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DEL.ICIO.USIs Abry Jones really that good? We say yes
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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High school seniors with offers to major Division 1-A schools are assumed to be good. Just how good depends on whom you ask. Here are 10 Georgia players whose potential at the next level generates unusual debate. And when Rivals.com and Scout.com widely disagree, we get the final word:
DT Abry Jones, Northside-Warner Robins: No one doubts Jones is a prize recruit, but Scout says he’s the No. 1 defensive tackle in the country and No. 9 overall prospect in the nation. But to Rivals, he’s not Top 100 material and only No. 7 at his position, not much higher than John Drew, the Duke commit from Northside of Columbus. AJC says: Scout is right. Jones was one of about five players we considered locks for our Super 11.
CB Roderick Sweeting, Luella: Scout pegs this Georgia Tech commit as a four-star recruit and one of the nation’s best 20 cornerbacks and top 200 players overall. Rivals says he’s a three-star and only the No. 39 corner in the U.S. AJC says: Scout is right. Too many schools named Ohio State, Alabama and Tennessee offered for him not to be legitimate.
LB Kevin Minter, Peachtree Ridge: Scout says Minter, an LSU commit, is the fifth-best player in Georgia and the No. 4 middle linebacker nationally. Rivals thinks he’s only the 23rd-best player in Georgia and the 16th inside linebacker. AJC says: Rivals is right. LSU doesn’t offer just anybody, but Minter was not in the AJC’s Super 11.
QB Brendan Cross, Chattahoochee: Rivals says Cross, who is committed to Wake Forest, is among the 40 best quarterbacks in the country and the clear No. 2 in Georgia behind Oconee County’s Zach Mettenberger. Scout says Cross is just a two-star recruit and not among the 100 best QBs in the country. Scout likes Brian Adams of South Forsyth (Kentucky) and Rio Johnson of Sandy Creek (East Carolina) much more. AJC says: Scout is right. We agree Cross has been overlooked, but we also don’t think it’s a great year for quarterback prospects in Georgia.
LB Chase Vasser, Chestatee: Scout says this Georgia pledge is the eighth-best prospect in Georgia and the No. 8 outside linebacker in the nation, a four-star recruit. Rivals rates him only a three-star recruit and doesn’t include him in the state’s top 25. AJC says: Scout is right. There was a reason Vasser was the first linebacker that Georgia offered a scholarship.
WR Stephen Hill, Miller Grove: Scout says Hill, who is committed to Central Florida, is a four-star recruit and the No. 2 receiver in Georgia behind Henry County’s Jamal Patterson, one of the AJC Super 11. Scout doesn’t think Hill is one of the 50 best players in Georgia nor one of the 90 best receivers nationally. AJC: Rivals is right. Projecting WRs is difficult, but those that have sparked the most discussion on our staff are Michael Bowman, Jamal Patterson and Braxton Lane.
WR Michael Bowman, Ridgeland: Rivals says Bowman, who is uncommitted, is the No. 17 receiver in the country and the No. 8 recruit at any position in Georgia. Scout thinks he’s only the fourth-best receiver in Georgia and not one of the 100 best receivers in the country. AJC says: Both are wrong. He’s not one of our Super 11, but if there are 100 better receivers in the country, we’d like to see them.
LB Jonathan Davis, Tucker: He’s the No. 9 prospect in Georgia, a four-star recruit, says Scout, but Rivals pegs this undersized middle linebacker at No. 25, only a three star. AJC says: We’re divided on Davis. He’s one of our Super 11 because of his high school career, but we also rate him an A- recruit (not the A+ accorded to other Super 11 players) due to the scarcity of ACC/SEC offers.
WR Jamal Patterson, Henry County: Recently committed to Stanford, Patterson is Scout’s No. 7 prospect in Georgia and the top wide receiver. Rivals likes Michael Bowman better and rates Patterson Georgia’s No. 18 player. AJC says: Scout is right. He’s one of our Super 11, our favorite wide receiver. You can’t go wrong with guys whose academics are this good.
