One of nation’s top defensive linemen narrows down to UGA and South Carolina
Will it be UGA or South Carolina for nation's No. 5-ranked DT? (AJC)
One of the nation’s top football college prospects has narrowed down to UGA and South Carolina.
Kelsey Griffin, a 6-foot-2, 290-pound defensive lineman from Mill Creek High School, has the two SEC East schools as his leaders. He is ranked as the nation’s No. 5 overall defensive tackle by 247sports.com.
“I’ve got it down to South Carolina and Georgia … and that’s as far as I’ve gotten,” Griffin told the AJC.
“I’m not sure yet if I’m going to announce before the start of my season. It’s a possibility but I can’t really guarantee anything.”
Loading ...What does Griffin like about South Carolina? “It’s just a homey place, it feels like home. I like the coaches, and have really enjoyed my visits down there.”
What about UGA? “It’s the same things as with South Carolina. It’s close to home. I like the coaches and how I fit into the game plan.” Griffin said UGA’s coaches told him he could play DT or DE for the team.
Griffin, who recently eliminated Tennessee from his leaders, said he is torn between South Carolina and Georgia. “I can’t really say one is ahead of the other. I don’t know. It’s hard to decide. Both are pretty equal.”
On Thursday, another one of the state’s top defensive linemen, Jay Woods of Jackson High School, will be announcing his college decision. His finalists are UGA, Kentucky, Vanderbilt and Missouri.
If Woods picks UGA, would that affect Griffin’s consideration of the Bulldogs? “Not really. My choice is my choice, and has nothing to do with anybody else. There are good players and good competition everywhere.”
THIS JUST IN …
- It’s UGA or South Carolina for nation’s No. 5-ranked DT
- Auburn 5-star LB commit Reuben Foster under investigation
- Remember UGA WR target JaQuay Williams? He’s waiting for NCAA clearance to report to Auburn
- UGA picks up commitment No. 25
- Did the Florida Gators WITHDRAW DB’s scholarship offer??
- Georgia DE commits to FSU … but he will visit other schools, too
- Alabama accused of encouraging top recruit to transfer to “get some help”
BECAUSE WE MISS THE OLYMPICS
- 5-star football recruit confirms official visit to UGA
- INSIDER: Top UGA football recruit battles back from injury
- Shaq Johnson … the best DUNKER ever out of Georgia???
- Will longtime UGA commit Tray Matthews stick with Bulldogs? Or FLIP to Auburn?
- INSIDER: The powerful influence of Mr. Robert Nkemdiche
MORE RECRUITING
- Will Derrick Henry pick Bama, Vols or UGA?
- DID YOU SEE what Reuben Foster did out of loyalty to Auburn??
- Robert Nkemdiche to Clemson … Did that really happen?
- 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
Got an item? mcarvell@ajc.com
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127 comments Add your comment
P. Bull Terrer
August 14th, 2012
2:01 am
26th. If Griffin committs now, he’ll be #26 for UGA.
maconbulldog
August 14th, 2012
2:03 am
Good Morning Dawgs and Chickens and Tide fans. Hope UGA gets this guy…. Everyone have a great A.M
maconbulldog
August 14th, 2012
2:03 am
darn your P.Bull Terrer. But yeah he would be number 26
P. Bull Terrer
August 14th, 2012
2:05 am
At least he wouldn’t be “First”.
maconbulldog
August 14th, 2012
2:09 am
…..you went there huh ? That’s fine. Hope he comes to UGA would be nice to have him on the D-Line
Mountain Dawg
August 14th, 2012
4:18 am
Surely we can keep one good prospect out of Steve Superior’s grasp. Lord knows, he’s taken enough of our guys already.
Nahila
August 14th, 2012
6:00 am
These young men who might plan on living and working in Georgia upon college graduation and after football need to realize the value of a UGA education where the Georgia area might offer better career opportunities than other surrounding ststea.
Defending Muschamp
August 14th, 2012
6:25 am
From Gatorsports:
Sorry to beat a dead horse, but Florida has received a beating from fans, recruits and media over the past couple days for rescinding the scholarship offer of cornerback Tre’ Bell (Jersey City, N.J./St. Peter’s Prep).
Since some of that flack came as result of my story from Saturday, I felt obligated to defend the Gators because they can’t comment on the situation themselves.
Although everything I wrote in my initial story was true, it was not the whole truth. New details emerged Monday revealing that there was more to Bell being dropped than his refusal to workout at Friday Night Lights.
Going into FNL, every member of Florida’s 2013 class had either camped at UF in the past or agreed to when their pledge was accepted by coach Will Muschamp. Four commits that hadn’t — receiver Marqui Hawkins, center Cameron Dillard, offensive guard Josh Outlaw and linebacker Daniel McMillan — all participated in the event. The rest of the commits in attendance were allowed to be spectators because of their previous workouts.
