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Sunday, August 31, 2008
Is 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
How It Went: Ridgeland receiver Bowman meets Richt
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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One of the highlights of Ridgeland receiver Michael Bowman’s trip to Sanford Stadium on Saturday was an opportunity to speak with Georgia coach Mark Richt - twice.
“I got to talk to coach Richt before and after the game,” said Bowman, considered the 17th-best receiver in the nation by Rivals.com. “He was real busy, but I got to tell him about my game on Friday.”
The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Bowman, who has scholarship offers from programs such as Alabama, Arkansas, LSU, Kentucky, N.C. State and Oregon, continues to wait on one from Georgia.
“I truly doesn’t bother me a lot because I know later on they will offer,” he said. “Georgia is my No. 1, but I’m still waiting.”
The Dogs are eager to see how Bowman fares on the ACT later this year.
“I took the ACT the first time, ran through it and made a 16,” Bowman said. “I need to make a 19. I’m taking it again in October.”
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Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment | Categories: Alabama, LSU, UGA
How It Went: Perry OG Farms views season openers on TV
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Perry guard Johnnie Farms, one of the top uncommitted recruits in Georgia, spent part of his Saturday working the television remote.
“I wasn’t really surprised that Alabama beat Clemson like that,” said Farms, referencing the Crimson Tide’s 34-10 victory over the Tigers in the Georgia Dome.
Farms, who said his favorites are Alabama, Auburn, Florida, LSU and South Carolina, will start making visits next weekend.
“I’m going to the Miami-Florida game [on Sept. 6th], the Georgia-South Carolina game on the 13th and the LSU-Auburn game [on Sept. 20th].”
Florida could gain ground on Farms this weekend over Auburn, the program considered the favorite to score a commitment from the 6-foot-2, 280 pound guard.
“I’ve been [to Gainesville] several times and [Florida coach] Urban Meyer has been to my school a couple of times,” Farms said.
“I really like Florida.”
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Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Alabama, Auburn, Florida, LSU, South Carolina, UGA
How It Went: Few recruits visit Georgia on Saturday
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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An early kickoff and non-SEC opponent were the primary reasons Georgia coaches wound up entertaining just a handful of recruits during the season opener against Georgia Southern on Saturday.
Recruits at the game included Georgia commits Mike Gilliard of Valdosta, Abry Jones of Northside Warner Robins and Oconee County quarterback Zach Mettenberger.
They were joined by senior receiver Michael Bowman of Ridgeland and Henry County junior MarKeith Ambles.
“I think [the small turnout] was because it was a 12:30 p.m. game, and a lot of people didn’t want to make the trip,” said Mettenberger, who lives about 10 miles from Sanford Stadium.
Mettenberger said Aaron Murray of Plant Senior (Fla.) High, Georgia’s other commitment at quarterback, is expected to visit Athens later this season.
“Aaron is coming up for the Alabama and Vanderbilt games,” he said.
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Newnan QB reconsiders football options
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Newan quarterback Russell Powell apparently has caught football fever.
Powell said a few weeks ago that he had decided to play basketball in college because he had better options. This weekend, Powell changed directions, saying he was not ready to choose between basketball and football.
“I’m not sure, it changes every day,” Powell said. “I’m just going to wait everything out and see what all I have in front of me in both sports.”
In football, the 5-foot-9 Powell has an offer from Air Forice and heavy interest from numerous smaller schools, including Wofford. In basketball, the point guard that averaged 19 points last year as a junior has offers from Furman, Gardner-Webb, Harvard and Toledo.
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Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Other schools
Player of the week: Milton’s Toney Williams
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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On any other night, Brendan Cross’ 278 yards passing with three touchdowns likely would have been the biggest highlight. But the Chattahoochee quarterback had to tip his helmet to Milton running back Toney Williams, who ran for 350 yards and scored seven touchdowns in the the Eagles’ 51-49 victory against Chattahoochee.
“I played well, but he blew it out of the water,” Cross said. “I’m not mad he got all the attention. He carried his team. And a seven-touchdown performance is pretty awesome. Am I bothered I got overshadowed by a seven-touchdown performance? No.”
The game was a highly anticipated dual between the AJC’s The Georgia 150 players Cross, a Wake Forest signee, and Williams, a University of Tennessee commit. The two are ranked 73rd and 48th in the nation, respectively, by Rivals.com.
Together, Cross and Williams had a hand in 10 touchdowns, 60 percent of their teams’ combined scoring. Cross considered the point total remarkable.
“It didn’t hit me until afterward, ‘Wow, we just scored 100 points,’” Cross said. “That’s pretty crazy.”
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Other schools, Tennessee
Drummond on the Tech recruiting trail
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Unable to attend Georgia Tech’s opening night win against Jacksonville State on Thursday, Flowery Branch senior Daniel Drummond said he’ll be a regular fixture at Bobby Dodd Stadium for the remainder of the season.
“I’ll definitely be at the rest of the home games,” said Drummond, who committed to Tech in June.
Drummond, who is considered the fifth-best fullback in the nation by Scout.com, has become an unofficial recruiter for the Jackets.
“I’m looking for some talent that maybe Georgia Tech hasn’t seen yet,” said Drummond, who rushed for 25 yards on two carries and made 10 tackles (including two for loss) from his defensive end position during Flowery Branch’s 28-25 loss to Stephens County on Friday.
“If I see someone we’re playing against that’s really good, I’ll try and let Tech know about him.”
Ironically, Tech is hoping to secure a commitment from one of Drummond’s teammates, defensive end Izaan Cross.
“I know Tech his one of his top two,” Drummond said.
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