AJC > Sports > Football Recruiting > Blog > Archives > 2009 > March > 01
Sunday, March 1, 2009
RB Storm Johnson offered by LSU after visiting Tennessee
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Saturday was a big day for Loganville tailback Storm Johnson, one of the state’s top 2010 prospects. After returning from Junior Day at Tennessee, Johnson was offered by his childhood favorites, LSU.
“That is really exciting about LSU,” Johnson said. “LSU was my team growing up. They compete for national championships. It means a lot when a top program like that wants you.”
Earlier in the day, Johnson made an unofficial visit to Tennessee, which has also offered. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Johnson said he got to spend a few minutes with Vols coach Lane Kiffin. “He liked my size, and said that they were really pursuing me.”
What were Johnson’s impressions of Kiffin? “He seems very confident and spontaneous. You can tell he’s having a lot of fun at his job.”
Johnson said he was glad he made the trip to Tennessee. “It’s a very good program that has a lot of eyes on it next year. They have a new coach and everything. A lot of people will be watching them very closely next year to see what they do.”
Johnson has 10 early offers and does not claim any favorites.
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 (5) | Post your comment | Categories: LSU, Tennessee, UGA
Southwest DeKalb RB Kendrun Malcome receptive to UGA’s interest
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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One of the area’s most touted juniors, Southwest DeKalb tailback Kendrun Malcome is anticipating an offer from Georgia but said Florida State is where he likely sees himself in college. Things could change, though.
“UGA is one of my top schools, but I want to go out of state,” he said. “I’ve liked FSU for a long time, but if UGA is the best fit then I will take a look at them. I’ve been in Georgia my whole life, so I’d like to see new schools and be in a different atmosphere.”
The 6-foot, 215-pound junior currently has offers from Kentucky, Florida State, Tennessee, Alabama and Ole Miss. He attended Junior Days at UGA and Alabama.
“I think UGA or Michigan will be the next to offer,” he said. “I haven’t heard from Georgia Tech.” Malcome, who also runs track at Southwest, hopes to make a decision during or shortly after the football season.
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 (14) | Post your comment | Categories: FSU, Other SEC schools, UGA
Tennessee makes big impression on Northview DL Denzel McCoy
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin and his father, Volunteers defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, made it clear over the weekend to Northview defensive tackle Denzel McCoy that he is one of their major targets in the class of 2010.
McCoy, whose 30 current scholarship offers include one from the Vols, was among more than 100 athletes who attended Tennessee’s Junior Day on Saturday.
“The visit was great,” McCoy said. “I got to spend time with coach Monte and Lane Kiffin. We talked for a while and about me coming to school there.
“I left there very impressed. The Tennessee coaching staff is awesome.”
Lane Kiffin, one of the SEC’s most vocal coaches, didn’t say anything McCoy interpreted as being controversial.
“Oh, nothing like that,” McCoy said. “He met with me and my parents. I liked the attitude he has as far as ‘I want to win next year.’”
McCoy said a weight lifting competition may prevent him from attending Junior Day at Auburn on Saturday March 7.
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
Permalink | Comments (7) | Post your comment | Categories: Auburn, Tennessee
Bobby Bowden’s age not a major concern to Gainesville QB Sims
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Florida State is the latest offer for Gainesville junior quarterback Blake Sims. He said the age of Seminoles coach Bobby Bowden, who turned 79 in November, won’t have an impact on him heavily considering Florida State.
“He’s a great coach,” Sims said. “His age is a concern, but at the same time it’s good because he knows so much about the game and he can teach me a lot before he leaves.”
Sims, who now has eight offers, speaks frequently with FSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher, who is slated to succeed the legendary Bowden when he retires.
Sims hopes to visit FSU soon.
“I’m just waiting for them to let me know when Junior Day is so I can go for a visit,” he said.
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
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment | Categories: FSU
Heritage DB schedules Junior Day visit to Clemson
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Heritage junior defensive back Garry Peters will take a Junior Day visit to Clemson this weekend, assistant coach Chris Pack said.
The 6-foot, 173-pound cornerback has offers from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Maryland, South Carolina, Tennessee, Central Florida and Eastern Carolina.
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 (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Clemson
Lafayette WR Dimitri Miles thinks Duke may be next to offer
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Lafayette junior wide receiver Dimitri Miles received his first offer from Central Florida.
“Duke has been showing a lot of interest, and I think they will be the next to offer,” he said.
