AJC > Sports > Football Recruiting > Blog > Archives > 2008 > November > 21
Friday, November 21, 2008
Colleges looking at Northeast Macon threesome
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Most high school coaches have seen their season’s end and have now shifted gears to help their loyal seniors getting scholarships. That is what Northeast Macon’s Bruce Mullen is doing right now.
Mullen is convinced linebacker A.J. Cornelius (5-foot-11, 195 pounds), defensive end Jamel Hall (6-0, 190) and cornerback Sheldon Mays (5-9, 175) have the ability to play at the Div. I-AA or Div. II but it is just a matter of getting them enough looks.
“They are getting letters from a number of places. Valdosta State, Georgia Southern and West Georgia have looked at these guys but they just haven’t gotten an offer,” said Mullen, who led Northeast to an 8-3 record this season. We are just hoping somebody will step in there and change that.”;
Cornelius averaged 10 tackles per game, Hall racked up 16 sacks and Mays was rarely challenged due to his superior coverage skills.
Meanwhile, Mullen is convinced his junior do-it-all quarterback Mike Palmer (5-9, 175) will not have that problem next year.
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East Carolina may offer SW DeKalb WR Jacoby Mitchell
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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East Carolina has shown strong interest in Jacoby Mitchell, the Southwest DeKalb wide receiver said this week.
Mitchell said he heard from an East Carolina recruiter who said the program was impressed with his highlight video. “[The recruiter] said they’re going to offer,” the 6-foot-1, 190-pounder said.
“He said they’re looking for two key receivers who can make plays. … I’ll try to fit in as much as I can. I am a playmaker.”
Mitchell said East Carolina wants him to visit for a game and tour the facilities. That visit hasn’t been set up yet.
Mitchell also picked up recent offers from Furman and Georgia Southern, adding to his list that includes Western Carolina, which has offered three other SWD players, Eastern Michigan, Bowling Green, Alabama-Birmingham, Middle Tennessee and Akron.
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Injured SW DeKalb RB Michael Johnson aching for playoff return
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Southwest DeKalb running back Michael Johnson should get the cast off his broken left leg sometime next week, and he’s still hoping to get back on the field should the Panthers continue advancing in the Class AAAA playoffs.
In the meantime, he’ is Southwest’s emotional leader — as well being in charge of making sure players stay where they need to be on the sideline.
“Yeah, I’m the get-back guy,” he said. “I’m trying to help any way I can. I’m just happy the team’s doing well.”
Southwest beat Villa Rica 27-7 in the first round of the playoffs. Johnson expects to be fitted for a walking boot next week and wear that for a few days before trying to rehab enough to get back on the field. The earliest that could happen may be the semifinals, if the Panthers get that far.
“I’ve got to keep hope alive,” he said as far as returning to action is concerned. “Especially since it’s my senior year.”
On the recruiting front, Johnson talked to Jacksonville State recruiters last week and is expecting to get an offer soon. He has offers from Akron, Eastern Michigan, Western Carolina and South Carolina State.
He has made an official visit to Eastern Michigan and an unofficial visit to see South Carolina State play a few weeks ago.
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Berkmar LB Troy Davis sets visit with Central Florida
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Berkmar linebacker Troy Davis, a Central Florida commitment, is planning on making an official visit to the Orlando school during the weekend of Dec. 5. Davis, an AJC The Georgia 150 prospect, mantains regular contact with the coaching staff and said he’s fully commited to Central Florida.
“I talked to coach [Geoff] Collins, linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator,” Davis said, while taking in the Georgia Tech-Miami game with teammate Kadeem Wise on Thursday. “[Collins] just asked me how everything was going.”
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Appling County players drawing recruiting interest
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Appling County has produced three NFL players during the past 15 years, so it is hardly a surprise college coaches know how to get to Baxley in Southeast Georgia.
The latest reasons are senior tailbacks Javon James (5-10, 180) and Willie Wright (6-0, 205), who are being pursued by several Division 1-AA and Division II programs. Wofford has shown the most interest of late, according to Pirates coach J.T. Pollock
Meanwhile, Division I schools will surely stop by this spring to check out two juniors — lineman Dale Howard (6-1, 265) and wide receiver Arterio Wilson (6-4, 205).
“[Howard] runs a 4.8 in the 40 [yard dash] and power cleans 340 pounds,” said Pollock. “And the good thing is both of those kids are A students.”
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Georgia Tech’s top five recruiting targets
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Georgia Tech gained a lot of national exposure with its convincing win over Miami on ESPN. How it will affect recruiting? It should be a huge positive.
Here are Tech’s five targets between now and National Signing Day.:
David Sims
Calhoun County (S.C.)
