AJC > Sports > Football Recruiting > Blog > Archives > 2008 > October > 24
Friday, October 24, 2008
Carver-Columbus LB Furr gets a little help from his brother
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Who is helping Carver-Columbus linebacker LeRon Furr with recruiting decisions?
His older brother, DeRon Furr, who is a freshman safety at Memphis.
“He recommends I take as many official visits as I can,” LeRon said. “He says if I feel like I can’t trust the coach then it’s not a good place for me to be. He wants me to keep my options open.”
DeRon signed with Auburn and enrolled last January. However, he left the school last August after getting into a “scuffle” with a teammate at practice, according to the Birmingham News.
DeRon has made an official visit to Oklahoma State and is also considering offers from Arkansas, Duke, Central Florida, Louisville, Mississippi and N.C. State. He will take his next recruiting trip to Arkansas on Nov. 1.
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New offers for Gainesville’s Jackson and Jones
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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The AJC has confirmed that Gainesville’s Josh Jackson and Tailer Jones received scholarship offers from N.C. State on Friday.
Jackson, a senior lineman, already had an offer from Georgia State.
Jones, a junior receiver, was offered by Arkansas last week.
He also claimed an offer from West Virginia on Friday.
Jones plans to attend the Florida State-Georgia Tech game at Bobby Dodd Stadium on Nov. 1.
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Miami-bound Prince Kent ignores letters from UGA, Alabama
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Norcross defensive back Prince Kent, who is committed to Miami, said he still hears from other schools.
Kent, who is a member of the AJC’s The Georgia 150, said the letters seem to lessen by the week, but he still gets them from several colleges, including Georgia, Alabama, and Wisconsin.
“I know where I want to be, and Miami is where I want to be,” Kent said.
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Celebrity sightings during UCLA trip for Carver-Columbus OL Chris Hubbard
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Carver-Columbus offensive lineman Chris Hubbard had a celebrity sighting during his official visit to UCLA.
“None of my friends believed me when I told them I saw Rihanna and Chris Brown,” Hubbard said.
Hubbard said he saw the couple eating at Lawry’s, an upscale prime rib restaurant in Beverly Hills. They were accompanied by two bodyguards.
Hubbard, who is not easily star-stuck, said he is not the type of person to go up and introduce himself to celebrities.
“I’m not going to mess up their dinner,” he said. “I’m not like that. I’m not the type of person to walk up to a superstar, especially someone like Chris Brown or Rihanna. I’m not even sure what I would say.”
Hubbard said he likes Rihanna a little more than Chris Brown, but he does not own any of their albums.
“I listen to them, but I like hard core rap better,” he said. “I like Young Jeezy, T.I., Ludacris …”
Hubbard said if given the opportunity he would like to meet Young Jeezy.
“He is my favorite rapper,” he said. “But I know I’m going to meet a lot of famous people in my lifetime.”
He has already met Washington Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell at a football camp and rapper T.I. in an Atlanta mall.
2008-10-25 14:21:19
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Stephenson’s Gilbert still leaning toward walking on at UGA
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Walking on at Georgia is making more and more sense to Stephenson’s Carisseion Gilbert. And not just because his lone offer is from Alabama-Birmingham.
Gilbert (5-8, 180 pounds), who plays quarterback at Stephenson, but is projected as a running back/kick returner at the next level, has three relatives (two aunts and a cousin) working in various maintenance capacities at Georgia.
“I’ve got all kinds of places to live up there,” he said. “They all live within 10 minutes of the university.”
Gilbert says he’s leaning toward walking on, and has had previous conversations with Georgia about that, but he’s going to wait and see what else might be offered by the end of the season
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Lithia Springs QB Kelton Hill impressed with Furman
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Lithia Springs quarterback Kelton Hill took an unofficial visit to Furman for the Paladins’ game against Western Carolina last weekend and was very impressed.
“I loved the campus and the coaches,” said Hill, who has offers from Middle Tennessee, Jacksonville State, Alabama-Birmingham and Charleston Southern. “Most importantly, they won so that’s a positive. I was just impressed with the environment, the fans, the surroundings and the coaches.”
Hill said he plans to take his official visits after the Lions’ season ends, and they’ll likely include a trip back to Furman, Middle Tennessee, Air Force and Army.
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Southwest DeKalb foursome gets W. Carolina offers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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When Western Carolina visited Southwest DeKalb last week, four Panthers came away with offers.
Linebackers Brandon Brant and Richard Hughes, running back Michael Johnson and wide receiver Jacoby Mitchell all were asked to be Catamounts. Brant, Johnson and Mitchell are on the AJC’s Georgia Top 150 list of the football recruits.
