Georgia Tech filled one of the four new slots in its recruiting Class of 2010 with a place-kicker. Justin Moore, a 5-foot-10, 160-pound kicker from Marist, committed to Yellow Jackets coach Paul Johnson while on an unofficial visit at the school with his mother this past weekend. He will make an official visit to Tech this weekend. Moore had long been committed to Miami of Ohio and did not have an offer from Georgia Tech until last week after juniors Morgan Burnett, Jonathan Dwyer, Derrick Morgan and Demaryius Thomas declared for the NFL draft. Moore said Johnson told him he would immediately have the opportunity to compete for playing time. Tech's current place-kicker, Scott Blair, will be a senior next season.
The question now is who will the Yellow Jackets sign with the three other vacant scholarships. Tech has several offers out, including ones to Beaufort, S.C., linebacker Justin Parker; Stephenson defensive tackle Mike Thornton; Washington, D.C., linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu; and Cincinnati quarterback/athlete Dominique Brown. Westlake cornerback Darius Robinson, who got an offer from Tech last week, has reaffirmed his commitment to Clemson.
Taylor to Florida
Longtime Tennessee commitment Michael Taylor switched to Florida this week. He said it had nothing to do with the Lane Kiffin bolting to USC. The 6-foot, 200-pound linebacker from Westlake said he gave a silent commitment to the Gators the Sunday before the Kiffin news broke. He had decided he liked the environment -- and the depth chart -- better.
UT recruiting damage
In all, five Tennessee commitments went in other directions after the Kiffin debacle: five-star safety Ahmad Dixon of Waco, Texas; and four four-star prospects – defensive end Delvin Jones, defensive tackle Calvin Smith, defensive end Brandon Willis, and Taylor.
But thanks to the quick hiring of coach Derek Dooley, the Vols have convinced some high-profile prospects to stick with them ... for now at least.
Sims re-commits to Bama
The on-again, off-again relationship of Blake Sims and Alabama is on-again. The Gainesville quarterback re-committed to the Crimson Tide while on an official visit there over the weekend. He had been committed to Alabama since last spring but de-committed the day after the BCS title game after an in-home visit from Tennessee coaches.
Etc.
JaWuan James, a four-star offensive tackle from Suwanee's North Gwinnett High, was an early enrollee for Tennessee and left Knoxville on Thursday to return home to meet with his family and gather his bearings. But he returned to UT over the weekend and attended his first classes Tuesday, according to his high school coach, Bob Sphire. ... Gainesville junior linebacker A.J. Johnson received a scholarship offer from the USC on Monday. Johnson had accepted a scholarship offer from Tennessee before Kiffin and recruiting coordinator Ed Orgeron left for USC last week. Johnson, one of the top prospects in the state for 2011, backed off the Vols last week.
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