Intent on signing three quarterbacks, Tech has its sights on the 5-foot-11, 210-pound Sims, who is wavering on an earlier commitment to Kentucky.
“Some days it’s Kentucky, and some days it’s Georgia Tech,” said Sims. “I love the coaching staff at Georgia Tech. When I went up there on my visit when they played Virginia, that was probably the best visit I’ve ever been on.”
Sims didn’t rule out a commitment to Tech. “Right now, anything is possible,” he said.
Tech already has a commitment from Jordan Luallen, a quarterback from Center Grove High in Greenwood, Ind.
Izaan Cross
Flowery Branch
The recruiting picture for Cross, a 6-foot-3, 250-pound defensive end, should come into focus once Clemson names a permanent coach.
“That will clear up a lot of questions for me,” said Cross, who met Clemson interim coach Dabo Swinney on Saturday after the Tigers’ victory against Duke.
Clemson and Tech are in a dead-heat for Cross, who is surrounded by links to the Jackets. Teammate Daniel Drummond has committed to Tech. Former teammate Jaybo Shaw is a freshman quarterback for the Jackets.
Darren Myles Jr.
Carver-Atlanta
The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Myles would be one of the crown jewels in coach Paul Johnson’s second recruiting class at Tech. Considered the 12th-best safety in the nation by Scout.com, Myles has narrowed his list of colleges to nine, including the Jackets.
“Darren really likes the fact that Paul Johnson has been a winner every place he’s been,” said Myles’ father, Darren Myles Sr., his coach at Carver. “He feels like he’d fit in at Georgia Tech from a defensive standpoint.”
Euclid Cummings
Centennial
The 6-foot-4, 230-pound defensive end had trimmed his college candidates to Georgia Tech and North Carolina before last weekend. Then he met Florida coach Urban Meyer in Gainesville, Fla., after the Gators dismantled South Carolina.
“I told Coach Meyer that I like Florida, and that if they offer me it would be one of my top schools,” Cummings said.
“But I still like Georgia Tech because it’s close to home, and I like the coaches. I still have a lot of love for Tech.”
Dontae Aycock
Chamberlain Senior High (Tampa)
The 5-foot-10, 210-pound quarterback has shown plenty of balance this season by rushing for 1,046 yards and passing for nearly 1,100 yards. Aycock and the 9-1 Chiefs are still in the playoff hunt.
“I won’t be taking any trips now,” he said. “My top five are Georgia Tech, South Carolina, Louisville, West Virginia and Ole Miss. I won’t take any visits until January.”
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UGA assistants headed to Florida to check on recruits
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Georgia is taking advantage of its week off by sending its coaching staff all over the Southeast to meet and observe prospects.
UGA offensive coordinator Mike Bobo and running backs coach Tony Ball are scheduled to visit Plant High of Tampa, Fla. They will meet with quarterback Aaron Murray, who has already committed to UGA, and tight end Orson Charles, who has agreed to take an official visit to UGA in January.
Murray has been recovering from a broken left leg, and told the AJC that is ahead of schedule with his rehabilitation. Murray is holding out hopes he can return to action in the state playoffs, if Plant advances far enough.
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Norcross QB may be headed to California
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Norcross quarterback Charles King is finding it hard to not follow in his father’s footsteps.
His father played at Fresno State, which recently scheduled an official visit for the younger King on Jan. 18. Fresno State’s coach is Pat Hill, the team’s recruiting coordinator in 1985 who signed King’s father.
“I’m excited about it, but especially if [Fresno] said I’d get the chance to compete at quarterback or cornerback,” King said. “If so, we’ve got a deal.”
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Milton RB Toney Williams likes Georgia Tech, but not offense
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Toney Williams’ commitment to Tennessee could be in jeopardy.
Arkansas, Kentucky and Georgia Tech are making a late push for the talented Milton running back.
“I kind of like Georgia Tech, but then again I don’t really like the [triple option] offense,” said Williams, who scored five touchdowns in Milton’s first round loss to East Paulding on Friday.
“But I’m still open-minded to it. I prefer the I or a pro style offense, but I’ll still talk to them.”
He did not plan on attending Thursday’s Georgia Tech-Miami game.
He is considering an official visit to Tech on Dec. 12.
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Q&A: Abry Jones talks about UGA, playoff game with Camden
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Northside-Warner Robins defensive tackle Abry Jones, a member of the AJC’s The Georgia 150 who is committed to Georgia, talks about his recruitment.
On Northside’s second-round showdown with Camden Friday night: “It’s going to be a four-quarter football game. I know they’re going to bring an explosive offense. We want to just jump on them early and get a lead and hold it.”
On his commitment to Georgia: “I haven’t talked about going anywehere else.”
