JP Vonashek: South Carolina edges UGA for 3-star OL
After signing 12 from Georgia last February, Steve Spurrier has six 2013 commitments from the state (AP)
One of the state’s top offensive linemen, who nearly committed to UGA a couple of months ago, pledged to the South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday.
JP Vonashek, a 6-foot-6, 280-pounder from Camden County High School, committed to South Carolina after making an unofficial visit on Saturday. Vonashek had 13 offers, including Ohio State, Florida State and Tennessee.
“It was either going to be South Carolina or Georgia, and I felt South Carolina was the best place for me,” Vonashek told the AJC. “I went there for a visit and I really enjoyed it. It’s close to home and I think they are going to have a great program for the next couple of years.”
It was a big recruiting win for South Carolina, which had offered Vonashek a scholarship only 9 days ago. “I talked to my parents after we left, and I told them that I loved it,” he said. “They told me if that’s what I wanted to do, then to go ahead and commit. I said, OK let me think about it, and then called. My parents think South Carolina is a great program and that I’m going to fit in well there. And it’s close to home, so they can come watch me play.”
OL JP Vonashek (AJC)
Back in early April, Vonashek appeared to be on the brink of committing to UGA. What happened? “I just liked South Carolina better. I’ve been to UGA a couple of times, and I went to South Carolina today … Nothing really [went wrong] with UGA. I won’t say anything bad about them. I just liked South Carolina better, to tell you the truth.”
Camden County already has two rising seniors committed to UGA – QB Brice Ramsey and WR-DB-RB JJ Green. Both have been actively trying to recruit Voneshek to UGA with them. “I’m sure they are going to still try to do that, but I’m not worried about it,” Voneshek said. “I’m not going to change my mind, Once I commit somewhere, I’m not going to change my mind.”
South Carolina landed Vonashek despite Steve Spurrier not being around to close the deal on Saturday. “He actually wasn’t there today,” Vonashek said. “I know he’s a great coach by the things he did at Florida. I got to go into his office. I met his son, and I saw his dad’s Heisman Trophy and all of the things.”
How good is Vonashek? Here’s Camden County coach Jeff Herron on the big guy:
“If JP Is not a big-time D1 offensive lineman, then I don’t know what one is. I haven’t seen one that has all the tools he has got.
“He’s 6-6, closer to 6-7, and doesn’t hardly have an ounce of fat on him at 270 pounds. He’s going to be huge. That’s the thing. He has not filled out yet. You’re talking about a kid who I think can handle 300 pounds very well. He has got good feet. He’s a tough and physical kid. He has come over here and worked his tail off.
“JP has all the intangibles that colleges are looking for. I don’t think he’s finished growing height-wise, either. He has such a tremendous upside. When you get a kid at that size, with that agility … he has long arms and such good work habits … that’s just a rare combination.”
OVER THE WEEKEND
- How did Alabama visit go for … UGA’s TOP recruit?
- UGA edges out Georgia Tech in rare head-to-head battle for in-state recruit
- OL who appeared to be on brink of committing to UGA … picks South Carolina
- Steve Spurrier strikes again: Two Georgia commits in two days
- Nick Saban finally lands a Georgia QB for Alabama
- Robert Nkemdiche’s teammate will go west
AND THE RECRUITING NEWS KEEPS COMING
- Son ex-UGA player commits to play QB at LSU
- Notre Dame plucks away one of Georgia’s best prospects
- Should UGA be worried about 5-star RB Derrick Henry visiting … Alabama?
- Georgia Tech’s entire recruiting class gets GREEN LIGHT
- Hmmm … Florida and UGA agree to NOT host recruits for annual showdown
- UGA football signee forced to delay enrollment
- Georgia Tech FLIPS commitment of 4-star LB
YOU’VE GOT MAIL
- Nick Saban shares stamps; Recruit gets 52 letters in ONE DAY from Georgia Tech
- How would you grade UGA’s 2013 class so far?
- Did UGA hire Robert Nkemdiche’s coach to get No. 1 prospect??
- Mark Richt and Paul Johnson discuss Facebook and Twitter
- UGA offers top prospect after initially saying he was … “too weak”
- Mark Richt has a little secret
- Will Alabama sign BOTH of Georgia’s top football prospects?
