AJC > Sports > Football Recruiting > Blog > Archives > 2008 > August > 25
Monday, August 25, 2008
Apalachee LB Gresham sets South Carolina visit
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Chaun Gresham, a 6-foot-3, 205 pound linebacker from Apalachee who committed to South Carolina earlier this month, plans to attend the Gamecocks’ home SEC opener.
“I’m going to the Georgia game on Sept. 13th,” said Gresham, an AJC’s Georgia Top 150 selection.
Gresham, who originally committed to Georgia Tech before shifting his allegiance to South Carolina earlier this month, said the Gamecock coaching staff remains thrilled with his decision.
“They’re really excited,” Gresham said. “Their excitement is probably the same as it was before I committed.
“They’re always sending me handwritten letters. They’re usually signed by [South Carolina assistant] coach Shane Beamer.”
Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment | Categories: South Carolina, Tech
North Clayton’s Dieke heading to Tech for first college game
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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North Clayton’s Emmanuel Dieke, a Georgia Tech commitment and one of the AJC’s The Georgia 150 selections, says he never has been to a college football game. He’ll get his first game-day taste Thursday, when the Yellow Jackets play host to Jacksonville State in the season-opener at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
“I’ve been to a basketball game there, but that’s about it,” said Dieke, whose North Clayton team opens its season Saturday night against rival Riverdale. “I haven’t experienced that atmosphere yet, so it’s going to be fun … 60,000 fans, first game of the season, so it’s going to be nice. A whole bunch of Yellow Jacket fans.”
Meanwhile, Auburn and Stanford are still selling him on visits to their campuses, but the 6-foot-7, 225-pound defensive end is standing firm, saying he likely will not make visits to other schools, and that he plans to graduate early and enroll spring semester at Tech.
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment | Categories: Auburn, Tech
Henry County WR Jamal Patterson stuns with Stanford decision
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Henry County’s Jamal Patterson, who was one of the nation’s most-heavily recruited wide receivers with around 50 offers, made the stunning decision to commit to Stanford on Monday night.
Patterson picked the Cardinal over offers from Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia Tech, LSU, Michigan, North Carolina, and Oregon, among others.
“My senior season is about to start, and I just wanted to get that [college choice] out of the way,” Patterson said. “Stanford had been my favorite since I visited there in June. I kept visiting other schools to check out all my options, but Stanford was No. 1 all along.”
How did Stanford lure Patterson away from the surrounding SEC and ACC schools? “It felt like a family atmosphere, and you can’t beat the academics. You can only play football for so long, academics are for the long run in life.”
“All the other programs are good, too, but it just came down to which school I felt like was the best fit for me. Stanford is where I want to be.”
Patterson said he consulted on Monday afternoon with his parents, who supported the decision. “They loved everything about Stanford. They didn’t put any pressure on me, they told me it was my decision to make, and they were very excited my decision.”
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Permalink | Comments (36) | Post your comment | Categories: Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, FSU, Florida, Other schools, South Carolina, Tech, Tennessee
Offer count no concern for Tech recruit Crenshaw
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Jefferson County defensive end Chris Crenshaw, who committed to Georgia Tech in June, continues to hold just two scholarship offers.
But while other recruits have seen their offer count climb well into double-digit figures, Crenshaw said his total number of offers is of little concern to him.
“The only other school that offered me was Troy,” said Crenshaw, a member of the AJC’s GEORGIA TOP 150 AJC’s Georgia Top 150. “Yeah, I’m a little bit surprised [over the lack of offers], but I really don’t think about it.
“And even if I got other offers, I’d stay with Tech.”
Crenshaw remains in touch with his recruiting coach, Tech assistant Giff Smith, on a regular basis. He attended a practice at Tech earlier this summer.
“I noticed how it was really different at that level compared to high school,” Crenshaw said. “I talked to mostly the defensive linemen and asked them what it’s like at that level and about how fast it is.”
Permalink | Comments (7) | Post your comment | Categories: Tech
So You Want To Know: The AJC answers your recruiting questions
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Q. What SAT or ACT score is deemed to be acceptable at UGA for an athlete? Does his high school GPA and community activities count a certain portion for admission? Why do some players go to a prep school while others must go to a junior college before admisssion to UGA?
A. The NCAA uses a sliding scale based on GPA and SAT or ACT score to determine eligibility, and frankly, it’s pretty low. With a 3.5 GPA, you just about can qualify if you can spell your name right. For students with a 3.0 GPA, the minimum SAT score is 620. For a 2.5, it’s 820. For a 2.0, it’s 1010.
