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DEL.ICIO.USGeorgia Tech’s Johnson pleased with 2009 class
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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When he began recruiting the class of 2009 last year, Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson and his staff made a concerted effort to work the state of Georgia. The Jackets’ 21-player haul led to the notion that the labors were fruitful.
Tech landed 14 players from within the state’s borders. Recruiting coordinator Giff Smith said that total is “by far” the largest number of in-state signees in the five years he has been at Tech.
“I think high school football in Georgia is top-notch,” coach Paul Johnson said. “We really feel like the guys we took in-state are good football players. … I think the big thing for us is they’re excited to be here. That’s always a big plus.”
Among the potential stars of the group is wide receiver Stephen Hill from Miller Grove. Hill considered Georgia even late in the process, but signed his national letter of intent with Tech.
Another is Antonio Foster, an offensive lineman from Valdosta High who had been committed to Tennessee before its coaching change. He is one of four offensive linemen who signed with Tech. The Jackets also landed five defensive linemen. Johnson said the emphasis on the line of scrimmage was intended to balance out the depth on the roster.
Of the defensive linemen, Johnson said, “We’ve got what we consider five guys that are very athletic that can do some things, can rush the passer, that have good potential to be bigger guys.”
Smith and Johnson said that the Jackets’ season helped recruiting efforts, particularly in helping dispel negative recruiting that Tech’s offense is conservative and “three yards and a cloud of dust.” Tech led the ACC in total offense and recorded 64 plays in the regular season that went for at least 20 yards.
Notably, Hill attended the Duke game when wide receiver Demaryius “Bay-Bay” Thomas caught nine passes for 230 yards.
“It was a lot easier this year than it was last year,” Smith said. “You’re able to show them tape, show them facts. Put it this way: We did not have to fight the battle about the offense not being able to score this year.”
Johnson addressed the recruitment of quarterback Dontae Aycock from Tampa, Fla. The Jackets pulled their scholarship offer from Aycock, who had committed to Tech, after he took a visit to Auburn last weekend.
Johnson said Tech recruited Aycock for nearly a full year, which included visits by Aycock to Tech for spring practice last year and to a summer camp.
“During the whole process, he kind of at least gave us the impression he wanted to commit and he talked to me several times about it but he wanted his brother’s approval,” said Johnson, referring to Detroit Lions safety Dwight Smith.
Smith visited Tech with Aycock in January, during which Aycock committed, Johnson said.
“We talked about what that meant,” Johnson said. “That commitment means, especially two weeks before signing day, is that we’re through with the recruiting process. … I’m giving you my word you’ve got a scholarship. You’re giving your word you’re coming.”
However, when Auburn offered him a scholarship and invited him to make a visit, Aycock called Tech to let coaches know he was considering going. They let him know that if he made the visit, the offer would be pulled.
“I reiterated that to him: ‘Dontae, don’t get on that plane.’ His high school coach told him, ‘Dontae, don’t get on that plane,’” Johnson said. “When he chose to do that, he was telling me, in my mind, he didn’t want to come to Georgia Tech, and so we moved on.”
Johnson said he did not harbor ill will toward Aycock, who signed Wednesday with the Tigers.
“He’s a good kid,” Johnson said. “I wish him the best. I do not have any hard feelings for Auburn. They did what they had to do. It’s big-boy football.”
Johnson said it was possible some players from the class could play as true freshmen. Most likely, given that Tech lost three starters on the defensive line, that would be the most likely area.
“I can promise you none of them have been promised they’re going to play,” Johnson said. “They’ve been promised an opportunity to come in and play. They all think they’re going to play right now. That’s good. There’s nothing wrong with that. That should be their goal.”
Johnson also said that Tech will likely sign between 12 and 15 players in 2010. The Jackets have a small class of rising seniors, and so not many scholarships will come open. Johnson said Tech could have given out 25 scholarships this season, but that would have made next year’s class even smaller.
Further, of the 2010 recruiting class, he said, “I think it’s going to be a really good group of guys.”
Permalink | Comments (16) | Post your comment | Categories: Tech
Comments
By DecaturTechFan
February 4, 2009 7:00 PM | Link to this
Way to go jackets…….we need the defense to make that jump to Top 10-15. sorry bout the Aycock kid, guess it is a tuff business. THWG!!!!
By Wishful Thinking
February 4, 2009 7:02 PM | Link to this
PJ is the best thing that happened to Tech in a long time, thanks for hiring him DR! Congrats on a fine recruiting class.