Then there was Bell.
According to Derek Tyson of GatorNationESPN.com, Bell understood that his April 7 commitment was contingent on him camping this summer. The coaches couldn’t see him during their evaluation period because his school doesn’t practice in the spring. After missing Florida’s camps in June, Bell promised to come down for FNL and participate.
But when he arrived, Bell said his coach told him he couldn’t do any workouts after July 15 so he could be ready for football season. However, Bell was in Lake Buena Vista competing in Gridiron Kings the following day.
Understandably bothered by what happened, Florida contacted St. Peter’s Prep coach Rich Hansen to get an explanation and discovered that Hansen never gave Bell those orders. When confronted about the situation, Bell continued to be dishonest with staff — and that’s why he is no longer a Gator.
Muschamp does not pull scholarship offers from members of his class for the sake of making more room or going after a better prospect at a certain position. When commits are let go, they have simply failed to meet the conditions of their commitment. And there’s no one to blame but the recruit.
We Run The East
August 14th, 2012
6:28 am
Obama must be beat or know one will have a job. Dummycrats are the biggest problemthis country has.
We Run The East
August 14th, 2012
6:32 am
Gators did the right thing with Bell. Son, it is a free education worth big dollars, we need you to be a team player and show committment. I am sure Muschanp could see the writing on the wall, that this kid would always be lightly committed.
Destin Dawg
August 14th, 2012
6:39 am
yes,, we agree !!! vote for Romney/Ryan to improve the economy and save your job, medicare, and Soc. Sec… for your kids !!!
Destin Dawg
August 14th, 2012
6:42 am
Easy decision Kelsey, come to UGA and get coached UP by Todd Grantham.. be part of the rejuvenated Junk Yard Dawgs !! SEC Champs THIS year !!
kingdaddy
August 14th, 2012
6:52 am
Kelsey, good luck either way you go. Hope you make the right decision and commit to be a Doggie. Stay in state and make Georgia proud of you. Go Dawgs…
Paddy
August 14th, 2012
7:02 am
Defending………good explanation of the situation. Case closed.
The Grinch
August 14th, 2012
7:04 am
Defending Muschamp
August 14th, 2012
6:25 am
I’m sure Will appreciates your support and understanding……
Go Dawgs KG!
August 14th, 2012
7:16 am
Love to see you ramblin’ through the Ga Tech backfield! Go Dawgs KG!
hipdawg
August 14th, 2012
7:27 am
love getting stud d-linemen.but for crying out loud give me a few OL please!!!
USC GAMEC0CK
August 14th, 2012
7:28 am
Kelsey will hopefully choose the USC GAMEC0CKS, a school and team on the rise. We want you and need you Mr. Griffin. Go C0CKS!
JB
August 14th, 2012
7:36 am
Would love to have this young man in Athens. If not, good luck to him wherever he goes and maybe his spot will land us a big surprise OL.
Kramer
August 14th, 2012
7:39 am
We need Griffin at UGA and we need Romney / Paul for the country. If that can happen it would be sweeeeet!
Rhall55
August 14th, 2012
7:40 am
1) Shaq Fluker…DB 2) Jay Woods…DT 3) Kelsey Griffin…DT 4)????????
AAAAA Athens Bail Bonds R Us
August 14th, 2012
8:01 am
Any more dawgs arrested today?
The Truth
August 14th, 2012
8:03 am
He must be a Rhodes Scholar with the 3 SEC schools he is looking at.
cdpridg
August 14th, 2012
8:04 am
Though it is not said here…word is Griffin is leaning to the Dawgs as he should. Smart kid.
Dawg48
August 14th, 2012
8:15 am
This guy is a beast! Would love to have him in Athens.
TX Jacket
August 14th, 2012
8:16 am
I thought a team could only sign 25 players per year. If both he and Jay Woods want to commit, does Uga have the room to move people to the current class? Or are they counting on some of the kids to not honor their commitment and flip to other schools? I am not trying to be ugly, I just want know. I jump all over Bama for over signing and would not like to see Uga do it as well.
Bubbatavious
August 14th, 2012
8:16 am
We need more kids with Bling and Tatts.
Neutral
August 14th, 2012
8:18 am
I hope Kelsey and Jay both stay in Georgia and play for their home state team. Good luck guys!!!
