AJC > Sports > Football Recruiting > Blog > Archives > 2009 > February > 19
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Union County WR Gowder set for Junior Days at Alabama, Central Florida and UGA
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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The statewide talent at wide receiver has become deeper with the emergence of Union County’s Blake Gowder, who caught 77 passes for 1,453 yards last fall during his junior season.
The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Gower, who was recently clocked at 4.53 seconds in the 40-yard dash, has been invited to three upcoming Juniors Days: Alabama on Saturday, Central Florida on Feb. 28 and Georgia on March 21.
“I don’t have an offer yet, but I’m getting a lot of mail from Duke, Georgia Tech, Washington State, Syracuse, Maryland and Arkansas,” Gowder said.
Gowder played solely at wide receiver for Union County last season. He’s expected to go both ways this fall and see action at linebacker.
“To be honest, I would like to play fullback,” he said. “If it was my choice, that’s where I’d play [in college].
“I’m being recruited as an athlete. I can play wide receiver, linebacker or fullback. Alabama is talking about playing me at fullback. But I’m willing to play any position.”
Got a recruiting item? Please send an email to jhood@ajc.com
Here are briefs on the day’s top recruiting stories. Click on the headline of each story to read more.
You just want to read about UGA? Click here to go directly to all the UGA recruiting stories
You just want to read about Georgia Tech? Click on this link to go directly to all the Georgia Tech recruiting stories
Do you want to talk about UGA and Georgia Tech recruiting? Or have questions about the state’s top prospects? Then go to the AJC’s “Inside Georgia Recruiting” forum with Michael Carvell
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UGA awaits Friday’s decision of South Carolina DL Kwame Geathers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Georgia could add another member to its 2009 recruiting class on Friday.
Defensive lineman Kwame Geathers of Carver’s Bay, S.C., will announce between Georgia, Tennessee and Central Florida on Friday.
The 6-foot-6, 310-pound Geathers was named Defensive MVP of the Offense-Defense All-America Bowl near Myrtle Beach, S.C. He finished with seven tackles and two sacks.
What are Georgia’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.
Got a recruiting item? Please send an email to mcarvell@ajc.com
Here are briefs on the day’s top recruiting stories. Click on the headline of each story to read more.
You just want to read about UGA? Click here to go directly to all the UGA recruiting stories
You just want to read about Georgia Tech? Click on this link to go directly to all the Georgia Tech recruiting stories
Do you want to talk about UGA and Georgia Tech recruiting? Or have questions about the state’s top prospects? Then go to the AJC’s “Inside Georgia Recruiting” forum with Michael Carvell
Permalink | Comments (101) | Post your comment | Categories: Tennessee, UGA
Georgia reserves No. 33 jersey for M.L. King RB Mack Brown
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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M.L. King’s Mack Brown, one of the nation’s top tailbacks for 2010, said Georgia has promised to save the No. 33 jersey if he signs with the Bulldogs.
Brown, who has 15 early scholarship offers, including UGA and Georgia Tech, said the issue came up during a recent conversation with Georgia running backs coach Bryan McClendon.
“[McClendon] said I could keep my high school number in college, if I wanted,” Brown said. “I thought that was pretty cool. It let me know that Georgia really wants me.”
At Georgia, No. 33 is worn by rising junior tailback Kalvin Daniels.
Brown said UGA is one of many schools that have promised to reserve No. 33 for him. “I can’t remember all of them, but I know Florida said that … and so did Oklahoma.”
Saving jersey numbers for elite prospects is a common recruiting practice. Tight end Orson Charles of Tampa, who is one of the nation’s top unsigned seniors, said Georgia reserved Matthew Stafford’s No. 7 jersey for him, while Lowndes cornerback Greg Reid (who signed with Florida State) said he was promised Knowshon Moreno’s No. 24 had he picked UGA.
Got a recruiting item? Please send an email to mcarvell@ajc.com
Here are briefs on the day’s top recruiting stories. Click on the headline of each story to read more.
You just want to read about UGA? Click here to go directly to all the UGA recruiting stories
You just want to read about Georgia Tech? Click on this link to go directly to all the Georgia Tech recruiting stories
Do you want to talk about UGA and Georgia Tech recruiting? Or have questions about the state’s top prospects? Then go to the AJC’s “Inside Georgia Recruiting” forum with Michael Carvell
Permalink | Comments (42) | Post your comment | Categories: UGA
Clemson offer makes it 26 for Gainesville WR
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Gainesville receiver Tai-Ler Jones picked up offer No. 26, the 6-foot, 178-pounder junior reported via text Thursday.
Clemson offensive coordinator Billy Napier called Gainesville offensive coordinator Todd Wofford to make the offer Thursday morning.
