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
Michael Carrvell
August 14th, 2012
4:13 pm
UGA SPURNED by Griffin. Too soon? Just trying to get my follow up piece for this guy ready and I wanted to use this new ‘hot’ word that’s been in my arsenal.
kingdaddy
August 14th, 2012
4:54 pm
Peutaw Cock,
it’s obvious you aren’t very smart. According to the NCAA 2012 Strength of Schedule, S.C. came in at #21 while UGA came in at #10 in the country. If you don’t like it, take it up with whoever made-up your creme -puff schedule, lol. BTW, Vandy is going to kick your chicken -butts all over the field. Also, who did your AD pay -off to get 7 home games and only 5 on the road. LMAOFF, you really are a flock of chickens, Bugggggguuuuuuuucccckkkk…
harold
August 14th, 2012
5:07 pm
HE WILL CHOOSE TO PLAY FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP COACH—–STEVE SPURRIER.
CAROLINA IS A GREAT SCHOOL AND COLUMBIA IS A GREAT CITY.
Warp Drive 1
August 14th, 2012
5:20 pm
Need him at Tech!
Wish we could bolt out of the ACC and get back to the SEC – and bring Clemson with us.
Scheduling would be a breeze if divide up into 4 groups of 4 teams and rotate accordingly.
Nothing wrong with playing VT, Clemson, Miami and rotating in FSU – it’s the rest of the ACC that makes me sleep. Real exciting when BC comes rolling in……….. or Maryland, or Virginia, or Duke, or Wake or even NC or NC State.
Oh well ……. we are where we are.
Tybee Island Gamec0ck
August 14th, 2012
6:00 pm
KG’s going to Columbia to play for Spurrier. Get over it you bunch of delusional flea bitten mutts.
Troup Co. Dawg
August 14th, 2012
6:58 pm
You Bama fans will be crying when your beloved Bo Scarborough signs with the Dawgs in 2014, but we all know your boosters will try “Everything to keep him including new suits and 30,000.00 automobiles”! We know where his heart is at ! We’re coming like a 350 lb NG and there’s nothing you can do to stop it! Go Dawgs !!!!
Nashtown
August 14th, 2012
7:36 pm
taking the earlier political comment, cannot believe perhaps 50% of voters believe what Obama is espousing. His plan is killing new investments to create jobs. Will get much worse if he is elected again. Nothing in his speeches make sense or is based on realistic actions.
kingdaddy
August 14th, 2012
7:49 pm
Nashtown
The American youth are sheeple. They get their political views from Comedy Central and liberal professors. People that actually pay bills and taxes pay closer attention to politics. You should have to pass a simple history test or know something about the Constitution to be allowed to vote. It would also be good to have some skin in the game (pay taxes, and I don’t mean a sales tax) …
Muschamp
August 14th, 2012
7:51 pm
SC. Spurrier is more aggressive and has clearly passed UGA.
kingdaddy
August 14th, 2012
7:57 pm
Tybee Gamecluck,
Kelsey call you up and tell you something he didn’t tell everyone else? Did you read the article? It sure doesn’t sound like you read it. I doubt Kelsey will want to go to SC after lil stevie starts crying about about having to play East -Carolina Pirates & UAB Blazers back to back, lol…
kingdaddy
August 14th, 2012
8:01 pm
Muschump
lil stevie never embarrassed UF like you have. He’s 10 x the coach Muschump is. He’d probably like to come back to Fla. I’m sure they would dump you if he would come back, lol…
Neutral
August 14th, 2012
8:59 pm
Why would anyone want to go to Columbia or be coached by Spurrier? Great coach and a greater jerk!!!
umyboyBlue17
August 14th, 2012
9:48 pm
I hear sc is going to break ground on a new pactice facility and student center inside their trophy case where they have all that extra space
Hunkerdown
August 14th, 2012
10:54 pm
Go where your heart is young man and good luck. You will get a great education at either of these two fine institutions. Go Dawgs!
Muschamp
August 14th, 2012
11:26 pm
He’s wants to play for a more aggressive coach that has a killer instinct and a proven winner. Good luck in Columbia!
