What did Georgia Tech’s No. 1 football recruit think about his visit to Auburn?
Loading ...Georgia Tech’s No. 1 football recruit said he remains committed to the Yellow Jackets after visiting Auburn over the weekend.
“I enjoyed Auburn but my jacket stays yellow … I’m committed to Georgia Tech,” Francis Kallon told the AJC.
Kallon is a 6-foot-6, 250-pound defensive end from Central Gwinnett High School who is in his first year of playing organized football after moving from London, England. He committed to Georgia Tech last spring, and had only been to Tech games this fall before going to see Auburn this past weekend.
“It was a really, really good game at Auburn,” Kallon said. “Auburn was big. It was very big. It was a lot of stuff to take in. It was a lot of stuff to take in at once. It was like a sea of orange.”
“I met Auburn’s coach [Gene Chizik]. He said he was amazed at my tape. He was happy I was there and that I could see what Auburn had to offer. He didn’t try to pressure me or everything [to consider Auburn]. He said everything speaks for itself at Auburn.”
Kallon’s parents wanted him to visit other schools to have something to compare to Georgia Tech. How did Auburn compare to Georgia Tech? “It was really grand and big,” Kallon said in his British accent. “It was actually like a show. They had fireworks. It was a lively atmosphere. Georgia Tech has a lively atmosphere, too, but Auburn was like on a larger scale.”
Which atmosphere did Kallon like better? Auburn or Georgia Tech? “They both have their differences. I wouldn’t say I liked either one more than the other. I like both of them. Auburn kind of blew my mind. I was kind of drinking everything in. It was big.”
Georgia Tech DE commit Francis Kallon of Central Gwinnett High School (AJC photo by Michael Carvell)
What’s next for Kallon? He may make an unofficial visit to Tennessee this weekend. Tennessee and Auburn both made recent offers to Kallon, while many other colleges – including both UGA and Alabama – have invited him to games. Kallon has nothing planned after this weekend. “I will have to see how my schedule works out.”
What about Georgia Tech? Kallon said he had a lengthy conversation with coach Paul Johnson last week. “We talked about how everything was going with football. It was a nice conversation. I really like Coach Johnson.”
Kallon said the topic of making unofficial visits to other schools wasn’t discussed. “It never came up. Coach Johnson knows I’m not taking official visits. He knows I’m just going to games. If I took official visits when I was committed to Georgia Tech, then that would be a problem. I’m not doing that.”
Kallon is a rising star in the recruiting world. He earned a dozen scholarship offers after only two weeks of spring practice, committing to Georgia Tech in June. Kallon was recently bumped up to a 4-star recruit by both Scout.com and ESPN.
UGA 5-star OL commit John Theus will make an official visit to Notre Dame this weekend
- Meanwhile, UGA’s No. 1 recruit, 5-star offensive lineman John Theus of Jacksonville, will make an official visit to Notre Dame this weekend. Theus has said he is committed to UGA “as long as [Mark Richt] is there.”
- Now it’s YOUR turn. What do you think about prospects that are committed to one school and visiting other schools? And, more importantly, is there any difference between Theus taking an official visit to Notre Dame and Kallon taking an unofficial visit to Auburn? Or is it the same thing? Please post below.
THE DAY’S RECRUITING NEWS
- Mt. Pisgah Christian QB Kyle Sloter committed to Tulane on Monday afternoon. Tulane was the only D1 offer for the 6-foot-5 Sloter, who was a “late bloomer” as a college prospect. There were several other schools, including Arkansas, interested in Sloter. “I went up to the UTEP game and they got beat pretty bad but I felt like they could be a good team and that I would have a chance for early playing time,” Sloter told the AJC. “I loved the campus and the academics, and the coaches treated me very well. I felt comfortable and, at the end of the visit, committed because I felt like they wanted me because I was a good player and not because another school wanted me like so many colleges do.”
- Robert Carter talks about his official visit to UGA, along with upcoming trips to Florida State, Florida and Georgia Tech (click on story link)
- Top Auburn football recruit plans visits to FSU, LSU … and maybe UGA (click on story link)
- Brother of Notre Dame star waiting for first offer (click on story link)
- Georgia’s top 2013 prospects to be featured in all-star game on Dec. 30 (click on story link)
– By Michael Carvell, AJC Recruiting Blog
Got an item? mcarvell@ajc.com
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- Have you missed anything over the last few days? Catch up with our feed of the LATEST RECRUITING NEWS
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76 comments Add your comment
Worm
October 17th, 2011
1:10 pm
You’re not really “engaged” if you’re still seeing other Women!
