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Sunday, October 19, 2008
Miller Grove’s Gilstrap gets dual offer from Western Kentucky
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Miller Grove wide receiver Kenneth Gilstrap, a blue-chip track and field recruit as a sprinter, was offered a football scholarship from Western Kentucky this weekend, giving him his first dual offer to compete in both sports in college.
He also heard from Vanderbilt about their interest in his football skills.
He said Saturday that recruiters from Western Kentucky and Vandy visited the school to talk to him on Friday, then watched Miller Grove play Marist that night, a 35-13 loss. Gilstrap scored a touchdown in the loss.
Western, which offered Gilstrap a track scholarship earlier this year, also offered the football scholarship. Vanderbilt wanted to see more video.
Gilstrap wants to play both sports in college. Among his track offers are Kentucky, South Carolina, Kansas State, Louisville and Georgia Tech. Other football offers are from Ohio, Richmond, Middle Tennessee and UAB.
“I like both of them, but I just want to compete,” he said.
Gilstrap has tentatively planned a visit to Western Kentucky on Nov. 1 and Middle Tennessee Nov. 8.
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M.L.King’s Kight on BC: Great football, chilly weather
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Two things stood out for M.L. King linebacker Joel Kight on an official visit this past weekend to Boston College.
— The Eagles play hard, team-oriented football and he likes that.
— He’s not so crazy about the weather.
Kight watched Boston College beat Virginia Tech 28-23 Saturday, erasing a 10-0 deficit.
“I was impressed with how they played, how they fought back and never gave up,” Kight said Sunday evening. “The campus is really nice, but the weather, it’s cold up there.
“I’m not sure what the temperature was [around 50 degrees], but the wind made it even worse.”
Overall, Kight has a positive impression of his visit, but his intent is to compare other schools on his offers list, including Ole Miss, which he considers one of the programs he’s leaning toward. He plans an official visit to Ole Miss perhaps in the next month.
Kight also has offers from Oklahoma State, Connecticut, Duke, Miami-Ohio, Indiana and Arizona State.
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UGA honors scholarship to injured QB Aaron Murray, called “Bulldog forever”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Georgia-bound quarterback Aaron Murray of Tampa, Fla., told the AJC on Sunday night he was “overwhelmed” with the outpouring of support, especially from Bulldog fans, after breaking his left ankle.
Murray is likely finished with his prolific high school career after suffering the leg injury in last Thursday’s game for Plant High.
“It has been crazy, all the phone calls and emails, wishing me a speedy recovery … and praying for me,” Murray said.
“I want to thank everyone, especially all the Georgia fans. I’ve been reading some nice things they said on the [Internet], and I really appreciate all the support. It means a lot. It just lets me know I’m with the right school … I have never been more excited to be a Georgia Bulldog.”
Murray, who is determined to return to action this season for Plant, said he will know more about his injury after meeting with doctors this week. He is using crutches and hopes to be walking on his own in 4-6 weeks. He wants to be playing football again in 6-8 weeks.
“I had surgery on my shoulder two years ago, and I was way ahead of schedule with my recovery,” Murray said. “I’m going to work as hard as I can to be back as quick as I can this time, too … while following the advice of the doctors.”
Murray said he had long conversations with Georgia head coach Mark Richt and quarterbacks coach Mike Bobo.
“Coach Richt was very reassuring. He told me ‘Even if you could never take a snap again, and you’d still have your scholarship with us. You’re a Georgia Bulldog forever.’”
“It was great to hear that, it really made my time a lot less stressful in dealing with the injury.”
Click here to read more on Aaron Murray’s leg injury
Murray is UGA’s most prolific commitment in its 2009 recruiting class, earning MVP honors of the Elite 11 QB Camp last summer. He picked Georgia among 53 scholarship offers.
Before being injured on Thursday, Murray had a stellar performance, throwing for 205 yards and three touchdowns, while rushing for 95 yards and one touchdown.
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How It Went: Clemson recruit Corico Hawkins meets with Dabo Swinney
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Baldwin linebacker and Georgia’s only Clemson commit Corico Hawkins attended the Clemson-Georgia Tech Saturday afternoon.