TX Jacket
August 14th, 2012
8:18 am
To “the truth”, any college is better than no college. I hope that wherever he goes he uses the opportunity to improve his life with the education offered. He can change his family by excelling at college.
cdpridg
August 14th, 2012
8:21 am
dawgs are taking 34…9 are enrolling early
SouthGaBrave
August 14th, 2012
8:23 am
TX Jacket,
UGA signed 19 guys last season, and 2 of those were early enrollees that back-counted to 2011’s class (making the 2012 initial qualifier count 17). That means UGA can back-count up to 8 guys in this class (and they have at least that many who plan to enroll early) to bring the 2012 total to 25. Those 8 early enrollees plus the 25 others to count for this class could take the number up to 33. That is the explanation I’ve seen in many places.
George Zimmerman
August 14th, 2012
8:26 am
Where is the hoodie?
SouthGaBrave
August 14th, 2012
8:27 am
cdpridg,
You are correct as well. As many people can enroll early as they want (10 or more technically could), but I think we can only back-count 8 of those. I think the 34th could be adding Atkins or Floyd back in after they get things together academically at Prep School (since they were already counted in the 2012 class). Don’t quote me on any of that, just my shot in the dark at the whole thing. Hahaha
Innocent bystander
August 14th, 2012
8:28 am
SouthGaBrave; just a reminder; you can only count against last years class if you have the grades to be accepted in January. If you wait until signing day you count against the 2013 class.
Saban
August 14th, 2012
8:34 am
looks like the kid is a lock for Spurrier. He and Dumbo Weenie are doing a good job in UGA’s backyard lately.
Bad Dawg
August 14th, 2012
8:38 am
Whether UGA or South Carolina, good luck on your decision.
NW DAWG
August 14th, 2012
8:51 am
I believe it will come down to who has the best season just saying. Go Dawgs!!!
Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it
August 14th, 2012
8:59 am
He might want to play for a defense that can stop real teams…
George Zimmerman's future cellmate
August 14th, 2012
9:09 am
Just shut up, bend over and take it like a man, honey…
Columbus
August 14th, 2012
9:12 am
UGA is the place to be the next 5-6 years to play in the SEC championship games and you know what happens if you win the SEC…..play for the National Championship baby! Come on to UGA and keep that defense STOUT so UGA will dominate the East. USC dont have the QB UGA will have in Ramsey, nor the RB’s, nor the 34 signees that will come on the team with you….you 34-35 guys can be a VERY special group who may be the best group EVER in UGA history. Come be a part of something awesome and special. It is UGA’s time. Cant you see it plain as day?
1eyedJack
August 14th, 2012
9:16 am
DAWGS!!
WDE
August 14th, 2012
9:18 am
Hey I know its early this morning but has any more Auburn players been put under NCAA investigation today?
SouthGaBrave
August 14th, 2012
9:23 am
Innocent bystander,
I know, which is why I mentioned they would need that many early enrollees to be able to back-count that many. They should have that amount with Terry, Ramsey, Rankin, Bynum, Wilkerson, possibly Wiggins, Chris Mayes, Steven Nelson, and others all planning to arrive in January.
kingdaddy
August 14th, 2012
9:26 am
How is Kelsey’s character and grades???
SEC Fan
August 14th, 2012
9:28 am
If it is accurate then the UF article is an NCAA violation by the UF coaches. They simply are not at liberty to discuss prospects to the media or anyone else. Wonder if they will self report? Ha!
kingdaddy
August 14th, 2012
9:39 am
How many times do you need to explain the UGA recruiting #s to the idiots? If they are smart enough to know you can only sign 25 a year, then they should understand by now UGAs undersigning last year. It has been explained on these blogs almost everyday for the last several months. Pretty much everyday, some moron trys to question the #s and some Doggie explains it again and again. They get it, nobodys that stupid! They are just insinuating that UGA is cheating. If they don’t know by now, they don’t want to know…
Mister Phister
August 14th, 2012
9:41 am
““I can’t really say one is ahead of the other. I don’t know. It’s hard to decide. Both are pretty equal.” Pretty equal??? Athens vs. Columbia?? The first state university in the country vs. common state university? A team with a long, long history of bowls vs. a team that had never gone to a bowl until recently? A team with a chicken for a mascot vs. world famous Uga? A school which is ranked far higher than any school in SC? A degree with a future in your home state vs.a degree with little prospect outside of South Carolina? Do the math and make to right choice for the rest of your life, not just the next 4, short years.
Mr.SEC
August 14th, 2012
9:42 am
If he is waiting to see what Woods is going to do, he is screwing up! It would be nice to have both!
graphite
August 14th, 2012
9:46 am
Let’s see, Bell to LSU to take Honey’s place and Kelsey looks fat.Need’s to go to Jenny Craig Camp first.
Paula
August 14th, 2012
9:49 am
Hey, Michael, any good juicy “tips” to report on today? Are you going to throw another mother under the bus? What a guy……