Archive for June, 2012

Some of Georgia Tech’s next football scholarship offers could come from this weekend’s football camp.

Georgia Tech will have summer camp from 1-8 p.m. Saturday.  It’s open to all high school students from grades 9-12 and the cost is $40 per person. Go here to register (there’s another one on July 13)

And who knows? A top performer could earn a Georgia Tech football scholarship worth thousands of dollars.

“The camps are open to a lot of different kids, not just prospects,” Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson told the AJC.

“But there will be a few guys there to evaluate. [Camp] gives us a chance to make some evaluations and gives us another chance to be around some guys we’ve been recruiting. We don’t have any preconceived notions going into camp about recruiting. It gives us maybe a chance to evaluate some guys who we’re thinking about offering.”

Last summer, Statesboro High School wide receiver Micheal Summers was already being heavily evaluated and …

Continue reading Players get chance to impress Georgia Tech’s Paul Johnson at summer camp »

Should UGA be worried about having its top recruit visit Alabama this year?

The top recruit is 5-star tailback Derrick Henry, who has been committed to UGA since last summer.

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Just like about any elite recruit that commits early, Henry has continued to be pursued by other colleges and has even visited a few, including Florida and, more recently, Tennessee.

However, Henry’s impending trip to Alabama has many UGA fans in a frenzy. Why is that? Yes, some of it has to do with the presence of Nick Saban, who is considered to be college football’s best combination of coach and chief recruiter.

But it’s more than that. A lot of the concern has to do with comments that Henry made to several recruiting websites, telling Scout that he talked to his high school coach and “we feel like Alabama is the place to go.” He also added that his UGA commitment “[is] not as solid as it was. I am really open …

Continue reading Derrick Henry: Should UGA be worried about 5-star tailback visiting Alabama? »

One of Georgia’s top quarterbacks committed to LSU on Thursday.

Anthony Jennings, a 6-foot-2, 200-pounder from Marietta High School, picked LSU out of his final list of 10 schools, which also included Alabama, Arkansas, Missouri, Oregon, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Ole Miss and Mississippi State.

Jennings, whose father Willie Jennings played defensive line for UGA, released a statement about his decision:

QB Anthony Jennings with LSU's Les Miles (Note: Photo is courtesy of Jennings family. Photo was not owned, arranged, distributed or publicized by LSU)

“I am very fortunate to be in the position I’m currently in, and I realize that I did not arrive at this point by myself. First and foremost, I want to thank my family for their constant love and support. I’d also like to thank all of my teammates and coaches as well as the teachers and administrative staff at Marietta High School. Special thanks also goes out to the entire Marietta community which is always so supportive of our …

Continue reading QB Anthony Jennings: LSU gets son of ex-UGA player »

Posted at 4:10 p.m. Friday

Jajuan Dulaney committed to Maryland on Friday.

OL Jajuan Dulaney

The 6-foot-4, 260-pounder from McEachern High School picked Maryland over Cincinnati and East Carolina among his 10 football scholarship offers. He plays left tackle in high school and could play tackle or guard in college.

“What made me pick Maryland was that their coaching staff really opened up to me and welcomed me, ever since we started talking back in May,” Dulaney told the AJC.

“My conversation with them yesterday changed my mind [about committing to Maryland now]. They told me how once I get there, I have the potential to be a top player or a four-year starter – only if I come in there and work hard.”

“I can get a great education at Maryland. If nothing happens after college football, I will have a great education to fall back on.”

Dulaney, who is a two-year starter for the Cobb County powerhouse, saw no need to wait any longer. “I just wanted to go ahead and …

Continue reading Jujuan Dulaney: OL commits to Maryland »

Notre Dame-bound Isaac Rochell (AJC)

Notre Dame doesn’t sign many players out of Georgia. But when they do, they’re usually good ones.

Isaac Rochell, a 6-foot-5, 260-pound defensive end from Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy, committed to Notre Dame over Florida State. The 4-star recruit had more than 30 offers, including Alabama, Clemson, UGA, Georgia Tech, Auburn and Florida.

“I fell in love with it [Notre Dame] the first time I visited and then went back this week for another visit to make sure I felt the same way — and I did,” Rochell told the AJC. “It’s just one of those places that when you go there, you know if it’s the right fit for you or not. It’s the right fit for me.”

Rochell projects to play defensive end but could also get a look at offensive tackle because of his athleticism and versatility. He said he’s only talked to Notre Dame about playing defense.

Two years ago, Notre Dame came down to Georgia and swiped defensive end Stephon Tuitt of Monroe Area …

Continue reading Isaac Rochell: Notre Dame plucks away one of Georgia’s best »

The Milton-to-Wake Forest pipeline?