- 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”
– 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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119 comments Add your comment
kingdaddy
June 10th, 2012
12:45 am
Congragulations big boy
Yo
June 10th, 2012
2:41 am
Congrats to South Carolina…..
sir.spur
June 10th, 2012
4:55 am
Has uga fans ever lost a commitment that you didnt want? Get out the way dawgs gamecocks are going to the top of the east, and u can’t do anything about it!
RedandBlackDAWG
June 10th, 2012
7:02 am
The young man has a lot of upside, but seriously, he has a fair amount of learning to do yet, and if he wants to play at 300 pounds as his coach says, he is going to have a hard time, blocking effectively when you stretch that out over 6′7′. Most of what I have read on the young man, is he is a good kid, has a lot of room to grow, but has to get pass blocking down more. He also will have to learn to bend down more in the middle, or the defensive man will simply move him to the side, because of his balance blocking too high. UGA I think wanted a guy just a little more ready to go, and has a couple of projects at OL right now, so they are going for the more play ready guys at the next level.
Good luck to the young man, as I am sure that S.C. has the coaches to get him ready to play at the SEC level in two years.
We Run the East
June 10th, 2012
7:09 am
Another win for SC. Lotta sour grapes from UGA fans. Nice post from RedandBlackDAWG above. It will all shake out on the field.
Truth Hurts!
June 10th, 2012
8:15 am
Again, Grantham pulls off a big recruit; OL coach can not do the same. The old belief of having a great defense first will result in a good offense later holds true at UGA again. UGA’s recruiting is going OK, but they can not finish the deal in two aeas; not being a racist nor anything like that, but face it, UGA lacks white recruits and OL recruits that can get the job done. You have got to have balance. I believe everybody deserves the right to have a chance to an education and participate in collegiate sports black or white, but UGA is so out of balance in this area. We need some big time white recruits at UGA; we have a chance to get an OL recruit in that area and we missed the opportunity. Brice, continue to throw footballs and stop recruiting, it does not work for you, you can’t recruit oout of your own high school!
AlanFalcon
June 10th, 2012
8:22 am
Vonashak see’s and understands the difference between the two programs, Carolina attracts those that not only want to suceed on the playing field but in life after the game, not problems that affect the school, team and community.
Gffsc
June 10th, 2012
8:37 am
I can’t understand why you guys consider SC one of your most hated rivals. There was a time when you barely gave us a fleeting glance. And as far as why anyone would want to go to SC instead of GA, I have a long list of reasons. Haw much time do you have?
Game Changer
June 10th, 2012
8:55 am
Truthhurts:
Ga Tech is loaded at LB for the 2012 season, maybe as good as GA but without the pass rushing ability of our outside all american
tide roll
June 10th, 2012
9:05 am
Hey Dawg fans. Do your coaches realize this Vonashek is a white offensive lineman? What the heck’s going on here? You’ll just have to be content with your other great white hopes. Dallas Lee, Kolton Houston, David Andrews (in the name of all that is holy, MOVE CHRIS BURNETTE TO CENTER!) Huey Long, Dewey Long, Dantzler, Dabell, Theus, Theus, Nardiello, Kublasuck, Nardiellno, and the biggest get of all, Bynum from The Valwood School. Oh, I almost forgot, add Pyke, from something called The Boys Latin School, to the list. Get these guys with Friend, Joe T. and your new DA, I mean G.A. Inman, and I mean, here we go baby. Just go ahead and put us in the BCS Championship game. At least with Daniel Inman on board, you’ve found someone Theus can beat in the 40. 31 years. Is it any wonder?
Gorilla Biscuit
June 10th, 2012
9:30 am
tide roll, we have made a concerted effort to increase the intelligence of our offensive line. Thanks for noticing.
FRED
June 10th, 2012
9:54 am
Red dog 77 remember we still got CMR!
Game Changer
June 10th, 2012
9:55 am
@all
Richt and Garner are reserving the final OL spots for premadonnas that could care less about what school they attend, all about ME ME ME and attention and they have no intention of academic mattering.
This is what is so sickening, I dont care for this type personality on the team or being a member of the university student body. I wish Richt would find intelligent good football players that put UGA FOOTBALL and ACADEMICS FIRST.
Time to tell Derrick Henry to hit the road, tired of the BS over the last two months, regardless of his reasons or purpose for additional visits, good bye the scholarship is gone. Maybe Kamara would commit in his place and we could be done for the 13 class with RB’s.
