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Tuesday, September 9, 2008
N.C. State offers Carver-Columbus LB Furr
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Carver-Columbus linebacker LeRon Furr has received an offer from N.C. State, head coach Dell McGee said Tuesday.
The 6-foot-3, 225-pound Furr, a member of the AJC’s The Georgia 150, already has received offers from Mississippi State, Oklahoma State, Arkansas, Troy, UAB, South Florida and Central Florida.
McGee said N.C. State’s linebacker coach, Andy McCollum, contacted him about Furr.
“He will be a good fit with the Wolfpack scheme,” McGee said. “He will be a good fit anywhere. He has a lot of versatility, and he is always in position to make a play.”
Furr’s brother, DeRon Furr, plays football for Memphis.
“I doubt that he would want to be where his brother is,” McGee said. “He wants to make a name for himself and not be considered DeRon’s little brother.”
Rivals.com ranks LeRon as the 40th best linebacker in the country.
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Parkview’s Jacobs, an Auburn commitment, catches fire
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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When Parkview running back Brandon Jacobs managed only 81 yards rushing in the Panthers’ 30-9 season-opening loss to Collins Hill, he could have gotten disheartened.
But by running for a game-high three touchdowns and 190 yards in the Panthers’ 49-12 rout of Chattahoochee, he catapulted himself toward his 881 yards and seven touchdowns of last season. In fact, his bruising performance against the Cougars spurred teammate TaRon Squires to similar heights of 150 yards and two scores and enabled the Panthers to score in every quarter.
“I read my blocks really well and made some really good cuts,” said Jacobs, a member of the AJC’s The Georgia 150 team and ranked No. 65 in Georgia by Rivals.com. “[Our offensive linemen] adjusted well to Chattahoochee’s defense, and I did, too.”
Jacobs has committed to Auburn.
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Gainesville junior receiver Jones meets Urban Meyer at the Swamp
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Following the Red Elephants’ 34-7 victory over Franklin County on Friday, Gainesville receiver Tailer Jones headed south for Saturday’s Sunshine State showdown between Miami and Florida at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
The 6-foot, 170-pound Jones, considered one of the top juniors in Georgia, watched as the Gators romped past the Hurricanes.
Though the game provided little drama, Jones found the atmosphere of the Swamp to his liking.
“I had a great time,” he said. “It was definitely worth making the trip.
“I got to meet with [Florida] running backs coach [Kenny] Carter one-one-one before the game. And I got to speak briefly with [Gators] coach [Urban] Meyer.”
Jones, who will attend Saturday’s Michigan-Notre Dame contest in South Bend, Ind., is eager to see his first scholarship offer arrive.
“I think that will happen in the next couple of weeks,” he predicted.
As for Georgia, Jones attended the Dogs’ season opener against Georgia Southern and has plans to be back at Sanford Stadium on Oct. 11.
“I’ll attend the blackout game, and I think that will be the one against Tennessee,” he said.
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Georgia Tech may offer Fitzgerald’s Jemea Thomas
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Fitzgerald’s Jemea Thomas is certainly one of the state’s best unknown all-around players, but college recruiters know plenty about him. The 5-10, 185-pound Thomas has been offered scholarships by Purdue, Vanderbilt, Troy, Middle Tennessee State and Western Kentucky.
“I think Georgia Tech is about to offer him, too,” said Fitzgerald coach Robby Pruitt. “He is really strong — I mean he benches almost twice his weight and is really, really quick.”
Most colleges project Thomas as a running back even though he primarily works as a free safety for the Class AAA No. 5 Purple Hurricanes.
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Tapes of North Gwinnett QB Tamburo shipped off to 450 colleges
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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North Gwinnett’s Michael Tamburo played like a big-time quarterback in his team’s 17-3 win over Brookwood last Friday, but he’s still waiting for that big-time offer.
Tamburo, who carved up the Broncos for more than 300 total yards, has several offers on the table, but top programs are taking a wait-and-see approach on the 6-1, 185-pound lefty. Tamburo has offers from Tulsa, Air Force, Louisana-Monroe, Toledo and Bowling Green.
North Gwinnett coach Bob Sphire is making them see now: Last week he sent out more than 450 highlight tapes to all levels of college football programs across the nation.
“Regretfully recruiting season and visits to the schools by the colleges have not really gotten started yet, thus the urgency to send these out all across the country,” Sphire said. “However, I do that every year after our first two games so that all of our guys, not just Mikey, can get out there to [scouts] … so if they do want to come see them in person.
“I think many were waiting to see where the top guys go and now that they are committing, several who have lost out will now turn to ‘Plan B’, which many have Mikey on their board. Hopefully, he will be another of those ‘Plan B’ guys who end up showing everyone he should have been a ‘Plan A’ guy, like the QBs at Kansas and Missouri last year.”
“This is hopefully the lull before the storm…all the big guys offered in the winter and spring, and several have all offered the same guy, then when he decides to go to school X, then school Z now needs an answer.”
Sphire has the ultimate faith in his senior quarterback, who is a member of the AJC’s The Georgia Top 150.
“There is no question that over the past three years he raised the game of everyone around him. He’s 25-5 against great programs, and often with much less talent around him than the opposing QB.”
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Kell tight end Middleton looking for new offers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Kell tight end Will Middleton has returned to ground zero in his recruitment. The Longhorns senior was committed to South Carolina before decommitting in June.
Now Middleton is leaving the process wide open.
“I’m about to send out tape from my first two games and see if I get anymore offers,” said Middleton, a 6-foot-5, 230 pounder. “I’ll decide my official visits from there.”
