Archive for March, 2009

Orson Charles got important advice from NFL coaching legend Tony Dungy before picking UGA over Southern Cal and Tennessee (Tampa Tribune)

NFL coaching legend Tony Dungy provided guidance for one of Georgia’s top football recruits. Tight end Orson Charles of Tampa ended one of the nation’s most intense recruiting battles by signing with the Bulldogs over Tennessee and Southern Cal more than a month after signing day.

“I know Orson was having a little trouble making his decision,” Dungy said. “He had it down to a few schools. He came by my house and the last thing we talked about was, ‘Hey, just assume you get hurt the first day you ever step on campus. You want to go to a place where you’re going to enjoy the school, [the] players that you’re around, [the] coaches. And you’re going to able to have that great atmosphere outside of football. Don’t think of football, but how it’s going to be as a family.’”

“I don’t know if that influenced him or not. He decided to come to …

Continue reading Tony Dungy gave important advice to UGA-bound Orson Charles »

Based on how he’s being recruited, Banneker quarterback Shaun Kitchens believes his next offer will come from Tennessee, Clemson or North Carolina.

Kitchens, whose scholarship offer count climbed to 10 recently when he received an offer from Duke, is a big fan of Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin.

“I’ve met him several times,” Kitchens said. “He’s a young coach and it seems like he meshes really with his players real well.

“He understands where we’re coming from.”

Georgia Tech, which has offered Kitchens, continues to show major interested in the 6-foot-3, 210 pound athlete.

“Georgia Tech is recruiting me pretty hard,” Kitchens said. “They send me a handwritten letter everyday.

“I talk to them when I get a chance and tell them I’m pretty interested.”

Kitchens’ upcoming visits will take him to Kentucky and Duke. He also hopes to attend some of Tech’s spring practice.

— Jeff Hood

• Got a recruiting item? Please send an email to jhood@ajc.com
• Here are …

Continue reading Will Tennessee offer Banneker’s Shaun Kitchens? »

Jefferson County defensive back/quarterback Barry Bostic picked up a scholarship offer from Kentucky last week.

“I was surprised because I hadn’t really heard from them at all,” said Bostic, who already had offers from Georgia Tech, Maryland and Mississippi State.

“Kentucky said they don’t know yet if they’d play me or offense or defense. But they did say they’d love to have me at the slot with the ball in my hands.”

Bostic’s next offer could come from Vanderbilt. He plans to visit the Commodores on Saturday.

“I think the chances of an offer from Vanderbilt are very good,” he said. “I talk to them on a regular basis. They say they can’t wait to get me up there.”

Bostic, who hopes to visit Tech during their spring drills, said the Jackets remain his leader.

“Being that Georgia Tech is the only school I’ve visited and my cousin [Chris Crenshaw of Jefferson County] will be going there, I’ve put them out in front early,” Bostic said.

— Jeff …

Continue reading Jefferson County DB Barry Bostic claims offer from Kentucky »

Calhoun wide receiver Darick Rogers received an offer from Georgia on Monday.

“That’s a big offer from an in-state school,” he said. “UGA is always on top of anybody’s list.”

The 6-foot-3, 208-pound Rogers, a Darlington transfer, also has offers from LSU, Alabama, Mississippi State, West Virginia and Central Florida.

Rogers said earlier he was impressed after a visit to Alabama.

“I visited Alabama a couple of times, and I really like the coaches and facilities there,” he said. “I know they have already offered, but I want to weigh my options and see how everything pans out.”

Rogers, who said he sees himself playing in the SEC, hopes to make a college decision during the upcoming football season.

— Phil Giltman

• Got a recruiting item? Please send an email to Phil Giltman
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Continue reading Calhoun WR Rogers receives offer from UGA »

Every so often we like to check our daily UGA and Tech Vents as a way of getting a feel for what AJC readers REALLY think about sports life Between The Hedges and / or On The Flats.

And, boy, do we feel you.

You Venters are going off on everything from football to hoops to baseball to recruiting to Lane Kiffin to Paul Hewitt to Herschel Walker. Us? We’ve got a migraine now from trying to keep track of it all.

Let’s get the weekend started early this Wednesday with this View from The Vent of what’s all the rage – like, literally – in the AJC Vents. Check this sampling and then vent further on these Vents.