“I’m just excited that more people are interested in me,” said Brant, who also has offers from Army and Appalachian State. “But I’m hoping for others, too.”
Mitchell said he plans a visit to Western Carolina and is intrigued by its spread offense. Mitchell also has offers from Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan, Akron and Army.
Johnson also has offers from Eastern Michigan and Akron.
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Georgia State offers Ringgold QB Zac Fairchild
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Ringgold quarterback Zac Fairchild has not taken a snap this year, but that has not stopped Georgia State coach Bill Curry from offering him a football scholarship.
“They have film on him from his junior year,” Ringgold coach Robert Akins said. “He met with Coach Curry and made a visit to the campus.”
The 6-foot-4, 226-pound senior currently has offers from Georgia State, University of Tennessee-Chattanooga and Ohio.
Akins said South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier and Kentucky assistant coach Randy Sanders showed an interest in Fairchild before his injury.
“They were pretty high on him,” Akins said. “But when you have an ACL injury some of those D-1 schools back off because they have other people waiting.”
Akins said Fairchild is a standout pitcher for the Tigers and is also considering playing college baseball.
“When the season started he was really leaning towards football,” Akins said. “He has a love for the game, but loves baseball as well, so he will have to wait and see what his offers are and make a decision.”
Akins said he does not expect Fairchild to return this season, but he will be ready to play baseball in the spring.
Eduardo Curry of Charleston, S.C. and Mark Hogan Jr. of the Boston area were the first to commit to the Panthers program, which will begin playing in Fall 2009.
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Road Trip: Milton RB Williams to attend Tennessee game
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Tennessee’s current class of 2009 commits includes Milton running back Toney Williams, who has seen his stock soar during his senior season.
There is still much buzz over the 6-foot-1, 227-pound Williams’ record-setting performance against Chattahoochee last month, when he rushed for 350 yards.
Williams, who has scored 25 touchdowns this year, anticipates being a regular Joe this weekend when he takes his second trip of the season to Knoxville for a ballgame.
“I really don’t think I’ll get any special attention,” said Williams, a member of the AJC’s The Georgia Top 150. “I think it’s like any other game. I’ll go up there, do the recruiting thing and be like a normal person.
“I don’t think I’ll go up there and they’ll say ‘I’m the man coming in.’ The way I look at it, all of the talent is equal.”
Milton coach Scott Walker will accompany Williams and one of his teammates to Neyland Stadium on Saturday.
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Can UGA take away Drayton Calhoun from LSU?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Tucker’s Drayton Calhoun will be at Georgia’s game against LSU on Saturday in Baton Rouge.
But Calhoun, a member of the AJC’s Super Southern 100, won’t be cheering for his childhood favorite, the college team he thought he’d be playing for as recently as one year ago.
Calhoun has committed to LSU and will be pulling for his future Tigers teammates against Georgia.
“This is my first college game this year, and I’m excited about going to LSU for a regular-season game,” Calhoun said. “I’ve heard so many stories about how loud it gets there, and how passionate the LSU fans are about football.
“I’ll finally get to see it all for myself, with my own eyes. I can’t wait for Saturday to get here.”
Calhoun, who projects to play wide receiver or defensive back in college, committed to LSU over 15 other offers, including Florida and Tennessee. He made the surprising decision after visiting LSU for “Junior Day” last February.
“LSU just came out of nowhere,” Tucker coach Franklin Stephens recalled. “When I saw the look on his face when he came back [from LSU] I asked him, ‘Are you about to commit?’
“He said he was thinking about it. And then the next day, he did commit. It was a whirlwind thing.”
Soon after Calhoun pledged to sign with LSU, he finally got his dream offer from Georgia. The Bulldogs had waited a little bit longer because they were still evaluating players.
Calhoun has decided to remain with LSU over Georgia so far, but here are three reasons why the Bulldogs are holding onto faint hopes for a switch before National Signing Day on Feb. 4:
First love was Georgia
Calhoun admitted that he would be headed to Georgia, not LSU, if there had been different circumstances.
“If Georgia had offered me earlier, then I would’ve probably ended up there; yes, you could say that,” Calhoun said. “But they didn’t, so I visited LSU and fell in love with the place. … LSU got to me first, [and] that’s where I’m going.”
Calhoun said most of his family members are Georgia fans, but he is confident of converting them to LSU supporters over time.
Georgia keeping in touch
Several weeks ago, Calhoun said he talked to Georgia recruiting coordinator Rodney Garner.
“[Garner] said he was calling to check up on me,” Calhoun said. “He said they weren’t giving up on me, and that [running backs coach Tony Ball] was going to come to one of our games to watch me play.”
