Georgia Tech recruit flips to Arkansas after gambling on last-minute trip, scholarship offer (UPDATED)
Defensive end Trey Flowers, who committed to Georgia Tech less than a week ago, flipped to Arkansas on Sunday.
It marked the fourth time in the past 12 days that Georgia Tech and one of its commitments have parted ways for various reasons.
“I changed my mind and committed to Arkansas … mainly because I wanted play in the SEC,” Flowers told the AJC. “To be the best, you have to play with the best. The SEC is the best.”
Four Georgia Tech commitments and Paul Johnson have parted ways in the last 12 days (AJC file)
Flowers, who is from Huntsville, Ala., took a huge risk by making a last-minute visit to Arkansas this weekend. Historically, Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson had has this recruiting policy — if a player commits to Georgia Tech and visits other schools after pledging to the Yellow Jackets, he is no longer “considered” committed to Georgia Tech.
What’s most surprising is that Flowers agreed to visit Arkansas even though the Razorbacks did not guarantee an offer in advance of this weekend’s recruiting trip. However, the big gamble paid off for Flowers as he was offered by Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino on Saturday. Flowers committed to the Razorbacks before leaving campus on Sunday. Here’s a link to some video of him and his father explaining that decision.
Flowers said he and his father called Georgia Tech’s football offices later on Sunday to let them know about the change of heart. “I just told [Georgia Tech graduate assistant Chris Hampton] that I was going to sign with Arkansas instead.” What was Georgia Tech’s reaction? “I don’t think they were too happy about it.” By late Sunday night, Flowers said he hadn’t talked directly to Johnson because “I don’t have his cell number.”
Here’s where it gets complicated: Flowers said he had actually agreed last Monday to visit Arkansas on the final recruiting weekend. The next day (Tuesday), Georgia Tech called to offer a scholarship, and Flowers quickly accepted. He picked the Yellow Jackets over South Alabama and UAB, while also attracting attention from Air Force and Arkansas State.
While talking with Georgia Tech’s coaches that Tuesday, Flowers said he did not mention that he had agreed to visit Arkansas later in the week. He also says — being from Alabama — he didn’t know that he was jeopardizing his Georgia Tech scholarship by taking the additional recruiting trip.
“I didn’t know that at all,” Flowers said. “When I took my official visit to Georgia Tech, there was another recruit there who was committed to another school and said he was continuing taking official visits. So I thought it would be OK with Georgia Tech. I didn’t think it was a big deal.” (Note: Flowers said he couldn’t remember the name of the other recruit)
Now seeing how everything has unfolded, does Flowers feel bad about de-committing from Georgia Tech so quickly after committing? “Yes, I’m excited about Arkansas, but I do feel kind of bad how it ended with Georgia Tech. I probably rushed with my decision to commit [to Georgia Tech] last week. But I did it because I wanted to protect myself with a big-time scholarship. Then a better situation came along for me with Arkansas and I had to take it.”
It has been a roller coaster, in some respects, for Georgia Tech over the last 12 days. Monroe Area 5-star defensive end Stephon Tuitt broke his longtime commitment to Notre Dame for Georgia Tech on Jan. 18, and then switched back to the Irish one day later after Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly hopped on plane to meet in person with Tuitt.
Mays defensive end Darrius Caldwell, who has yet to meet college entrance requirements, made an official visit to Illinois last weekend and committed.
Also last Thursday, Georgia Tech and Wayne County lineman Tre Jackson decided to in different directions after it was revealed that Jackson agreed to take an official visit to Florida State. Jackson had pledged to Georgia Tech last October.
– By Michael Carvell, AJC College Recruiting
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321 comments Add your comment
layinlow
January 30th, 2011
8:21 pm
Blackout, he’s a great kicker under pressure. He made all his field goals in the playoffs at critical junctures during the games.
D A DoubleU G
January 30th, 2011
8:24 pm
While i really want to make a snide comment, and tell the Tech program supporters that their team is simply in turmoil…..
this really is becoming a sad situation. Georgia Tech is in the great state of Georgia, and represents the state well with a more-than-fine academic institution. However, if you ask me, I think this is all a bit of sweet karma hitting the jacket athletic program, for the pompous attitudes and all things hate for their big brother program.
Just my say.