By A Fan
February 4, 2009 7:05 PM | Link to this
CPJ, you’re the man!!!
First!
By RealityYech
February 4, 2009 7:11 PM | Link to this
GUESS what guys???? I just saw my sister’s BUSH AGAIN!!! This time, she had some roast beef flaps in there too…What was she doing at Arbys? Im chaffing again :(
By elfamousburrito '99
February 4, 2009 7:49 PM | Link to this
Dear Editors of this blog: Please ban RealityYech. This person’s comments are getting obscene.
By Ted
February 4, 2009 8:26 PM | Link to this
You stay classy Athens, GA. Why are UGa fans hanging out on a GT board? I mean according to them we are irrelevant right? Just lil’ brother right??
I am extremely excited about this years class. We filled all of our needs. Our future OL is gonna have one helluva nasty steak in ‘em! After we win the ACC next year (& beat UGa again) it should be easy to convince the states best players to spend the next 4 yrs. in the best city in the South! Yeah C’mon!!
By shawn
February 4, 2009 8:29 PM | Link to this
I second the banning!
By Agreed
February 4, 2009 8:38 PM | Link to this
The guy is a real turd. Does the AUC monitor ANYTHING on here?
By Jay Watt
February 4, 2009 8:41 PM | Link to this
I wonder how long it takes Stephen Hill to realize what a mistake he made by not signing with Georgia? If you look at the history of CPJ’s offense, not one wideout in the NFL! When AJ Green and Marlon Brown play on Sundays maybe one of them will hire him to work FOR them. Dumb move by a smart kid. I love the fact that GT is happy with a recruiting class outside of the top 25. At UGA this kind of class gets you fired. Just a difference in standards. One win in 8 years is more a case of luck, not skill and we all know that. Best of luck this year in that weak ACC conference. No reason not to win it, all the teams are weak as evident by bowl games.
By Jay Watt
February 4, 2009 8:44 PM | Link to this
I wonder how long it takes Stephen Hill to realize what a mistake he made by not signing with Georgia? If you look at the history of CPJ’s offense, not one wideout in the NFL! When AJ Green and Marlon Brown play on Sundays maybe one of them will hire him to work FOR them. Dumb move by a smart kid. I love the fact that GT is happy with a recruiting class outside of the top 25. At UGA this kind of class gets you fired. Just a difference in standards. One win in 8 years is more a case of luck, not skill and we all know that. Best of luck this year in that weak ACC conference. No reason not to win it, all the teams are weak as evident by bowl games.
By RealityYech
February 4, 2009 8:52 PM | Link to this
Kudos to Mr. Rodney Gardner. Word on the street is UGA learned of the SECOND RATED WIDE RECEIVER IN THE NATION committing to UGA last night, and being the classy program that they are they told Mr. Hill to stay at Yech so he could actually play and block all day. He was a Dawg all the way but you could have 10 Hills and they still wouldn’t come close to equaling a Marlon Brown.
UGA is a class act and told this kid we appreciate your commitment to us, but we think you should go else where.
Welcome home SECOND RATED WIDE RECEIVER IN THE NATION BAWHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHHA!!!!!!!!
By BIG BEE
February 4, 2009 9:04 PM | Link to this
JayWatt, if a class like GT would get you fired, what should happen to a school(UGA), that looses to a class rated about the same, something like 45-42, and totally laid down in the 2nd half?
By Tokyo jacket
February 4, 2009 9:20 PM | Link to this
Does anyone else find it interesting that CPJ is already commenting on the class of 2010? What does he know already?
By Wreck7
February 4, 2009 9:32 PM | Link to this
Jay, I wonder how long it took for your parents to realize what a mistake they made by letting you out of the trailer park?
You mutt fans are so predictable. Have fun, Losers.
45-42 409 rushing yards… Sounds like luck to me. /sarcasm
By U funny ppl.
February 5, 2009 3:16 AM | Link to this
Too bad for Stephen Hill, if he is a big time WR, no one will ever know in Tech’s offense. Please ban RealityYech.
By THWG
February 5, 2009 9:04 AM | Link to this
Nobody ever heard of Terrell Davis at UGA either but yet you still expect to get quality RB’s…right? So why the double standard UGay fans?
Your simply dreading having to match up with two 6’4” receivers as well as the traditional option…makes for a mess defensively even if you ever manage to get rid of Martinez! LOL