The 6-foot-1, 200-pound junior is optimistic more offers will come. “It’s a matter of time before I show everybody I’m one of the best in the state and nation.”
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 (2) | Post your comment | Categories: Other schools
Another SEC offer for Westlake LB Michael Taylor
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Westlake linebacker Michael Taylor added Mississippi State to his list of offers.
The 6-foot-1, 200-pound San Diego native now has offers from Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Georgia.
He attended Junior Day at UGA and received an offer from coach Mark Richt and his coaching staff on his 17th birthday.
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 (2) | Post your comment | Categories: Other SEC schools, UGA
M.L. King RB Mack Brown says Georgia Tech and UGA reserving No. 33 jersey
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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M.L. King’s Mack Brown, one of the nation’s top tailbacks for 2010, said both Georgia Tech and UGA are reserving his No. 33 jersey if he signs with either in-state school.
Brown had hinted that Florida was an early leader but now claims no favorites. He has nearly 20 early offers, with Ole Miss and Rutgers being the latest schools. Brown made an unofficial visit to Georgia on Saturday.
“I’ve been wearing 33 since I was five years old,” Brown said. “Every time I get offered by a school, I ask that coach about 33 to see if it’s available.”
What if 33 is taken by another player? Is that a dealbreaker for Brown? “No. I mean, I would love to have it. But if it’s taken, then I’ll just have to work hard. Hopefully when it becomes available, I can earn it.”
At Georgia Tech, 33 is worn by senior Troy Garside, who is listed as safety and A-back, while junior tailback Kalvin Daniels has the number 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 (55) | Post your comment | Categories: Tech, UGA
Georgia Tech’s Paul Johnson responds to Dontae Aycock
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Quarterback Dontae Aycock of Tampa, who “secretly committed” to Georgia Tech in mid-January and then had his scholarship revoked by the Yellow Jackets after taking an official visit to Auburn, told his version of events to the AJC’s Jeff Hood on Thursday. Aycock, who signed with Auburn, admitted “I didn’t think [Tech] would pull [the scholarship]. I just wanted to go to Auburn to look.”
To read the story about Aycock, please click here.
On Friday, Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson was asked this question: When did you develop your “commitment” philosophy?
“We tell kids all the time in our office ‘Look around and make sure this is what you want to do,’” Johnson said. “I am not trying to keep kids from looking around. I think they need to look around. But when you decide and commit, then you’re giving people your word that you’re coming. It’s not a game. It’s not ‘Ok, I’ll take this one unless I can find something better. Or let me lock this down there so I can shop around for some other spots.’ If you’re doing that, you’re not committing.”
“Why don’t you say this school is leading? Or this school is way out in front? It’s the same thing with Dontae. Had Dontae not committed, we would’ve continued to recruit him probably up to a point where we would’ve said something like ‘Hey we’ve got to know something or we have to move on.’”
“There’s this fallacy out there that everybody is going to take five visits and decide on signing day. We know that’s not going to happen. That’s all it is. Commitment to me means if they tell me they are coming, then I expect that they are coming. If they tell you you’re coming, then why are they taking more visits?”
“I view anybody that’s still visiting [other] schools as not committed. That’s just me. That’s just the way I do it. Well, people say ‘That’s a double standard because you let other kids visit [Tech] who are committed [to other schools]. That’s not my problem. Maybe it’s a soft commitment. There may be a [college] coach somewhere else saying ‘Give me a soft commitment and go ahead take your visits.’”
“We recruited Dontae for a whole year. Nobody twisted his arm and made him commit to Georgia Tech. I didn’t say ‘If you leave here, I’m moving on or anything. He [Aycock] came to me on [the Sunday during his official visit to Tech], and said ‘Coach, this is what I want to do. I’m coming [to Tech].’ I said ‘Are you sure? He said ‘Yeah, I told my [high school] coach yesterday. I called him.’ I said ‘Is he good with you doing this?’ Yeah he’s good with it. ‘You know this means no more visits? Recruiting is over?’ He said ‘I know coach, but I want to keep it quiet.’
“That’s not right either. If the whole story was told, Dontae would tell you that I made him call Lousville and tell them that he wasn’t coming. I told him that’s only fair to Louisville. He went [the following day] and did that. There was a lot more to it. Then he got some bad advice. And maybe not. Maybe he wanted to go to Auburn anyways. That’s what I took it as. If he wanted to visit Auburn, then he wanted to go there.”
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
Permalink | Comments (117) | Post your comment | Categories: Tech
