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Sunday, October 5, 2008
Former Georgia Tech recruit John Drew happy with Duke decision
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Northside-Columbus defensive tackle John Drew said he remains at peace about switching from Georgia Tech to Duke.
The senior lineman announced he would sign with the Jackets last February, before experiencing a change of heart four months later when he shifted his commitment to Duke.
“I still feel comfortable about the decision I made,” Drew said. “I feel that I made the best decision for me. It was tough, but I felt at that point in time I wasn’t feeling Georgia Tech or the city of Atlanta. So I felt that I needed to de-commit.”
Chris Drew, who is a freshman tight end for North Carolina Central, figured into his brother’s decision to commit to Duke.
“My brother will only be about five minutes away from me [in Durham],” John Drew said.
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How It Went: Southerland watches Vanderbilt edge Auburn in Music City
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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With Georgia idle over the weekend, Greater Atlanta Christian receiver Blake Southerland and the family traveled to Nashville on Saturday to watch Vanderbilt entertain Auburn.
Older brother Brannan Southerland, a fullback for Georgia, wound up staying in Athens while the rest of his family witnessed the Commodore’s historic victory over the Tigers.
“Brannon had planned on coming home and hanging out with the family,” said Blake Southerland, an AJC’s The Georgia Top 150 choice. “But we told him we had plans. So he hung out in Athens.”
Southerland, who committed to Vanderbilt in late May, had a good feeling about Vandy’s chances after watching ESPN’s Game Day broadcast from his aunt’s house Saturday morning before departing for Nashville.
“I had a blast. It was absolutely awesome,” Southerland said. “We got there around 3 p.m. We ate, they did a little presentation, introduced the coaches and we walked to the stadium.
“We got on the field for about 30 to 45 minutes before we got to our seats to watch the game.”
The experience left Southerland thinking ahead to next fall.
“It was loud and electric,” he said. “It was kind of surreal thinking I could be out there playing next year.”
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SWD’s Mitchell plans Western Carolina visit
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Southwest DeKalb receiver Jacoby Mitchell has a Nov. 8 weekend visit planned to Western Carolina.
Mitchell, who also has offers from Akron, Eastern Michigan, Miami-Ohio, Bowling Green, Marshall and Middle Tennessee, admits he doesn’t know much about Western Carolina, but the Catamounts have been checking up on him nearly every week.
He received a hand-written invitation from the school’s coaching staff to come visit.
Akron also is strongly recruiting Mitchell, and has been as long as anybody else. It helps that former Southwest DeKalb teammate Manley Waller is in the Zips’ lineup. Waller is a freshman at Akron and sees significant playing time in the defensive secondary.
“Akron really wants me to come up bad,” Mitchell said.
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Carver-Columbus OL Chris Hubbard favors UCLA after visit
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Carver-Columbus offensive lineman Chris Hubbard said on Sunday night that UCLA is his No. 1 choice. He made the decision only hours after returning from an official visit to the Pac-10 school.
“They showed me a lot of hospitality,” said Hubbard, an AJC The Georgia 150 selection.
Hubbard said UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel told him the Bruins need him on the offensive line.
“He didn’t want me to leave,” he said. “I told him I was going to take my visits and keep my options open about my decision.”
Hubbard has more than a dozen offers. He said he will set up his next official visits to Duke and Mississippi State.
On Saturday, the UCLA-Washington State game was Hubbard’s second college football game.
“L.A. is a lot bigger than Columbus,” he said. “After the game I got to hang out with some of the players, and we went to a couple of parties.”
Despite the 2,200 miles separating UCLA from his family in Columbus, Hubbard said he could see himself as a Bruins player.
“The distance is on my mind, but it wouldn’t hold me back,” he said. “I think I would be all right.”
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Florida interested, too, after UGA offers North Cobb DT Derrick Lott
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Within hours after Georgia offered North Cobb defensive tackle Derrick Lott, Florida also tried to get involved with recruiting of Lott.
