Archive for September, 2010

CHANNEL 2 SPORTS ZONE GAME OF THE WEEK

Gainesville linebacker A.J. Johnson poses for his AJC Super 11 portrait. (AJC photo by Jason Getz)

I’m heading over to Gainesville this evening to watch one of the state’s great backyard rivalries as the Red Elephants take on the North Hall Trojans at “The Brickyard.”

It’s the “Channel 2 Sports Zone Game of the Week.” You can catch it live at 7:30 p.m. on WSB’s second digital channel, RTV 2.2 (Comcast 248/Charter 126) or catch the replay on WSB’s Channel 2 at 1 a.m. tonight.

There are a lot of top-notch college prospects I’m looking forward to seeing in action, including North Hall junior wide receiver C.J. Curry (UGA offer) and Gainesville senior defensive tackle Thomas Niles (UCF commitment). But more than anybody I’m excited about finally seeing in person Gainesville linebacker A.J. Johnson.

If you read the AJC regularly you know that the 6-foot-3, 230-pound Johnson was an AJC Super 11 selection this year and he’s one of the state’s …

Continue reading Gainesville’s A.J. Johnson talks North Hall, latest on recruitment »

Chris Milton became the only player in Charlton County history to rush for more than 2,000 yards and pass for more than 1,000 yards last season.

Charlton County’s Chris Milton is such a good athlete, colleges weren’t sure what to do with him.

To its credit, Georgia Tech didn’t really worry about all that. The Yellow Jackets simply said “we want you no matter what” and that tactic paid off handsomely Thursday when Milton offered up his commitment. He becomes No. 14 in Tech’s Class of 2011.

Milton mainly plays quarterback for the Indians, and he plays it well. Last season he became the first player in the school’s storied history to rush for 2,000 yards and pass for 1,000.

“I’ve had a long line of really good athletes come through here like Champ Bailey who can play any position,” Charlton County coach Rich McWhorter said. “Being our best athlete we put him at quarterback and that’s worked out best for us. He also plays defensive and he’s a dangerous punt returner. I could see …

Continue reading Charlton Co.’s Chris Milton becomes commitment No. 14 for Georgia Tech (UPDATED) »

It looks like Isaiah Crowell and his Carver-Columbus teammates will NOT be in Athens for the Georgia-Arkansas game this weekend.

“No, I don’t think they’re going,” Carver coach Dell McGee said Thursday afternoon. “They were going to. I’m not sure why they’re not. I just know Isaiah’s mom said she was tired and didn’t want to go.”

But Bulldogs fans shouldn’t  read anything into that, McGee said.

“Oh no,” he said. “I know Isaiah loves Georgia. He’s been a Georgia Bulldogs fan his whole life. He’s got Bulldog flags on his car. He really does. Georgia’s got a lot of good things going on right now.”

That said, McGee believes it remains a two-team race for Crowell, an AJC Super 11 running back and a consensus five-star prospect. Defending national champion Alabama, which hosted Crowell on an unofficial visit during the Penn State game last weekend, is Georgia’s chief competition.

“It’s probably between those two,” McGee said. “Alabama’s probably going to lose the Heisman Trophy …

Continue reading 5-star RB Isaiah Crowell skipping Georgia visit on Saturday »

THE TEN AT 10:

1. Without a doubt, Stephon Tuitt was the top defensive recruit remaining on Georgia Tech’s board for the Class of 2011. The Monroe Area defensive end’s decision to choose Notre Dame on Wednesday after calling the Yellow Jackets his leader for most of the calendar year had to feel like a kick in the gut to Tech’s coaches and fans. But here are some reasons to feel better: (A) The Jackets have had a solid recruiting year already, with 13 commitments, including four from much-needed offensive linemen; (B) they have a pledge from a four-star linebacker already (Hillgrove’s Jabari Hunt-Days) and a quarterback (Vad Lee of Durham, N.C.) that probably ought to have four stars; (C) they are closing in on four-star CB Blake Countess of Owings Mill, N.C., and continue to make headway with RB Romar Morris, whose UNC commitment is wavering; and, finally, (E) it’s not over with Tuitt. Recruiting has been an emotional proposition for this 6-foot-5, 260-pound athlete. Even as …

Continue reading Ten@10: Tuitt-to-Notre Dame hurts but all not lost for Georgia Tech »

Monroe Area’s Stephon Tuitt, one of the top defensive ends in the state and Rivals’ No. 22-ranked prospect in the country, committed to Notre Dame Wednesday night.

If that seems sudden, it does to Tuitt, too. But after making his official visit to Notre Dame with his mother this past weekend, the longtime Georgia Tech lean just felt there was no reason to put off a decision any longer.

“The two schools I was most interested in were Notre Dame and Georgia Tech,” Tuitt said from his Monroe home Wednesday night. “After this weekend, I knew which one I wanted to go to. What’s the point in waiting? There was no sense  in continuing to go to other schools. I did that for the last year. It was just time.”

