Archive for June, 2012

Did Isaiah Crowell make the wrong decision by going to UGA rather than Alabama?

That’s a nuclear topic that was examined and debated by the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer’s Stephanie Pedersen that you can read by clicking here

Some of Pederson’s points:

*When the Bulldogs were recruiting Crowell, the entire fan base looked at him as the savior of that program. Some even said Richt’s job depended on it. Alabama didn’t have those types of expectations. Crowell could have been one of many stars in the Tide’s backfield.

*Crowell drew the ire of his Georgia teammates early with a lazy work ethic. They wouldn’t come out and say it, but they alluded to it all last summer. Laziness doesn’t win championships. If he had that work ethic at Alabama, he already would be at Jacksonville State.

Again, click here to read Pederson’s full commentary and then feel free to come back and discuss here.

– By AJC Sports

Continue reading Did Isaiah Crowell make wrong decision by going to UGA over Alabama? »

UGA made the cut (247sports)

Vonn Bell, who is ranked as one of the nation’s top 20 overall college football prospects by at least one recruiting service, released his seven finalists on Saturday:

• Tennessee
• UGA
• Alabama
• Texas
• Vanderbilt
• Clemson
• Ohio State

The 6-foot-1, 180-pound safety from Ridgeland High School will trim his list down to two schools by Sept. 3.

He will likely make his final decision by the end of his senior season at Ridgeland.

“It was just time to clear up the water some … when you’ve got 30-40 offers, you’ve got to narrow it down sometime,” Ridgeland coach Mark Mariakis told the AJC.

“Vonn’s goal is to have it down to two by Labor Day. I don’t think it will be one of those signing day things. I think he’ll catch some ballgames at [his two finalists] and then make a final decision after that.”

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• Will Isaiah …

Continue reading Vonn Bell: UGA makes the cut for All-America safety »

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How will Isaiah Crowell’s dismissal affect UGA’s chances of signing Derrick Henry?

Henry is the 5-star RB who de-committed from UGA earlier this month after being pledged to the Bulldogs for nearly a year. He decided to re-open his recruitment because he felt like he rushed his decision but emphasized that he is still considering UGA.

On Friday, Henry was made aware of Crowell’s arrest on Twitter, and he responded by taking up for Crowell, saying:

“Pray for Crowell instead of bashing him. Because everyone wasn’t raised the same nor made .. So everyone should just pray he sees a better way.”

Later on Friday morning (before Crowell was dismissed), Henry was interviewed on Birmingham’s 97.3FM or SmashMouth Radio. Here are some of the highlights:

• On hearing from UGA since Crowell’s charges: “I haven’t gotten any calls from …

Continue reading How will Isaiah Crowell’s dismissal affect UGA’s chances with 5-star RB Derrick Henry? »

After visiting Clemson on Thursday, Justin Akins decided to commit to Georgia Tech.

The 6-foot-4, 245-pound defensive end from Jackson High School picked Georgia Tech over football scholarship offers from Clemson and NC State.

DE Justin Akins of Jackson HS

The Yellow Jackets now have 10 commitments with 2013 – after DB John Marvin also committed on Thursday.

“I went to Clemson [on Thursday], looked around the campus and talked to the coaches,” Akins said. “Clemson was the last school on my list that I wanted to visit. After visiting there, I just knew Georgia Tech felt right so I made my decision.”

Why Georgia Tech? “The education, it’s in my home state, the football tradition there, and I want to represent Georgia Tech in a positive way.”

Akins admitted the recent commitment of Grayson DE Robert Nkemdiche to Clemson might’ve affected his feelings about the Tigers. “It actually did. I just felt like Clemson got the guy they wanted and I needed to move …

Continue reading Justin Akins: 3-star DE picks Tech over Clemson and NC State »

Remember that Georgia Tech football scholarship that DB John Marvin earned at camp a couple of weeks ago?

He cashed it in Thursday.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder from Fort Walton Beach, Fla., committed to Georgia Tech over South Florida and Louisville. He also claimed offers from Kentucky, Maryland and Central Florida, among  others.

DB John Marvin (247sports)

“I just felt like the time was right,” Marvin told the AJC. “I wanted to end everything [with recruiting]. I’ve been wanting to commit since I left camp. I fell in love with the place when I was there.”

Why Tech? “I have a good relationship with the coaches, Atlanta is a good location, Georgia Tech has good academics … plus they play in the ACC.”

Most of Marvin’s film is at safety. At camp, the Georgia Tech coaches want to see what he could  do at cornerback. Marvin was impressive enough to earn an offer, which was eventually accepted. Marvin has a 3.2 GPA and will study Business.