UGA turned in a street agent regarding Tunsil and Henry and now they are begging them to be Bulldogs. I just have the hardesst time following the weakness of the football leadership. If this is a issue then withdraw offers and move on. We look so bad out of Butts Mehre.
Taylor Wooten
June 10th, 2012
9:57 am
the kid they signed from the valwood school is a joke. you talk about soft. that league is like watching middle school ball on a saturday morning.
kingdaddy
June 10th, 2012
10:05 am
JP
One of these days, the tired ol ball coach (who didn’t even have time to see you on your visit, lol) will pull you from a game (if Mr. PERFECT thinks you busted your assignment) and in front of EVERYONE IN THE STADIUM AND NATIONAL T.V., HE WILL GRAB YOUR FACE-MASK AND EMBARASS AND HUMILIATE YOU! He will lose his temper and holler at you and he will not let go of your face-mask until he’s through embarrassing you in front of the WORLD! I myself and hundreds of thousands of football fans have seen this many times.
HOPE YOU NEVER MESS UP!!!
LogicalUS
June 10th, 2012
10:19 am
No wonder the kid didn’t want to play for UGA and their horrid fans.
The AJC does a story on a high school kid’s once in a lifetime choice of committing to college. A big moment in a kids life to have a webpage story at the AJC dedicated to him and it is overrun by gilted wallflower UGA beaners ranting against the kid.
No wonder the kids of Georgia are fleeing in droves to the borders.
Take your hurt feelings and bruised egos over to one of the 5 UGA boards…this is a story about a kid making the decision to go play at South Carolina.
JUNKYARDDAWG
June 10th, 2012
10:24 am
tide troll get a life coward and get the fvck off of our blog you piece of sh!t, and take your prejudice talk with you.SIC EM DAWGS!!!
The Bear
June 10th, 2012
10:35 am
Enter your comments here
steaming pile
June 10th, 2012
10:37 am
wait till his mother gets involved in his career-richt did not want the bs
Delbert D.
June 10th, 2012
10:43 am
It’s only a commitment. Nothing formal of binding. Plenty of sleepless nights between now and February.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
June 10th, 2012
11:14 am
The Bama staff viewed JP as a project and a down the board player thus no offer was made. The fact USCe will be able to bring him into their system and redshirt him should have him as a player within 3 years is a good get for them. Steve and staff are dong a great job with 3*’s and some 4’s. There is no dobut Steve can coach folks up and it shows in his record at USCe.
The staff at UGA can’t say that at all and it’s documented.
Georgia beats Georgia Tech to one recruit, loses another to USC | SEC Football Blog
June 10th, 2012
12:08 pm
[...] had battled it out for in-state offensive linesman JP Vonashek with South Carolina, and ultimately lost the battle to their SEC [...]
bubba4dawgs
June 10th, 2012
12:14 pm
There is something wrong with UGA’s recruiting…..somebody’s not following up with these guys! I think it is the most critical problem at UGA. Here’s a guy (Vonachek) who didn’t even bother to see Spurrier and went on and committed and even had a couple of his teammates pick UGA. Can’t figure!!
yellowfever
June 10th, 2012
12:21 pm
More Kids just drinking the koolaid when they visit athens.
Frankly
June 10th, 2012
12:41 pm
Congrats on your scholly to scu, good luck in all you do except when you line up against UGA.
zeke
June 10th, 2012
12:44 pm
Any kid with college level smarts, no not football smarts, intelligence, would pick USC, South Carolina, over UGA!!! Cocks are just starting on a roll! Get on the train!!
THE Dixie Redcoat Band
June 10th, 2012
12:51 pm
Word on the street….UGA was backing down on this kid anyway.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
June 10th, 2012
1:34 pm
Wish the young man success and a good career…just don’t mess up and beat Bama.
Flo-Ri-Duh
June 10th, 2012
1:36 pm
Skinny white boys don’t make good OL.
Cool Aid Drinker
June 10th, 2012
2:03 pm
Good luck JP.
Vampire Bill
June 10th, 2012
2:39 pm
Hate to lose this kid
01HAWK
June 10th, 2012
2:51 pm
SABAN gets JUCO Offensive Lineman that was just startung to get heavy interest:
ASA College in New York has some of the more impressive athletes in the Northeast Football Conference for this coming season, and the Avengers are making headway with their recruiting in recent years. One such stud is a big offensive tackle that has some major D1 programs looking at what he has to offer.
