predictions:
Carvell: Auburn
Hood: Auburn
Holcomb: Auburn
Jonathan Davis, Tucker: Many feel this is the best football player in Georgia, even if his size - 5-8 - doesn’t make him a 5-star recruit. He’s got offers from Oklahoma State, South Carolina, Louisville, Central Florida and UAB, although there’s blog talk that South Carolina may back off after getting commitments from two safeties and two linebackers this month, including Apalachee’s Chaun Gresham.
Predictions:
Carvell: Oklahoma State
Hood: Central Florida
Holcomb: Central Florida
Branden Smith, Washington: The best corner prospect in Georgia, Smith told us this month that he plans to make his decision Jan. 4 at the Under Armour All-Star game. He’s camped at LSU and Auburn and visited Georgia and Alabama this summer.
Predictions:
Carvell: Georgia
Hood: LSU
Holcomb: Georgia
Izaan Cross, Flowery Branch: This defensive end told our Jeff Hood last weekend that Clemson just made an offer. We still think he’s a Georgia Tech lean. His Flowery Branch teammate, Daniel Drummond, is a Tech commit, and quarterback Connor Shaw has a Tech offer as a junior and is the brother of current Tech freshman Jaybo Shaw.
Predictions:
Carvell: Georgia Tech
Hood: Georgia Tech
Holcomb: Georgia Tech
Michael Bowman, Ridgeland: This 6-foot-5 receiver told our Seth Coleman that he’s down to Auburn, Georgia and LSU.
Predictions:
Carvell: Prep school
Hood: Georgia
Holcomb: Auburn
Julian Burnett, Westside-Macon: This is a linebacker that we rank higher than the recruiting services, who don’t like his height, 5-10. Auburn is perhaps his favorite, but he’s waiting on an offer.
Predictions:
Carvell: Mississippi
Hood: Alabama-Birmingham
Holcomb: Auburn
Darius Slay, Brunswick: Not the best ‘’prospect’’ because he’s got grade issues that keep some top schools from offering. Georgia hasn’t even visited. But Slay, a cornerback with 4.37 speed, is a player with Super 11 and perhaps NFL talent. Clemson and South Carolina have visited and essentially offered — contingent on Slay coming through academically.
Predictions:
Carvell: South Carolina
Hood: Prep school
Holcomb: JUCO
Permalink | Comments (14) | Post your comment | Categories: Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, FSU, Florida, LSU, Other schools, South Carolina, Tech, Tennessee, UGA
Other schools not giving up Tech commit Sweeting
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Georgia Tech had two commitments for its 2009 class switch to other schools. Luella defensive back Roderick Sweeting, who was leaning toward Auburn before committing to the Yellow Jackets, said he is standing by his college decision.
Sweeting said Alabama, Kentucky, and Maryland are still making overtures, trying to convince him to change his mind.
“I thought I made it pretty clear that I was going to Tech, but I’m not surprised I’m still hearing from the other schools,” Sweeting said. “It doesn’t bother me. That’s their job, to recruit, so I’m sure they’ll stay on me but I’m going to Georgia Tech.”
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Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment | Categories: Alabama, Tech
Sandy Creek QB Rio Johnson satisfied with East Carolina
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Sandy Creek’s Rio Johnson, who is a candidate to be the state’s top quarterback, said he is satisfied with his college choice.
The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Johnson committed to East Carolina last spring. He is still being recruiting by Memphis and Alabama-Birmingham, among others. However, Johnson said he is sticking with the Pirates. Johnson is a member of the AJC’s The Georgia Top 150
“East Carolina treated me well during my visit, and it feels like home every time I’m on the campus,” Johnson said. “They told me they were going to redshirt me my first year, so I can learn the offense. Then as a redshirt freshman, they were hoping to get me in the game some with the plan to compete for the starting position as a sophomore.”
Johnson is a dual-threat at quarterback, just as effective running as he is passing the ball. He said he will likely scramble more this season with the loss of teammate Braxton Lane. Lane, who was considered one of the nation’s top wide receivers, decided to skip his senior season of football at Sandy Creek to focus on baseball. Lane, who had a football offer from Georgia Tech, said he has not ruled out returning to football in college.
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Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment | Categories: Other schools, Tech
Georgia-bound QB Mettenberger sharp in Oconee scrimmage
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Oconee County quarterback Zach Mettenberger tossed a total of five touchdown passes during the Warriors’ preseason scrimmage Friday night against rival North Oconee.
The contest gave the community just south of Athens its first glimpse of first-year Oconee County coach Mitch Olson’s spread offense and launched the senior season of Mettenberger, who has committed to
“My completion percentage was really good, and I thought the team played really well for our first outing,” said Mettenberger, who is listed as the 10th-best quarterback in the nation by Scout.com and is a member of the AJC’s Georgia Top 150 .
The 6-foot-5, 233-pound Mettenberger plans to attend Georgia’s season opener on Saturday against Georgia Southern in Athens.
“I’m taking an unofficial visit on Saturday,” he said.
Mettenberger said he’s aware of Glades Central (Fla.) receiver Rantavious Wooten, who plans to commit to Georgia or LSU on Friday.
“I know Rantavious,” Mettenberger said. “He was there at Dawg night earlier this summer. The [Georgia] coaches really like him a lot and what he can offer.”
Wooten is rated as the 28th-best receiver in the country by Scout.com and is No. 34 overall at the position at Rivals.com.
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Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment | Categories: LSU, UGA
