Around the South: 2012 SEC, ACC signings
Check back this afternoon when staff correspondent Andy Johnston provides a team-by-team recap of each ACC and SEC team, their top signings and the overall number of signings.
- Wide receiver JaQuay Williams and offensive tackle Will Adams both chose Auburn. Adams switched from Georgia Tech to Auburn and Williams stayed with Auburn after a flirtation with Georgia and coach Mark Richt. See Michael Carvell’s report on ajc.com about his visit with Williams on Tuesday night. At that time, Williams had indicated he was on the verge of choosing Georgia. Suddenly, he wouldn’t talk to Carvell. Now we know why.
- Don’t miss this post on Josh Harvey-Clemons and his recruitment by Georgia coach Mark Richt. Sports Illustrated has linked to the ajc.com post by Michael Carvell that is a hilarious look at what can happen in the recruiting process.
- Junior Gnonkonde of Lanier County, a 6-4 defensive end who was a longtime Georgia Tech commitment and whose offer was withdrawn over his test score, signed with North Carolina as did Buford linebacker Nathan Staub.
- South Carolina was a little slow on the draw releasing its Signing Day haul, but of the first six, four were from Georgia, including Chaz Elder of Banneker, Rico McWilliams of Lovejoy, T.J. Gurley of Cairo and T.J. Holloman of St. Pius.
- Kentucky signed six players, including five from Metro Atlanta. The high-profile signings included twin defensive backs Darron and Zack Blaylock, sons of former Hawks guard Mookie Blaylock, as well as running back Justin Taylor of North Atlanta. Taylor was a longtime Alabama commit who was told he was going to have to gray shirt and not enroll in Tuscaloosa till 2013. At that point, he changed his mind. Jordan Watson, a big offensive lineman from Whitewater High, and defensive back Fred Tiller of Clinch County as well as DeMarcus Sweat of Stephenson, a wide receiver, also cast their futures with the Wildcats. It was a top recruiting effort by Tee Martin, the former Tennessee quarterback, and former LaGrange High coach Steve Pardue, who are both on the Kentucky staff and recruit the state of Georgia.
- Dalvin Tomlinson of Henry County High appeared on Fox 5 WAGA and chose Alabama just before 9 a.m. The hats in front of him were Georgia, Alabama and Georgia Tech and he briefly paused at the Tech hat before putting the Crimson Tide lid on his head. For the longest time, it was thought that the Yellow Jackets were the leader.
- Kenderius Whitehead, a defensive end from M.L. King, ended up staying with N.C. State instead of switching to Clemson as was a possibility this morning. M.L. King has as many as eight Division I signees. Clemson has pitched a shutout in Georgia for one of the few times in memory. The state has always been a prime hunting ground for the Tigers.
- Florida got its first five signees of the day, including Alex McCallister, a former Georgia Tech target from Clemmons, N.C., and Bryan Cox Jr. of St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale. Cox is the son of the former Miami Dolphins linebacker.
- C.J. Moore, a cornerback from Buford, has signed with Virginia. He’s a 5-9, 180-pounder who knows what winning is about. He’s one of two Georgia signees for the Cavaliers. Coach Mike London got Greyson Lambert of Jesup to enroll early. He’s a 6-5 quarterback.
- Ricky Parks, a 6-foot-4, 240-pound tight end, of Callaway High, was one of three early signees for Auburn. Other Georgia players also signing with Auburn were Joshua Holsey of Creekside and Jonathan Jones of Carrollton, consider Georgia’s fastest recruit and a member of the AJC Super 11.
- Deion Bonner, a 5-11, 180-pound defensive back for Carver-Columbus is among three signees from Georgia this morning for Tennessee. Bonner was one of the players who was implicated in a Georgia locker room theft during a visit in Athens last summer. Also signing with the Vols was four-star wide receiver Jason Croom, 6-5, of Norcross. He caught 34 passes for 688 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior. He’ll be joined in Knoxville by Justin King of Dunwoody, a 6-3, 215-pound linebacker as Vols coach Derek Dooley continues his quest to get bigger, stronger players to compete in the SEC.
- Alvin Hill of Luella and Nick Brigham of Marist both got their letters of intent in to Maryland by 7:10 a.m. Hill is the brother of Virginia Tech defensive back Detrick Bonner. Hill committed to Maryland in June. He runs the 40 in 4.42 and told the AJC’s Michael Carvell in June that Maryland was surprised that he committed only two days after his visit. Brigham is a 6-3, 275-pound offensive guard.
- North Carolina got a raft of signings just after 7 a.m. including Kanler Coker of Flowery Branch, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound quarterback, who is one of six Metro Atlanta QBs who are expected to sign with Division I schools today. Coker originally committed to East Carolina but switched allegiances to new coach Larry Fedora, who came from Southern Mississippi. Another early UNC signing was Justin Thomason, a 6-4, 240-pound defensive end from Eagle’s Landing Christian.
