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Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Miller Grove’s Stephen Hill is Georgia Tech’s third commitment of day
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Miller Grove wide receiver Stephen Hill, one of the state’s hottest prospects, switched his commitment from Central Florida to Georgia Tech on Tuesday.
The 6-foot-4, 190-pound Hill wasn’t planning on making a Tuesday decision. However, Georgia Tech assistant coach Brian Jean-Mary called Hill to let him know about the day’s other two commitments, and Hill responded that he wanted to join them.
“It seemed spur of the moment, but [Hill] has been liking Georgia Tech for quite a while now,” Miller Grove coach Jasper Jewell said. “He was going to announce by the end of the week, but Tuesday’s phone call presented an earlier opportunity.”
Hill, who is considered one of the state’s top three wide receivers, was a coup for Tech. Hill switched his commitment from Central Florida, had offers from Boston College and Mississippi State, and was under consideration with Georgia and Alabama.
Hill took an official visit to Boston College, but postponed his recruiting trip to Central Florida for last weekend. He is scheduled to make a recruiting trip to Georgia Tech on Dec. 12.
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Permalink | Comments (51) | Post your comment | Categories: Alabama, Tech, Tennessee, UGA
Valdosta OL Antonio Foster switches from Tennessee to Georgia Tech
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Valdosta offensive lineman Antonio Foster told the AJC that he has switched his commitment from Tennessee to Georgia Tech.
“Yes, it’s true,” Foster confirmed on Tuesday afternoon. “I’m on the way to football practice … and I’ll be able to talk about it more later.”
The 6-foot-4, 290-pound Foster switched after Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer announced on Monday that he would resign at season’s end.
Tech is not a surprise pick for Foster, who narrowly picked Tennessee over the Yellow Jackets last July. He also had offers from South Carolina and South Florida.
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Permalink | Comments (24) | Post your comment | Categories: South Carolina, Tech, Tennessee
Alabama RB Orwin Smith commits to Georgia Tech
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Tailback Orwin Smith of Phenix City (Ala.) Central has committed to Georgia Tech.
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Smith picked the Yellow Jackets over Vanderbilt and Southern Miss.
“I just think Orwin is the complete running back; he’ll fit into Georgia Tech’s system real well at the A-back position,” Central coach Ron Nelson said. “He’s a good runner and blocker, plus he can catch the ball out of the backfield.”
Why did Smith decide to go ahead and commit to Tech?
“Our season ended last week, and he was ready to get recruiting finished, too. I could always tell he really liked Georgia Tech, and he just talked it over with his parents before calling the coaches.”
Smith, who has been clocked in the 40-yard dash at 4.60 seconds, rushed for 1,252 yards and 18 touchdowns on 214 carries for Central this past season. He was recently voted “Mr. Centra,l” the school’s most popular senior by his classmates.
Smith is commitment No. 13 for the 2009 recruiting class at Tech.
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Lassiter “miracle play” appears on ESPN
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Note: Click here to see the play
There’s a name in Lassiter’s playbook for what tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen did on Friday night against Centennial: Ace Left Mesh Wide.
Now the Trojans - and everyone else - can call it something else: Magnificent.
That was the word ESPN anchor Mike Greenberg used Monday on the 6 p.m. live broadcast of SportsCenter to describe this play that Lutzenkirchen made in the first quarter of the Trojans 49-24 victory against Centennial Friday.
After repeated viewings, “magnificent” may simply not be enough. Incredible? En fuego? Cooler than the other side of the pillow? Lassiter’s coach may have the proper answer.
“Everyone was speechless,” Trojans first-year coach Chip Lindsey said. “Just speechless. You could just feel the buzz through the crowd. People didn’t know what to say.”
Lindsey didn’t even know what the hype was about. He was 50 yards away on the other end of the stadium. An assistant coach had stepped in the way of a proper viewing. Basically, Lindsey knew he had a touchdown, and that’s about it.
