AJC > Sports > Football Recruiting > Blog > Archives > 2008 > October > 09
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Will UGA offer one of state’s top WRs?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Georgia has three of the nation’s top wide receivers in Henry County’s Jamal Patterson, Ridgeland’s Michael Bowman, and Miller Grove’s Stephen Hill.
None of the three have been offered by UGA, but that could change at any moment.
When UGA coach Mark Richt announced that freshman Walter Hill was dismissed from the team, he told a group of reporters that wide receiver was the No. 1 priority for the few remaining scholarships in Georgia’s 2009 recruiting class.
Richt, who usually speaks about recruiting in general terms, was very specific about UGA’s needs: He said the Bulldogs, which have no wide receivers among their 15 commitments, are hoping to sign at least two, maybe three.
“I think you can look at our situation now and realize that there will definitely be some opportunities [for some wide receivers to play next year],” Richt said.
Until now, UGA has appeared to look everywhere else but its home state for wide receivers. LSU narrowed edged the Bulldogs for Rantavious Wooten of Belle Glade, Fla. Marlon Brown of Memphis made an official visit to Athens two weeks ago, but he has four more recruiting trips to make. The Bulldogs are also in the sweepstakes for Andre Debose of Sanford, Fla.
Will UGA offer one or more of the homegrown wide receivers? And if the Bulldogs do, is it too late? After all, each of three, which at one time or another expressed serious interest in UGA, moved on and committed to other schools.
Patterson, who was offered by just about every big-time school in the country (nearly 50 offers) except for Georgia, said he intends to sign with Stanford. But he did make an unofficial visit to UGA for the Alabama game. Henry County coach Mike Rozier said Thursday night that there has been no offer from UGA.
Bowman begged to commit to Georgia over the summer, but eventually lost patience and was won over by Alabama. Bowman said Thursday night he has not heard from UGA.
Hill was an early commitment to Central Florida, but was contacted “out of the blue” by Georgia last month. He has made two unofficial visits to Athens, but the Bulldogs appear to be stalling on an offer until some of the out-of-state prospects announce college choices. Hill confirmed on Thursday night that he talked with UGA recruiting coordinator Rodney Garner over the phone, but said he was not offered.
“I don’t know if they really want me or if they are looking for somebody else. I guess we’ll see what happens,” said Hill, who was offered by Georgia Tech, Boston College and Mississippi last week.
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Merritt close to committing to Wildcats
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Perhaps it’s the Demoreo Ford influence, or maybe LaGrange players aren’t interested in wearing any color but blue.
Already with two commitments from the Grangers — Qua Huzzie and Tristan Johnson have already said they’re headed to Lexington — Kentucky is looking to secure a third and could accomplish that this weekend. Huzzie, Johnson and linebacker Demetri Merritt are taking advantage of an open week in their schedule to journey to Kentucky. Merritt, a member of the AJC Georgia 150 who also has an offer from Alabama-Birmingham, said he is close to committing to the Wildcats, too.
“We’ve got people up there, so if I go up there it’ll be like family,” said Merritt. “They want me to come with them.”
Merritt said he would likely visit UAB after the season, but has talked to former Granger Ford and got positive reviews of Rich Brooks’ staff.
“He said they have a lot of fun,” Merritt said. “I want to see what the school is like.”
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Branden Smith, state’s No. 1 prospect, packs bags for Florida trip
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Booker T. Washington cornerback Branden Smith, ranked as the state’s No. 1 prospect by Rivals, will take the first of his five official visits this weekend.
Smith will catch a flight to Florida on Saturday morning.
“I’ve liked Florida a long time, so I’m looking forward to going down there and spending time with the coaches and players,” Smith said.
“I’m ready to begin taking official visits. I worked very hard to be in a position to be [recruited like this]. This is one of the rewards of all the hard work.”
Smith will take also make official visits to Tennessee on Oct. 25, Auburn on Nov. 15, Clemson on Nov. 29, and Georgia (undetermined). Smith said he does not have any favorites and is “still open to talking with other colleges.”
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Cartersville’s Donavan Tate traveling to USC
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Cartersville’s Donavan Tate, who is projected to be a first-rounder in June’s professional baseball draft, is flying to Southern Cal this weekend for his first official visit in football.
Tate, who has more than 30 football offers, is considering playing both sports in college.
“I’ve had a lot of conversations with the Southern Cal coaches, and they are very supportive of me playing football and baseball there,” Tate said.
Tate, who is being recruited by colleges at both quarterback and safety, will also take recruiting trips to North Carolina and Michigan. He said will likely decide among Alabama, Georgia, Florida and Miami for his final two official visits.
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Lassiter’s Wentz expecting offer from Georgia Tech
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Lassiter offensive lineman Camden Wentz expects to hear from Georgia Tech this week. He also expects there to be an offer on the table when he does.
“I think they’re going to offer me a scholarship this week,” said Wentz, who is verbally committed to Stanford. “They’re a great school, and you have to like what they’re doing this season.”
Wentz is firmly committed to the Cardinal, assuming he passes all the academic requirements. And he does expect to. Wentz, a 6-foot-3, 274 pound lineman, has played center, guard and tackle during his high school career. He projects to play center at the next level.
