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AJC College Sports Recruiting

One Georgia high school has 11 seniors committed to play D1 football

10:00 am July 26, 2011, by Michael Carvell

Stephenson OL Nicholas Gibbons committed to Memphis (AJC photo by Michael Carvell)

Stephenson OL Nicholas Gibbons committed to Memphis (AJC photo by Michael Carvell)

Stephenson High School now has 11 seniors that have both been offered and accepted D1 college football scholarships.

Nicholas Gibbons, a 6-foot-5, 290-pound offensive lineman, said he committed to Memphis over Boston College, Vanderbilt and Wake Forest.

Gibbons said it’s special being part of the senior class at the Stone Mountain school, which is a candidate to lead the nation with the most players signing major-college football scholarships in February.

“It’s crazy being around that many good players,” Gibbons said. “It’s a good thing; it only makes you better, being around that kind of competition. Every one pushes each other. There’s always competition.”

Gibbons has a 3.0 GPA and wants to study Computer Engineering.

Here’s a list of the other Stephenson 2012 players that have committed (click on each link to read about each):

Who is next? Stephenson is projected to end up with 14-17 players that will sign D1 scholarships.

RB TJ Moon has Southern Miss, Florida Atlanta and Memphis as his leaders, while DB Kristoff Ricks is considering Maryland, UConn and Middle Tennessee State. LB-TE Amos Harper is favoring Syracuse and Rice, and LB Kadeem Murray is being scouted by Western Kentucky.

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– By Michael Carvell, AJC Recruiting Blog Got a recruiting item? mcarvell@ajc.com

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100 comments Add your comment

True Biue

July 27th, 2011
9:45 am

Just saying, Marist won in 2003 , Tucker won in 2009 after so many years losing to Statesboro. It took SWD and Tucker a long time to put it together with less talent on their team to win a State Championship. I remember SWD being loaded with talent in the late 80s and early 90s but didn’t win a State Championship until Quincy Carter senior year. Then Tucker dominating in the late 90s and 2000 going undefeated in the regular season and not winning a State Championship until 2009 with a less talented team. Plus both of these school been open in Dekalb County a long time. Stephenson will be alright and make a run when everybody count them out.

AVikingFan

July 27th, 2011
10:14 am

Congrats to all the young men at Stephenson who have received scholarship offers. This just might be the year Stephenson wins it all and gets the monkey off their back about choking in the playoffs. But, except for a couple of years, the same thing could be said about Northside WR and even my Lowndes team the last few years. Great regular seasons and ousted in the playoffs by lower rated teams. I’d like to see Stephenson in the Corky Kell Classic vs NG, Grayson, Brookwood, etc. This year is looking like it’s going to be a whale of a season with some very good teams in the Greater Atlanta Area and over at Kingsland. Colquitt with some transfers is also shaping up and expected to be very good. So sorry to hear the coach has had a bout with cancer, but seems to be doing ok.

The Bridge

July 27th, 2011
10:22 am

@eastside eagles. That region title is coming thru stockbridge baby! Gonna be a great year. eastside, henry, stockbridge,sandycreek and a improved drew will be a great region. Cant wait.

we let you all slide last year because we were still down about choking to henry co. Gonna be diff this year. You do have a heck of a D-Line tho!

regarding stephenson, they actually were real close losing to I believe Valdosta uin semifinals back when the ball brothers and gartrells son played. lost on a last sec pas to teh endzone that was dropped.

Coach corey has a done a great job. And if they couldnt coach they wouldnt consistently be in the 1/4 and semi finals. Stop hating!

The Bridge!

$1.5 Billion Available

July 27th, 2011
10:38 am

FIRST – I am an avid football fan, played and started on a 11-1-1 and 10-2 team (jr and sr year, 44-5-1 overall, playoffs year in and year out) in high school my .and played basketball in college. And I love and support high school athletics.

That is for all of those who will come at this post because it isn’t about a state championship is the climax of life.

NCAA member Division I and II schools offer athletic scholarships in excess of more than $1.5 BILLION annually, yes $1.5 BILLION$ every year. And any community, coaching staff, booster club or high school athletic director and staff not actively trying to tap into this vast financial well is doing these kids who sacrifice so much a terrible disservice.

So all you programs that year in and year out surely Can AFFORD to have give as much back to these kids as these kids are giving to you — AND NOT JUST IN FOOTBALL

Eastside Eagle

July 27th, 2011
11:52 am

@The Bridge, i like you!! No trash talking, just good old fashioned “bring what you got” football!! Good Luck on your season, this region is up for grabs…BUT, ALL OF OUR PLAYERS ARE RETURNING!! lol! Man, are they hungry!