“They told me they offered me and wanted me to come down for a Junior Day,” Jones said. Clemson’s Junior Day is March 7.
Jones also has offers from Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Ohio State, California, UCLA, Miami, South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee, among others. Jones has not been offered by UGA and said “he really doesn’t know why.”
Jones has already attended Junior Days at Ohio State, Notre Dame and Florida State and plans to make it to Alabama’s this weekend.
Got a recruiting item? Please send an email to mcarvell@ajc.com
Here are briefs on the day’s top recruiting stories. Click on the headline of each story to read more.
You just want to read about UGA? Click here to go directly to all the UGA recruiting stories
You just want to read about Georgia Tech? Click on this link to go directly to all the Georgia Tech recruiting stories
Do you want to talk about UGA and Georgia Tech recruiting? Or have questions about the state’s top prospects? Then go to the AJC’s “Inside Georgia Recruiting” forum with Michael Carvell
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment | Categories: Alabama, Clemson, Other ACC schools, Other schools, South Carolina, Tech, Tennessee, UGA
Nick Sabans wants Brookstone’s Brian Volger at TE, not OL
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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One of the state’s top recruited juniors, Brookstone tight end Brian Vogler will make his first Junior Day visit to Alabama this weekend.
“Because of basketball, I haven’t been able to go anywhere, so I’m excited for the upcoming Bama visit,” he said.
The 6-foot-7, 240-pound junior said he had a great conversation with Alabama coach Nick Saban. “He’s just been real straight forward with me,” he said.
Vogler said one of his concerns is that coaches and scouts have been telling him recently that with his size he would be better suited at offensive guard or tackle.
“I’d consider moving to offensive line, but I feel more comfortable at tight end,” he said. “And Coach Saban reassured me he wants at tight end. He wants me to come to Alabama.”
Vogler has around 10 offers, including LSU, Tennessee, Alabama, Stanford, Kentucky, Duke, Maryland and Clemson. He said his “dream school” is Florida. Volger thinks UGA and Florida are waiting to see what happens with tight end Orson Charles of Tampa, one of the nation’s top unsigned seniors, before deciding on offering him.
Got a recruiting item? Please send an email to pgiltman@ajc.com
Here are briefs on the day’s top recruiting stories. Click on the headline of each story to read more.
You just want to read about UGA? Click here to go directly to all the UGA recruiting stories
You just want to read about Georgia Tech? Click on this link to go directly to all the Georgia Tech recruiting stories
Do you want to talk about UGA and Georgia Tech recruiting? Or have questions about the state’s top prospects? Then go to the AJC’s “Inside Georgia Recruiting” forum with Michael Carvell
Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment | Categories: Alabama, Tennessee, UGA
Gainesville’s WR Tai-Ler Jones has 25 early offers, but missing UGA
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Gainesville High wide receiver Tai-Ler Jones, who is one of the nation’s leaders in early scholarship offers with 25, says he’ll whittle down his list of colleges to his top 12 in the next week or two.
The sure-handed 6-foot, 178-pounder has a stack of offers, including Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Ohio State, California, UCLA, Miami, South Carolina, Alabama and Tennesee, among others.
One school which hasn’t offered is Georgia, which he said doesn’t really bother him, although he admits it would be great to have that particular in-state offer. He said he attended three Georgia camps last summer, but that hasn’t resulted in an offer.
“Honestly, I don’t really know why,” said Jones, who runs a 4.45 40. “I know they know who I am. As far as them offering, I don’t know where they stand.”
Rivals reports that UGA has offered five 2010 wide receivers, including one from Georgia, Booker T. Washington’s Antonio Goodwin.
Jones has already attended Junior Days at Ohio State, Notre Dame and Florida State and plans to make it to Alabama’s this weekend. He says he’s leaning toward any school yet. “Right now, I’m completely neutral.”
Jones had 81 catches for 1,000 yards and 21 TDs for Gainesville.
Got a recruiting item? Please send an email to mcarvell@ajc.com
Here are briefs on the day’s top recruiting stories. Click on the headline of each story to read more.
You just want to read about UGA? Click here to go directly to all the UGA recruiting stories
You just want to read about Georgia Tech? Click on this link to go directly to all the Georgia Tech recruiting stories
Do you want to talk about UGA and Georgia Tech recruiting? Or have questions about the state’s top prospects? Then go to the AJC’s “Inside Georgia Recruiting” forum with Michael Carvell
Permalink | Comments (72) | Post your comment | Categories: Alabama, FSU, Other ACC schools, Other SEC schools, South Carolina, Tech, Tennessee, UGA
Loganville RB Storm Johnson explains his first name
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Storm Johnson says, yes, that’s his real first name and not some kind of moniker he picked up along the way of becoming a top-tier tailback.