“I’m on the other end, so I had no idea what was going on,” Lindsey said. “I was focused on that it was fourth down. The play we ran wasn’t designed for anyone in particular, but Philip was the first read on the play. Hudson [Mason], our quarterback, went through all his progressions and had to come back to Philip. “If he took a sack on the play, he [Mason] knew I’d choke his guts out.”
That’s how marvelous happens, it seems. A coach decides to go for it on fourth-and-7 from the 12 yard-line instead of going for a field goal. An offensive line blocks long enough to save its junior quarterback’s neck. A smart player makes an even smarter play.
And then some kid with No. 22 strapped to his back is lucky enough to have his awkward, yet brilliant touchdown catch played on national television. But no one is talking about senior Reid Handler, the player who statistically speaking, actually scored on the play.
All eyes are on Lutzenkirchen. But just like the pass, the Trojans senior is deflecting the attention.
“It’s really cool, but a lot had to happen for me to make that play,” Lutzenkirchen said. “The offensive line gave Hudson a long time to throw that ball. He just lobbed it up, and I caught it. I got pushed out of bounds, so once I realized that I wasn’t going to get a foot down, I saw the Centennial defense just kind of stop. That’s when I kind of did a push pass to Reid, No. 22, who got open at the last second.”
Sounds easy enough. Sure. But making it from Friday Night Legend status around Eastern Cobb County to national highlight star took some help. The video was on YouTube by the next day. Atlanta TV station WAGA-Fox 5 sent a copy of the highlight to ESPN and informed Lutzenkirchen on Monday after practice.
Oddly enough, Lutzenkirchen isn’t Lassiter’s only product with 15 seconds of fame. Louisiana State freshman goalie and 2008 Lassiter graduate Mo Isom made SportsCenter with a 90-yard free kick against BYU on Aug. 25. Even Lindsey arrived with fanfare last spring after spending a season as offensive coordinator for Hoover High School in Hoover, Ala., the school at the center of attention in MTV’s reality show “Two-A-Days.”
“I never thought anything like this would happen to me,” Lutzenkirchen said. “When Mo Isom was on there, it was a big deal. It’s great for our school and team to get that kind of attention.”
Attention is something Lutzenkirchen deals with daily. Prior to the amazing play, he was still one of the most sought after recruits in the Southeast. The 6-foot-4, 245 pound tight end is committed to Auburn. The midseason firing of Tigers offensive coordinator Tony Franklin has muddied those waters, however.
Lutzenkirchen plays in Lindsey’s spread offense and has thrived, as indicated by the highlight. A three-point stance and a cloud of dust for four years at Auburn isn’t something that excites him, should the Tigers go that direction with a new O.C.
“I’m just going to have to deal with that when the time comes,” Lutzenkirchen said. “I want to see who they hire. That will make a big difference.”
Lutzenkirchen traveled to Gainesville, Fla., for an unofficial visit to see the Gators face Kentucky two weeks ago. Florida had offered by the middle of the next week. Since Franklin’s firing, Lutzenkirchen has also gotten offers from Texas Tech and South Carolina. There are untold numbers of phones and mail is piling up from places like Kansas and Texas A&M.
“Every night it seems I get a call from another area code that I’ve never heard of,” Lutzenkirchen said. “It’s kind of crazy.”
Crazy is certainly one way to describe it. When it comes to Lutzenkirchen, one word may not be enough, however.
Magnificent seems like a good place to start.
Did you see the play? What do you think? Is that the state’s play of the year? If not, please describe one that’s better.
Permalink | Comments (11) | Post your comment | Categories: Auburn, Florida, South Carolina
State’s No. 1 prospect Branden Smith no longer considering Tennessee
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Booker T. Washington cornerback Branden Smith told the AJC on Monday night that he is no longer considering Tennessee.
“They are out,” said Smith, who is rated as the state’s No. 1 prospect by the AJC and Rivals.