“Florida called my coaches and said they heard that Georgia offered me, and they [Florida] wanted to know if I was interested in them, too,” Lott said on Sunday night.
The 6-foot-4, 275-pound Lott has seen his life change since he was offered by Georgia recruiting coordinator Rodney Garner on Thursday night. After Lott hung up the phone, he called his high school coaches, who screamed with excitement because they had never coached a player offered by the Bulldogs.
Friday at school, Lott was besieged by a study flow of well-wishers, including both classmates and facility. At Friday night’s game, Georgia assistant Stacey Searels was in attendance to watch Lott’s every move.
“It has been a wild last few days, that’s for sure,” Lott said.
Lott said he really likes Georgia, but is not ready to announce a college decision. He said Garner has not pressured him into making a rush decision, instead just saying the Bulldogs have officially offered and that Georgia’s coaching staff looks forward to talking in person at Saturday’s Tennessee game.
“I’m excited, and a lot of other people are excited about Georgia, but we have to see how everything is going to play out,” Lott said.
Georgia has had its eyes on Lott since he dominated at the college’s prospect camp last June. The Bulldogs promised an offer if Lott improved his grades and test scores. Lott has performed both, and Georgia kept its word with the scholarship last Thursday.
Lott said he wants to makes some more visits and talk more with coaches before making any college decision.
“I don’t really have a top five, or top two, or whatever,” Lott said. “I’m open to everyone until I commit.”
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Tennessee TE has sense of humor about college towns
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Tight end Daniel Hood of Knoxville, Tenn., said his frontrunners are Georgia Tech, Auburn and Mississippi. The good-natured Hood was asked if he if he preferred living in a big city over elsewhere.
“One of the good things about Atlanta is that you’re able to get on a plane anytime and go anywhere in the world. At Ole Miss, you might drive 10 minutes to finally make it to a Wal-Mart,” Hood said.
Hood also said that Kentucky and Colorado have shown heavy interest, and that he plans to make an unofficial visit to the Wildcats on Oct. 18.
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Georgia Tech and UGA battle it out over Miller Grove WR?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Georgia Tech and Georgia have rarely gone head-to-head on any prospects this year, but that could change with the recruitment of Miller Grove wide receiver Stephen Hill.
The 6-foot-5, 190-pound Hill was offered by Tech on Thursday, and is a scholarship candidate at Georgia. Hill said the Bulldogs have discussed an official visit.
“Georgia said they want me to come down in December or January because that’s when they like to bring in all the in-state kids.”
The 6-5, 190-pound Hill was an early commitment to Central Florida, and was offered by Boston College and Ole Miss last week. Alabama scouted Hill’s game last Friday, and could be the next to offer, while Tennessee has also entered the sweepstakes.
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Perry WR Trey Smith tries committing to East Carolina, but told to wait
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Perry wide receiver Trey Smith said he tried to commit to East Carolina, but that the Pirates aren’t taking commitments at this time.
Smith was told it had nothing to do with him in particular, but the overall recruting situation at East Carolina. With the upsets over West Virginia and Virginia Tech, the Pirates have generated enormous attention among high school prospects.
“[East Carolina] told me they were in a ‘holding pattern’ right now because so many people were trying to jump on board,” Smith said.
“They told me just to be patient while they figure everything out. They said not to worry, that my offer will still be there.”
The 6-foot-5, 205-pound Smith also has offers from Marshall, Ball State, Akron and Kent State.
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South Carolina tells prospect ‘No QBs for 2009 class’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Henry County quarterback Drew Little said he was told recently by South Carolina that they were no longer recruiting a quarterback for its 2009 recruiting class.
“They told my coaches they weren’t taken a quarterback this year, which sort of surprised us because they had a couple of quarterbacks leave the program awhile back,” Little said. “I was hoping to have a shot there if they decided to sign one.”
The 6-foot-5, 245-pound Little has an offer from Boston College, and has scheduled an official visit to the ACC school for Oct. 11.
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