ASA offensive tackle Leon Brown is a massive physical specimen, and shortly will have a lot of options to choose from. Brown has had some of the biggest programs out to take a look in the past week, with two talking about offering in the near future.
“I talked to both Oklahoma and Alabama,” Brown said. “Oklahoma was out today. Alabama was out last week.”
Brown is 6-foot-6, 305 pounds and says two others have been showing interest.
“Illinois and Rutgers have been in contact,” Brown said.
Brown says the folks at both Alabama and Oklahoma are thinking of offering.
“They both said they liked the way I played,” Brown said. “They said they would get back to me about a potential offer.”
Alabama picked up its 17th commitment for the Class of 2013 as junior college offensive tackle Leon Brown pledged to sign with the Crimson Tide on Sunday, according to reports from TideSports.com and BamaOnline.
bcall123169
June 10th, 2012
2:52 pm
nerd nerds how was coach richts contract,slap him in the face some more you dumb a** rednecks and thugs wanna BROWNIE
alex49
June 10th, 2012
3:14 pm
I’m a big Georgia fan and although I don’t care for Spurrier, I wish this kid the very best at South Carolina.
I was hoping he would choose Georgia, but he has to do what’s right for himself and his family.
I want to thank all the prospects that have committed to Georgia. I feel that there are still outstanding players that will commit to Georgia, so this hopefully will have minimum impact on Georgia’s recruiting for the up-coming season.
Again best of luck, but I will have to root for Georgia against South Carolina.
Jaybo Shaw
June 10th, 2012
3:23 pm
The stupidity across this board amazes me. Some people should not be allowed to voice their opinion.
The Truth
June 10th, 2012
3:35 pm
GA Tech Lies & Cheats & Everyone knows it. Everyone!!!!!!!! Good players do not go to GA Tech. Any other school is a better choice.
01HAWK
June 10th, 2012
3:56 pm
bcall123169
June 10th, 2012
2:52 pm
nerd nerds how was coach richts contract,slap him in the face some more you dumb a** rednecks and thugs wanna BROWNIE
IDIOTIC POST……………… If you ever want to see one.
kingster
June 10th, 2012
5:40 pm
(smile) Thank you Dr. Don,sorry about the mistake of the word I used and you are very much correct in what I really meant, thanks again.
Game Changer
June 10th, 2012
5:44 pm
@ALL
The reasons as Game Changer sees them allowing prior fact based history to be used in determining what is happening in BUTTS MEHRE UGA FOOTBALL:
The UGA Football team averages roughly 3 to 4 scholarships each year signed by white players regardless of class size. There was an occasion that 5 white players were signed in one ot the larger classes way whenever. 2013 Class commits already has 5 white players, immediately after the fifth accepted the UGA coaching staff under the direction of Richt and Garner pulled all the outstanding offers to white players left on the board. We currently stand at 5 white out of 20 commits, the final number will be 5 whites out of 30+ players in the next class.
Ranier
June 10th, 2012
7:04 pm
Georgia Tech has the nation’s highest average SAT score for football players, and also the highest average high school GPA.
UGA, on the other hand, had one of the very lowest SAT averages, as well as a very low GPA average. As a result, more than three-fourths of UGA players are “special admits,” when means that they can not meet the minimum educational and intelligence requirements for admission to UGA, even as low as that is.
Yes, it would be great if Tech was more competitive with UGA, but Tech fans are proud of our heritage of having intelligent, responsible athletes who go on to rewarding careers and contribute to society.
Contrast this with the very unintelligent dummies that UGA recruits. The 50 arrests over the last four years is proof enough, not to mention winning the Fulmer Cup. Most of these goons are tossed out after their eligibility is over, and many end up on welfare.
UGA is clearly just a football f-a-c-t-o-r-y dedicated to winning at all costs, and most UGA fans are okay with this, with no concern about the embarrassment this brings to the State of Georgia.
Mark Richt is the architect of this situation. As long as he is paid a huge salary, he will continue to recruit the illiterate brain-dead t-h-u-g-s who he thinks will win. Unfortunately for UGA fans, he’s not remotely in the same league with the top coaches in the SEC.
So the bottom line is that Georgia Tech – win or lose – does so with honor and integrity, while the lowlife punks, woman beaters, drug users, and drunks in Athens continue to embarrass us all.