Georgia Tech now has 10 …

Continue reading Florida DB accepts Tech offer earned at summer camp »

DE Carl Lawson will take five official visits, despite being committed to Auburn (AJC)

UGA and Georgia Tech fans seems to be far more disappointed to see the state’s top two prospects, DE Robert Nkemdiche (committed to Clemson) and LB Reuben Foster (committed to Alabama), pick out-of-state schools than seeing DE Carl Lawson do the same (committed to Auburn).

The 6-foot-2, 250-pounder from Milton High School has sort of flown under the radar, if that’s possible while being ranked No. 5 overall by ESPN.

At a recent all-star combine with the nation’s top prospects, Rivals recruiting analyst Mike Farrell proclaimed Lawson as the most dominant overall player at the first day of camp and said it would be “not crazy” if Lawson challenged Nkemdiche’s spot at No. 1.

That’s some mind-boggling praise for Lawson, who did not have any early football scholarship offers last December before blowing people away at the RisingSeniors.com all-star game.

“I guess I’m considered …

Continue reading Carl Lawson: 5-star DE on why he never really considered Georgia Tech or UGA »

QB Nick Schuessler (AJC)

QB Nick Schuessler, who led Grayson High School to the Class AAAAA state championship this past season, has decided to leave Mississippi State a few weeks after enrolling.

Schuessler signed with Mississippi State last February, and is currently enrolled in summer classes at the SEC school. He told the AJC he will be leaving Mississippi State before the start of football practices.

“I felt like I chose that school for the wrong reasons,” Schuessler told the AJC. “It wasn’t a good fit for me.”

Schuessler originally committed to Colorado State with one of his Grayson teammates, then switched to Mississippi State after getting a last-minute offer. He is unsure where he will play next, but plans to play college football somewhere.

“Yes sir, I am still going to play football, but I haven’t mind my mind up yet [on the college],” Schuessler said.

Grayson coach Mickey Conn, when contacted on late Wednesday night, politely declined to comment on …

Continue reading QB Nick Schuessler: Mississippi State signee decides to transfer a few weeks after enrolling »

Shaq Wiggins, one of UGA’s top recruits, has heard the rumors.

UGA DB recruit Shaq Wiggins (AJC/Bob Andres)

The DB from Sandy Creek High School knows all about the rampant speculation over the past few weeks that he was either on the brink of de-committing from the Bulldogs — or had already done so privately. It’s a touchy subject after 5-star RB Derrick Henry and another de-committed from UGA recently.

“I think people take some things the wrong way,” Wiggins told the AJC on Tuesday night.

“There’s things people say on message boards and Twitter. I even had people calling me, saying ‘I heard you de-committed’ and all that stuff.”

So what’s the official word? “I’m still looking at schools and stuff like that. But I haven’t de-committed yet.”

Realizing how that sounded a little awkward, Wiggins quickly added, “Well, I’m not de-committing any time soon.”

He explained further: “I guess all the rumors came from me taking visits to other schools, …

Continue reading Shag Wiggins: UGA recruit denies and clarifies rumors on de-committing »

UGA is a finalist for one of the state’s top college prospects at defensive end.

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Davin Bellamy, a 6-foot-5, 230-pounder from Chamblee High School, has set his announcement date for Aug. 1. He has three finalists:

“Florida State is the leader, Vanderbilt is right behind them and UGA is my third team,” Bellamy told the AJC on Monday night. “It kind of tough to pick between Florida State and Vanderbilt [as my leader]. I’m going to visit all three schools again before I pick and see where I’m at.”

Bellamy was blown away by a recent visit to FSU. “I like everything about it. It’s the scheme, how early I can play, and the area it’s in.”

Bellamy also noticed the ladies. “I mean, down there in Florida, it’s kind of a vacation town. Who wouldn’t want to live down there? When I visited the campus, it was filled with beautiful women, with some of the girls we don’t see …

Continue reading Davin Bellamy: UGA among the finalists for Chamblee DE »

DB Demetrius Monday committed to Cincinnati on Monday.

The 5-foot-11, 175-pounder picked Cincy over football scholarship offers from Mississippi State and Toledo. Monday also had interest from other schools, including Ole Miss.

“I had went to camp, I liked it and they offered me on the spot,” Monday told the AJC. “I like the coaches and how they treated me, so I decided to commit.”

Monday will play at Pebblebrook High School this after transferring from Arlington Christian, the GISA school which was coached by former UGA standout Robert Edwards last year.

Continue reading DB Demetrius Monday commits to D1 school … on Monday »