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DEL.ICIO.USClemson recruit to meet with Mark Richt on Saturday
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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With Georgia off this weekend, the team’s coaches will be able to give the royal treatment to J.K. Jay of Greenville, S.C.
The 6-foot-7, 290-pound Jay is a longtime Clemson commitment, but he will look at other schools until the Tigers name a new coach. He is ranked as the nation’s No. 15 offensive tackle by Rivals.
Jay will make an unofficial visit to Georgia on Saturday, then said he will return for his official visit on Dec. 9.
“I haven’t been to Georgia since I went to football camp there when I was in the sixth grade,” Jay said.
The Bulldogs and Jay have had an intense relationship during the past three weeks. Georgia offered as soon as it found out Jay was looking around, and assistant coach Stacey Searels has followed up with daily e-mails.
Jay said he and his father talk to Georgia coach Mark Richt several times a week. Jay attends Christ Church, a Christian prep school, and his spiritual life will factor into his college decision.
“Faith is definitely the most important thing in my life,” Jay said. “And playing football for men like Coach Richt, who also puts faith first in his life, means a lot to me.”
Jay confirmed that he likely will stick with Clemson if the current staff is retained, but admitted Georgia is making big gains.
“I’ve been praying about everything and know it all will work out for the best,” Jay said.
On Saturday, Jay will get a tour of the campus, meet with academic advisors and sit down with Richt at least twice.
Although numerous other schools, including Florida and Alabama, have tried to get involved with Jay, he said he has accepted visits to just Georgia and Clemson.
He plans to schedule a Clemson visit after the new coaching staff is hired.
Got some recruiting news? mcarvell@ajc.com
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Permalink | Comments (17) | Post your comment | Categories: Clemson, UGA
Comments
By dawgfan1911
November 20, 2008 8:02 AM | Link to this
Who cares what church this guys goes to. Can he block? We have enough choir boys on the team as it is. We need some nasty big offensive lineman who can open holes for our stable of good backs that we have.
By BulldawgBred
November 20, 2008 8:22 AM | Link to this
Faith is a huge part of football. We had a big nasty Olineman a couple years ago who liked to get stupid personal foul calls at the wrong time due to his temper. If we had more “choir boys” like Tim Tebow, maybe we would have a little more team cohesion this year. Tebow is a christian, but plays nasty on the field. BTW, the Oline is not the problem. They have played extremely well the past 4-5 weeks. Searels is amazing and the best thing that has happened to UGA in as looong time.
By NewnanDawgCF
November 20, 2008 9:26 AM | Link to this
dawgfan1911 - You are an embarrassment, and probably the first person to complain about an off field arrest of a non “choir boy.” Lots of very spiritual guys are fantastic football players. When a team has to pull together for a big win, a common faith goes a long way. Have some respect for kids making good life choices.
Sounds to me like Jay is exactly the kind of player we need.
Go Dawgs!
By buster
November 20, 2008 9:49 AM | Link to this
I bet those Gator fans are envious that he’s looking at the dogs.(but they won’t admit it). woof, woof
By borodawg
November 20, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this
I guess dawgfan1911 wants big nasty linemen…who end up on police reports. Brilliant.
By born 2 bark
November 20, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this
Sounds like a great kid and solid athlete to boot. Join the Bulldawg Nation J.K, we need you!
By WTF???
November 20, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this
dawgfan1911 - The most ignorant comment I’ve read from a Dawgs fan…..
By beau
November 20, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this
Thanks for a good story Carvell. Just about 2 weeks late.
Don’t Criticize the AJC or its “reporters” We’ll delete your posts!
What a Joke…….
By copdawg
November 20, 2008 12:33 PM | Link to this
DAWGFAN 1911, PEOPLE LIKE YOU MAKE ME CONSIDER NOT READING THESE CONSISTANTLY STUPID POSTS FROM PEOPLE, WHO OBVIOUSLY ARE MENTALLY CHALLENGED.
By SC DAWG
November 20, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this
You guys have to see this idiot is a TECH fan trying to stir up trouble. Its pretty obvious to me that a true UGA fan would never make a stupid comment like that. dawg(Techfan)fan 1911 go back to your Tech nerds where you belong.
By SC DAWG
November 20, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this
You guys have to see this idiot is a TECH fan trying to stir up trouble. Its pretty obvious to me that a true UGA fan would never make a stupid comment like that. dawg(Techfan)fan 1911 go back to your Tech nerds where you belong.
By Vince
November 20, 2008 1:23 PM | Link to this
We can def use a guy like JK Jay at UGA. We need quality players at OT, and depth due to the injuries that always arise.
By Brett
November 20, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this
Why don’t you stop getting all of your information from ugasports.com. They are the ones getting the stories and doing all the leg work. All the AJC does is check whats going on over there and write your own story about it.
By beau
November 20, 2008 2:11 PM | Link to this
Brett,
Watch out, Carvell and the staff will delete your posts.
You can’t question the journalistic integrity of the AJC. what ever microscopic amount is there.
The AJC sucks and I say that being a huge UGA fan.
UGASPORTS.COM should really pursue a copyright infringement case against this pathetic newspaper.
By Dawgs Rule
November 20, 2008 2:11 PM | Link to this
Dawg Fan, I don’t think your comments were that out of line. We some people who can block. Fact is your right in a way. We do need some big mean Olinemen that can handle Dlines like Alabama has. We need some big mean d linemen too. Anything under 300lbs just doesn’t get it done anymore. However, this guy does seem like a good prospect. I bet he is smart as well as physically gifted. I hope he does come to UGA. But he better be hungry. I always worry about highly rated prospects that come out of small private schools. They may have excellent numbers but what competition were they going up agaisnt to get them? Not saying he won’t be good but i am asking the question, Can he do it against the best? Which is what he will face if he comes to the SEC & UGA.
GO DAWGS!!! BEAT TECH!!!
By Joe
November 20, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this
I’m not sure why we are bothering with this kid. He has been a Clemson fan since he was a young child, he openly admits that he will go to Clemson if they retain their current assistants, and he’ll probably wind up going there even if they don’t. And whether he’s religious or not…well, should that really be a factor? I mean, if Richt is interested in him because he truly is a great offensive lineman, fine. But his religious affiliation shouldn’t make a difference one way or the other. My point is, we should be trying to sign a five star OL, and if there’s one out there who has the grades and no history of disciplinary problems, we should sign him — regardless of whether he goes on Christian missions or if he’s a Muslim or if he’s not particularly religious at all. What we shouldn’t do is sign a 3-star OL simply because he seems like a “really good kid.” That doesn’t win football games, and recruiting is about getting the best players, not the most religious ones…
By Fort Worth Dawg
November 20, 2008 5:56 PM | Link to this
Coach Richt should introduce J.K. Jay (what a great name) to David Pollack - they sound similar.
J.K. Jay — It all rhymes with UGA