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DEL.ICIO.USRecruiting Rewind: Izaan Cross admits Georgia Tech was once fourth on list
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Flowery Branch defensive end Izaan Cross, who signed with Georgia Tech last month, admits that he had “no faith” in the Jackets at one point during the recruiting process. Tech plunged to fourth on the list of schools he was considering.
But his official visit to Tech helped put the Jackets back on top. Cross plans to attend part of Tech’s upcoming spring practice and sit in on team meetings.
With signing day over, Farms shares the real story:
Q: With Jaybo Shaw and Daniel Drummond and the way they’re recruiting Connor Shaw, Flowery Branch seems to have a deep connection with Georgia Tech. Did that play into your decision to sign with Georgia Tech? A: “Not at all. I’m the type of person that wants the individual stuff. I didn’t like hearing the pipeline stuff. I want to the make the best decision for me.”
Q: Did you maintain any secrets while you were being recruited? A: “There was one time in my recruiting process when I absolutely had no faith in Georgia Tech. I had them fourth on my list. They were number one at first and I thought ‘how am I going to do there academically?’” At one point, they were totally out of the equation. But ultimately, they were the best fit when I started to evaluate. I talked to a bunch of the players when I went on my official and they said ‘you really get helped out [academically] when you are a football player. They try to help you out with every obstacle to get your grades right.’ And I kept thinking if I get a Georgia Tech degree, I’ll be pretty solid no matter if I play football or not after college.”
Q: There was a lot written about you and Clemson. Who actually finished second in the recruitment of Izaan Cross? A: “That’s tough. It might have been Central Florida. I don’t know if [Central Florida] could have done anything different. There wasn’t anything I didn’t like about Central Florida. I just knew that Georgia Tech was the one.”
Q: What was your best overall recruiting experience? A: “When I went on my official visit to Georgia Tech. I’m glad my family went with me on that trip because we ate like kings. We ate at the Capital Grille and they fed us on campus in one of the suites above the stadium. I tell you, the meal in the suite might have given the Capital Grille a run for their money.”
Q: What else stood out about Tech? A: “Six coaches from Georgia Tech came to my house at the same time. I was like ‘whoa, they’re not playing games. They really want me at Georgia Tech.’”
Q: What are your thoughts on Tech defensive line coach Giff Smith? A: “My take on coach Smith is that he’s a real straight up guy. I like people telling me how they feel and what I need to work on. He’s a great guy to be around. With coach Smith, you can talk to him about anything.”
Q: Do you recall a funny moment while being recruited? A: “The best laugh I had was when I was talking to [Florida] coach [Urban] Meyer on the phone. My parents had wanted me to go to Mississippi State to see [former Bulldogs] coach [Sylvester] Croom instead of going to Florida’s Friday Night Lights. Coach Meyer told me ‘it’s not as good as Mississippi State or anything they’ve got going on over there. We only have about 85,000 fans or so [for games], but it’s nothing as good as they have at Mississippi State.’”
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you can offer juniors who are being recruited? A: “Don’t slack off in the classroom because that’s only going to make things harder in the long run. You get those first few [scholarship] offers and it makes it easy to lose focus on the academics.”
Q: Who was the best player you faced in high school on another team? A: It was the tight end from Ridgeland, [Michael Roberson]. He did a particularly good job blocking me when we played them in the state playoffs [last fall]. I wound up breaking two middle fingers in that game, so I don’t know if that was effecting me. It was cold, but I couldn’t shake him.”
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Permalink | Comments (31) | Post your comment | Categories: Tech
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By Flats man
March 11, 2009 12:59 AM | Link to this
Nice article, but I wish he wouldn’t have said “you really get helped out [academically] when you are a football player.” I don’t think it means anything, but it doesn’t sound PC.
By The Big Bug
March 11, 2009 1:43 AM | Link to this
It just means they have tutoring available at all times. Trying to balance a football & academic schedule at Tech has to be challenging.
By Bruce Wayne
March 11, 2009 1:59 AM | Link to this
I know the scholarship athletes at tech are all required to have tutors, I can’t remember the duration of the tutoring however. It has to be at least a year and then as long as needed. They provide the tutoring as well so I think that sort of guidance could really be the point.
By New York Dawg
March 11, 2009 2:02 AM | Link to this
Congrats to Georgia Tech for beating out powerful and mighty Central Florida for your No. 1 recruit. You guys are world beaters.
By macrotech
March 11, 2009 4:49 AM | Link to this
and YOU New York Dawg, are a blog beater! have you seen what this kid can do? doubtful… it’s ok, you’re a dog fan and that southern drawl in the big apple smog probably has you ALL twisted up inside. Tech isn’t a world beater. We’re dawg beaters! Did you not catch the fact that this young man was ‘talking on the phone with urban myers’? Mr. Cross wasn’t just ‘chattin’ with the gator coach because they’re old pals or anything…. He ‘NARROWED’ his options between two quality programs and chose Tech. As a long time Tech fan, I can’t wait for him to develope into the player the Jackets need him to be. He has big shoes to fill, but with coach Smith guiding him; i believe that you despise his greatness as much as I’m sure you despised the last guy! Proud to have you Mr. Cross…YOU JUST JOINED THE STATE CHAMPS!!!!
By GT GRAD
March 11, 2009 9:41 AM | Link to this
Great player and sounds like a great person as well. I look forward to watching him play football for GT!
The more time a person spends hanging out at GT, the more they like GT and the more they appreciate the entire package GT has to offer!
