Archive for September, 2012

The coach of 4-star DT Kelsey Griffin told the AJC he "was NOT committed" to UGA on Friday evening (AJC)

Kelsey Griffin’s recruiting took a strange twist on Friday.

In the morning, the 4-star defensive tackle from Mill Creek High School committed to UGA in front of TV cameras.

On Friday evening, Griffin’s high school coach told the AJC that he was no longer committed to UGA.

Here’s what Mill Creek’s Shannon Jarvis told the AJC via text message:

“We are about to load our buses for tonight’s game so I will not be able to call. Please know that Kelsey is NOT committed to UGA right now. I know this may sound crazy, but it is the facts.”

With Friday’s kickoff against Peachtree Ridge fast approaching, Jarvis did not respond another text message asking for further clarification — Did Kelsey Griffin commit to UGA and have a change of heart? Or did Griffin publicly pledge to UGA and later find out that it was rejected by the Bulldogs?

UGA cannot comment on prospective …

Continue reading Wait a minute … Kelsey Griffin “is NOT” committed to UGA, per coach »

Some of Atlanta’s college football prospects will be writing a weekly diary for the AJC until February’s signing day. They will be sharing their thoughts, opinions, adventures and perspectives on the recruiting journey.

Eddie Printz led Lassiter High School to its first-ever appearance in the state semifinals last year as a junior. He completed 277 of 442 passes for 3,350 yards and 28 touchdowns with 9 interceptions. Printz committed to SMU last September, and later switched to UCLA in January.

Note: Last week, Printz said he was told by UCLA that his scholarship offer was withdrawn in a story you can read about right here.

I am so appreciative for the great people at Lassiter High School.  Coach Jep Irwin kept my head clear with great advice this past week so I could stay focused.  My friends, teammates, teachers, school administration, and coaches are the greatest extended family.  I had the worst news I could have ever had after being committed to UCLA for nine …

Continue reading Recruiting Diary: Lassiter QB and ex-UCLA commit Eddie Printz (Vol. III) »

DL Kelsey Griffin, one of UGA's few remaining targets, will likely visit with the Bulldogs on Satuday. UGA and South Carolina are his co-leaders (AJC)

There’s a slew of good college football games across the Southeast this weekend. Here’s where some of the state’s top prospects will be:

• Alpharetta WR Carlos Burse (committed to Vanderbilt) will visit UGA
• Northside-Warner Robins WR Anfirnee Chatfield (undecided) will visit UGA
• Newnan DB Tray Matthews (UGA) will visit UGA
• Brookwood LB Shaun McGee (UGA) will visit UGA
• Marist TE Greg Taboada (undecided) will visit UGA but not as a recruit
• Thomson TE Jordan Davis (UGA) will visit UGA
• Mill Creek DT Kelsey Griffin (undecided) will probably visit UGA
• Valwood OL Aulden Bynum (UGA) will visit UGA
• Richmond Academy OL Will Jones (undecided) may go to UGA but not as a recruit
• Tucker QB Juwaan Williams (undecided) will take an official visit to Notre Dame
• Dutchtown OL Jordan Harris (Middle Tennessee State) will visit Auburn
• Camden …

Continue reading Top prospects attending UGA-Vandy game, elsewhere »

Georgia Tech will entertain a crowd of recruits this weekend (AJC photo)

Georgia Tech will entertain a crowd of recruits when it has its best home game of the season. The Yellow Jackets play host to Miami.

Georgia Tech has 13 commitments for 2013, and at least eight will be in attendance on Saturday:

• Tri-Cities OL Shamire Devine
• Tri-Cities OL Jeremi Hall
• Lovejoy RB Travis Custis
• Jackson DE Justin Akins
• Fayette County WR Antonio Messick
• Hillgrove DB Tolando Cleveland
• Crawfordville (Fla.) OL Chris Griffin
• Ft. Walton Beach (Fla.) DB John Marvin

Some uncommitted prospects making unofficial visits for the game are North Cobb RB-LB Quentin James, Stephens County RB Chaz Thornton, Grady DE Darren Dowdell, and Buford DE Mikey Bart.

THE LATEST NEWS

• Top prospects attending UGA-Vanderbilt game, etc.
• Georgia Tech plays host to crowd of recruits
  
• Tucker QB leaves for official visit to Notre Dame at 5 a.m. after game
• Will Georgia LB visit ANYWHERE ELSE than the South Carolina …

Continue reading Georgia Tech prepares for big recruiting weekend »

David Johnson, one of the state’s top linebackers, hasn’t decided if he will take official visits to any other schools other than South Carolina.

LB David Johnson is part of Lithonia-to-South Carolina pipeline (AJC)

The 6-foot-2, 240-pounder from Lithonia High School committed to South Carolina last summer. He is still being recruited by other schools, including Auburn and Vanderbilt.