- Clemson coach Dabo Swinney got off to a quick start with eight signings of players who enrolled early and it puts the Tigers in the top 10 in recruiting classes for some experts. Then at 7:04 a.m., he got his first signing of the day, quarterback Chad Kelly of St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute in Buffalo, N.Y. Kelly is the nephew of former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly. Chad Kelly became the first N.Y. high school players to pass for 3,000 yards in a season and rush for more than 1,000. For his state semifinal appearance, former Clemson running back C.J. Spiller of the Bills was in attendance. His signing gives the Tigers two quarterbacks on the roster with NFL bloodlines: backup quarterback Cole Stoudt is the son of the former Pittsburgh Steeler Cliff Stoudt.
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© 2012 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
110 comments Add your comment
Big Enos Burdette
February 1st, 2012
7:10 am
I’m ready to fax my commitment. What’s the number?
Bama Fan#2
February 1st, 2012
7:21 am
Ready for the the number 1 class in 2012!!!!!! RTR
BamaFan
February 1st, 2012
7:40 am
BF#2, I’m right there with you. Another #1 recruiting class for the @1 team in the nation! Roooooooll Tide!
Blackoutanyone?
February 1st, 2012
8:00 am
MC… thanks for all the hard work. Don’t agree with you all the time but I do appreciate the effor you put in.
Bama fans it’s being rumored that Philon may not sign today. Other boards are saying he is nervous about the talented DL we may bring in today. So we’ll see how it plays out. ROLL TIDE!!!!!!!!!
tom
February 1st, 2012
8:14 am
Hey Big Enos, do you have on your 64 extra fat suit?
Crimson Crush
February 1st, 2012
8:25 am
You saw the Kirven pickup already Blackout ?
Fleischman in Chi Towns Bed
February 1st, 2012
8:26 am
@DawginLex @Braniac……. where you at boys???? COME OUT COME OUT WHERE EVER YOU ARE
Rambunz
February 1st, 2012
8:33 am
Who cares?
Crimson Crush
February 1st, 2012
8:33 am
Other boards are saying he is nervous about the talented DL we may bring in today. So we’ll see how it plays out.
====================================================================
You should already know how it will play out if he shows signs of dallying very long at all .
Rambunz
February 1st, 2012
8:38 am
This is the day when high school students who will barely graduate choose a college from which they will not graduate.
Blackoutanyone?
February 1st, 2012
8:41 am
4* DL Korren Kirven just signed with Bama…. very big pickup and a huge surprise
Blackoutanyone?
February 1st, 2012
8:44 am
Crimson Crush… I’m working so I’m a little out of the loop. There was a guy on here a week ago who claimed to be Kirven’s neighbor. He said Kirven and Eddie Goldman were good friends and had decided to play football together at Bama. I told him Goldman was down to Aubarn and FSU. He said those were the teams he favored in public but in private he was rolling with the Tide. So we shall see..
Crimson Crush
February 1st, 2012
8:45 am
Kirven already sent his in … that was what I was referring to
bammer
February 1st, 2012
8:48 am
Geno Smith, Korren Kirven and Alec Morris so far
bammer
February 1st, 2012
8:53 am
Justin Taylor signed with Kentucky.
bammer
February 1st, 2012
8:53 am
Maybe now the Pups will give it a rest on that one.
bammer
February 1st, 2012
8:56 am
Dalvin Tomlinson to Bama!
Dawg011
February 1st, 2012
9:00 am
I think the Head Football Coach from Hillgrove High School should be ashamed of himself for not helping those Senior players that finished 11-1 in getting in school. Those young men worked hard and are very good Student-Athletes, they have great character and any school that needs some quality players, Hillgrove is waiting! Keep ur heads up young men!
gt45
February 1st, 2012
9:04 am
Sure could have used him
cajdawg
February 1st, 2012
9:05 am
Tomlinson to Bama. What a travesty. 3.9 GPA with offers to Harvard and GT. What a poor life decision.
GO DAWGS
February 1st, 2012
9:05 am
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/290172/20120131/anna-watson-strongest-female-cheerleader-muscles-georgia.htm
David C
February 1st, 2012
9:06 am
Roll Tide also picked up another 4-Star DT out of Virginia. The Rich get Richer.
bammer
February 1st, 2012
9:07 am
Looks like you guys could learn a thing or two from her in your S&C program.
Fleischman in Chi Towns Bed
February 1st, 2012
9:08 am
ANOTHER WIN FOR ALABAMA!