Keep in mind that these are NCAA minimums and not necessarily the minimums of a particular school. At Georgia, since that is the school you asked about, an athlete must meet the university’s minimum admission requirements or get a special waiver from the office of the president, Michael Adams.
A player who goes to prep school is generally one who keeps trying to make a passing SAT score but fails, then takes the prep route at the last minute. His main objective at prep school is work toward a qualifying score. If successful, he can enroll at the four-year school of his choice and be a true freshman.
Junior college is the answer for academic issues that aren’t as easily resolved. It might be the GPA. Some students lack the minimum number of core courses in high school to qualify regardless of their SAT score or GPA. Others take the junior college route to prove themselves. If you think you’re good enough to play for Alabama, but your only option is a Division II school because of academics, playing at a junior college and graduating may be your ticket to the SEC.
NEED TO KNOW BASIS: What do you want to know about recruiting? If you have a question, add it to the blog, and if there’s an answer to be found we’ll get back to you within 24 hours.
Permalink | Comments (60) | Post your comment | Categories: UGA
Brunswick’s Slay has talent, working on grades
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Darius Slay, a cornerback from Brunswick with NFL pedigree and 4.37 speed in the 40, is the probably the best high school football prospect in Georgia that nobody is talking about.
That’s because college coaches are concerned Slay won’t qualify academically, said his high school coach, Victor Floyd. But schools such as South Carolina and Clemson have visited and made offers — contingent on him qualifying. East Carolina and Central Florida also have offered.
“He’s a no-brainer,” said Floyd, who coached two SEC signees last season while at Chester High in South Carolina. “The question mark is qualifying, but athletically, you don’t get any better. He’s got the whole gamut.”
Slay is the cousin of former Brunswick star players, Darel Slay (South Carolina) and Dwayne Slay (Texas Tech, NFL). Darius Slay has been timed at 4.37 in the 40 and recorded a 39-inch vertical leap (NBA quality) at combines, Floyd said. Slay is 6-0 and weighs 185 pounds.
Floyd said Slay is ”as good if not better” than the two star players from his 2007 team from Chester High that played in the South Carolina Class AAA title game Gene McCaskill (signed with Kentucky) and C.C. Whitlock (South Carolina) are now SEC wide receivers who are expected to play as true freshmen.
Floyd has moved Slay from running back, where he rushed for 526 yards in only six games last season, to receiver. Slay also will play cornerback, his projected position in college.
“Any time you’ve got a guy like that, a game-breaker, you don’t want him running through tackles,” Floyd said. “You put him on an island, and if you miss one tackle, he’ll be going to the house. He’ll be seeing all sorts of slip screens.”
Floyd said Slay has not visited any schools this summer and has no fall trips planned. He’s focusing on school.
”If he comes through academically, he can have his pick of schools,” Floyd said.
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment | Categories: Clemson, Other schools, South Carolina
No colleges this weekend for Washington DB Branden Smith
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Booker T. Washington cornerback Branden Smith, the state’s No. 1-ranked prospect by Rivals, won’t be checking out any college games this weekend.
That’s because his high school team plays on Saturday against Hiram at 7:30 p.m. at Lakewood Stadium.
Smith has been tight-lipped about colleges but visited summer camps at Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, LSU, and Florida, among others. He said he has not decided where he will watch a game on Sept. 6. “I don’t know, man. I’ll think about it next week.”
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Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment | Categories: Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Tennessee, UGA
Has South Carolina withdrawn offer to Tucker LB Jonathan Davis?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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After South Carolina got commitments from two linebackers and two safeties within the last month, there has been speculation that the Gamecocks may have withdrawn an offer to Tucker linebacker Jonathan Davis, arguably the state’s best overall player.
The 5-foot-8, 202-pound Davis confirmed that he has not had any recent contact with South Carolina, but said that he was unconcerned about his status with the Gamecocks.
“They [South Carolina] know how to get in touch with me, if they want,” Davis said. “I don’t know their situation, and I’m not worried about other commitments. If they want me, I’ll guess they let me know. If they don’t want me any more, then I guess they don’t want me anymore. I just don’t know.
“But I’m talking to several colleges. I want to go to a school that wants me. Everything is going to be just fine.”
Davis has offers from Central Florida, Oklahoma State and Alabama-Birmingham, among others.
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Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment | Categories: Other schools, South Carolina
