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Saturday, January 3, 2009
Branden Smith to announce during fourth quarter of Sunday’s game
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Branden Smith, the state’s No. 1 prospect, said he is scheduled to reveal his college decision during the fourth quarter of Sunday night’s Under Armour all-star game.
UGA appears to be the team to beat for Smith, who is also considering Florida, Alabama and Florida State. Smith told the AJC again on Saturday in a telephone interview that he has no favorites, and will go with whatever college he feels is “best for me in my heart” on Sunday.
Smith, the defensive back from Booker T. Washington, said the game organizer’s have scheduled his announcement for the fourth quarter, but it is subject to change. Smith said he will be joined on the sidelines by family members, including his mother.
Contrary to popular rumors, Smith also said his decision will not be affected by the recent actions of Lowndes defensive back Greg Reid, the AJC’s all-classification Player of the Year, who backed off his longtime commitment to Florida. In other words, because Florida lost (at least temporarily) Reid, it didn’t gain any new advantage with Smith.
“Greg Reid is a great player, but I’d never make one of the biggest decisions of my life based on what someone is going to do, or not going to do,” Smith said. “There’s competition everywhere in college.”
However, Smith is particularly close to UGA recruiting coordinator Rodney Garner, who is talking to Tennessee about a position on its coaching staff. Smith confirmed to the AJC on Saturday night that he had heard about Tennessee’s flirtation with Garner, but said he needed to learn more before commenting.
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UGA-bound QB Aaron Murray says leg feels “great” after all-star game
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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UGA-bound quarterback Aaron Murray said he’s not reading too much into his final statistics in Saturday’s U.S. Army All-America Bowl.
Murray completed one of seven passes for seven yards in the game. He started at quarterback, but rotated with three others at the position. Murray ended up playing a total of three offensive series.
“I thought I played all right, but not great,” Murray said. “I was never able to catch a rhythm.
“But I’m not complaining. It was an honor to be there, and play and practice against the best high school players in the country. I made a lot of friends, and it was an experience I’ll never forget.”
Here is the most important question: How did Murray’s leg feel after the all-star week? Murray broke his left leg on Oct. 16, but returned in time to lead Plant High to Florida’s Class AAAA championship.
“The leg feels great. It’s still not at 100-percent. It has been around 10 weeks since the surgery. I’m at about 90-percent Hopefully sometime next month I’ll be at 100-percent.”
Murray, who picked Georgia over 53 scholarship offers, will arrive in Athens on Sunday. He is flying from San Antonio to Atlanta, where he will drive with his family to UGA.
Murray said he will set up his dorm room on Sunday night, meet with academic counselors to pick classes on Monday, and begin school on Thursday.
Permalink | Comments (58) | Post your comment | Categories: UGA
UGA recruiting coordinator Rodney Garner recruited by Tennessee
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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If Georgia assistant Rodney Garner takes a job with Tennessee, it could cause a rippling effect among UGA’s 2009 recruiting class.
Garner, who is considered one of the nation’s top recruiting coordinators, is talking with Tennessee about a position on its coaching staff. Last month, Garner interviewed for Auburn’s head coaching job, which was given to Gene Chizik.
Garner has been on UGA’s staff since 1998, and directs the team’s recruiting efforts. This past year, he has helped the Bulldogs put together a recruiting class that is expected to finish among the nation’s top 10.
The Bulldogs are finalists for several of the nation’s top uncommitted players, including defensive back Branden Smith of Atlanta, wide receiver Marlon Brown of Memphis and tight end Orson Charles of Tampa, Fla.
What if UGA loses Garner? A quick fix may be promoting tight ends coach John Lilly, who served as Florida State’s recruiting coordinator.
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Former Georgia Tech recruit named MVP of all-star game
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Carver-Atlanta tailback Demond Dennis surprised a lot of people last month when he switched his commitment from Georgia Tech to Troy. He provided more surprises in the Offense-Defense All-America Bowl near Myrtle Beach, S.C.
The 5-foot-9, 193-pound Dennis was named Offensive MVP after finishing with 103 all-purpose yards to lead the East to a 29-3 win over the West.
Dennis also likely put to rest any doubts about his ability to play on the next level. He initially committed to Georgia Tech, then switched to Troy. His coach said he switched because Troy offered a better opportunity to play earlier, and also the chance to be the team’s featured running back.
“It felt good to showcase my skills against top talent,” said Dennis, who has committed to Troy. “There were coaches saying I was to small to play against this type of competition.
“But now they can see that I can compete with anybody.”
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Permalink | Comments (27) | Post your comment | Categories: Tech
UGA target Kwame Geathers nearly unstoppable in all-star game
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Kwame Geathers, who is one of UGA’s top remaining targets for its 2009 football recruiting class, was named Defensive MVP of the Offense-Defense All-America Bowl near Myrtle Beach, S.C.
The defensive lineman from Carver’s Bay, S.C., finished with seven tackles and two sacks.
The 6-foot-6, 310-pound Geathers said he will make official visits to South Carolina, UGA, South Florida and North Carolina later this month. South Carolina is considered the team to beat for Geathers.
What are UGA’s chances of signing Geathers? UGA recruiting coordinator Rodney Garner is a close friend of his family, and older brother Robert Geathers played at UGA.
However, another one of his brothers, Clifton Geathers, committed to UGA but later signed with South Carolina, where he is a current member of the Gamecocks.
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Henry County WR selected to play in 2010 all-star game
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Next year is supposed to be the best year ever for wide receivers in Georgia.
Henry County junior wide receiver Markeith Ambles has been selected to play in the 2010 U.S. Army All-American Bowl next January.
The 6-foot-1, 185-pound speedster was one of 10 players selected to play in the nationally-televised game. There were no other players selected from the state of Georgia.
Ambles has already received offers from a majority of SEC schools, including Auburn, Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky.
Got a recruiting item? Please send an email to pgiltman@ajc.com
What are the day’s biggest recruiting stories? Do you wish to join the recruiting debate about any prospect or college? Click here to go to the AJC’s Recruiting Central
Take me directly to all the UGA recruiting stories
Take me directly to all the Georgia Tech recruiting stories
Note: Any inappropriate comments will not be tolerated, along with offensive “screen names.” Your posts are identified by the AJC with logging your IP address, not your screen name or email address. We encourage your comments and opinions, and only request that you use good judgement.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Alabama, Auburn, Other schools, South Carolina, Tech, Tennessee, UGA
State championship benefits Camden OL Nick Siemer
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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The benefits of playing on a state championship game are hard to measure. It may have even helped Camden County offensive tackle Nick Siemer to land a college scholarship.
The 6-foot-3, 280-pounder proved to be an integral part of the Wildcats’ run to the Class AAAAA title. As a result, he was selected to play in the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association North-South Football Classic and named honorable mention in the AJC’s Class AAAAA all-state team.
And with such accolades, Siemer has improved his odds of landing a college scholarship.
“I am waiting on Western Kentucky and Jacksonville State to bring me in for visits. I talked to both of them the last week before the Christmas break and they said they were bringing in visits in January so I am looking calls from them soon,” said Siemer.
Got a recruiting item? Please send an email to mcarvell@ajc.com
What are the day’s biggest recruiting stories? Do you wish to join the recruiting debate about any prospect or college? Click here to go to the AJC’s Recruiting Central
Take me directly to all the UGA recruiting stories
Take me directly to all the Georgia Tech recruiting stories
Note: Any inappropriate comments will not be tolerated, along with offensive “screen names.” Your posts are identified by the AJC with logging your IP address, not your screen name or email address. We encourage your comments and opinions, and only request that you use good judgment.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Other schools