On what school he’s always been a fan of: “I’ve always been a Miami Hurricane fan. That’s been my school since I was real little. Georgia kind of grew on me since I moved here in high school.”
If he weren’t a football player he’d be … “It’s hard to really know. I guess I’d be trying to … that’s hard to really think about. I’ve never really thought about it before. I guess I’d be a normal guy. I don’t know what kind of job I’d have.”
On the first school to recruit him: “Florida was the first school to offer me.”
On selling teammate Eric Fields on UGA: “I tried to but he kind of felt Georgia wasn’t going to offer him, so he decided to go to Clemson.”
On autograph requests: “I get them sometimes when we have home games. I try not to disappoint anybody. There a lot of kids in this community and the coach tells us how much they they look up to us, so I try not to turn any down. It’s kind of calmed down around school.”
On college games he’s been to: “I used to go work security at the Georgia-Florida game, Auburn games. Checking tickets to get people to their seat and making sure nobody smokes in areas where they weren’t supposed to. My friend’s mom had been doing it for a long time and she got me in there. It was a pretty easy job.”
On one movie you’ll watch over and over: “Superbad. It’s just hilarious. It’s about kids in high school, and it’s so much like how it is today.”
On his nickname: “Sometimes people call me Big Abe.”
On how he spends his time when he’s not involved with football/sports: “I just hang out with friends. Play videos a lot. I go to a lot of movies.”
On his favorite superhero: “The Hulk. I just like the hulk because when he’s big he controls everything when he wants to.”
On what’s on your mp3/iPod playlist: “I like to listen to Go Hard by Kanye West and D.J. Khaled. A song by TI called Let My Beat Pound. I have lot of old school soul songs. Some Isley Brothers, Casey and Jo Jo.”
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Lassiter TE has long conversation with Tommy Tuberville
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Lassiter tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen finally got to take his first official visits the past couple of weeks. One was a thrill, while the other answered some much needed questions.
The Trojan senior traveled to Auburn for the Georgia game on Nov. 15. Lutzenkirchen has remained committed to the Tigers despite the firing of offensive coordinator Tony Franklin but took the opportunity to explore his options with trips to Florida and an official visit to Flordia State this past month.
The trip to Auburn served as chance to finally set some things straight.
“It was good,” Lutzenkirchen said. “It cleared up a lot of questions I had about what was going on there. Coach (Tommy) Tuberville said that he’s planning on being there the next several years. He doesn’t think one bad season is going to jeopardize his job. He said that he had nine good winning seasons and one bad one, and the other tough one he’d had was in 2003. Then in 2004, they went undefeated.”
Lutzenkirchen and his family held a meeting with Tuberville and tight ends coach Steve Ensminger. The 6-foot-4, 245 pound Lutzenkirchen had concerns with the direction of the Tigers offense.
“They had a tough transition, but they told me they’re going to stick with a spread based coordinator to come in,” Lutzenkirchen said. “It’ll be interesting to what happens. I’m sort of anxious to see who they bring in.”
Lutzenkirchen is a versatile tight end prospect, with the ability to block, line-up in the slot or do things like this. Regardless of the direction of new Auburn offense, Lutzenkirchen had never been sold on the school based solely on Franklin.
“Coach Franklin wasn’t the only reason I wanted to go there,” Lutzenkirchen said. “I liked all the coaches there. Coach Tuberville is a guy that I trust and my parents trust. I’m just felt good to have him look me in the eye and say he’d be there the next couple years. It made us, our family, feel better.”
The Auburn trip came on the heels of a visit to Tallahassee, Fla. Florida State has been recruiting Lutzenkirchen since the beginning. After deciding to take his first official visit there on Nov. 8, Lutzenkirchen didn’t leave disappointed.
“The closest thing I’ve seen to Auburn was FSU,” Lutzenkirchen said. “They had all the brick buildings. But I think Auburn’s campus is the nicest I’ve seen. They were one of the first to offer. I meet Bobby Bowden, a coaching legend. So it was a good trip. For as old as he is, he’s still very sharp.”
Lutzenkirchen is a member of the AJC’s The Georgia 150.
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Wrestling: Sprayberry’s Alex Hudson signs with Chattanooga
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Sprayberry wrestler Alex Hudson signed with Chattanooga, the third highly-rated Georgia wrestler in the last two years to sign with the Division I Moccasins. Hudson, a 145-pounder who has won consecutive state titles, will join 2008 alums Josh Condon (Harrison) and Carson Fields (Parkview) in signing with Chattanooga.
“Bono made him his No. 1 priority,” Sprayberry coach Gary Dehaven said of Chattanooga coach and former NCAA champion Chris Bono. “He wrestled at UTC camp; that’s where (Bono) saw (Hudson).”
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