Game Changer
June 10th, 2012
8:01 pm
@Ranier
I am a UGA alum and totally agree with your post.
My question goes much further than the post above, HOW THE HELL DO THESE PLAYERS STAY ELIGIBLE for more than a quarter or two. Just what kind of class can a player take to earn the necessary credit each semester and for the year, much less two, three or four years? It is a total embarrasment, as long as the big money roles no one cares but it does affect graduates and how the UGA education is viewed by many.
Word is that several of the 2013 commits do not have the proper paperwork to gain enrollment into UGA. We know that gpa and sat/act scores do not matter for special ed needs football players, the LEADERSHIP of the UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA is no where to be found.
Look for a political appointment as the next Pres of UGA to keep past thefts quiet and to continue the theft of state taxpayers money and the money of students.
Where is the money from the over 700 Million endowment going these days?
No PT
June 10th, 2012
8:07 pm
Good luck to him, Spurrier will be forced to pick up the three and two star athletes from Georgia. The smart ones who can play will stay in state. Georgia is on the way up and will contend for the BCS championship for the next 5 years. Seems like a great kid, but not a player that would of made an impact at UGA.
Game Changer
June 10th, 2012
8:31 pm
@No pt
Georgia recruit from Flowery Branch ( Shaw starting QB at South Carolina )
Current QB at South Carolina is 7 wins and 1 loss ( fourth qrt loss at the time to the number 5 team nationally ) and won the bowl game convincingly
Current scouting of Shaw vs Murray:; Shaw is a bigger, strong, much much faster QB that Murray and possesses a stronger arm, accurancy, understanding of the passing game and is a PURE LEADER TO THE TEAM. I could write up about all the GA players on the South Carolina roster but that would be to easy to show your ignorant post. Lets see, the running back is also from GA when injury hurt the starter. Both QB and RB from GA and lost in fourth qrt to Arkansas number 5 team all the while finishing number 9 in the nation themselves. Are you stupid ( no p t )
No PT
June 10th, 2012
8:34 pm
95% of the nation’s d1 schools would love to have 1/2 the commitments GA has at this time.
The thing with Georgia, is they won’t sign kids that they don;t think will play.
There is a lot of talent at UGA and the 3 star prospects should sign when they are offered. Seems to me he knows Georgia is a hard school to get PT and he may not of been as good as the other recruits. I to question if his offer from UGA was in doubt.
Game Changer
June 10th, 2012
8:38 pm
And to add more:
Shaw runs a sub 4.5 forty, was offered a scholarship from Stanford because of intelligent
Shaw in 2011 has a much better QB rating than murray
Shaw come out of high school as a duel threat QB having played in the spread and pro style type offenses learning the whole time: this will be a huge issue with Ramsey at UGA, has no clue
was ranked number 19 QB in GA high school coming out by the joke judgers of talent rivals, 24/7, espn etc.
No PT
June 10th, 2012
8:39 pm
The game changer you see this year is when UGA rams the ball down SC throat for 4 qrts. UGA is a complete team this year. OL will need a little shoring up, but weakest position last year at RB may well turn out to be the strongest in 2013. There is a reason the Dogs are coming out as a favorite to win the SEC east and compete for the national championship bid.
Game Changer
June 10th, 2012
8:47 pm
UGA is favor to win the east because we do not play arkansas, lsu or alabama and South Carolina plays two of them. We are favored because of the schedule, not because we are better than South Carolina. South Carolina is a 3 point favorite in the 2012 game at this time.
No PT
June 10th, 2012
8:48 pm
Game Changer let me know how it feels to be second in the SEC east again in 2012. Georgia will log a top 5 recruiting class in 2013 and may come in #1. SC will do well to break the top 20 again. It finished #19 in 2012.
The boys will need to all attend and play, but UGA is on the right track and is recruiting the right players to make a difference. Good luck to the kid, but
No PT
June 10th, 2012
8:51 pm
SC is at home and should be favored, but in the end Georgia will take that one down. Georgia schedule is made in advance. Play the cards that are dealt, Georgia wins the SEC east and plays in the SEC championship game for a chance at the National title.
UGA was good last year and will much improved with the young pups maturing and the new studs coming on the scene.
DawginLex
June 10th, 2012
9:07 pm
Game changer
the fact that you agree with that garbage that ranier typed tells us all we need to know about a sorry sack of crap like you
You make me ashamed to be a UGA fan if you actually are one