Gtgreg
October 17th, 2011
1:16 pm
He seems like a kid with his head on straight (read: more impressed by quality of education than by fireworks and helicopters). Glad he’s committed to Tech! Go jackets!
A Distinction w/out a Difference
October 17th, 2011
1:20 pm
Nice, now it is “official” visits that will get the offer pulled. I love the moving lines in the sand when it is a legitmate prospect who would not be bullied by Johnson’s nonsense.
Don’t worry honey…..I spend the weekend with another woman, but we are not “officially” dating.
JD
October 17th, 2011
1:29 pm
At least Theus is making an official visit to ND. Guess Richt had him do it and make the statement that he would come to GA as long as Richt stayed.
distinction is a tool
October 17th, 2011
1:31 pm
ADD- sounds like you deal with that daily. Once again, let’s explain so the morons know the difference. It’s not a hard and set policy. It’s if you lie about going on a visit and say that you didn’t go when you actually did – ALA- Aycock..
Do I need to speak slower ADD boy or do you finally understand it now?
davidinloganville
October 17th, 2011
1:53 pm
right JD Coach Richt is using a high school kid to leverage his job you obviously know nothing of the MAN.
Ramblin Man
October 17th, 2011
1:54 pm
Um why is it that Rivals reporter Eric Thompson reports that Kallon was unimpressed and did not really enjoy his visit and by reading Carvell’s report one would think he enjoyed it?
Dawg PAT
October 17th, 2011
2:00 pm
@Rambling Man, is that a serious question? Or are you drinking the Kool Aid? NO ONE with a brain takes those “fan websites” seriously. They are just propaganda for the school they “cover.”
GT Jason
October 17th, 2011
2:01 pm
It has never been the making visits to other schools that has gotten an offer pulled and I really wish people would know a little information before they act like they know everything. Everyone is allowed to keep visiting other schools as long as they let the GT coaching staff know what they are doing beforehand. It has been like that since day 1 and the recruits that lost their offers lost them because they let GT know afterward or GT found out from others that they visited another school.
GT Jason
October 17th, 2011
2:03 pm
I’ll believe he’s coming when he signs on the dotted line in February. I’m just waiting for a Stanford to come in here and offer him a free education. The name game is really important to everyone but even more so internationally and I guarantee you more people in England know more about Stanford than GT. He may not be the best recruit in the state of GA but definitely has the most upside out of anyone.
GT Insider
October 17th, 2011
2:11 pm
GT Jason has it right.
It has never been Paul Johnson’s rule on this that kids can’t go to other games on their power and with a little heads up.
It’s the official visits that Paul Johnson has a problem with. He’s always treated it the same way.
The only two recruits to lose their scholly for this rule was Trey Flowers and the kid that failed at Auburn and at UCF.
UGA fans get on here and act like they know it all, but really they don’t. They like to call Paul Johnson a bully and stuff, but in fact they need to look at their own thuggish team (Geather decking players) and their thuggish coaches (Grantham with his anger management issues).
I’ll bet Dallas was glad to see him go.
Ramblin Man
October 17th, 2011
2:21 pm
He has been offered by Stanford according to Rivals. Also GT is ranked #24 on an international rating of schools so I believe people from across the pond have heard of and respect the education one can get there.
annapolisdawg
October 17th, 2011
2:48 pm
@RamblinMan: Toughen up dude; we’re discussing football not a science fair!
david
October 17th, 2011
2:51 pm
He needs to go to Auburn ! He will have a great time and get a good education at a great school.
There is really no comparrision to playing at AU in the SEC ….compared to playing at G.T. in the ACC. Yikes.
Now if G.T. could get in the SEC, I would change my mind.
GIVE ME A BREAK
October 17th, 2011
2:51 pm
When he committs it should mean hands off. This could be stopped if athletes could sign when they committ.
beachdog
October 17th, 2011
2:57 pm
@RamblinMan
Calling bull manure, here’s a direct quote from Coach ManBoobs.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————–
In recent weeks, however, Jackson gained interest from Florida State and three-star prospect decided to take an official visit to Tallahassee.
It was at that point that Johnson decided to pull Jackson’s scholarship offer.
“If you say you’re committed to Georgia Tech and you’re still visiting people, then in my mind, you’re not committed to Georgia Tech,” Johnson told the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “Now that also clarifies the other aspect of it. If people who are committed to other schools are visiting here, then in my mind they really aren’t committed to other schools.”
Michael Carvell
October 17th, 2011
3:10 pm
@Beachdog, that is a direct quote from Paul Johnson but you have to understand the context with which it was said. He was talking about a recruit committed to Georgia Tech who was taking official visits to other schools within … a few weeks of national signing day. Not kids taking unofficial visits in October.