What did Calhoun say to Garner? “Nothing, really. I just listened to what he had to say.”
Calhoun said when he hung up the phone, he still felt 100 percent committed to LSU, and his coach believes it. Said Stephens: “Other than that phone call, Drayton has pretty much shut off contact with all the colleges.”
Wary of Georgia’s overtures, LSU stays in touch with Calhoun on a regular basis, even putting him on the phone with head coach Les Miles last week. Said Calhoun, “[Miles] can’t wait to get me down there. He wants to start me out on offense and use me all over the place like they do with [Trindon Holliday].”
Wide receivers needed
Georgia coach Mark Richt has made a public plea for wide receivers, stating that he intends to sign at least two. The Bulldogs got a commitment earlier this week from Rantavious Wooten of Belle Glade, Fla., and are in the hunt for several other big names. Calhoun is on that list.
While playing almost exclusively at tailback, Calhoun has 75 carries for 652 yards and seven touchdowns and two receptions for 77 yards and two touchdowns.
“He has the rare ability to score any time he touches the ball, from anywhere on the field,” Stephens said.
In recent weeks, Tucker has taken better advantage of Calhoun’s athleticism with screen passes, deep passes and toss running plays designed to get him open.
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Scholarships added to UGA’s 2009 recruiting class
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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At the beginning of the football season, Georgia was projected to sign no more than 20 prospects for its 2009 recruiting class.
My, how things change so quickly.
The Bulldogs have added three more scholarships within the last 10 days after dismissal of two players, along with Thursday’s announcement that redshirt offensive guard Chris Little was transferring to another school.
At this pace, Georgia could come close to reaching 25 by the time February arrives. After all, Bulldogs coach Mark Richt still has to wait to see if quarterback Knowshown Moreno and quarterback Matthew Stafford will return next season, along with cornerback Asher Allen.
Defensive tackle Jeff Owens also mentioned applying for a medical redshirt this year rather than the NFL draft to return for one more year with the Bulldogs.
So it actually could be bad news for Georgia if it keeps adding scholarships for 2009, as that will mean the early departure of key players for the NFL.
However, Georgia is preparing for all scenarios. Recruiting coordinator Rodney Garner and fellow assistants have hit the road hard in recent weeks to scout seniors in case more scholarship slots open.
Little of Twiggs County provided the defining moment of Georgia’s signing day in 2007, when he switched from Notre Dame to Georgia in dramatic fashion.
Richt said Garner is helping place Little at another school, while also working with dismissed defensive back Donovan Baldwin and wide receiver Walter Hill.
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Road Trip: Banneker RB Mooreland accepts invitation to visit Tech
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Banneker running back Alfred Moreland’s plans to travel to Knoxville on Saturday for the Alabama-Tennessee SEC showdown hit a snag earlier this week after the 5-foot-6, 171-pound athlete received a call from Georgia Tech assistant coach Buzz Preston.
“He called me and asked if I’d come to the [Virginia-Georgia Tech] game,” said Moreland, who has gained over 1,200 all-purpose yards for Banneker this season. “At first, I was scheduled to go to the Alabama-Tennessee game with a few of my teammates.
“But I switched it up and decided to go to the Tech game with my dad and one of my teammates, Emmanuel Lartey. I think I’ve go a shot at an offer from Tech.”
Moreland picked up his second scholarship offer last week.
“[Ole Miss assistant] coach Tracy Rocker called and told me that they had offered,” said Moreland, whose other offer is from Air Force. “He had come in that Friday before when we played Villa Rica.
“And I knew from my highlight tape that I was doing a pretty good job and I’d have a chance to get an offer from them.”
Moreland will take an unofficial visit to Ole Miss on Nov. 1.
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UGA-bound QB Aaron Murray scheduled for surgery today
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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UGA-bound quarterback Aaron Murray of Tampa, Fla., is scheduled to undergo surgery on his broken left ankle today.
Murray is likely finished with his heralded high school career after suffering the injury in last Thursday’s game for Plant High.
“The doctors don’t think there’s any ligament damage, but they won’t know for sure until they see how it looks when they get in there for surgery,” Murray told the AJC.
Murray was ordered to stay home from school this week and keep his leg elevated to limit swelling before Friday.
Murray is determined to return to action this season. 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.
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 in the second quarter of last week’s game for Plant, Murray had a stellar performance, throwing for 205 yards and three touchdowns, while rushing for 95 yards and one touchdown.
Georgia coach Mark Richt has told Murray that the Bulldogs will honor his scholarship, even if he “never takes a snap again.”
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