Steve Spurrier picks up another Georgia recruit — LB David Johnson
Steve Spurrer has been on a hot streak in Georgia (AP)
Perhaps no out-of-state school recruited Georgia this past season as well as South Carolina.
Steve Spurrier signed 12 football recruits from Georgia this past February.
David Johnson, one of Atlanta’s top linebackers, became South Carolina’s third commitment for 2013 on Thursday, picking the Gamecocks over Auburn and Ole Miss, among others.
“South Carolina has done a really good job of recruiting me, I felt home there, and I fit well in the defensive scheme,” Johnson told the AJC.
“I’ve got friends that go there. I’m a fan of South Carolina because of John Abraham. I want to go to a school that wins and can go to BCS games … so I committed to South Carolina.”
The 6-foot-2, 245-pound Johnson will be the third Lithonia High School football star to sign with South Carolina in the last three years, following in the footsteps of OL Joe Harris and LB Cedrick Cooper. “We’re real close … we’re not brothers, but we tell everyone that we are,” Johnson said.
Johnson, who will be a hybrid position of defensive end and linebacker at South Carolina, has been thinking about committing to South Carolina for awhile. “I’ve been going back and forth about ‘Should I commit? Should I do it?’ They were my first offer, I like it there, and my friends are there. I just felt like it was the right time to go ahead and do it.”
LB David Johnson is part of Lithonia-to-South Carolina pipeline (AJC)
However, Johnson said while he is 100-percent committed to South Carolina, he will still visit other schools. He wants to check out Alabama, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, Auburn and UGA, among others.
“I was trying to wait to see if Alabama was going to offer,” Johnson said. “They have not offered but their coaches said they are still going to recruit me. It’s the same thing with Georgia. If they had offered me, then they would be right up there with the rest of them.
What if Alabama or UGA offers in the future? “I might change my mind, I might not. If I do de-commit, then I’m not going to commit again until signing day.”
LATEST RECRUITING HEADLINES
- Will Alabama sign BOTH of Georgia’s top football prospects?
- What if Alabama or UGA offer South Carolina’s newest commit??
- REWIND: DE serenaded by Mark Richt, beats Dabo Swinney in pool
- Nick Saban spends 90 minutes on Skype with UGA’s prized QB recruit
- What do UGA’s Mark Richt and Tech’s Paul Johnson do in May?
- REWIND: Auburn signee clarifies Alabama rumors, UGA flirtation
- Robert Nkemdiche: No. 1 prospect officially delays his college decision
- Nick Saban on his Georgia recruiting success: “Well, I still have a home in Georgia”
WHEN DOES FOOTBALL SEASON START?
- Mark Richt on his transfer policy: “Life is too short”
- Nick Saban FINALLY addresses Justin Taylor controversy, his Michael Jackson ball marker
- College football’s biggest names (Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, Jimbo Fisher) give their opinions on the impending four-team playoffs
- Will all 19 of UGA’s football signees meet NCAA entrance requirements?
- Georgia Tech coach has restrictions AGAINST transfer to UGA but …
- Who is the state’s best prospect at QB? (And Georgia is LOADED this year)
- Robert Nkemdiche: Did Ole Miss sign his brother to get consensus No. 1 prospect?
- Recruiting REWIND: RB Kenyan Drake reflects on Nick Saban, signing with Alabama over UGA & Tech
AJC’S INSTANT RECRUITING CLASSICS
- Jordan Jenkins: UGA-bound DE was “big fish that got away” from Nick Saban, Alabama
- Mark Richt and Paul Johnson: Sales pitches to the state’s loaded 2013 class of football recruits
- “The story that won’t go away” … Alabama’s grayshirt scandal
– By Michael Carvell, AJC Recruiting Blog
- So much is happening so fast. Have you missed anything over the last few days? Catch up with our feed by CLICKING HERE
- BOOKMARK the NEW AJC Recruiting homepage here
- Want to see a list of the top 125 prospects state of Georgia who signed with D1 schools? It’s looong. Go here.
Got an item? mcarvell@ajc.com
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152 comments Add your comment
Walker, Texas Ranger
May 10th, 2012
4:28 pm
This sounds like a pretty soft committment. I think it is real good of him to aknowledge that if he decommits he is not going to commint to anyone else before signing day. I’m betting he never makes it to Columbia
james
May 10th, 2012
4:31 pm
Hey USC 2003- Quit complaning about not getting to SECCG
last year. If you had beat Auburn at home you would have been
but you blew it so get over it– LSU would have crushed you all
as well. Play your schedule and shut your mouth…
Walker, Texas Ranger
May 10th, 2012
4:31 pm
A lot of good linebackers out there. Any word on the linebackers at Flowery Branch.
Mayretta Jacket
May 10th, 2012
4:32 pm
Maybe he committed to South Carolina based on their history of winning SEC championships? On wait, thats right, the Cocks have never won one SEC Championship. Talk about a program with a complete lack of history and tradition. SC is a joke that should have never been invited to the SEC
Mayretta Jacket
May 10th, 2012
4:33 pm
Georgia Tech has more SEC championships than South Carolina
Wes Mantooth
May 10th, 2012
4:35 pm
Lithonia is a garbage dump, no wonder these kids want to get as far away from there as possible
Jesus Christ
May 10th, 2012
4:51 pm
Dawg fans are idiots.