9-1 Mark Richt is YOUR DADDY.
1962 DAWG
January 30th, 2011
8:30 pm
Ramble On 84
The 3-4 D don’t have a MLB. It has 2 OLB’s and 2 ILB’s.
GT Alum
Tidbit’s– Evidently none of these de-committs wanted to be at Tech.
GTBob
Who is Ravals? And where do they have the Dawgs rated??
And last but not least. Here we go with the “harder to get into Tech than UGA”
Not true. Everyone enrolled at Tech is not there to be an engineer.
Stop lying about this, It’s getting old.
RambleOn84
January 30th, 2011
8:31 pm
Mark Richt is no one’s daddy…a eunuch is incapable of breeding.
GTBob
January 30th, 2011
8:33 pm
1962 DAWG, sorry, I should have corrected my typo. I forgot that there are mostly UGA alums on here and they would have a hard time figuring out that I meant Rivals. I will proof read everything from now on to avoid any confusion. My apologies if you wasted time looking up ravals in the dictionary.
RambleOn84
January 30th, 2011
8:34 pm
Semantics, “1962 DAWG.”
You call them “ILBs,” I call them “MLBs.”
If you want to get real technical, teams don’t have “OLBs” either; they have a “Will” and a “Sam,” or whatever else that team calls them in their particular scheme.
I sometimes forget why I avoid people with those faux red and black Green Bay Packers stickers on their cars. Then I visit this page and I remember.
GO JACKETS!
1962 DAWG
January 30th, 2011
8:42 pm
Jacket Man
Coach Richt you ask, has 96 wins in 10 seasons at the same Institution.
He is one of only 3 living coaches who can claim that, and one of them is retired. Bob Stoops at Oklahoma.
Mark Richt UGA
Barry Switzer Oklahoma [Retired]
Paul Johnson will never have as good of a winning record.
That’s who Mark Richt is!!!!!
bhamwreck
January 30th, 2011
8:46 pm
UGA will get a highly rated recruiting class and GT will not. Whats new? I hope Coach Johnson is recruiting young men who will work hard and try to be men of character. I think most Tech fans trust Coach Johnson based on what we have seen so far. This past year was tough but there was some talent drain to the NFL and injury problems also. Recruits: If you want to come to a school where you will be challenged, learn state of the art technology, get a jump start on your future – then come to the best engineering school in the south.
1962 DAWG
January 30th, 2011
8:46 pm
Ramble on 84
There you go again, not knowing your D.
Will and SAM are terms used in the 4-3 scheme. Weak side, Strong side.
Any more questions???
Saban
January 30th, 2011
8:48 pm
Let`s see another national championship for me, Richt recruits the dream team and goes 6-5 with loses to Boise State, South Carolina, and a slew of new daddies.
Central Florida was the dawgs waterloo…..
This year is just mop up for the good ship dawg.
1962 DAWG
January 30th, 2011
8:50 pm
GTBob
Just having some fun, Old man with nothing else to do on a Sunday night.
Sorry about the loss too on the recruit.
Can’t tell about these kids anymore, didn’t grow up the way I did when the word YES meant YES.
Good luck on signing day and the coming season.
Re 1962 Dawg
January 30th, 2011
8:51 pm
Seriously? 96 wins in 10 seasons? Impressive.
JB
January 30th, 2011
8:54 pm
Tech is in trouble, they just won’t admit it…yet….They are loading that roster up with talent that will beat the obvious, but even an average Miami team came into Grant field this year, and it was ugly. Georgia couldn’t score a TD against Central Florida yet beat Tech. The party is over. Duke, Wake etc is your battle cry. Clemson, Miami,FSU, NC,VT, UGA etc,,,,,,,,,,,,All future defeats…
JB
January 30th, 2011
8:56 pm
When does the who’s who’s in Engineering come out? I’m looking for Reggie Balls firm.
Original ole yeller
January 30th, 2011
8:59 pm
Noisewater, are you watching the same games as the others are? This offense that you are so critical of ran up and down the field on your vaunted defense this last year. Out gained the bull pups over 100 yards. Yes they lost the game but not because of the offense you guys cannot seem to stop. So unless you can add some facts to your comments, about offensive schemes don’t make a fool of yourself.