Dumbo
October 17th, 2011
3:14 pm
GT Insider…you and ManBoobs are both full of crap….I say what’s good for goose is good for the gander….ManBoobs Johnson says if you’re committed to Tech then you can’t talk or visit other schools, but ManBoobs has no problem trying to pry some other schools committed recruits away for Tech…that dear Yellow Slime is the zenith of hyprocrisy.
Still@theBAR
October 17th, 2011
3:21 pm
annapolisdawg
And I don’t see you being a rel Navy man and a Dawg too. Somebody smart wouldn’t want to a fan of Drunk rednecks.
Dumbo
October 17th, 2011
3:23 pm
Still@theBAR….must be a DORK hanging out at Swinging’ Richards I bet!
Ramblin Man
October 17th, 2011
3:40 pm
Annapolisdawg, I was simply pointing out to GT Jason that Stanford was already in the picture and that GT is better known worldwide than most would think.
Beachdog,
Not sure why you are calling bull manure then talking about the old commit/visit CPJ debate as I did not bring that up.
Ramblin Man
October 17th, 2011
3:44 pm
Dumbo please educate yourself before speaking. Both of the recruits that had the offer pulled took last minute visits and left GT no time to find a replacement. CPJ is not the only coach that does this.
the teacher
October 17th, 2011
3:51 pm
Michael,
I like your blog and think you are trying to keep comments in a professional manner. Is Man Boobs really the way you want to allow bloggers to talk about a coach at any program. I really wish you could clean up or ban these comments. My high school aged son also reads your blog (He goes to Central Gwinnett). I just think even the trolls should show some class. I realize this is difficult for Dawgs to understand, especially the way so many are defending Georgia DC Grantham out of control confrontation.
Bill
October 17th, 2011
4:10 pm
I guess he doesn’t like playing in a full stadium. Since he is large he isn’t worried about the recent attacks on campus. Likes losing to the likes of Virginia. Other than that a great decision. Ask him after the Clemson game how he feels.
Blackoutanyone?
October 17th, 2011
4:11 pm
Aub’s circus atmosphere…“It was really grand and big,” Kallon said in his British accent. “It was actually like a show. They had fireworks. It was a lively atmosphere.” They even had a big nose clown coaching the team. Only thing missing was an SEC caliber football team. Good decision by this young man. The fambly’s lies didn’t work on this one. Roll Tide
wes
October 17th, 2011
4:14 pm
Everyone has beef with coach Johnson’s ways of coaching and recruiting.
And CPJ still doesn’t give a sh*t. LOL
Supersize that order, mutt
October 17th, 2011
4:16 pm
Michael,
I agree with “the teacher.” The use of terms like “Man Boobs” is not only inappropriate, but it is offensive. Ken Suguira now blocks all posts using that term on his blogs. You should consider doing the same.
dentaldawg
October 17th, 2011
4:21 pm
Paul Johnson is a turkey neck and a hyprocite! He is a GREAT coach. Oh wait, do GREAT coaches lose to lowly UVA?
Nate the Great
October 17th, 2011
4:24 pm
@the teacher: Do you overly protect your high school son so badly that he can’t even read the words ManBoobs? Is it ok for yellow jackets to degrade a coach because of religious beliefs?
Tech fans are 10x the trolls on UGA blogs. It isn’t classless to point out a fact.
Fact: Paul “fish fry” Johnson has manboobs or moobs for short. So you go and tell your son that the coach his loser of a father likes has moobs!!
NEEERDS. Stew on that class you moron!!!
Supersize that order, mutt
October 17th, 2011
4:24 pm
Talk about hypocrites….Mark Richt not only has no control over his players, he has no control over that thug “choke” Grantham, an embarrassment to the game of college football. And don’t claim he was just standing up for his players. Screaming at another coach is an obvious display of a man totally out of control.
Nate the Great
October 17th, 2011
4:25 pm
Man boobs
Supersize that order, mutt
October 17th, 2011
4:25 pm
Nate, have you seen CPJ without a shirt on? Are you that obsessed with other men?
Supersize that order, mutt
October 17th, 2011
4:27 pm
I guess “choke” was po’d that his might defense (HA!!!) gave up more points and yards to Vandy than any other team the Commodores have faced yet this season.
dentaldawg
October 17th, 2011
4:30 pm
Hey Stuporsize, didn’t paul johnson suggest tech fans punch UGA fans in the face? Now THAT’s a coach outta control.
Nate the Great
October 17th, 2011
4:34 pm
Since tech fans are too sensative for man boobs to be used, lets all just use “moobs” instead. That way we can still use descriptive adjectives for the physical apperance of their coach and it doesn’t affend them that we call him a FAT TUB OF LARD!!!