RB Tony Williams, Milton: This is one that Rivals and Scout agree on. He’s not one of the 50 best RB in the country, they say, even with a commitment to Tennessee. AJC says: We are right. Williams was a member of the AJC’s Southern 150 before scoring seven touchdowns against Chattahoochee last week.
Permalink | Comments (10) | Post your comment | Categories: Alabama, LSU, Other schools, Tech, Tennessee, UGA
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By nitrodust
September 1, 2008 12:45 PM | Link to this
Abry Jones is one hell of a football player. The young happens to be a christian young man who is well mannered and respectful of adults and coaches and possesses a humble demeaner. Abry simply is not going to be the boasterous young person of today the me me generation. Abry is just as happy driving his young cousins to church on Sunday as he is sacking the quarterback on Friday night. Scout.com has it right Abry is a rare combination of size, athleticism and intelligence seldom scene on a football field.
By nitrodust
September 1, 2008 12:51 PM | Link to this
Abry Jones is one hell of a football player. The young happens to be a christian young man who is well mannered and respectful of adults and coaches and possesses a humble demeaner. Abry simply is not going to be the boasterous young person of today the me me generation. Abry is just as happy driving his young cousins to church on Sunday as he is sacking the quarterback on Friday night. Scout.com has it right Abry is a rare combination of size, athleticism and intelligence seldom scene on a football field.
By unweaned lil pup
September 1, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this
Rivals plays games. They downrank players once they committ and elevate the remaining uncommitts. This happened to Abry Jones, and Deangelo Tyson last year. Rivals strategy is to get the uncommitts to the top of the rankings, then they can create storylines and suspense about these”topranked uncommitts”. The bottom line is to get you to subscribe so as to closely follow these compelling stories which Rivals has manipulated.
By tom
September 1, 2008 3:02 PM | Link to this
Good Stuff!
By Paddy
September 1, 2008 4:54 PM | Link to this
Never believed much in Rivals. com. Something always did not feel right with their scoring or reasoning. Stopped looking at their site a couple years ago.
By Richard
September 2, 2008 1:28 AM | Link to this
You’ll have to forgive me if I don’t pay any attention to what Scout and Rivals thinks of people that have ever played a college down. Let me give you all a hint: EVERY college player that is riding the bench starred in high school. Pick any year on scout.com and check out the rankings. Kyle Wright was ranked higher than Chris Leak? Demetris Summers (who?) was a five star recruit? and it goes on and on.
Wake me when these kids actually make a play on a campus somewhere. Until then, I’ll stick to watching #1 overall can’t miss recruit Jimmy Clausen throw another interception.
By Paddy
September 2, 2008 7:48 AM | Link to this
Richard… You may be right on all your points. Good post.
By PMC
September 2, 2008 12:25 PM | Link to this
Agreed on Abry Jones. He was outstanding in their state title run last year anchoring that defensive line even while they struggled a bit on offense when Ivory went down.
As for Davis. Sure it’d be nice to have measurables, but who cares if he’s tackling people all over the field?
By Tech Fan in UGA Country
September 3, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this
Richard, Demetris Summers was a great recruit. He was good as a freshman at South Carolina, but then had some off the field issues and ended up getting kicked of the team.
The recruiting services can only be used as a guide. If it was that easy to evaluate talent, all professional draft picks would always pan out. However, while not always accurate on each specific player, overall they do a very good job. Just look at GT. The one year they had a highly rated class, those players are producing.
That said, as for the AJC ratings, I do believe that they tend to rank players that are going to either UGA or Tech much higher than they may deserve to be.
By Tech Fan in UGA Country
September 3, 2008 4:06 PM | Link to this
Richard, Demetris Summers was a great recruit. He was good as a freshman at South Carolina, but then had some off the field issues and ended up getting kicked of the team.
The recruiting services can only be used as a guide. If it was that easy to evaluate talent, all professional draft picks would always pan out. However, while not always accurate on each specific player, overall they do a very good job. Just look at GT. The one year they had a highly rated class, those players are producing.
That said, as for the AJC ratings, I do believe that they tend to rank players that are going to either UGA or Tech much higher than they may deserve to be.