Hawkins met with Clemson interim coach Dabo Swinney, who was promoted after Tommy Bowden stepped down last week.
“He had a good time,” Baldwin coach Jesse Hicks said. “He talked to [Swinney] and some of the assistants and they just told him to stick with the program.”
Hicks said he saw Clemson recruit Malliciah Goodman, a defensive end from Florence, S.C. at the game as well. Hawkins talked to several of the prospects who remain committed to the Tigers.
“Most of the kids had been up there before,” Hicks said. “Everyone seemed to be laid back and enjoying the game.”
South Carolina and N.C. State contacted Hawkins last week, but he remains loyal to Clemson.
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Henry County QB Drew Little holds off committing to Boston College
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Henry County quarterback Drew Little went to Boston College on an official visit this weekend but did not commit to the school.
“I want to talk it over with my family, get everything straightened out and make sure I make the right decision,” said Little, a member of the AJC The Georgia Top 150.
The 6-foot-5, 245-pound Little currently has offers from Georgia State and Boston College.
Little said he spoke with Boston College coach Jeff Jagodzinski after Saturday’s Virginia Tech game about the program and his future at the school.
“I had a one-on-one with the head coach and he said he really likes me,” Little said.
Little said he had a blast being in Boston. He was still on his recruiting trip on Sunday night, and is scheduled to return to Atlanta on Monday.
“It’s awesome,” he said. “I love it up here.”
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How It Went: Gainesville junior WR Jones visits Alabama
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Three days after receiving his first scholarship offer, Gainesville junior receiver Tailer Jones headed to Tuscaloosa, Ala. on Saturday to watch Alabama host Ole Miss.
Jones was hoping the Crimson Tide would follow Arkansas’ lead and aware him his second overall offer.
But he’ll need to wait at least 10 days to determine if the Tide will offer.
“I would say they are very interested,” Jones said. “My recruiting coach, [Kirby] Smart, said that he knew about Gainesville, me and what I’ve been doing.
“He said they’ve been keeping a close watch on me.”
Jones’ first trip to Bryant-Denny Stadium exceeded his expectations.
“It was definitely a great atmosphere,” he said. “Their fans are devoted. You could tell it was an SEC school. They definitely have some of the best facilities I’ve seen.
“Their fans knew we were the recruits. They were yelling ‘go to Alabama.’”
Georgia Tech might beat Alabama to the punch and award Jones with his second overall scholarship offer.
“Tech is recruiting me hard,” said Jones, who plans to attend Tech’s Nov. 1 home game against Florida State.
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How It Went: Bremen’s Stansberry visits Troy
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Bremen offensive lineman Jay Stansberry, a Troy commit, visited his future college home Saturday night to watch the Trojans host Florida International. It was his first game day experience at Troy.
“It went really well,” said Stansberry, a member of the AJC’s The Georgia Top 150 who had previously viewed scrimmages at Troy. “They had a bunch of fans come to the game.
“There was a lot of tailgating. It was a great atmosphere.”
The 6-foot-4, 260-pound Stansberry attended the game with his father, mother and sister. They departed during the third quarter after the temperature dropped.
Stansberry said he’s unique among other Troy recruits in the class of 2009.
“I know a lot of their linemen are coming out of junior colleges,” he said. “I’m one of the few coming out of high school.”
When asked if other schools, such as Georgia Tech, are continuing to recruit him, Stansberry offered a quick response.
“I’m set on Troy,” he said.
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How It Went: Henry County junior WR Ambles visits UGA
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Henry County junior receiver Markeith Ambles’ was among the recruiting prospects in attendance at Sanford Stadium on Saturday when Georgia defeated SEC foe Vanderbilt.
“It was nice,” Ambles said. “I got to talk to the coaches before the game on the sidelines. I watched the game, talked to the coaches again afterwards, then came back home.”
One of the highlights was sitting in the student section.
“I sat in the recruiting section at first, but I was able to go over to the student section a little while,” he said. “I wound up going back over to the recruiting section.
“I just wanted to see how the student section would be. It was crazy.”
Ambles, who already has scholarship offers from programs such as Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee and South Carolina, was told by Georgia coaches to send his film and they will continue to evaluate him.