For the second day in a row, an offensive lineman from Milton High School committed to Wake Forest.

Josh Harris, a 6-foot-4, 290-pounder, picked Wake Forest over South Florida among his five offers, which also included Maryland, Middle Tennessee State and South Alabama. On Wednesday, Milton center Cory Helms committed to Wake Forest.

Both Harris and Helms made an unofficial to Wake Forest together on Wednesday. Helms committed on the spot, while Harris needed more time to think about it.

“We’re teammates and it will be great to play with best friends in college,” Harris said. “After visiting yesterday, I went home and we talked about everything as a family. When I woke up this morning, I was ready to make the decision. Wake Forest is the place for me.

“It’s obviously a great academic school. Everything is perfect. Their football program is on the rise, and I think they will compete nationally soon.”

Harris said he can play any …

Continue reading The Milton-to-Wake Forest pipeline? »

Cory Helms committed to Wake Forest on Wednesday.

OL Cory Helms with Wake's Jim Grobe (Note: Photo courtesy of Helms. This photo was not owned, arranged, publicized or supplied by Wake Forest)

The 6-foot-4, 290-pounder from Milton High School picked Wake Forest over North Carolina and South Florida, among his 11 football scholarship offers. He is projected to play center in college.

“It was everything about Wake Forest … everything, honestly they’ve got everything,” Helms told the AJC. “It’s a great education, it’s close to home, is playing in the ACC, it’s an opportunity to start as a freshman. I mean, they aren’t going to guarantee me anything but I have the opportunity to earn it [a starting position].”

Helms said he had moderate interest from Georgia and Georgia Tech. “They waited too long. They were both interested. I thought they were going to offer, but they never did.”

Why did Helms go ahead and commit on Wednesday? “I just couldn’t pass it …

Continue reading Georgia OL can’t wait any longer, commits to ACC school »

Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson scored 17 qualifiers with his 2012 class (AJC)

While other schools sweat it out, Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson said his entire recruiting class has met academic requirements and will report this summer.

The Yellow Jackets signed 17 recruits last February, with QB-Athlete Dennis Andrews of Tallahassee enrolling early in college. Georgia Tech expects 15 more to show up around June 20 for summer school, while DT Adam Gotsis of Australia is still being processed.

“Yes, I think everybody is good to go with admissions,” Johnson told the AJC. “We may have an issue with [Gotsis] because of all the paperwork with him being an international student. Georgia Tech normally doesn’t allow foreign students to come in early. They usually come in when school starts, so we’re working on that.

“[Gotsis] will be here when camp starts for sure. He just may not be here in summer school.”

Johnson said he really hasn’t been worrying about any of his …

Continue reading Georgia Tech’s entire recruiting class gets the green light »

Mark Richt and Will Muschamp have passed on the opportunity to entertain recruits for their annual showdown (AJC)

Georgia and Florida won’t be taking advantage of a new SEC rule change for recruiting when they play yearly in Jacksonville.

The SEC amended its rules last week to allow member schools to give complimentary tickets to recruits if they were the “home team” for a game at a neutral site. It was already permissible by the NCAA.

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Despite the potential recruiting benefits, Georgia athletics director Greg McGarity said both schools have reached an agreement to not provide recruiting tickets for the annual showdown because of logistical concerns.

“It’s very difficult to do that on the road, as far as personnel and tickets involved,” McGarity said. “Right now, it’s such a difficult ticket for that game, and you would need in the neighborhood of 500-600 tickets for …

Continue reading UGA and Florida agree to not entertain recruits for annual showdown (UPDATED) »

UGA signed 19 in February (AJC)

John Atkins did not report with other UGA 2012 recruits on Monday because he has yet to meet college entrance requirements.

“I’m not at UGA yet; I’m a little disappointed but I know there’s a plan for everything,” Atkins told the AJC on Monday evening.

The 6-foot-4, 325-pounder from Thomson High School signed with UGA as part of the 19-member class last February. The defensive lineman was likely to be red-shirted this season with the Bulldogs.

Atkins said he is only “one point away” from a qualifying ACT score.

“I’m going to get it [the test score], and I feel like I can get it,” Atkins said. “I’m going to tutoring all week on how to take it. I’ll be ready for it.”

In the meantime, Atkins will be doing training and conditioning drills with his former high school teammates at Thomson. He said he expects to qualify and report to UGA on July 9 for the second session of summer school.

What if Atkins doesn’t make the …

Continue reading UGA football signee forced to delay enrollment »