GTMD79
January 30th, 2011
8:59 pm
I find it quite funny that all the naysayers are saying how bad our offense is and that we cannot recruit until we change it. Just how many yards did our high school offense gain on UGA in our last game. Also all of the recruits that are flipping play defense I think. I hope some of them enjoy being greyshirted and actually have a scholarship next year(which is not guranteed). We need defensive line recruits and they would be valued more as our recruits. Congrats to UGA on your highly rated class Good luck to playing against all those SEC schools that greyshirt. That is one reason the SEC is so dominant and wins the MNC.
RAID
January 30th, 2011
9:05 pm
Irregardless of the record for UGA and their so-called top tier tallent, let me remind you Tech fans of this, before you critisize Uga FOR TOP RECRUITING CLASSES, ask yourselves if you guys wouldnt trade anyone of yours for ours….Everyone wants the 5 star players, including CPJ….Hell, he would take every player UGA has so far, and bet he wouldnt take any schollies back if they visited other schools,,,,,,,give me the most tallented players I can get, you too, and if I fail then my fault……Also, STOP IT with the (Were a tough school accademically) so thats why we struggle……If its that bad then quit the excuses and GET OUT OF THE FOOTBALL BUSINESS if you feel like thats whats holding you back…….
RambleOn84
January 30th, 2011
9:06 pm
“1962Dawg,”
Where are you coaching again? Change your Depends then come back and explain to me the terminology used by every scheme in the nation please.
JB,
Miami has definitely had our number the past two years but it should be noted that they spent half their summer focusing on just our defense each of the past two seasons. Thus they did a great job against Tech then didn’t do so well against everyone else. It’s a great strategy if you care only about beating one team. You know, kinda like UGA does by taking its bye week before Tech every year?
Saban
January 30th, 2011
9:10 pm
This just in.”The university of georgia has announced that incoming recruits will no longer be required to both read and write. Coach Richt was elated saying that removing this antiquited requirement will help him bring to georgia the dream team and allow his staff the opportunity to recruit the Florida penal system more effectively”
RambleOn84
January 30th, 2011
9:13 pm
The point is, you drooling septuagenarian, is that different teams have different names for every position on the field. So you telling me, “actually, Sam and Will are in the 4-3″ is just idiotic.
In my high school defense the weakside linebacker was called “Drop.”
Was my coach incorrect, “1962Dawg?” Should I drop him a line and tell him you disapprove of his terminology? The guy has won several state championships, so I think he may have a little more experience coaching than you, but who knows? You may just be some type of football idiot savant. But I’d be willing to bet you’re just a plain idiot.
Good luck outrunning Death this week.
ugafan4ife
January 30th, 2011
9:14 pm
it funny how gt fans love to talk trash about any and everything that happens to uga but the minute your joke of a football program has a string of bad luck you people get all upset and extra sensative. A month ago you guys said uga was a sinking ship now look at your program. in the last month or so tech has lost 6 players(2 players went pro when they werent ready, 4 recruits switched schools). say what you want about cmr but cpj is not half the coach cmr is
GTMD79
January 30th, 2011
9:16 pm
For those UGA fans who believe that it is not harder to get into GT look at the percentage of special admits for the teams. I remember someone blogging that the special admit rate for GT football was less than 10% and for UGA was higher than 90%(even with a much broader choice of easy majors). I do not remember the source cited but it was legit.
1962 DAWG
January 30th, 2011
9:17 pm
GTBob
Still walk the 2 mile trek to the games on Gameday, so don’t need the Depends just yet.
Just telling ya, the 3-4 has 2 inside linebackers and 2 outside linebackers.
Not a middle linebacker like a 4-3 scheme.
UGA and Tech both attempted to play the 3-4 scheme without any success, hopefully it’ll be a better year for both.
BTW i’m just coach in waiting just like you are on the flats!!
D A DoubleU G
January 30th, 2011
9:18 pm
Sorry for your loss(es) Tech.
But i cannot blame the kids for not wanting to play for you.
RAID
January 30th, 2011
9:20 pm
gtmd79……Quit your complaining or get out of the football business…..
D A DoubleU G
January 30th, 2011
9:21 pm
I REALLY wish the ajc would create a “College Academics” page, so all the Tech fans who want to compare their academics with UGA’s football team can go there, instead of here.