7576DAWG
August 15th, 2012
12:02 am
When deciding whether to go to South Carolina it would be very important for me to know, when I graduate in four years Spurrier will be 71 years old. I have always wondered what kind of personal life someone could have who would rather work for someone else past retirement age than be on the beach or lake with their family, fishing every day and playing golf. If you own your on business it would be different .
Douglas
August 15th, 2012
8:52 am
Look how great our defensive recruits are — it’s because of the great coaches we have on D and HS players know our HC on D has connections with the Pros and is a great teacher. Wish I could say the same about our OC Bobo.
Dawg-Gawn
August 15th, 2012
11:35 pm
Kelsey Griffin picks UGA over USCe because UGA runs the 3-4 defense and USCe runs a 4-2-5 defense. Griffin projects better and will come out ahead in the 3-4.
“Stick with Richt”
Believe in the “G”
Dawg-Gawn
August 15th, 2012
11:45 pm
Also look for the Dores to upset USCe right from the start which will make the USCe game with UGA even more pressurized!
“Dem Dawgs be Hunker’d”
Believe in the “G”
It's not that simple
August 16th, 2012
10:51 am
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.
—————————————-
UGA will have somewhere around 9 EEs which count back towards last years total so they can sign up to 34 I believe.
Gffsc
August 16th, 2012
1:28 pm
For the life of me I cannot understand why you guys think Athens is a “great” town. The only thing there is UGA and that’s not saying much. Columbia is the state Capitol with good restaurants and nightlife, 1-1/2 hours from Charleston and beaches, and 2 hours from the mountains. Athens is in middle GA, which is the middle of nowhere. Give me a break! The only time most of you have ever been to Athens is for a football game – try it during the summer, during the week or after football season. Then you’ll get a taste of the real Athens.
Tybee Island Gamec0ck
August 16th, 2012
8:58 pm
queenlady,
3-4 vs 4-3… He prefers the 4-3. Simple as that. You dumb a ss mutt.
Bill King
August 19th, 2012
3:11 am
SO WHO GIVES A DAMN DEFENDING MUSCHAMP !!!!!!!!!!
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
August 19th, 2012
9:46 pm
@ Paula:
Please stay off the Big Boy Blog but first how about bringing me another beer???
Either you are dumb enough to be triplets or you are one of the “Family” that is getting BARN tattoos for all or perhaps both. Where’s that beer I asked for???
There is absolutely NOTHING in MC’s articles and followups that he needs to take time out to explain to you. He has tried extremely hard to get ALL sides of the story(s) but when Foster’s mama told MC they were meeting with the NCAA why would he doubt her??? She apparently was ther spokesperson for the family and apparently she had been well rehearsed but couldn’t remember what group she was meeting with(It is likely she will get to know the NCAA a little better before much longer)
Now how about my beer????????????.
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
August 19th, 2012
10:02 pm
@ Gffsc:
So!!!!!!!!!!!! Game Chikun U finally won a game of significance (First time in school history and only time since The Civil War!!!!!)
Finally won an SEC East Title. CMR won 6 of those in his first 11 years as HC. Also a couple SEC Championships!!!!
Nobody, regardless of their current age, will live long enough to see Chikun U match those accomplishments,
The only good things to ever come out of South Carolina are Alex Hawkins and I-20
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
August 19th, 2012
10:22 pm
@ Harold:
When was Spurrier’s last Championship???
Here is a clue. It wasn’t in the NFL!!!!!!!!!!!
Another clue. Don’t say SECe title in 2010. CMR has won 6 of those and a couple of SEC Championships in his 11 years as HC and is 6th in the Nation among current coaches in won/lost percentage. None of the 5 ahead of CMR are named Spurrier, Saban or Miles!!!!!!!!!!!
Get a life, Who wants to play for a jerk that is way past his prime with ony 1 measley Division title in the last 15 years???????????????????
Bruno
August 23rd, 2012
12:58 pm
Mary Anne- You are such a doll!! Your pictures are beiautful. I wish I could have been there with you to celebrate. Jen Eck P.S. Check out my kiddos on this blog (Carter & Mason)