AJC > Sports > Football Recruiting > Blog > Archives > 2009 > February > 28 > Entry

Alabama and Clemson offer Tucker 2011 prospect, LB James Vaughters

Tucker’s James Vaughters doesn’t look like a sophomore. He doesn’t play like a sophomore. And colleges certainly aren’t recruiting Vaughters like he’s in the tenth grade.

Alabama and Clemson are the latest extra early offers for Vaughters, one of the state’s top 2011 prospects. He now has six offers, including Georgia Tech and Stanford.

“Actually with the way recruiting is going, with colleges offering kids earlier, I’m not surprised about all of this happening with James,” Tucker coach Franklin Stephens said. “When you watch James on tape, you don’t see a sophomore. When you throw in his academics, you have one of those ‘can’t miss’ prospects.”

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Vaughters was one of the top defenders on Tucker’s state championship team, which had five seniors sign with major colleges. Perhaps most importantly, he carries a 4.0 GPA.

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 (9) | Post your comment | Categories: Tech

Comments

By Old Dawgy

February 28, 2009 8:41 AM | Link to this

I’ll go ahead and say it. When is Georgia going to offer?

By bank walker

February 28, 2009 10:08 AM | Link to this

All Dawg

By Not Disappointed

February 28, 2009 1:36 PM | Link to this

This kid is incredible! He should be something special in College. “Go Jackets!”

By Wille

February 28, 2009 9:58 PM | Link to this

I remember this kid from when he played with the Tucker Lions but those dumb coaches didnt have a clue as to what to do with him. They also played Thomas Brown at Guard and Asher Allen at Center. Yet, they stick their chest out and claim they helped them all. Don’t ever take your kids to the Tucker Lions. I moved my son over to North Henry and only now is he truly prepared to compete on a High School level. This Vaulters kid was a stud then but politics and favorites wouldnt allow this kid to grow. Got with Stephens and look at him now. Yet those useless clowns at Fitzgerald field will claim him as if they molded him. Be careful who you allow to coach your kids.

By GA Buckeye

February 28, 2009 10:47 PM | Link to this

Hmm…interesting observation about the Tucker Lions, Willie. I followed Vaughters career with the Tucker Lions, as well and it was pretty impressive…The 3 years he was there, the teams he played on went 44-3, including winning the inaugural Frank Ski Bowl championship, a second appearance in the Frank Ski Bowl, along with 2 UYFC Championships, and 3 UYFC National Championships. We’re all entitled to our opinions and everyone has a different experience, but it appears to me that the Tucker Lions prepared him for Coach Stephens to help him get to the next level.

By Willie

March 1, 2009 3:13 AM | Link to this

Don’t get me wrong, i think there are some very good coaches over at Tucker’s Fitzgerald field but the lions coaches are overated. Roger is okay and Trey is a nice connected guy but the others suck and they dont practice what they preach. I was at my son’s game at N. Henry and witness two of Tucker’s coaches beat up a parent, kicking and stomping him all because the man asked why they weren’t they playing his kid. Yet, they try to preach character to the kids. It’s certainly not all that it used to be. My son is at Tucker High and going into his soph year but I had to move him to get him prepared. Tucker only develop running backs and even then they need to be in good with the parents. If they aren’t friends with you, its not good for your kid. BUT over all, the program is decent. LIONS are overated and they contine to lose quality kids because of weak coaches.

By MIke

March 1, 2009 4:10 PM | Link to this

I have to agree with Willie. The Lions coaches are very arrogant and they dont teach. They act as of the kids are supposed to know football. They have a racist over there yelling at kids and his son is no better. And although it was once a solid program, they are going down. I think only one of the four teams one this year. That Vaulters kids was on winning teams but they did very little to develope him as a player. But who, knows maybe it wasnt his time to shine but I’m extremely happy he’s shinning when it counts. His dad is a great guy and I’m sure lots of teaching goes on at home and its showing. Congratulations James. Keep leading by example.

By Dboy

March 2, 2009 8:28 AM | Link to this

To Willie and Mike, Sounds to me like somebody is mad they kid didn’t get the playing time they thought he should at the park. Tucker is a top notch program who has put out some talented kids! The list goes on and on and on. Thomas played RB and the park and so did Asher Willie. I played for the park growing up also and went to the High School. We actually started the winning tradition at Fitzgerald. Me, Patrick Pass and others. Trey took us when we were very young. We already had skills they just put us in the right position. Kids develop different. Some faster than others. Its not the park it probably your kid sorry. I never lost a game at the park and this was back in 92 and 93 when we played there.

By Trust

March 2, 2009 2:44 PM | Link to this

I can see this from both sides. my kid played in the park as well and I didnt care too much for the one dimentional style of play from the coaches (off tackle all day) but they do win so that says something. Most parents place their kids on sports to see them develop and Tucker is just like every place else. They have the good and they have the bad. A sorry kid in the park maybe your next NFL star. I’ve seen it happen so please dont be so quick to call a kid out. Vaulters wasnt a star in the park but he’s well on the way to big time college ball. One thing Tucker park does is teach you do deal with adversity because the lack of coaching is certainly something to overcome.

Commenting is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. M-F

Post a comment



Remember me?

You may use the following formatting:
Bold: **this text will be bolded** = this text will be bolded
Italic: *this text will be italic* = this text will be italic
Link: [text to be linked](http://www.ajc.com) = text to be linked



There will be a delay of up to 5 minutes before your comment appears.


*HTML not allowed in comments. Your e-mail address is required.

 

Kudzu.com: Mosquitos are breeding.  Ready for the bites?
Today's deal from DealSwarm.com

Local sports videos





AJC Breaking News Updates