@cajdawg Get a life, your obviously a winner… criticizing a teenager on a chat board.
FJ10
February 1st, 2012
9:08 am
Anyone who has already made his mind up a week before and then makes their choice on TV, well I don’t want on my team anyway….even if he picked Tech that whole pompous, look at me act rubs me the wrong way.
Blackoutanyone?
February 1st, 2012
9:09 am
Crimson Crush… Thanks for the update. I saw your post after I posted. I think Bama is done now that we have Tomlinson and Kirven. Great class… one that will win multiple championships at Bama.
bammer
February 1st, 2012
9:09 am
Suuuuuuuure you didn’t want him. Pathetic.
Fleischman in Chi Towns Bed
February 1st, 2012
9:12 am
When will Carver the AJC homer post another story about the poor kid who Saban wouldn’t give a scholarship to??? He signed with Kentucky. Come on Mikey… type faster on your UGA blackberry!
Bill
February 1st, 2012
9:12 am
Congratulations to D. Tomlinson on his choice and hopefully he does well. But show a little class, you committed early to Tech, it’s fine your choose Ala., but why do you have to pull the trick by pausing at the Tech hat before moving on. Tech showed class in choosing you early, just go about your business and be classy as well. Good luck in the future.
Whataloser
February 1st, 2012
9:12 am
He should feel right at home in alabame as ugly as he is. Jeeez.
Sl
February 1st, 2012
9:14 am
Congrats and best of luck to Dalvin Tomlinson!!! Great choice and Roll Tide!!!
Whataloser
February 1st, 2012
9:14 am
All you bama hicks need to return to the blogs on that little newspaper u have. This is the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
RTR22
February 1st, 2012
9:14 am
Blackoutanyone? Good info and if you are worried about competition UA is not the place. Roll Tide
and Kirven is from Brookeville High in Lynchburg, Va. I taught and coached fb there for one year 30 yrs ago lol…..
01HAWK
February 1st, 2012
9:14 am
7 kids from GEORGIA have signed with KENTUCKY including MOOKIE BLAYLOCK’S twin sons.
Blackoutanyone?
February 1st, 2012
9:15 am
Good luck to Justin Taylor at Kentucky.
01HAWK
February 1st, 2012
9:15 am
Whataloser ……………………This is a free country. I will post anywhere I darn want to.
Blackoutanyone?
February 1st, 2012
9:16 am
Saban live on ESPNU at 8:20 central.
bammer
February 1st, 2012
9:16 am
Whataloser fits you well. Check the title of the blog. You leghumpers and bumblebees have your VERY OWN blog set up just for your jealous whining and bickering. Now…back to your pack and play.
RTR22
February 1st, 2012
9:17 am
Whataloser, are you describing yourself….get a life and enough of the personal attacks….JEEEZ
bammer
February 1st, 2012
9:17 am
Eddie Williams LOI is in.
GT Dad
February 1st, 2012
9:17 am
Sad about Dalvin picking AL but not surprised. Realize these guys have majore decisions at a young age, but to have been considering GT for so long and then pull the hat trick is a slap in the face.
I do wish him well, but wish he would be have more of a stand up guy and treated GT with respect.
White Jeezus
February 1st, 2012
9:21 am
They have a name for the winners in the world. . .
Rambunz
February 1st, 2012
9:21 am
High school players with above average IQs choose Big Ten and Pac 12 schools. Those with average IQs choose ACC and Big 12 schools. The remainder go to the SEC.
bammer
February 1st, 2012
9:22 am
Thanks Rambunz…feel better. Now go EABOD.
old gold and white in my veins
February 1st, 2012
9:23 am
Hated to see Dalvin pull the Bama hat off the table. Everything we’ve been told about this kid was that he was very low key, no drama and then he pulls the whole reaches for the Tech hat move, before actually picking the Bama hat. Hard to not take that personal. Still wish him luck, and hope that Saban does not sign someone later today that he likes better than Dalvin. Hate to see him end up with Saban’s signature on a cocktail napkin as opposed to a real scholarship.
Walker
February 1st, 2012
9:24 am
Dalvin shows no loyalty to his State. Should be proud to be a Jacket or Dawg. What a shame he will not be followed by his friends in this state.
Flo-Ri-Duh
February 1st, 2012
9:27 am
Funny how Lucius could not find a scholarship for Taylor but saves one for Tomlinson. Oversigning continues.
Nothing Could Be Finer
February 1st, 2012
9:27 am
Stephenson High School is Gamecock Central today!
Crimson Crush
February 1st, 2012
9:27 am
Actually Walker … the class for 2013 is already shaping up to be a fat crop of the TOP Jawja players
bammer
February 1st, 2012
9:27 am
UGA and TECH fans are awfully whiny.