By Roy McCord
March 11, 2009 12:10 PM | Link to this
Hey NYD,
45-42
I think our recruits are just fine.
By Rick C
March 11, 2009 12:11 PM | Link to this
Izaan Cross would’ve never signed with Georgia Tech had CPJ not bullied him into signing. It didn’t work with Aycock, but Cross gave in.
By RealityYech
March 11, 2009 12:41 PM | Link to this
Once fourth ehh? I suspect we’ll be seeing Izaan cruising around campus in his brand new Escalade this fall. Either that or Saint Johnson threatened him with something far more serious than he did Aycock. I’d say it’s probably a combination knowing how slimey and desperate Saint Johnson is. LOL!!!!
By Brad Cunningham
March 11, 2009 12:54 PM | Link to this
reality, 45-42, no nc, no conference championship, no east championship, embarassed by the Gators again now that’s REALITY!
By 78 DAWG
March 11, 2009 12:58 PM | Link to this
Brad you not smart enough to mention cry bamy and the “blackout”?
By dap01
March 11, 2009 1:21 PM | Link to this
He love Tech. He also knew that tickets would be easy to get for his friends.
By BLAZER
March 11, 2009 1:54 PM | Link to this
I THINK PEOPLE ARE STILL SUFFERING FROM 45-42 THINGEE FROM OUR LITTLE OLD THREE STAR GUYS.
THANKS BRAD C. YOU HIT IT ON THE NAIL-
By 78 DAWG
March 11, 2009 2:24 PM | Link to this
Tech fans are so stupid, we were a few injuries and bad calls from a national championship and you nerds act like you’re unbeatable.
By Doubter
March 11, 2009 2:28 PM | Link to this
UGA Fans are sufferring from the Tech loss. Just rewatch the game & see exactly what happened, not what you think happened. There was a lot of slack play on the UGA side. A lot of strange things did happen. To Tech’s credit, they won. No doubt about that & a belated congratulation to GA Tech. I can tell you one thing though, those strange things will not happen again this year. Take that for however you want to see it. Don’t overlook that LSU loss to go back to the GA Game though. Paul Johnson just got a dose of what is coming in a lot of games.Be glad GA has a Moron as Defensive Coordinator. Les Miles is not an Idiot though.
By WePeeYellow2
March 11, 2009 2:36 PM | Link to this
macrotech = fooball team fluffer
By ben
March 11, 2009 2:39 PM | Link to this
78 Dawg, it’s not just us that are that stupid, it’s the pollsters too. Even though you had your typical top 5 recruiting class, you were ranked at #14 at the end of the year. Teams that recruit like the dawgs such as Florida, Texas, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Alabama are supposed to be in BCS bowls and finish in the top 5. You, instead, choose to argue with a second tier program such as Tech over who is best. Go pick on someone your own size and hang out on the aforementioned schools and watch them laugh you off their blogs.
By gt2012
March 11, 2009 2:41 PM | Link to this
to answer the question about tutoring/study hall-
they require it for at least first semester of freshman year, then it depends on your GPA as to whether it continues to be a requirement or not after that.
By ben
March 11, 2009 2:57 PM | Link to this
I notice even though you dawgs recruit big like Florida, Alabama, Ohio State, Oklahoma and USC, you don’t hang out on their blog, spewing your BS. You prefer to hanc out on a smaller school’s blog, who despite having a much lower ranked recruiting class, kicked your butt on the field. Go BS on the Florida blog and watch them laugh you off it for being the joke of a powerhouse recruiting school that you are.
By BIG bee
March 11, 2009 3:07 PM | Link to this
New York Dawg, we dont have to be world beaters, just UGA beaters. 45-42, remember those numbers?
By BLAZER
March 11, 2009 3:16 PM | Link to this
STRANGE THING MAKE SCORCES 45-42!!
IS 49-10 STRANGE?
By BLAZER
March 11, 2009 3:24 PM | Link to this
BAD CALLS FROM N.C?? HOW DID THAT AFFECT
ALA, FLA, GT. GAMES?? THREE LOSSES AIN’T CLOSE TO NC.
By phan
March 11, 2009 3:31 PM | Link to this
i know this piece is focused on football football but if anyone is interested in watching basketball recruit Mfon Udofia, the 4A semifinal game for Miller Grove is on www.gpb.org/basketball tonight at 8:30 p.m.
By macrotech
March 11, 2009 5:23 PM | Link to this
WePeeYellow2, any chance you might consider clarifying your post?
By NOVAJacket
March 11, 2009 6:33 PM | Link to this
WePee is apparently a porn film industry buff and has the lingo down…
By GSUeagle
March 11, 2009 7:34 PM | Link to this
I am suprised that UGA Fans can even write!45-42
By GSUeagle
March 11, 2009 7:35 PM | Link to this
I am suprised that UGA Fans can even write!45-42
By Trivia Guy
March 11, 2009 8:42 PM | Link to this
Question for the board: when was the last time Ga.Tech won the ACC?
By eagle
March 11, 2009 10:13 PM | Link to this
[url=http://www.freesmileys.org][img]http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-toilet16.gif[/img][/url]
By Yeah, those GSU fans are bright
March 12, 2009 10:15 AM | Link to this
To GSUeagle - not only can UGA Fans write, we can spell “surprised”! Like, I was surprised you posted this dumb comment twice.
By BD
March 12, 2009 1:43 PM | Link to this
By Roy McCord
March 11, 2009 12:10 PM | Link to this
Hey NYD,
45-42
I think our recruits are just fine.
Maybe until all of Chan’s are gone dumbazz.