Archive for June, 2010

Stephon Tuitt has a new leader. Same as the old leader.

With respect to classic rock band The Who (”meet the new boss/same as the old boss”), that’s the story with Tuitt. The rangy defensive end from Monroe Area (6-foot-5, 252 pounds) has Georgia Tech back atop his list of schools.

If you weren’t paying close attention you probably never knew the Yellow Jackets were ever out of that spot. Tuitt first mentioned them to me as his leader in an interview I had with him back in late March.

But just last week, while I was on vacation down in the Gulf, Monroe Area coach Matt Fligg sent me a message on behalf of Tuitt indicating that Tuitt had decided on a final seven from his numerous offers and he had ranked them in order. I was more than a little surprised to see that Tuitt had Miami first.

“He grew up there,” Fligg explained. “Always been a big fan.”

The Hurricanes were slow in recognizing Tuitt’s talent. They didn’t offer him until earlier this spring. Nevertheless, they sprung …

Continue reading Georgia Tech camp reaffirms Jackets as leader for Stephon Tuitt (UPDATED) »

Jarvis Jones was having a great freshman season at USC before a neck injury sidelined him for the last eight games. (Photo by WeAreSC.com)

Jarvis Jones won’t be suiting up for the Georgia Bulldogs this fall.

The ballyhooed linebacker from Columbus — who made up his mind on Tuesday to transfer from Southern Cal to UGA — said he could try to gain immediate eligibility with the Bulldogs, but he doesn’t plan to pursue it.

“I’m redshirting no matter what,” said Jones, speaking by telephone late Tuesday as he remained in Athens for a second night. “I’m going to sit out the season and get my body right.”

Jones will have three years of eligibility remaining.

Jones spent Monday and Tuesday in Athens touring the school and football facilities and hanging out with players before deciding to commit to the Bulldogs late Tuesday afternoon.

He also met with medical personnel to discuss the neck injury that cut short his freshman season at USC. Jones said was cleared by UGA doctors, who …

Continue reading LB Jarvis Jones says he plans to redshirt at Georgia »

Former Carver-Columbus star linebacker Jarvis Jones has decided to transfer to the University of Georgia from Southern Cal.

Jones

That was the word from Carver-Columbus coach Dell McGee, who first delivered the news in a text message that read: “Jarvis is a GA Bulldog.”

“That’s what he told me he is going to do,” McGee said in a phone call moments later. “It’s not official yet but that’s what is going to happen.”

McGee went on to say Jones has not yet signed a financial aid agreement with the Bulldogs but intends to do so as soon as possible.

Jones has not returned phone and text messages. But McGee said he got the word from Jones himself.

“I actually got a few texts from him and other people about it,” said McGee, who had just gotten off the phone with Jones. “I told him I was happy for him and I would support him no matter wherever he decides to go. Then I said ‘Go Dawgs!’”

Jones has spent the last two days in Athens touring the school and football facilities and meeting …

Continue reading USC transfer Jarvis Jones chooses Georgia Bulldogs »

Note: I’m recasting this story as it was up only a short time yesterday before the Christian LeMay news broke.

Part Two of a possible three-for-one deal between the Days family of Powder Springs and Georgia Tech is now complete.

Jabari Hunt-Days, a 6-foot-3, 226-pound linebacker from Hillgrove High School, committed to the Yellow Jackets during their camp this past Saturday. He becomes the second member of his family to the pledge Georgia Tech, joining his brother Synjyn Days, who signed with the Yellow Jackets as a quarterback in the Class of 2010.

Georgia Tech now hopes to get some basketball help from the Days family. Basketball prospect Rod Days, a 6-foot-7 wing player from Miami, was in town with his AAU team this past weekend and spent some time touring campus and meeting with the Jackets’ coaches.

Rod Days is a first cousin of both Jabari and Synjyn.

“Hopefully we’ll all be [at Tech] before it’s over,” said Hunt-Days, speaking by phone as he attended Rod’s AAU …

Continue reading LB Jabari Hunt-Days follows family with commitment to Georgia Tech »

THE TEN AT 10:

Dalton OT Watts Dantzler will announce his choice between Auburn and Georgia on Fathers Day this Sunday. (Photo provided by Watts Dantzler)

1. For months Dalton offensive tackle Watts Dantzler (6-foot-7, 330 pounds) has planned a Nov. 16 announcement for his college decision. That is his birthday and, coming at the end of fall, it just seemed like the right time to do it. But the state’s top-rated offensive tackle changed his mind this week and decided to move up his decision date to this Sunday. The reason? “I just felt Fathers Day was a better day,” Dantzler told me yesterday. His father, Danny Dantzler, passed away 16 months ago after a long battle with ALS and Watts decided this would be a way to honor him. Besides, Dantzler has made up his mind now between a final two of Auburn and Georgia. Danny Dantzler, by the way, was an offensive lineman and football letterman at UGA (1971-73). Watts’ announcement is scheduled for 4 p.m. Sunday in the Dalton High …

Continue reading Ten at 10: Dalton OT Watts Dantzler to choose between Auburn, UGA on Sunday »

ADDS STATEMENT (6:45 P.M.)