Smith took an official visit to Tennessee on Oct. 25, with his host being All-SEC safety Eric Berry, who played at Atlanta’s Creekside High.
Smith has also visited Florida, while he has his three remaining recruiting trips planned for Alabama (replacing Auburn) on Nov. 15, Florida State (replacing Clemson) on Nov. 29, and Georgia on Dec. 12.
Other than Tennessee and Clemson, Smith said he remains “open” to talking with any schools and does not have any favorites.
Note: Branden Smith has agreed to take questions about recruiting or football in this blog. Please post your questions below.
Permalink | Comments (43) | Post your comment | Categories: Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, FSU, Florida, Tennessee, UGA
Carver RB Demond Dennis receives offer from Georgia Tech
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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A last-minute decision to attend Georgia Tech’s 31-28 victory over Florida State at Bobby Dodd Stadium on Saturday proved to be a great move by Carver-Atlanta running back Demond Dennis.
Despite arriving in the second quarter, Dennis still managed to work his way to the locker room following the game. That’s when he bumped into Tech wide receivers coach Buzz Preston.
“I saw him and he told me to come up to the office,” the 5-foot-9, 193-pound Dennis said. “That’s when they gave me the letter.
“I was excited. [Coach Preston] told me to let him know when I’m ready to commit. But my dad had told me to take my time and let it play out.”
Dennis, who is being recruited by the Jackets as an A-back, says he’s also considering offers from Illinois and Louisville.
“But Georgia Tech is my No. 1 right now,” he said. “I really like it. I like how they run the ball. I know I’d get a lot of touches in the game.”
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Georgia, Georgia Tech call about Tennessee recruit Toney Williams
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Milton coach Scott Walker told the AJC on Monday night that his phone has not stopped ringing since Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer said he would resign at season’s end.
Milton fullback Toney Williams is committed to Tennessee.
“My phone hasn’t stopped ringing today,” Walker said. “It’s been a lot of reporters and several schools to see what [Williams’] plans are, whether he’s interested in coming for visits, etc.”
Walker said he’d either called or heard Monday from Georgia, Georgia Tech, Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky and North Carolina State regarding Williams. The coach said he sent film Monday to Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi.
Williams recruiting life had been comparatively tranquil since committing to Tennessee before spring practice, but it all ended with Fulmer’s announcement. His 1,875 yards and 23 touchdowns rushing, which have Milton (7-2, 6-2) in the playoffs for the first time since 1999, have schools relishing a second chance at him.
“It’s been kind of hectic,” Walker said. “[Fulmer’s announcement] happened so fast. We haven’t worked on Toney’s recruiting for some time.”
The 6-foot-1, 227-pound Williams has said all season he’d honor his commitment to play at Tennessee despite the Vols’ 3-6 record. And though The Georgia 150 selection reiterated that again Monday, Fulmer’s pending departure has him entertaining offers from other schools.
“Coach Fulmer is a big reason why I picked Tennessee, but not the only reason,” Williams said. “I still love the school, and maybe they will pick someone from the current staff, or get a big-name coach from somewhere else. There’s just so much unknown right now.”
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Inside the stat: Walton’s Michael Boydston
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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47 - carries by Walton’s Michael Boydston, who took an unofficial visit to Georgia Tech on Saturday. Boydston finished with 257 yards and four touchdowns against Roswell.
Number of carries?
“I didn’t know it was that many until they told me after the game. I knew I ran a lot, but I didn’t think I ran that many. I was averaging about 30 carries a game, and I thought it was kind of a regular game.”
Tired?
“It’s not that much. I don’t really notice it. I get some relief when the throw it to Price Garrett.”
Season totals (1,800 yards, 25 touchdowns)?
“Coming into this season I was expecting the unexpected. I wasn’t expecting to have this kind of season. I played defense the last two years.”
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Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Other schools, Tech