UGA fan: “We own you nerds!”
Tech fan(sic): “We all take calculus!”
UGA fan: “Huh?? I thought we were debating the football teams?”
Tech fan(sic): “Our graduates make more money than your graduates”
UGA fan: “9-1, son. Mark Richt is YOUR DADDY!”
RambleOn84
January 30th, 2011
9:22 pm
Sorry you have a tiny member, DA DoubleU G, but being a loser just runs in your family I guess.
Original ole yeller
January 30th, 2011
9:22 pm
I will take Johnson as my head football coach, entering the 2010 season he has already won 127 games as a head college coach. Where is M.$.R on the list?
Uga'91
January 30th, 2011
9:24 pm
US News and World Report has GT smack dab in the middle of ACC for academic rankings so choose another excuse for not recruiting well.
D A DoubleU G
January 30th, 2011
9:27 pm
RambleOn84,
sorry you have a bad Thanksgiving weekend 9 times a decade.
That weekend should be all about love and thankfulness. And trust me, UGA fans are VERY thankful for your delusional coach.
ugafan4ife
January 30th, 2011
9:28 pm
@ d a doubleu g i get the biggest laugh when gt fans brag about their academics and how valuable a gt degree is but they fail to mention that only 43% of their football players graduate
RAID
January 30th, 2011
9:28 pm
one final thought about what CPJ refers to as commitment…….When he decommitted from Navy and spoke with GT about the job opening, do you think Navy would have fired him for talking and visiting another school in the same manner that he treats his recruits?……Hmmmm…..just something for you guys to ponder…..seems to me he lives a life of double standards…..
D A DoubleU G
January 30th, 2011
9:28 pm
Maryland is flat out embarrassing the bees on the hardwood tonight.
I am excited for all the “Fire Paul Hewitt” chatter in about 15 or 20 mins.
GTBob
January 30th, 2011
9:29 pm
Hmm. Looking up Arkansas’s current situation, they have room for 20 new scholarship players. Trey is commit number 30 for this class. I wonder if he will be regretting this decision soon.
1962 DAWG
January 30th, 2011
9:30 pm
Ramble on 84
Sorry you need correcting yet again.
The DROP play is totally different.
Remember the UGA vs Tech game at Grant Field in 2009?
4th and 10 at the UGA 35 yardline?? Nesbitt”s pass to Thomas???
DROP.
That’s the DROP play!! Surely you remember it, if not Youtube has it. Check it out, it’ll all come back to you!!!
Thanks anyway but, don’t need your good luck wishes.
The Grinch
January 30th, 2011
9:32 pm
You teck fans may wish to still declare CPJ a coaching genius, but even the most ardent tekkie must begin to admit that he stinks as a recruiter.
D A DoubleU G
January 30th, 2011
9:33 pm
Drop Play: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXFouJ-UWLQ
complete with soundtrack.
Original ole yeller
January 30th, 2011
9:34 pm
G.T.Bob, look at the head coach. Would you trust your kid to play for this person? Bobby looks after Bobby.
GTBob
January 30th, 2011
9:34 pm
D A DoubleU G, down by six points with two key players out of the game is being flat out embarrassed? You don’t watch a lot of basketball do you?
The Grinch
January 30th, 2011
9:35 pm
GTBob
January 30th, 2011
9:29 pm
The kid stated he wanted to play in the SEC. Don’t think he’ll be regretting his decision any time soon.
1962 DAWG
January 30th, 2011
9:35 pm
Origional Ole yeller
The 2010 season is over so entering it would be hard to do,
CPJ has 127 wins as a coach but, 75% of those are with a D-2 school.
D A DoubleU G
January 30th, 2011
9:36 pm
GTBob,
No i don’t. I am a football guy.
Leedawg
January 30th, 2011
9:39 pm
Some feedback to the Yechies:
1. ” We got the Alabama player of the year!” If he’s all that great, don’t you think he’d be sigining with Bama or Auburn?
2. “There are bigger fish to fry than recruiting or beating UGA.” Bigger fish than recruiting – yes. Bigger fish than beating UGA? It’s what you base your entire season on. Don’t ever see this kind of smack the week of Clemson, Duke, or VA Tech.