The family of UGA quarterback pledge Christian LeMay issued a statement Monday evening admitting their son had made some sort of mistake but pledging support for him as he faces disciplinary action from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board.

LeMay, the No. 2 quarterback prospect in the nation per Scout.com, faces a suspension of as many to 30 days for an unknown violation of the school system’s “code of conduct,” according to the Charlotte Observer. LeMay had a hearing before a disciplinary tribunal Monday morning in Charlotte.

The statement written by LeMay’s father, The Rev. Stacy LeMay, did not shed any light on the nature of his son’s disciplinary situation but acknowledged that his son had made some sort of mistake.

In part, the statement said: “Sometimes, despite all the teachings and training, there comes a time in every individual’s life in which they are faced with choices. In a perfect world our children would always make right choices. …

Continue reading Christian LeMay’s father: Hearing ‘went well,’ outcome in 7-10 days (updated throughout) »

The recruiting battle between Georgia and Georgia Tech for Wilcox County star Nick Marshall has been intense and is not likely to end with his recent commitment to the Bulldogs. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)

Nick Marshall’s switch from Georgia Tech to Georgia had more to do with the elite prospect’s lifelong love of UGA than anything anybody did or said.

That’s the word from both Marshall, who starred at quarterback on Wilcox County’s 2009 Class A state championship team, and his high school coach, Mark Ledford. Both individuals have caught flak and heard accusations fly after Marshall went from being a heavy lean toward the Yellow Jackets to a Georgia commitment this past week.

The bottom line, Marshall told me, is he grew up wanting to be a Bulldog. He wasn’t sure if that was going to be possible after Georgia accepted a pledge from national quarterback recruit Christian LeMay of Matthews, N.C. When the Bulldogs came back with a personal offer from coach Mark Richt to play …

Continue reading Nick Marshall, coach explain choice of Georgia over Georgia Tech »

Good morning. I’m back from vacation. Did I miss anything?

Just kidding. I know I missed a lot.

Fortunately, thanks to our high schools writer Michael Carvell, you did not. Carvell stayed on top of all the important recruiting news in the Prep Zone Blog. Be sure to go back and check it out if you, too, were out of the loop last week.

Among the topics Michael covered while I was out:

• Christian LeMay, Georgia’s top commitment, facing a possible code-of-conduct suspension;
• Wilcox County’s Nick Marshall committing to Georgia;
• Georgia Tech football signee Jake Skole signing a $1.6 million baseball deal with the Texas Rangers;
• Southern Cal linebacker Jarvis Jones narrowing his choices down to Georgia and Florida State;
• and Tucker linebacker James Vaughters setting up his announcement for this Thursday at 11 a.m.

And there was more that Michael wasn’t able to get to.

Georgia Tech got a pair of commitments over the weekend in linebacker Jabari Hunt-Days of Hillgrove High and …

Continue reading Georgia Tech gets two commitments as summer recruiting ramps up »

In case you missed it, there was some big recruiting news overnight.

As Michael Carvell reports in the Prep Zone Blog — I’m on vacation in Florida — Wilcox County quarterback Nick Marshall committed to Georgia last night. What’s more, he has agreed to join the Bulldogs as a defensive back and will also play basketball.

Marshall fits well into Georgia’s “Dream Team” theme. He is a consensus Top 5 prospect in the state. I had him at number 3 in my “Tentative Top 10″ for the state’s loaded class of 2011.

Marshall chose the Bulldogs over Alabama, Florida State and Georgia Tech (among many other offers). Georgia is now up to 11 commitments for 2011. It will sign a full boat of at least 25 recruits.

GEORGIA

1. C David Andrews (6-3, 276), Wesleyan School
2. DE Sterling Bailey (6-4, 250), East Hall HS
3. CB Devin Bowman (6-0, 175), Ridgeland HS
4. WR Chris Conley (6-3, 185), North Paulding HS
5. LB Amarlo Herrera (6-2, 215), N. Clayton
6. QB Christian LeMay (6-3, 188), Matthews, N.C.
7. DB Nick …

Continue reading Georgia Bulldogs get commitment 11 from Nick Marshall, who will play DB »

I’m on vacation this week. Where I’m going I’ll never say but there is a lot of white sand there and a lounger with my name on it. And no oil. At least they say there’s not going to be any oil. I’m praying there’s no oil or tar balls or any other kind of pollutants. We’ll see I guess.

In the meantime, feel free to discuss anything you like. I’ll have computer access where I’m going so, you never know, I may pop in to weigh in on something or answer a query or two. Probably not though.

Heading into the heat of summer, Georgia has 10 commitments and Georgia Tech has five. I’ll list them below and y’all can break it down.

And Georgia State’s situation continues to get more and more intriguing to me . On the heels of last week’s news that quarterback Star Jackson had transferred to State from Alabama, the Panthers announced the transfers of three more experienced Division 1 players. Offensive linemen Joseph Gilbert (6-2, 280)  and Clyde Yandell (6-5,287) of Georgia Tech and former …

Continue reading Gone fishin’ . . . and other stuff »