AJC > Sports > Football Recruiting > Blog > Archives > 2008 > October > 20
Monday, October 20, 2008
WR Rantavious Wooten commits to UGA
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Categories
Wide receiver Rantavious Wooten of Belle Glade, Fla., confirmed through a text message that he switched his commitment from LSU to Georgia on Monday.
The 5-foot-10, 158-pound Wooten took an official visit to Georgia this past weekend and apparently was won over by the Bulldogs. He is commitment No. 16 for UGA’s 2009 recruiting class.
Georgia has always been in the running for Wooten. He was perhaps the most dominant performer at Georgia’s July prospect camp, earning attention from Georgia head coach Mark Richt and wide receivers coach John Eason.
Wooten committed to LSU in August, saying he narrowly picked the Tigers over UGA. However, Wooten sent a text message on Monday morning indicating he had changed his mind, according to Rivals.
Could Wooten change his mind again before National Signing Day? Georgia coaches will do their best to guard Wooten’s commitment until Feb. 4.
Got some recruiting news? mcarvell@ajc.com
Click below to see the following:
Permalink | Comments (35) | Post your comment | Categories: LSU, UGA
How It Went: Tucker’s Davis chats with South Carolina’s Spurrier
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Categories
Tucker’s Jonathan Davis, the ninth-best middle linebacker in the nation according to Scout.com, attended Saturday’s LSU-South Carolina SEC contest in Columbia.
One of the highlights included a conversation with South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier.
“We talked for about 10 minutes,” said Davis, a member of the AJC’s The Georgia Top 150 who is being recruited by the Gamecocks as a strong safety.
“He asked me how my visit was going. He said ‘nice to meet you’ and that he looks forward to me playing there.”
Davis, who is weighing scholarship offers from Boston College, Central Florida, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Oklahoma State, South Carolina and UAB, admitted that the Gamecocks gained ground over the weekend.
“That visit put South Carolina above [the others],” he said. “It’s still an even playing field, and I’m looking at my options. But I’m still liking South Carolina.”
Got some recruiting news? jhood@ajc.com
Click below to see the following:
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment | Categories: South Carolina, Tech
Georgia Tech offers Fitzgerald DB Jemea Thomas
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Categories
Fitzgerald defensive back Jemea Thomas received an offer from Georgia Tech, coach Robby Pruitt said Monday.
“He has been under the radar, but he is a good player,” Pruitt said.
Pruitt said Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson contacted him, saying he liked the 5-foot-10, 185-pound senior’s toughness and speed.
Thomas has nearly 10 offers, including Vanderbilt, Clemson and Purdue.
“He is trying to decide which schools he wants to visit and where he feels most comfortable,” Pruitt said.
Most colleges project Thomas as a running back, even though he primarily works as a free safety for the 7-0 Purple Hurricane. Thomas had a good showing last Friday against Early County safety Shawn Fields, who has committed to UGA.
Got some recruiting news? mcarvell@ajc.com
Click below to see the following:
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment | Categories: Clemson, Other schools, Tech
Boise State contacts North Gwinnett QB Tamburo about visit
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Categories
After another week of posting impressive numbers, North Gwinnett’s Michael Tamburo was contacted by Boise State, which would like for him to visit the No. 12-ranked Broncos for their Nov. 8 game against Utah State.
Tennessee and Oregon also have called for more video of the left-handed quarterback, North Gwinnett coach Bob Sphire said on Monday.
Boise State, which called Tamburo on Sunday, has an extremely high interest level, Sphire said. The Broncos have a commitment from California quarterback Joe Southwick, who is roughly the same size as Tamburo (6-foot-1, 185), but is a traditional pocket passer. “They also want a more athletic, dual threat quarterback, which is what they see Mikey as,” Sphire said.
Tamburo has more than 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns passing this season, completing close to 60 percent of his passes. He also has run for 355 yards and five touchdowns.
In Friday’s 45-0 victory against Northview, Tamburo completed 15 of 19 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns. He ran six times for 80 yards, including a 55-yard touchdown. Coaches from Air Force, which has offered, and Samford were in attendance.
Sphire said Tamburo’s size is the only reason he’s not being heavily recruited by more major programs. The coach said he has had to dispel rumors that Tamburo is only 5-11. It’s almost like I’m having to convince them that I’m truthful,” Sphire said. “For some reason, that’s out there on the trail.”
Tamburo hasn’t taken any official visits, but he would like to visit Ohio University, one of his early offers. Sphire said Tamburo is focused on the season and doesn’t want to rush to take a trip.
Got some recruiting news? mcarvell@ajc.com
Click below to see the following:
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Other schools, Tennessee
Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino offers East Paulding FB Jahron Brown
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Categories
East Paulding fullback Jahron Brown recently picked up a scholarship offer from Arkansas.
“They really like the fact that Jahron can block and catch,” East Paulding coach John Reid said. “They want that type of player.
“There aren’t many fullbacks around because so many [high schools] are playing the spread offense. But Jahron is a true fullback.”
Reid has some advice for the 6-foot, 225-pound Brown.
“I’m suggesting to him and his family to probably commit to Arkansas,” Reid said. “That’s really a pretty good offer. I’d be surprised if he didn’t go there.”