Eastside Eagle

July 27th, 2011
11:57 am

Oh yeah, @ The Bridge… “I” been had my eye on yall since yall played Alcovy! Great athetism out there

The Bridge

July 27th, 2011
12:05 pm

@eastside. You lost your QB…running game was ok. The D Line is a beast but that one LB is gone too.

We have 6 potential D1’s QB 6′2 220 most underrated Kid in metro…has clowned on every top QB at camps this summer. fullback 230, slot backs ridiculous.

If the recievers catch the ball this year…the offense is gonna be something fierce! Defense is fast to the ball. We had Sandy Creek last year with 5min to go and let it slip away. the kids didnt know how to finish. this yerar will be interesting.

AHHHHHH! I cant wait for some football!

AVikingFan

July 27th, 2011
12:27 pm

1.5 BILLION AVAILABLE — I’m not quite sure what you were trying to say. Do you mind running that by us again?

AVikingFan

July 27th, 2011
12:34 pm

The Bridge —- That would have been Lowndes that Stephenson lost to when the Ball Bros played in 2004 and 2005, not Valdosta. Don’t know what you mean by losing when “someone dropped a pass in the endzone”. Lowndes won in the dome semis in 2005 14-0 and the game wasn’t that close. In 2004 lowndes beat Stephenson 43-7 in the 1/4 finals.

Fred

July 27th, 2011
12:55 pm

With all due respect to Mr. Gibbons, just because you have a 3.0 doesn’t mean Tech will come calling. My daughter is in the process of applying to Tech so I see what their requirements are and how competitive it is to get in. A 3.0 in easier classes won’t do it. Again, this NOT directed at Mr. Gibbons as I have no idea how tough his classes were. I am only trying to point out to those that ask about Tech what *might* be happening. Given the image of a “dumb” football player, I think Mr. Gibbons has done quite well with a 3.0 and offers from multiple colleges and is to be congratulated as are ALL scholarship athletes!

Jefferson

July 27th, 2011
1:15 pm

Carver was loaded last year and Calhoun mowed em’ down like weeds, so it the team and the coaching that wins.

The Bridge

July 27th, 2011
1:23 pm

@viking fan…I may be wrong. I remember (i believe it was a playoff) and it was at halliford stadium, and it was a close game. I remember it coming down to a last min failed drive. It was reggie balls senior year, gartrell and another D1 kid was his recievers…I dont know…Mind is a bit foggy these days. lol

I do know The Bridge is back! LOL

The Bridge

July 27th, 2011
1:26 pm

actually the bridge has not had much of a history so lets say they will be “relevant’ in 2011

Atlsportsave

July 27th, 2011
1:39 pm

Congrats to Stephenson for putting together such a impressive group of young men.

Come over to http://www.atlantasportsavenue.com our forum is designed for the Metro Atlanta sports fan. Talk HS football day and night. Select FORUM from the home page.

Reality Bites

July 27th, 2011
3:09 pm

Comon Dekalb, pool ur kids (the best ones) into one school for football every year and the results are the same. For years it was SW Dekalb, they got it done ONCE. Now its Stephenson. Just remember this…….you will never, ever be better than Region 1AAAAA. Recruit all u want. If Valdosta (see MLK, SWD, Stpehenson) doesnt get ya, Lowndes County will.

Please Believe Me

July 27th, 2011
3:12 pm

Enough with the Stephenson bashing!!! Do u guys really have to throw them under the bus everytime an article is printed about them. Don’t you think by now that they know they haven’t won a state championship? I’m sure they have a goal just like any other team that plays high school football and that is to win state championships…. They arent the only team I’m Dekalb county or Ga that hasn’t won state. I’m proud of the job that the coaches at Stephenson are doing. They are churning out great players at record numbers… a state championship would be the icing on the cake…

Reggie Ball

July 27th, 2011
4:12 pm

Has any Stephenson kid done well on the next level or are the just workout wonders that put up great measurables?

Dawginit.

July 27th, 2011
6:05 pm

Fred,

Do you honestly think an athlete with a 3,0 wouldn’t get an offer from Tech? There are different rules for athletes than the common student.

Dawginit.

July 27th, 2011
6:15 pm

Reggie Ball,

Ray Sanders, Jermaine Cunningham, Kregg Lumpkin, TJ Gartrell, Reggie Ball, and Demario Minter have had successful careers after SHS.

bigdog58

July 27th, 2011
6:46 pm

I wish evrybody would get off the pot and give the young man credit. He has a college scholarship which will pay for his education and won’t cost his parents a thing. So what if Stephenson has not won a state title, its not about the school its about the kids. I wish him well and wished he had chosen Vandy along with the kids in the Atlanta area that choose to go there, but as I said its about a young man who has done what he needs to do to get in school free. Congradulation……………………….