Is this how you Techies were raised? Don’t handle anything yourself, rather go be a tattle tell and never actually stick up for yourself. Tech Fan “Don’t call me that or else I’ll tell the teacher!! I’m too much of a b*tch to stick up for myself”
PS I actually like old Moobs and probably would be more open to his success if the techies weren’t such d-bag fans!!!
Supersize that order, mutt
October 17th, 2011
4:34 pm
dentaldawg, obviously you don’t know the difference between silly comments like that, which nobody but the stupidest mutts took seriously, and a coach TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL on TV. Boy, that’s an image you can really be proud of, isn’t it?
Supersize that order, mutt
October 17th, 2011
4:36 pm
Well, Nate, you just go on fantasizing about the anatomies of other men, if that’s what turns you on. I bet you really drool over Richt’s slicked down hair too, don’t you?
Old timer
October 17th, 2011
4:37 pm
@Ramblin Man
You’re full of it. Why don’t you retreat to Jackets Online and hang out with all 2 of your buddies there? Go finish your science project.
Moobs Johnson
October 17th, 2011
4:46 pm
Y’all need to shut the heck up. Everyone knows my visit policy is only for the many one and two star kids that Tech takes to fill the numbers. I can be tough on them because they are a dime a dozen. If we get lucky with a real prospect who for whatever reason commits to Tech, he is allowed to visit with no repercussions. SO shut up or I’ll punch you in the face.
JD
October 17th, 2011
4:49 pm
Hey Davidinloganville, it was sarcasm, sorry you actually took it seriously.
dentaldawg
October 17th, 2011
5:04 pm
I think PJ was the coach outta control on Saturday. He couldn’t control his overrated team gettin smacked by a team that Idaho State took to overtime! You lost to Virginia! LOLOLOL. That’s gotta sting Stupor, it’s reallllly gotta hurt sooo bad! Kinda like you gettin passed over for that promotion from fry cook to dish washer.
Wrecker
October 17th, 2011
5:21 pm
Michael: Can we ban the posters/comments of those bloggers who feel the need to bring up Atlanta crimes when discussing football? Talking smack is fine, but using the victims of crimes to prove your point is insensitive and inappropriate, not to mention tacky.
Ramblin Man
October 17th, 2011
5:27 pm
Might want to check the ratings on the two kids he pulled the offer on before making yourself look even dumber. If Kallon said it was not that impressive why do you have a problem with that or me asking the question? Sorry I struck such a nerve, would you like me to get you a passy and blanket so you can take a nap now?
NOVAJacket
October 17th, 2011
5:29 pm
Why don’t you get the quote from Kallon correct. He said he thought that Auburn was too big, and was more comfortable with the size of Tech.
Slap
October 17th, 2011
5:54 pm
I don’t understand why UGA fans make fun of Johnson’s body shape. Have you guys noticed Grantham?
slydog
October 17th, 2011
5:57 pm
GT vs Stanford… Please!!!! School pride is one thing, being realistic is another. #24 on some arbitrary international list made up for and by “elitist” academicians and marketers? Stop it. GT is an EXCEPTIONAL SCHOOL but does not possess Ivy League quality, depth, or pedigree.
Foothills
October 17th, 2011
6:02 pm
O.K. I’ll talk slowly. I.I.R.C., Aycock tells CPJ that he’s coming to GT. CPJ quits recruiting QB’s for that class. CALLS THEM AND TELLS THEM TO LOOK ELSEWHERE! The weekend before nat. signing day the coaches find out he’s going to AU for visit. The coaches didn’t hear this from Aycock. CPJ calls and tells him not to go and if he does the scholly will be pulled. Aycock is advised by a relative that his future in the league is as rb and to go to AU. Once again…the weekend before nat. signing day. The O.T. from Jesup was a similar situation. Committed-CPJ DOES NOT GO AFTER ADDITIONAL OL-2 weekends before n.s.d. coaches find out (not from the player) he plans on sleeping with F$U. I realize this is a long post-maybe some of you leghumpers can get someone to explain it to you. Nice job of flaming the fire Michael. Feel free to correct me if i’m wrong on any of this.
wolfman
October 17th, 2011
6:11 pm
@David… And there is NO comparison between a AUBURN education and a GT education. Check the school rankings!!!
Michael Carvell
October 17th, 2011
7:03 pm
@NOVAJacket, thanks for your comment. I did get all of my quotes from Kallon correct. Whatever is reported by other websites is reported by other websites. Francis did not say that to me.
Paul N Destin
October 17th, 2011
7:36 pm
Bobby Lowder doesn’t give receipts.