The Trojans senior is a member of the AJC’s The Georgia 150. While committed to Stanford, he is also showing interest in Vanderbilt and Tech.
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North Cobb DL Derrick Lott commits to UGA
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Knowing that Georgia has limited scholarships remaining for its 2009 recruiting class, North Cobb defensive tackle Derrick Lott committed to the Bulldogs on Wednesday.
He is commitment No. 15 for Georgia, which is expected to sign no more than 20 players in February. Lott selected the Bulldogs over South Carolina, Louisville and Oklahoma State.
The 6-foot-4, 275-pound Lott was offered by Georgia less than a week ago, and decided not to take any chances with it. North Cobb coach Shane Queen got Georgia coach Mark Richt on the phone late Wednesday night.
“Coach Richt asked me if I had some good news for him, and I said ‘Yes sir, I want to be a Georgia Bulldog,’” Lott said.
Lott said he had enough time to make the decision. “Georgia is my home-state school, they compete for SEC and national championships, I love the players and coaches, and feel like I fit in very well.”
“This is what my family wanted, and this is what I wanted … so why wait any longer?”
Lott has been targeted by Georgia since dominating the college’s prospect camp last June. The Bulldogs promised an offer if he improved his academic standing, and felt good enough his progress last Thursday to offer. Georgia assistant Stacey Searels scouted Lott at North Cobb’s game the next day.
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Cairo RB ‘Jam” Bryant drawing big-time attention
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Cairo running back Reginald Bryant’s nickname is “Jam.” And the way things have been going lately for the 215-pounder, his phone just may be jammed by the end of the season.
N.C. State is the latest scholarship offer Bryant has received, joining Georgia Tech, Mississippi State, Louisville, University of Alabama-Birmingham and Middle Tennessee State.
“I am very excited,” said Bryant of his offer last week from N.C. State. “It just gives me another chance to play big-time football. All the schools like me because I really run behind my pads. I am a physical runner.”
Bryant will visit Louisville Oct. 25 when the Cardinals play another school that may soon extend an offer to him - South Florida.
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LaGrange trio headed to Kentucky for official visits
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Three LaGrange players — linebackers Qua Huzzie and Demetri Merritt and defensive end Tristan Johnson — are making official visits to Kentucky this weekend.
Huzzie and Johnson have committed to the Wildcats. Will Merritt join them?
“Whenever they ask me that, I say, ‘never,’ and then they tell me they are going to beat me up,” Merritt joked. “I’m seriously thinking about it, though.”
Merritt’s other offer is from Alabama-Birmingham.
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Alexander’s Mitchell has no plans to woo Heritage’s Jones to Kentucky
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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How sure is Alexander offensive lineman Kevin Mitchell about his commitment to Kentucky?
Wearing loads of Wildcats gear, he watched last week’s Kentucky-Alabama game at a Douglasville restaurant that is a known hangout for Tide fans. And he plans to wake up early Saturday morning, after Friday night’s big game at Douglas County, and make the five-hour drive to Lexington to watch the Wildcats host South Carolina.
But one of Mitchell’s future teammates appears to be wavering. Two weeks ago, Heritage tight end Justin Jones, who had committed to Kentucky during the summer like Mitchell, said is considering other schools, including South Carolina.
While Mitchell said he would like Jones to honor his initial pick, he has no plans to try to convince Jones.
“It’s important for him to go where he’s comfortable,” Mitchell said. “If he’s second-guessing his decision, he really needs to make sure he’s making the right decision for him.”
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Walton’s Paulsen enjoys official visit to Miami (Ohio)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Walton’s David Paulsen got to see what football was like outside of the Southeast this past weekend. The 6-foot-3, 236 pound defensive end liked what he saw.
Paulsen took an official visit to Miami (Ohio) in Oxford. The Redhawks join Tulane, Duke, Georgia and Oklahoma State in the senior’s top-five. He already has visited Tulane and plans on traveling to Stillwater, Okla., in November.
Miami proved to be a unique experience.
“It’s a different kind of place,” Paulsen said. “It’s almost like a mini-Athens. You’re driving through these cornfields to get there, and then you find this incredible campus in the middle of everything. I really felt comfortable there.”
Paulsen is a member of the AJC’s The Georgia 150. While he has been entertaining several suitors, he said he enjoyed what the Miami experience had to offer.
“There’s a lot going on there for such a small place,” Paulsen said. “The Saturday I was there we had a football game. There was a hockey game on campus, and Jay Leno was supposed to be in town. So it was great to see the town like that.”
While Paulsen didn’t get to exchange jokes with Leno, he did rub elbows with the Redhawks players during a team meal and on gameday.
“It’s just a place you feel comfortable,” Paulsen said. “They didn’t win the game I saw, but you can tell they have a lot of potential as a team. It would fun to be a part of that.”
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Navy will have to wait for Cedartown’s Brown
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Even though Navy is 4-2 with upset victories against Rutgers and Wake Forest, the Midshipmen know they usually go to the back of the line when it comes to recruiting the nation’s top athletes.