The 6-foot-1, 215-pound junior says his parent named him Storm because “They wanted me to be a unique person,” said Johnson.
Does the name fit? Well, sort of, but not because of the reaction to his recent transfer from state football heavyweight Buford to Loganville, which he called a “better opportunity.”
“I don’t think I’m that unique. I just think I work harder than the average person.”
Johnson has received a flurry of offers, the most recent last week from Florida State. He also has offers from West Virginia, Tennessee, Stanford, Central Florida and South Florida.
It’s a good list so far, he said, but “It can get better.”
Got a recruiting item? Please send an email to mcarvell@ajc.com
Here are briefs on the day’s top recruiting stories. Click on the headline of each story to read more.
You just want to read about UGA? Click here to go directly to all the UGA recruiting stories
You just want to read about Georgia Tech? Click on this link to go directly to all the Georgia Tech recruiting stories
Do you want to talk about UGA and Georgia Tech recruiting? Or have questions about the state’s top prospects? Then go to the AJC’s “Inside Georgia Recruiting” forum with Michael Carvell
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Other schools
Warner Robins DT Jeffrey Whitaker to visit Tennessee over UGA
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Jeffrey Whitaker, one of the country’s top 2010 prospects at defensive tackle, said he plans to go to Tennessee over UGA on his next unofficial visit.
The Warner Robins junior said he was invited to both SEC campuses for Junior Day on Feb. 28.
“I want to check out Tennessee,” Whitaker said. “At first, I planned to go to Georgia. But then, I thought about it … I’ve been there [Georgia] so many times … I should probably see some other schools. I was at Georgia last year for Junior Day, so I know how they operate.”
Whitaker said he hasn’t had much contact with Georgia since January. “It has been a minute. I haven’t talked to them too much. But that’s not much of anything. I know what Georgia has to offer. I’ve been up there so many times, I know all about Georgia.”
Whitaker, who has nearly 15 offers, laughed when asked about rumors he had committed early to both Georgia and North Carolina. “I heard about that, too … but none of it is true. I’m wide open.”
Got a recruiting item? Please send an email to mcarvell@ajc.com
Here are briefs on the day’s top recruiting stories. Click on the headline of each story to read more.
You just want to read about UGA? Click here to go directly to all the UGA recruiting stories
You just want to read about Georgia Tech? Click on this link to go directly to all the Georgia Tech recruiting stories
Do you want to talk about UGA and Georgia Tech recruiting? Or have questions about the state’s top prospects? Then go to the AJC’s “Inside Georgia Recruiting” forum with Michael Carvell
Permalink | Comments (16) | Post your comment | Categories: Tennessee, UGA
Georgia AD Damon Evans: “We don’t need to cheat” in recruiting
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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UGA athletics director Damon Evans doesn’t appear to be happy with Tennesee coach Lane Kiffin and his criticism of Georgia football.
Evans was asked about Kiffin’s comments about UGA’s recruiting efforts by the Macon Telegraph’s David Hale on Wednesday.
“We have a guy [Mark Richt] leading us who has a high level of integrity and we’re in a place where we don’t need to cheat to have success here …” Evans said.
Quick recap: Lane Kiffin said the grandmother of wide receiver Marlon Brown of Memphis prevented him from signing with Tennessee over Georgia. Kiffin also “denigrated UGA’s recruiting efforts in its home state” on a radio show, according to Rivals.
When Richt was asked by the AJC last week if he had a “direct response” to Kiffin’s remarks, Richt said “No thank you.”
In other UGA recruiting news, Gainesville wide receiver Tai-Ler Jones is one of the nation’s leaders in early scholarship offers with 25, but is missing Georgia and “doesn’t really know why.” Also, M.L. King tailback Mack Brown, who is a candidate to be the state’s No. 1 prospect for 2010, said UGA has reserved the No. 33 jersey for him if he commits to the Bulldogs.
Permalink | Comments (232) | Post your comment | Categories: UGA
Alabama offers Heritage DB Garry Peters
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Heritage junior cornerback Garry Peters picked up offers from Alabama and Central Florida.
The 6-foot, 173-pound speedster now has offers from those two schools, South Carolina and Maryland.
Peters has attended Junior Day at UGA. He will take college visits once the Heritage’s basketball season ends.
Got a recruiting item? Please send an email to pgiltman@ajc.com
Here are briefs on the day’s top recruiting stories. Click on the headline of each story to read more.
You just want to read about UGA? Click here to go directly to all the UGA recruiting stories
You just want to read about Georgia Tech? Click on this link to go directly to all the Georgia Tech recruiting stories
Do you want to talk about UGA and Georgia Tech recruiting? Or have questions about the state’s top prospects? Then go to the AJC’s “Inside Georgia Recruiting” forum with Michael Carvell
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Alabama, Other schools
