Georgia’s top two running backs are both headed out of state for their college careers.
Sandy Creek High School’s Eric Swinney committed to Ole Miss over Auburn last week. Swinney is rated as the No. 12 overall prospect in the 247Sports composite rankings.
A few weeks ago, McEachern’s Taj Griffin tweeted out his commitment to Oregon over Clemson and Georgia. He’s rated as the state’s No. 7 prospect and the top all-purpose back in the country.
“I picked Oregon because of the way they want to use me, the chance to play early, and they’re also going to be giving my brother an opportunity,” Griffin said.
Griffin’s older brother, quarterback Ty Griffin, recently announced that he is transferring from Georgia Tech after one year. The brothers both made unofficial visits to Oregon’s spring game, and Ty could join the Ducks as a walk-on or scholarship player.
Both Swinney and Griffin are smaller-sized running backs.. They can play in the backfield and in the slot position, and excel in open space.
Whitewater’s Cofer headed to FSU
Florida State announced the signing of Phil Cofer, a 6-foot-8 forward from Whitewater High School. Cofer abruptly signed with Tennessee without taking an official visit in last November’s early period, and requested a release from his letter of intent after the Volunteers changed coaches last month. Both of Cofer’s parents were athletes at Tennessee, and his father, Michael Cofer, played 10 seasons in the NFL. The younger Cofer was also considering Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech, but only took a recruiting trip to FSU. “We are excited to add Phil to our roster,” Seminoles coach Leonard Hamilton said. “He is a strong player who allows us to become a better team. His athleticism, his motor and his ability to score and rebound the basketball will allow him to be successful in our system.” NCAA rules prohibit student-athletes from signing two letters of intent in the same calendar year, so Cofer signed a non-binding grant-in-aid with FSU, meaning he can still visit other colleges and won’t officially be a Seminole signee until he attends his first day of classes. Cofer averaged 19.3 points and 12.8 rebounds this past season at Whitewater.
ACC supports early signing period
It flew under the radar at last week’s ACC spring meetings, but the conference will recommend an early signing period every August for football to the NCAA. “Our feeling is that it would be a healthy thing for the recruits … the student-athletes in a sense that it would give them an opportunity to make their decision and fully commit to it and sign and be able to play and study during their senior season without the distraction of the recruiting process, which can be very significant,” ACC commissioner John Swofford told the Orlando Sentinel. “Our feeling is if a player knows where he wants to go and is ready to make a commitment, then it really enhances the situation for that player first of all and for the institution.”
More on recruiting
One of the nation’s top basketball prospects for next year is Wheeler High School’s Jaylen Brown. He scored 48 points in a game with his AAU team over the weekend. The 6-7 Brown is rated as the country’s No. 10 overall prospect for 2015, and recruiting experts are predicting he will sign with Kentucky over Georgia Tech. … UGA, Alabama and Auburn dispatched assistant coaches to observe Greater Atlanta Christian’s spring football game on Saturday. The Class AA private school has two of the state’s top 30 prospects for 2015, defensive backs Darius Slayton and Micah Abernathy.
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