USC2003
May 10th, 2012
4:59 pm
James, just stating the FACT that you guys thrive on cupcake schedules… look forward to beating you AGAIN this year!
Game Changer
May 10th, 2012
4:59 pm
David Johnson is one hell of a player, not good that GA did not offer early and have him commit.
Frankly
May 10th, 2012
5:13 pm
The trolls in this thread are somewhat amusing but not as much as they think. Congrats to David J, I wish you success except when you line up against UGA, I hope you never win a single game against the Dawgs.
Paddy
May 10th, 2012
5:20 pm
Alphare…….last time I looked, it was a team sport not an NFL minor league team. Who cares about the NFL when we have our Dawgs?
Rick James
May 10th, 2012
6:02 pm
Very soft commitment..Dont talk smack yet Spurrier. I wonder if David has read that the number 2 prospect in next year’s NFL draft is a Georgia linebacker according to Mel Kipper.
A person SMART enough to know......
May 10th, 2012
6:12 pm
Soft Commit RICK JAMES? like you with the Down low bros? Or your women? Who were you the SOFT commit to? LOL
GFY
May 10th, 2012
6:12 pm
Super Freak:
I don’t think there is a whole lot of reading going on by most of these recruits unless it is about themselves……great screen name by the way.
Yellow Fellow
May 10th, 2012
6:16 pm
Where is my partner for the Tickle Pile? Smart enough to know? Can’t you find your way back over here?
Tossed Salad
May 10th, 2012
6:19 pm
SCjr is becoming the new Auburn – take the UGA rejects and strategically place chips on their shoulders. Not a kid in the world who won’t play extra hard against the home-state school that wouldn’t give him the time of day. It’s a model that works. Now, if the Cocks can go out and find a laptop stealing, money embezzling QB instead of a bonafide alcoholic they might actually be able to make a title run.
A person SMART enough to know......
May 10th, 2012
6:22 pm
Yellow Fellow you can’t find Rick James, TDF, Hard Truth Soldier, and Thomas brown to complete your PILE?
Gamecock in Va
May 10th, 2012
6:27 pm
Funny how all you dogs talk crap about how superior your team and recruiting is…. and then we beat you. Takes a bunch of big men to talk down to a HS student just because he commits to your rival’s school.
He’s a soft commit, he’s not rated (he is on some services but let’s not mention those), hes a UGA reject… you guys crack me up…
A person SMART enough to know......
May 10th, 2012
6:31 pm
Game in Va…………it is the UGa way. If they don’t get on him Early he sux. If they get n him Early Richt is Ahead of the game on a good player.
Kramer
May 10th, 2012
6:48 pm
Yeah Cock fans, this is a real solid commit. He will be at another school before he ever sets foot on a football field. Great job spurrier!
Kramer
May 10th, 2012
6:50 pm
Virginia cocky, you make all the points that UGA fans are about this kid. He will not be at your school when everything is said and done. Most likely Alabama since he is waiting for them to show interest. Nice pick up Va cocky, nice pick up.
Kramer
May 10th, 2012
6:52 pm
A person smart enough to know…please change your blog name to a person with little knowledge who does not know. Fits you way better.
A person SMART enough to know......
May 10th, 2012
6:53 pm
Adrian KRAMER making comments? You wore that outfit on ESPN and you are going to talk smack?
Kramer
May 10th, 2012
6:54 pm
If I am Adrian Kramer then you just got your Spurrier kicked by a woman. Nothing new for you, I’m sure.
A person SMART enough to know......
May 10th, 2012
6:59 pm
ADRIAN…………..you have use the term more than once on the bogs too. Don’t act like you don’t know the Phrase………..I’m smart enough…the kid is smart enough…____coach is smart enough! That is where the name comes from you pudding head.
Calhoundawg
May 10th, 2012
7:03 pm
When are you idiots gonna quit milking the “Georgia recruit” crap. Georgia, the largest state east of the Mississippi River, produces nine million high school football players each year. UGA has 4&5 star defensive lineman and linebackers coming out their ears. When is South Carolina going to win the SEC? Is Steve Spurrier on the hot seat? South Carolina gets all these players, and nobody knows what happens to them. Whatever … Go Dawgs !!!!
Score Check
May 10th, 2012
7:11 pm
Coach Sick Satan = SCUM
Tweak your knee and he leaves you twisting in the wind
BTW: Coach SOS is just a big jerk.
Flo-Ri-Duh
May 10th, 2012
7:13 pm
Don’t know how good this guy is but UGA, Bummer, etc. did not offer. Talking is not offering. S.C. wanted him. Good for him.
kingdaddy
May 10th, 2012
7:15 pm
Congradulations David, hit the books and enjoy Columbia…
A person SMART enough to know......
May 10th, 2012
7:17 pm
score check
Touch a Girl get kicked out of school—-Mettenburger.
Hit a Girl get a few game suspension—Commings.
Different world for Super Stars at UGa Huh?