JIMB

July 27th, 2011
7:03 pm

WOW, YOU GUYS ARE HARD ON THE COACH, MAYBE THEY WIN IT ALL, REMEMBER 22 ARE ON THE FIELD NOT 11. MAYBE THESE KIDS ARE ALREADY GONE TO COLLEGE OR THE KIDS ARE TOLD TO BE CAREFULL DON’T GET HURT IN HIGH SCHOOL. COACH CAN;T HELP THAT.

Reeze

July 27th, 2011
9:26 pm

To hell with a state championship if you can boast 11 D-1 recruits in the same graduating class….An amazing accomplishment itself, goes a lot further than bragging rights and a knuckle full of jewelry……Kudos to Stephensons coaching staff , Counselors and Teachers.Some schools don’t even have 11 D-1 recruits in one decade…… Stephenson may not have any championships , but it’s obvious the are Champions in the class room

SWD

July 27th, 2011
9:55 pm

Whats going on at MLK. My son wanted to transfer because of the passing offense. but when I found out the dues were 700.00 not including the passing leagues I was like hell to the no. 700.00 dollars to play football when the county pays for everything. come on MLK stop cheating your boys

OL Joe Harris commits to South Carolina over UGA and Clemson | AJC College Sports Recruiting

July 28th, 2011
12:02 am

[...] One Georgia HS has 11 seniors committed to play football at D1 schools (click on story link) [...]

True Biue

July 28th, 2011
1:29 am

When you put more money in transportation like 60.9 billion dollars than in education. You better start thinking scholarship , because the government is taking fund away for college and high schpop education.

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July 28th, 2011
1:31 am

[...] One Georgia HS has 11 seniors committed to play football at D1 schools (click on story link) [...]

rhall55

July 28th, 2011
9:01 am

Where is UGA in the mix for these kids? CRG @ Golden Corral; CMR doin a Ford Commercial and CKO comin off the lockout? Yes, UGA offered Rapheal Kirby, Jafar Mann, and Mike Davis but no takers; great kudos for gettin D Team last year but you did lose out on some top notch in-state talent: #1 LB: James Vaughters, #1 Weakside DE: Xavier Dickson, #2 Weakside DE: Stephon Tuitt, #2 LB: A J Johnson, #1 DT: Gabe Wright and #1 AP RB: Quan Bray!! This year’s in-state recruiting is taking big hits losing out on Geno Smith, Ricky Parks, JaQuay Williams. U Eligwe, Dillon Lee, and Kenyon Drake!! “You Snooze, You Lose”!! Losing out on too many LB’s and OL!!! U got to “Win, Baby, Win”!!

Please Believe Me

July 28th, 2011
10:38 am

SWD stop the madness…. Dekalb county doesn’t pay for anything. They actually take everything…. Schools in Dekalb are under funded. They need money for pre game meals, cleats, banquets, post game meals, workout gear, summer camps… Get ur info straight

Dawginit

July 28th, 2011
11:47 am

rhall55, You do realize that UGA can sign no more than 25 right?

Bleed red

July 28th, 2011
10:00 pm

Bet over half have are pushing 20 that’s how u get 11 D1s there men

Bleed red

July 28th, 2011
10:03 pm

Tot the mlk I dont know one county that pays for kid to play th average in th state is 600.00 you must be a free loader and some td clubs don’t put up with that

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July 29th, 2011
6:51 am

[...] One Georgia HS has 11 seniors committed to play football at D1 schools (click on story link) [...]

First Down CREEK!!!!!

July 29th, 2011
9:18 am

@EASTSIDE EAGLES I can’t wait for the season to begin. We have an unproven QB but a very good offensive line returning. Eastside held up well until their QB got injured so I am looking forward to this years game. According to Rivals, Sandy Creek will be ranked in the top 60 Nationally so I’m guessing our QB must be pretty good. Stockbridge comes to the Battlefield this year and that is going to be a great game as well!

Fan

July 29th, 2011
1:20 pm

Question for Stephenson Fans..How is the quarterback and DB’S situation coming along? Any idea who will be starting at QB?

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MARK DAVIS

August 31st, 2011
10:44 am

Stephenson is a school of elite players these kids are so talented because the dedication they have to their sport. I grew up around this area and the talent doesnt happen overnight it starts young pee wee young most of stephenson players been playing since they were 7 or 8 at central dekalb (little league). As far as winning state its soon to come stephenson is their own weakness. I guarantee you when schools such as MLK, Redan, SWD, Tucker, and Parkview see STEPHENSON on their schedule they become timid. QUOTE MARK DAVIS ON THIS STEPHENSON WILL WIN STATE THIS YEAR

wctube

October 11th, 2011
2:40 pm

As far as winning state its soon to come stephenson is their own weakness.
http://www.wctube.com/

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