Most of the spring and summer, Tuitt (6-foot-5, 260 pounds) had listed the Yellow Jackets as his favorite among several schools. More recently he had said Tech was tied in his top five along with Notre Dame, Auburn, Clemson and Miami.

But all that reshuffled after he spent Thursday …

Continue reading DE Stephon Tuitt commits to Notre Dame over Georgia Tech »

Kentucky saw something special in White County’s Ashely Lowery even before he leaped over a defender in full stride this past Friday in Cleveland.

White Couty's Ashely Lowery could play offense or defense for Kentucky next year. (Special photo)

Lowery, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound senior running back and defensive back, committed to the Wildcats back on August 7.  But few others knew much about him before the video of his amazing run went viral on YouTube this week.

“Great athlete. Good young man,” White County coach Greg Seagraves said of his star attraction. “Tennessee looked at him closely. So did Georgia and Georgia Tech. They’ve all looked at him.”

But other than Kentucky, only Illinois, Air Force, UAB, Eastern Kentucky and Western Caroina have offered.

“He’s kind of a between guy,” Seagraves explained. “They’re not sure if he’s a safety,  wide receiver, running back or linebacker. Kentucky called them summer and said they wanted him no matter what. They don’t know exactly what …

Continue reading Kentucky getting a good one in player-hurdling RB Ashely Lowery »

One of two charges against Tennessee freshman wide receiver Da’Rick Rogers was dropped and the other will be, too, if he completes 16 hours of community service. That was the ruling of a Knox County judge, who heard the case against Rogers on Tuesday.

The former AJC Super 11 player from Calhoun was charged with resisting arrest and disorderly contact after the Bar Knoxville brawl spilled out into the streets this summer. The resisting arrest charge was dropped by the prosecutor and the disorderly conduct charges will be waived pending the completion of a community service requirement and the payment of court costs, The Associated Press reported. Both charges were misdemeanors. Another hearing has been set for Oct. 27.

Defense attorney Don Bosch told The AP Rogers isn’t admitting guilt by performing the community service. Instead, he wants to prevent teammates who witnessed his July 9 arrest from having to testify at a hearing.

“I have maintained my innocence from the moment I …

Continue reading One charge dropped, 16 hours community service for Da’Rick Rogers »

John Theus has been a dominating force at The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Fla. (Special photo)

THE TEN AT 10:

1. Offensive lineman John Theus of The Bolles School in Jacksonville was one of three juniors to have a coveted 5-star rating bestowed upon them by Scout.com on Monday. The other two were LB Kwon Alexander of Oxford, Ala., and RB Keith Marshall of Millbrook, N.C. Theus, a 6-foot-6, 292-pound tackle, was still glowing from the news after practice Monday night.

“I was stoked. Very honored,” Theus said of being informed that morning. “It wasn’t necessarily a goal in my life but it’s something I’ve worked hard for. They don’t give out very many of them. So it’s definitely humbling.”

It can also be life-changing. To date, Theus has a somewhat modest nine scholarship offers (including Auburn, Florida, Florda State, Georgia, Miami and South Carolina). That number will surely double or triple before season’s end.

“I haven’t really noticed a difference yet but it just …

Continue reading Ten@10: UGA O-line recruit gets coveted fifth star from Scout »

Well, this is just one of those video clips you’ve got to see. Ashely Lowery, a 6-foot-1, 190- running back/defensive from White County who is committed to Kentucky, hurdles a player during a recent game. I haven’t been able to confirm yet against which team this occurred but the Warriors (2-1) played West Hall this past weekend and won 45-18.

Here’s the video from YouTube.com:

Continue reading Video: White County’s Ashely Lowery hurdles defender on TD run »

THE MONDAY MORNING REWIND

Isaiah Crowell of Carver-Columbus rips off some of his 207 yards rushing in a 44-0 win over Hardaway. (Robin Trimarchi/Columbus Ledger-Enquirer)

Looking back at the players, plays and games that caught our attention over the weekend. Let is know what you saw and heard.

I don’ t know about you but I’m thinking South Carolina tailback Marcus Lattimore probably has the inside track on that SEC Freshman of the Year after seeing his performance against Georgia (32 carries, 182 yards, 2 TDs) this past Saturday.

Speaking of which, that kind of impact is what Georgia believes Isaiah Crowell could have on the Bulldogs next season. Crowell, a five-star running back from Carver-Columbus and the No. 1 target on the Bulldogs’ board, reconfirmed this weekend that Georgia and the Crimson Tide are on top for his services.

In the meantime, Crowell is getting it done on the field. He went off for another 207 yards rushing (231 all-purpose) in Carver’s 44-0 win over …

Continue reading Rewind: RB Isaiah Crowell could have Marcus Lattimore effect »