Middleton has no plans to visit any college campuses. His coaches will decide what schools will receive tapes. He has received offers from Rutgers, Indiana and South Carolina. He’s also expressed interest in Mississippi State and Louisville.
“Right now, it’s pretty much even,” Middleton said. “I don’t have a top school.”
The Scarlet Knights were the first to offer the Longhorns tight end after seeing him at a camp. Middleton said he got as far as shaking a coach’s hand and then received a phone call and his first Division I offer last summer.
The phones from New Jersey have been silent.
“I haven’t spoken with Rutgers in a while,” Middleton said. “I think I’m still among their offers. It’s not frustrating. It’s just part of it, really. The less time I spent worrying about it, the better.”
Rutgers already has two tight end commitments from Malcolm Bush of Hackensack, N.J., and Paul Carrezola of Langhorne, Penn. Both are rated three star prospects by Rivals.com.
Middleton is listed as a two-star athlete. He is a member of the AJC’s The Georgia Top 150.
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GAC’s Chappel getting interest from Liberty, Princeton
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Greater Atlanta Christian quarterback Colton Chapple is getting interest from Liberty and Princeton, according to Spartans head coach Ken Robinson. The 6-2 185-pound Chapple has three touchdown passes in GAC’s first two games after throwing 12 last season.
“[Liberty and Princeton have] shown the most interest so far,” said Robinson. “I know [Chapple] wants to be a doctor, so obviously that will play into his thought process.”
Robinson said Chapple, an AJC The Georgia 150 selection, hasn’t scheduled visits with either school.
AJC’s THE GEORGIA TOP 150 AJC’s The Georgia Top 150
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Sandy Creek loaded with senior prospects
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Sandy Creek has six seniors with college offers, and it may have more before the season is over.
The high-profile prospects are quarterback Rio Johnson (committed to East Carolina) and defensive end Brandon Putnam (Duke).
Others offers include defensive lineman James Hervey from East Carolina and Ohio University, safety Russell Bonner from Buffalo, linebacker Matt Solomon from Eastern Michigan and linebacker Alex Green from Charleston Southern.
“We’ve got a long list of colleges that have requested film as the season progresses,” Sandy Creek coach Chip Walker said.
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Heritage’s Melvin Jones waits on Skip Holtz’s approval
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Heritage defensive tackle Melvin Jones is waiting on Skip Holtz’s approval to see if East Carolina will offer a scholarship.
Jones, who is 6-foot, 310 pounds, already has impressed two East Carolina coaches who visited the Conyers school and watched game film. They liked what they saw and passed on the recommendation to Holtz, who makes final decisions on scholarship offers.
“East Carolina really likes him, so we’ll see what happens,” Heritage coach Chad Frazier said. “He’s just so big and strong. He draws a lot of double and triple-team blocking and handles it well. He really causes problems at the line of scrimmage.”
Jones, a member of the AJC’s The Georgia Top 150, also has offers from Georgia Southern and Presbyterian.
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North Cobb’s Rico Mack putting on show for recruiters
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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In North Cobb’s 24-21 victory against M.L. King, wide receiver Rico Mack proved his worth to potential college recruiters.
Mack, a 5-foot-10, 170-pound two-way player for the Warriors with 4.4 speed, had a touchdown reception, showed outstanding speed in punt and kickoff returns, was on the receiving end of several option plays during the team’s game-winning drive and even delivered some hard shots from his defensive back position.
It all is about increasing his stock in the eyes of college coaches looking for a versatile athlete.
“Coaches have told me they want to see me move with the ball,” said Mack, a member of the AJC’s The Georgia 150 team, who has offers from Middle Tennessee, Louisville, Kentucky and Duke. “I want coaches to see me make people look ridiculous.”
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Woodstock’s Christophe enjoys recruiting game
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Woodstock defensive end Duran Christophe is gaining recruiting attention for the Wolverines the likes of which they haven’t had since the days of current Georgia tight end Tripp Chandler.
But Christophe, who has offers from East Carolina, Middle Tennessee, Indiana, Tulane and Vanderbilt, is in no hurry to announce his commitment. By taking his time, he hopes to attract the attention of higher profile schools.
“I love it,” Christophe said of the recruiting process. “It could last forever as far as I am concerned. It is a lot of fun.”
Christophe came to the Atlanta area from Louisiana after the devastation of hurricane Katrina. The 6-foot-6, 270-pounder is playing on offense and defense for the Wolverines, who lost their opener to Kell, 13-10. Coach Mike O’Brien heaped praise on his player.
“He’s been getting some real good looks by some top schools,” said O’Brien. “He’s worked himself into being a heck of a player. To be that big, he is a pretty good athlete and that just increases his chances.”
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Tucker’s Holliman likes the attention
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Tucker linebacker Tevin Holliman, who has offers from several small Division 1-A programs, admits he likes the attention that comes with the college recruiting game.
“It’s been busy, but the phone calls [from recruiters], they make you feel like they care for you,” said Holliman, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound linebacker/defensive end. “I really like that. It makes me feel like I’m important to them and they’re taking the time out to call me.”
Holliman, who had two sacks in Friday’s victory against Lakeside-DeKalb, has been offered by Central Florida, Western Kentucky, Iowa State, South Alabama, Buffalo, Akron, Eastern Michigan and Ohio.
He said he will wait before making a commitment, hoping that some larger programs will come calling. “I think I can play [major] Division 1,” he said.
Holliman has not taken any visits, but plans one to Western Kentucky this month.
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