3. “Seems like the only honest person out of this entire equation was Paul Johnson, eh?” Holier Than Thou Johnson rips the offer from a 17 year old because he wants to visit (VISIT) another school? “If you’re committed to Tech, you don’t need to visit.” How many kids who made commits to other schools do you think he still recruited up until this afternoon? How many times do you think a Yech coach called Truitt’s house this week? Call that for what it is – hypocritical.
4. “Anyone who knows the first thing about Georgia Tech knows it’s the Georgia Institute of Technology.” Anyone who claims to be a Yech fan would know that “GTU” came out of the mouth of the Yech “student-athlete” formerly known as Stephon Marbury.
5. “same school that has the fans trash the whole campus in Athens”? Have you visited the Yech campus lately? Oh that right, you don’t want to go down there for fear of getting robbed at gun point.
6. “but at the end of the day, GA Tech still has Paul Johnson coaching the Yellow Jackets and UGA has Mark Richt.” And yet, Richt is 9-1 against the Yechs. And you can get on trashing Richt. He’s had 2 rough years, but he’s a more than descent human being, the type of man that every Yech fan in Bug Nation would love his kid to play for.
7. “How else do you explain the internet bullying your fanbase is constantly engaged in?” Look in the mirror, Rambleon84. When something happens in Athens, the Bugs swarm to the Net.
8. “Recruits: If you want to come to a school where you will be challenged, learn state of the art technology, get a jump start on your future – then come to the best engineering school in the south.” No doubt Yech is one of the best engineering schools in the Country, ranked #4 by US News and World Report for 2010. But you’d better check the percentage of football players that have an engineering major. Vast majority do not pursue an engineering degree.
You’ve got problems, Yechies. The inferiority complex if legendary, you can’t fill your own 55,000 seat stadium unless you’re playing UGA (the empty seats for ESPN Thursday night games – embarrassing!), you can’t afford to get rid fo your horrid B-Ball coach, and you’re athletic department is bleeding red ink. We’ve got our own issues, but I like our situation a hell of a, a hell of a lot more than yours. But you’re right about one thing – if beating Yech is the highlight of our year, then it has been an awful season. But, we still beat you.
1962 DAWG
January 30th, 2011
9:41 pm
D A DoubleU G
Thanks for your support, just trying to get across to GTBob the engineer the difference in the 3-4 D as opposed to the 4-3 D.
But you know how it is trying to explain something to someone with such an engineering degree. Most engineers i’ve worked with in the past were like. “Measure with micrometer, mark it with chalk, and then chop it with an axe!!!
D A DoubleU G
January 30th, 2011
9:44 pm
“In a year when the only thing UGA has to brag about is beating Tech, the only thing Tech has to brag about is the fact that the only thing UGA has to brag about is beating Tech”
You able to follow that? Which program is more pathetic based on the above statement??
GTBob
January 30th, 2011
9:45 pm
@The Grinch,
My point was that there is a good chance he is never going to play in the SEC. Arkansas is already way over their limit. They have to shed some guys somewhere. I don’t think I would want to be a last second recruit in that situation.
GTBob
January 30th, 2011
9:48 pm
Thanks for your support, just trying to get across to GTBob the engineer the difference in the 3-4 D as opposed to the 4-3 D.
I haven’t said anything about a 3-4 or 4-3 defense in any of my posts. I think you are confusing me with someone else.
Orignal ole yeller
January 30th, 2011
9:48 pm
1962 Dawg, that is correct, but he also won with Division II talent, and how many national championships did he win? Look at the last three years in division I. You can keep M.$.R. I’ll take Johnson as a coach at Tech over Richt any day of the week. So far neither has won a N.C. I would put my money on CPJ over CMR as the first one to do it.
1962 DAWG
January 30th, 2011
9:49 pm
Only at Tech can they come up with a set of plans to remodle the stadium and change it from a 60,000 seat stadium to a 55,000 seat stadium.
Not only can you not sell out a game at Grant Field but, you can’t be trusted to engineer a set of plans for one either.
One thing your seinors at Tech can actually say is that they played in front of a sold out stadium this year. Sanford Stadium!!!!
D A DoubleU G
January 30th, 2011
9:49 pm
Tech basketball just committed an flagrant foul, and then multiple Tech players had to be pulled off Maryland players.
Stay classy Tech.