FROM THE TECH VENT

• Jarrett Jack should get at least half of Hewitt’s salary. But that would mean we live in a fair world.
• Seems the people who post on this vent would rather bemoan a basketball season that’s over than celebrate a baseball season that’s off to a super start. Why?
• Hewitt is our version of AIG. The fact we are paying him for his performance is just about as …

Continue reading The View from The Vent: What YOU’RE saying about UGA, Georgia Tech, SEC and ACC sports on ajc.com »

Woodward Academy defensive end Henry Anderson used part of his spring break last week to visit Stanford.

“My parents and I went out to Stanford last Wednesday,” said Anderson, who has scholarship offers from Central Florida, East Carolina, Maryland, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Stanford and Wake Forest.

“I toured the campus, talked to most of the coaches and met some of the professors.”

One of the highlights was spending time with Cardinal coach Jim Harbaugh.

“We had lunch with him at one of the restaurants on campus,” Anderson said. “After the campus tour, my parents and I sat down with him in his office for a good while.

“He’s a really funny guy. He made a lot of jokes and stuff. He’s an easy guy to talk to and seems like he’d be a lot of fun to play for.”

Anderson said he has no problem playing football 2,000 miles from home.

“I don’t really have a problem playing out on the west coast,” he said. “I’m not afraid from going too far away from …

Continue reading Woodward Academy DE Anderson visits Stanford »

Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson has made it clear to Walton lineman Kyle Woestmann that the Jackets are prepared to officially offer him a scholarship if he’ll agree to play on the offensive side of the ball.

“They’re waiting to see if I’m going to play offense or defense,” said the 6-foot-4, 260-pound Woestmann, who met with Johnson at Tech last week. “They verbally offered me, I just don’t have a handwritten one yet.

“They said ‘the minute you decide to play offense, you’ll have an offer in your mailbox.’”

But Woestmann, who has scholarship offers from Maryland and Vanderbilt, continues to lean toward playing on the defensive line.

“I’m just not sure what I want to do,” he said. “It’s a tough situation. I’m still in a dilemma with that.

“I’m probably about 60 percent toward playing defense and 40 percent of me is leaning toward the offensive side of the ball.”

Woestmann is also hearing from Georgia, Duke, Florida and Louisville. The …

Continue reading Georgia Tech’s offer to Walton DE Woestmann contains major stipulation »

UPDATE: Ex-UGA LB given unconditional release, allowed to play anywhere, even against Bulldogs

Richt: No comment on UGA's release policy (AJC)

Georgia coach Mark Richt didn’t offer any clues regarding Georgia’s reasons behind the stunning release of highly-regarded linebacker recruit Dexter Moody. Now that Moody has his UGA release, he is considered again to be a regular prospect, which allowed Richt to avoid commenting on the ex-recruit.

However, confusion remains about Georgia’s policy on releasing recruits who have already signed with Bulldogs. Richt was given the opportunity to clear up his stance on Tuesday. ”On my rules [for releasing Georgia recruits], I am not going to make comments on,” Richt said.

UGA officials declined to say why they rescinded their scholarship offer on Monday. But Moody said it was due to a recent suspension he received for threatening an Emanuel County Institute teacher, according to the AJC’s Chip Towers.

“I got into a little trouble down …

Continue reading Mark Richt’s policy on releasing recruits remains mystery »

There’s a new sheriff in Neyland and he believes in getting the freshmen right in there with the big boys.

PHOTOS: For Tennessee Volunteers coach Lane Kiffin, football is definitely a family affair. Meet the coach, his dad, wife and check the Vols’ spring practice.

VIDEO: Here’s what first-year Tennessee Volunteers coach Lane Kiffin told knoxnews.com about how he’s running his debut spring practice.

Continue reading Tennessee’s Lane Kiffin talks practice strategy: How they’re doing it up Knoxville way »

Dexter Moody admits he ‘got into some trouble’ at ECI. (Jason Getz / AJC)

Athens — Dexter Moody, one of the top players in Georgia’s 2009 football recruiting class, was released from the national letter of intent he signed with the Bulldogs just last month.

UGA officials declined to say why they rescinded their scholarship offer. But Moody said Monday night it was due to a recent suspension he received for threatening an Emanuel County Institute teacher.

“I got into a little trouble down here,” said Moody, reached by telephone in Twin City Monday evening. “I got into an argument with one of my teachers.” Moody said he was accused of threatening the male teacher because he “walked up on him.”

Moody, a linebacker and teammate of fellow Georgia signee Washaun Ealey, is free to sign with another school. Asked where he might end up, Moody said, “maybe Central Michigan or Florida.”

Asked if he was disappointed Georgia revoked its scholarship, Moody said, “No, not really. I …

Continue reading UGA releases LB signee Dexter Moody »