He hopes an offer from Georgia materializes, but he’s taking everything in stride.
“I’ve got a lot of schools that have already offered me,” he said. “So I’m just liking whoever is liking me.”
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Milton’s Taj Harris holds onto college football dreams
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Milton running back Taj Harris, who missed his entire junior year with a knee injury, still has dreams of playing college football.
“At first, I thought I wasn’t going to walk again,” Harris said. “It was the first week of practice, and I had just transferred from Centennial, so nobody knew what I had to offer. It made me realize football can be taken away just like that.”
Harris, a backup to Tennessee-bound Toney Williams, made an unofficial visit to Georgia Tech to watch the Duke game.
“I talked to [Tech assistant Buzz Preston] and he asked if I liked what I saw,” Harris said. “I definitely had a good time. Now I just have to go out there and play and if I play well enough, and they like me, then maybe they will offer.”
Harris is waiting for his first offer.
Milton coach Scott Walker said they are trying to get him as many reps as possible. “We have no film on Taj, so we have him playing corner, receiver and punt returner rather than waiting on Toney to get tired. He can play lots of positions, but we know he is still nursing that ACL, so we are not pushing the envelope.”
Walker hopes for Harris to draw attention from major-college programs.
Harris said when he transferred from Centennial he did not know he was going to be Williams’ backup. “I’m fine with it. If I had to do it all over I would have made the same decision.”
The 5-foot-8, 191-pound Harris runs the 40-yard dash in 4.41 seconds.
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Recruiting Notes: Newnan’s Will Koran offered by Western Carolina
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Newnan linebacker Will Koran is getting looks from Alabama-Birmingham, Middle Tennessee State, Akron, Tennessee Tech, Eastern Kentucky, and Marshall.
The 6-foot-3, 225-pound has an offer from Western Carolina. He is projected to play linebacker or tight end in college …
Madison County’s Aldreakis Allen is hearing from Middle Tennessee State and still waiting for his first major-college offer.
Allen has a slew of interest from smaller colleges: Liberty, Jacksonville State, Delaware State, and Presbyterian have offered scholarships. He has played wide receiver, tailback, linebacker and safety this season for Madison County …
Newton linebacker Quenton Pooler, who has committed to Western Kentucky, was offered by Mars Hill on Friday …
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Miller Grove’s Stephen Hill attracts colleges for teammates
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Good news for Miller Grove wide receiver Stephen Hill may also be good news for two of his high school teammates.
When the flurry of college recruiters have stopped by the DeKalb school to check on Hill, Miller Grove coach Jasper Jewell has had the chance tout the talents of two other seniors, quarterback Kendrick Ings and wide receiver Kenneth Gilstrap.
North Carolina has serious interest in the 5-foot-10, 174-pound Ings, who plays quarterback for Miller Grove but will likely shift to defensive back and kickoff returner in college.
Gilstrap is one of the state’s top track athletes, and has numerous track offers. However, Gilstrap’s dream is to do both sports in college, and was offered Friday by Western Kentucky.
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Miami-bound Prince Kent showing his offensive skills
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Norcross defensive back and Miami prospect Prince Kent is showing that he’s a two-way talent.
Starting at receiver for the first time in his varsity career, Kent has grabbed 21 catches for 461 yards for a whopping 22-yard average.
The 6-3, 195-pound Kent saw little time at receiver last year, sitting behind three players who signed Div. I scholarships, Brice Butler (Southern Cal), Devonta Bolton (Alabama) and Alex Napper (Kent St.)
“After being behind them, I think he really stepped it for his senior year and he’s done great things for us,” said Norcross coach Keith Maloof. “He’s doing well on defense and offense and making some great plays for us.”
Last week against North Forsyth, Kent had three receptions for 113 yards. The week before against Chattahoochee, he had caught a short hitch and turned into a 60-yard reception.
“He’s catching the short stuff and the deep stuff right now, which is good for him,” Maloof said. “He’s making people miss and taking the short stuff and getting yards after the catch.”
The coach added that Kent has the ability to play receiver at the next level, though there is no talk of that from the Hurricanes.
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