Tucker sophomore James Vaughters

Why waste any time talking about the state’s top juniors? That group, those 15 and 16-year olds, they are old news. The sophomores are stealing the spotlight. And that’s correct for all of you keeping score at home: These kids will graduate in 2011. They won’t take the field in college (best-case scenario) for three more years. Maybe the economy will be back by then.

Tucker’s James Vaughters is the latest member of the 2011 club, joining others such as Gainesville linebacker A.J. Johnson (Tennessee offer) and Valdosta tight end Jay Rome (UGA, Alabama). Vaughters is 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, sports a 4.0 GPA, and boasts extra early offers from N.C. State and Central Florida.

Since when did Central Florida start offering 2011 kids in Georgia? That’s a good question. I had to ask that to Tucker coach Franklin Stephens. “As you know, [Tucker senior] Jonathan Davis signed with Central Florida. The Central Florida assistant is David Kelley, who …

Collins Hill tailback Charles Perkins loves to finish first in everything, which made him an ideal fit as Georgia Tech’s first commitment for the 2010 recruiting class.

“I wanted to be first,” Perkins said. “I believe I was the first junior that Georgia Tech offered, and I know I am the first one that committed.

“To me, it’s an honor to be first. [Tech] showed me a list of its first commitments over the years, and there were some big-time names on there … Derrick Steagall, Quincy Carter [who later played at Georgia] and others.”

When Collins Hill runs the ball, Perkins is usually the first one down the field. He finished with 1,244 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns during his junior season.

But that was not the first thing that Eagles coach Billy Wells told recruiters about Perkins, who also considered offers from Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Central Florida and Wisconsin.

“Charles is a young man with outstanding character… . That’s the first thing …

Because when it comes to recruiting with the AJC Super 11 selection, everything is unsure. Ol’ Johnnie is going to keep us guessing right up until Wednesday. I’m sure I’m forgetting or missing some things here, but to the best of my knowledge …

• Farms tried to commit to Alabama, then was told the Crimson Tide were full of scholarships at his position 
• Committed to South Carolina 
• Switched to North Carolina, saying it had “a little better education than [South Carolina] 
• Steve Spurrier drove to Perry, to defend South Carolina’s academics and convince Farms to still take an official visit with the Gamecocks. Farms eventually declined.
• Scheduled an official visit with Central Florida, and then canceled in part, because it was the same weekend as his grandfather’s birthday.
• Recruiting trip to Auburn this weekend
• Upon returning from Auburn, Farms said he is still committed to …