RORY
May 10th, 2012
7:23 pm
UGA fans are sooo jealous that they hammer a GA recruit for going to another school. How pathetic! You guys should congratulate young players and help them become better people by showing support.
Pastor Richt can keep getting 5 STAR players and turning them into mediocre players. Richard Samuels, Caleb King, Neland Ball, Rashad Jones, Marlon Brown, Washaun Easley, Chris Burnette, Jalen Fields, Jakar Hamilton, Roderick Battle, Kregg Lumpkin, Paul Oliver, etc..
Flo-Ri-Duh
May 10th, 2012
7:27 pm
Duhhhhhhhhh! UGA only has about 25 – 30 scholarships available and they already have commits from 3 LB’s rated higher than this guy. Let’s see – should they chase after him or sign WHAT THEY NEED? The Gamecrocks don’t have enough SEC quality talent in S.C. to fill their needs since Clemson gets a lot of the top talent. They have to go out of state.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
May 10th, 2012
7:28 pm
no doubt UGA is pitiful and it’s documented! 1980 …Heck even BYU has won a NC since #34 left town. Jerry Jones didn’t think much of Mr. Walker did he.
Flo-Ri-Duh
May 10th, 2012
7:30 pm
RORY – did your mommy scold you today for being a dumb little boy at school? Quit whining …. it’s pathetic.
Flo-Ri-Duh
May 10th, 2012
7:31 pm
Wet Willie had another accident in his bed. Be ashamed.
Jadeveon Clowney
May 10th, 2012
7:36 pm
The Cocks own this state. I smell 4 in a row!! I will be all up in your boy Aaron Murray’s grill the whole game. Ya’ll gone need 4 extra games to get ready for the Kiddd!
cocks suck
May 10th, 2012
7:41 pm
Cockboy-nfl talent? lol-we have 3 x as many nfl players and 13 times as many sec titles and 6 times as many national titles-loser
MS. Bully
May 10th, 2012
7:41 pm
Why do UGA high school kids consider Ole Miss? Do they not see the 2-10 record from last year. I guess good looking women would make me consider Ole Mess, NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
yellowfever
May 10th, 2012
7:56 pm
sounds like he is really a firm commit. yeah right. these kids make me lmao. recruiting is for loser’s
RORY
May 10th, 2012
7:59 pm
cocks suck – Since UGA has 3 X as much NFL talent, explain why UGA hasn’t been able to beat SCAR for the last 2 years?
UGA was scared to face SCAR early so they fluffed up the schedule and pushed SCAR game out. Bunch of panzies!
Just say’in – talk is cheap. UGA lost to SCAR. UGA lost bowl game.
Gamecock in Va
May 10th, 2012
8:09 pm
For those of you who hold onto the past… could it be because you’ve got nothing to talk about in the present? You guys can keep getting all those 4 and 5 recruits… didn’t help you against us or even Michigan State… yeah… good job mighty puppies. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Merrow
May 10th, 2012
8:11 pm
Nappy headed.
Calhoundawg
May 10th, 2012
8:11 pm
Georgia leads the all-time series with South Carolina 46-14-2, including a 19-7-2 mark in Columbia. Under Richt, Georgia is 7-4 against Tennessee (as of 2011), 3-8 against Florida (as of 2011), 7-4 against Auburn (as of 2011), and 10-1 against Georgia Tech (as of 2011). In 2011, under Richt, Georgia defeated all four of these rivals in the same season for the first time since 1981.
Also, just for your ill-informed information, CMR is 7-4 against Steve Spurrier. Moron.
Gamecock in Va
May 10th, 2012
8:17 pm
All time series! Like that impacts me AT ALL… how about right now buddy. Maybe the year before that.
Good job beating Tenn, Florida, Auburn and GT… Doesn’t change the fact THAT YOU LOST to USC and couldn’t win your bowl game… but good job mentioning the teams you did beat. You must be so proud. With the influx of 4-5 star players you get, you should be able to beat all those guys again!
Mr. SEC
May 10th, 2012
8:20 pm
This kid is full of crap!
nice to take one from Auburn...
May 10th, 2012
8:43 pm
but he sounds like the most indecisive kid in town. meh.
Rick James
May 10th, 2012
8:44 pm
@A person SMART enough to know……
Soft Commit RICK JAMES? like you with the Down low bros? Or your women? Who were you the SOFT commit to? LOL
——————————-
Obviously some brother slept with your wife,daughter or girlfriend and you still have not gotten over it.I promise that it was not me.Either that or you’re just a babbling idiot.
A person SMART enough to know......
May 10th, 2012
8:49 pm
Rick J coming back Limp with the response. Go get some community organizer loving. He is OK with y’alls lifestyle publicly now. LOL Don’t forget the Katiamine.
smack
May 10th, 2012
9:14 pm
Beat Clemson 3 years in a row beat GA 2 years in a row…. We should be making some bad wine with all these SOUR GRAPES…
Fresh Spring
May 10th, 2012
9:15 pm
MAJOR MISTAKE ! THIS KID WAS JUST ARRESTED LAST WEEK FOR DUI AND COCAINE DRUG POSSESSION.