Click below to see the following:
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Other schools
Westlake LB Dearco Nolan favors Ole Miss, North Carolina
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Categories
One of the reasons Westlake linebacker/defensive end Dearco Nolan is leaning toward Mississippi is the way the Rebels play defense.
Nolan was impressed with Ole Miss’s second-half defense in Saturday’s 24-20 loss at Alabama, during which the Rebels came back from a 24-3 halftime deficit.
“They’re hard-nosed,” said the 6-foot-3, 235-pound Nolan, who ran a 4.49-second 40 at the Auburn camp, the second-fastest time among DE’s. “A lot of people say they have the one of the best defenses in the country.”
Nolan also likes North Carolina, which also has offered a scholarship. “They’re a real up-and-coming program,” he said.
Nolan also has offers from Iowa State, West Virginia, Miami-Ohio and Middle Tennessee. He said several other programs have started looking at him, and he thinks he may have a double-digit number of offers by season’s end. In seven games, he has nine sacks and an interception.
“A lot of people are taking notice,” he said. “I’m a play-maker. I always seem to be making plays.”
Got some recruiting news? mcarvell@ajc.com
Click below to see the following:
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Other schools
Florida charging hard after Auburn recruit Jonathan Atchinson
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Categories
Florida has joined Alabama in trying to lure away Douglass linebacker Jonathan Atchinson, who has committed to Auburn.
Atchinson said he got a surprise phone call from Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong. “I wasn’t sure it was Florida at first,” Atchinson said. “I said, ‘Coach, which Florida?’ I didn’t know if it was Florida, Florida State, Central Florida, or South Florida?”
“[Strong] said ‘Gators’ and it was exciting to hear from them.”
Atchinson said Strong told him he loved his senior film and wanted to offer an official visit to Gainesville. Atchinson said Strong wanted to meet him in person before offering a scholarship.
Atchinson, who was scheduled to watch Alabama’s game against Mississippi on Saturday, said he will likely take official visits to Auburn, Alabama and Florida. He narrowly committed to Auburn over Alabama, but the Crimson Tide have not given up on changing his mind.
“I’m still committed to Auburn,” Atchinson said. “I don’t want to make it seem like I’m losing interest with Auburn, because I’m not. These other schools, they are calling me, and I’m just listening to what they have to say.”
Got some recruiting news? mcarvell@ajc.com
Click below to see the following:
Permalink | Comments (7) | Post your comment | Categories: Alabama, Florida
Kell tight end Middleton receives offer from Ohio
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Categories
After sending out a fresh set of highlight tapes, Kell’s Will Middleton has found new interest for his services. The Longhorns tight end received a scholarship offer from Ohio University last week.
The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Middleton has received offers from Indiana, Louisville, Rutgers, Marshall and South Carolina. Kell’s defensive coach Doug Orebaugh has a connection on the Bobcats staff. The friendship has proved beneficial for Middleton.
“I like what they [Ohio] do with their tight ends,” Middleton said. “They catch a lot of balls, and they really like to use them in the passing game. That’s what I like. I want to be that option.”
Middleton is a member of the AJC’s The Georgia 150. He previously committed to South Carolina but ended that through a “mutual separation.” Now, he’s open to any school.
“I’m just leaving it open until I take my visits,” Middleton said. “I want to be certain this time. I’ve still got interest in Louisville and Marshall, but it’s too early to say.”
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Other schools, South Carolina
SEC, ACC schools ask for patience from Blessed Trinity’s Matt Crisafi
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Categories
Blessed Trinity center Matt Crisafi plans to make an unofficial visit Saturday to Miami-Ohio and another to Tulane next month, but he’s hoping to land a spot at a more prominent program.
Although open to all possibilities, he’d prefer to play at Vanderbilt, Wake Forest or Tulane, but those schools have asked him to be patient while they fit players into their puzzles. Crisafi attended Wake Forest’s 30-28 victory over Mississippi and Vanderbilt’s 28-21 win against Rice, and he’s psyched about playing for the Demon Deacons or Commodores.
“They have a couple guys ahead of me on their boards, and once those guys decide, they’ll know whether they’ll have a spot for me,” explained Crisafi, a player on AJC’s The Georgia 150. “I’m still trying to take my time because there are a lot of schools I’m interested in, too.”
The 6-foot-4, 305-pound Crisafi is a big reason Blessed Trinity is 6-1 entering Friday’s Region 6-AA game at Buford.
Got some recruiting news? mcarvell@ajc.com
Click below to see the following:
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Other schools
Tucker LB Tevin Holliman waiting for bigger offers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Categories
Tucker linebacker Tevin Holliman has a good number of offers, but admits his list “can be better.”
Holliman, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound senior, has offers from Central Florida, Akron, South Alabama, Ohio, Western Kentucky, Buffalo and Eastern Michigan. He said he’s in no rush to make a commitment.
“I’m going to wait and see what else pops up,” he said. “I’m still up in the air.”
Holliman plans to take in a Western Kentucky game in the next few weeks and wants to work into his schedule a trip to Iowa State “just to see for myself if I might like it.”
Got some recruiting news? mcarvell@ajc.com
Click below to see the following:
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Other schools