Such is the case with Cedartown athlete Brandon Brown. Navy offered Brown, who plays receiver and defensive back for the Bulldogs (1-4), during the summer. But since then, Georgia Southern, Georgia Tech and Wake Forest have begun to recruit Brown heavily.
Brown says those three schools are “all on the same level” of interest right now. Navy is a notch below.
“I wouldn’t have a problem with going to Navy, but they are not my first choice,” Brown said. “I went to the Mississippi State game [at Georgia Tech] and liked the atmosphere. Wake Forest has been winning lately, and I like to win, and I like the coaches at Georgia Southern, especially coach [Rance] Gillespie.”
Brown said he will try to make official visits during basketball season to the schools recruiting him.
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North Atlanta’s Jackson balances wins vs. stats
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Most non-committed recruits have a dilemma: How do you build your statistics, in order to gain attention from college recruiters, while playing within the team?
The task is especially difficult for quarterbacks, who may want to show arm strength, accuracy or running ability, even though the gameplan may not call for it. North Atlanta quarterback Jamal Londry-Jackson says the answer is simple: Let the game come to you.
“I think every athlete goes through that, wanting to make a big play to open some [recruiters’] eyes,” Londry-Jackson said. “But you can’t force anything. You have to depend on your teammates to make plays around you.”
The formula is starting to work for Londry-Jackson. His recruiting stock began to rise after a couple of strong performances in some summer camps. This season he has led traditionally lowly North Atlanta to a 4-2 record, with 900 yards passing, 13 touchdowns and six interceptions. He has a 70 percent completion percentage and 200 yards rushing.
Grambling, Kansas State, South Florida and Tennessee State are Londry-Jackson’s heaviest pursuers, he said.
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Peach County loaded for recruiters
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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College recruiters know if they are in Middle Georgia, a stop by Peach County High School in Fort Valley is a must.
The latest example is safety Reggie Taylor, who already has committed to Auburn. Versatile senior Tavarus Simmons (6-1, 190) will have similar collegiate options once he gets his academics in order.
But it is the Trojans’ junior class that creates the biggest buzz. Peach coach Chad Campbell thinks linebacker Kelcey Lewis (6-0, 190) and athlete Lamar Zanders (6-1, 190) will lead the pack.
“If we can get [Lewis] up to 210 pounds or so, a lot of people will be after him. And he is a very good student,” said Campbell.
“[Zanders] is just a football player. We’ve been trying to get him to play football for two years, and he finally came out this spring and UAB offered him this summer before he even played a game.”
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Recruiting Q&A: Dublin’s Rashard Smith
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Dublin’s Rashard Smitth, a member of the AJC’s The Georgia 150, collected five interceptions, threw for two touchdowns and ran for another two weeks ago. He has offers from East Carolina, Vanderbilt, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Wake Forest, Georgia Southern and Middle Tennessee. He talked with staff writer Jay Stone about being recruited and other topics.
— On what school he’s always been a fan of: “I’ve always been a Florida fan. I’ve been a Florida fan since Danny Wuerffel. My household is three different teams. My brother was a Florida State fan and my daddy was a Miami fan. I wanted to be my own person.”
— If I wasn’t a football player, I would … “I’d be pursuing a career as an accountant. I enjoy doing percentages in computer class and math class.”
— One thing that’s a deal-breaker for him with a school: “If a team is recruiting me hard, then their head coach leaves. That might be something hard to deal with.”
— On the first school to talk to him: “N.C. State.”
— On autograph requests: “The little kids do, but around school I’m just a normal person.”
— On college games he’s been to as a fan: “I’ve been to see my brother [Quintez Smith] play at Shaw University [N.C.] a few times.“
— On a movie you’ll watch over and over: “Lion King. It’s just a good movie. Teaches lessons about life.”
— On his favorite superhero: “Mr. Incredible. The way he took care of his family was cool.”
— On what’s on his music playlist: “TI. Mostly rap. Couple of gospel songs.”
— On how big a factor a schools’ current depth chart is: “It’s a real big factor. I wouldn’t mind being redshirted, but I’d rather not be.”
— On how much of a factor a team’s current season is: “Not a real, real big factor.”
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Georgia Tech looking at McNair RB Arnold Walker
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Georgia Tech has shown a recent interest in McNair running back Arnold Walker, coach Roderick Moore said Wednesday.
“Coach BJ [Brian Jean-Mary] at Georgia Tech asked about Arnold and wanted to know what type of runner and what kind of student he is,” Moore said.
Walker made an unofficial visit to UAB last Thursday to watch the Blazers take on Memphis.
“I loved it,” Walker said. “It was awesome. I could only stay for the first half because I had to get back for my game on Friday against Clarkston.”
Walker does not have any offers on the table but said UAB is his top choice and Auburn is his dream school.
“I’ve dreamed of going to Auburn since I was little,” he said. “Some Auburn recruiters came around my junior year, but I haven’t been contacted this year. I think they will come again before the season is over.”
Walker, 5-foot-11, 195 pounds, led DeKalb County in rushing last year. This year his breakout game was against Druid Hills, when he rushed for 250 yards and five touchdowns.
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