“I don’t know, I’m going to make a decision after the season is over,” Johnson told the AJC. “If I take a visit and I’m already committed, it feels like I’m doing something wrong, you know what I mean? But I don’t know. I’m going to talk to my coaches and [South Carolina defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward] about it and see if it’s OK.”

Note: You can watch Johnson when Lithonia plays Grady at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in a live webcast by clicking here

Johnson will be the third Lithonia prospect in three years to sign with South Carolina. Is there a pipeline between the DeKalb …

Continue reading David Johnson: South Carolina LB commit unsure about other visits »

Vonn Bell, the AJC Super 11 safety, had a unique way to narrow down to his three finalists.

AJC Super 11 DB Vonn Bell (AJC)

The 4-star football recruit from Ridgeland High School threw three loaded questions to each of his seven favorites – Alabama, UGA, Clemson, Tennessee, Ohio State, Texas and Vanderbilt.

“Vonn and his family just wanted the facts from a few fact-finding questions,” Ridgeland coach Mark Mariakis told the AJC. “They had already done all the fluff questions and conversations. They had seen the facilities and trophies. They wanted to get down to the nitty gritty with the facts.”

So what were the three magical questions from Vonn Bell?

• How could you help my job career after college? “He wants to go into coaching at the college level,” Mariakis said. “He just wanted to know what the college could offer in that area of academics with the educational part, the opportunity for a young man to get some job experience, and just what their plan …

Continue reading INSIDER: DB Vonn Bell eliminates UGA and has Alabama, Tennessee, Ohio St. as finalists »

One of Georgia’s top “athlete” prospects will take an official visit to Notre Dame this weekend.

WR-DB Juwaan Williams will take an official visit to Notre Dame this weekend (AJC)

It will be the first of five official visits for Juwaan Williams, who was the quarterback for Tucker High School’s state championship team last season. The 6-foot-1, 180-pounder is being recruited by most schools at WR.

“I’m anxious; this will be the first official visit of my life,” Williams told the AJC. “I’m anxious to see what’s out there, and what Notre Dame has to offer.”

What does Williams like about Notre Dame’s football team? “Mostly, the type of offense they run. From watching the first few games, you can tell they pass the ball a lot. And they can score in bunches.

“I can see myself fitting in as another weapon the quarterback can use. I can go in motion or do some quick outs. They can get me something quick to get my hands on and get up the field.”

It will be …

Continue reading Juwaan Williams: Notre Dame will get first official visit from Tucker QB »

Kasey Gaines, who made the signature play during Grayson High School’s state championship season, committed to Penn State on Wednesday.

Penn State DB commit Kasey Gaines (GraysonRamsFootball.com)

The 5-foot-11, 160-pound cornerback committed to Penn State over Harvard, while also considering Miami of Ohio. Gaines is one of six Grayson seniors committed to a D1 school, led by national No. 1-ranked prospect Robert Nkemdiche (Clemson).

“I just thought it would be a great opportunity,” Gaines said. “I love the coaches, and I thought it would be awesome to be a part of the Penn State tradition up there.”

What about all the NCAA penalties and probation for Penn State? Among other things, the Nittany Lions have a four-year bowl ban. Gaines said he reviewed the situation, and felt like Penn State was too good to pass up.

“I really didn’t think of the NCAA stuff as a big deal,” Gaines said. “Obviously, no one wants to go through anything like that. But I just think …

Continue reading Kasey Gaines: Penn State beats out Harvard for DB »

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Auburn and Georgia Tech are the co-leaders for Jay Ellison, one of the state’s top defensive tackles.

The 6-foot-1, 280-pounder from Harris County High School also has South Carolina and Ole Miss on his shortlist.

“Right now, it’s really between Auburn and Georgia Tech,” Ellison told the AJC. “Right now, they are fighting it out for the one spot with me.”

What does Ellison like about Georgia Tech? “I really like the coaches and players. I like the defensive line coach [Andy McCollum], and all the coaches really … it’s like a great atmosphere when I go up there, especially for the games.”

DT Jay Ellison (AJC)

And Auburn? “It’s the same thing. I have a great connection with the coaches. And the players, like Gabe Wright and Jeffrey Whitaker, they welcome me like I’m part of the family.”

This past weekend, Ellison made an unofficial visit to Georgia …

Continue reading Jay Ellison: Auburn or Georgia Tech for 3-star DT? »

Tennessee-bound AJ Davis of Buford HS (247sports.com)

The Twitter world had a front row seat to Monday night’s college announcement of AJ Davis, the son of 13-year NBA veteran Antonio Davis.

This was the tweet sent out at 9 p.m. sharp by the younger Davis, a 6-foot-8, 200-pound forward from Buford High School:

I’ll be attending the university of TENNESSEE! #GoVols

Davis picked Tennessee over Clemson. It was the second day in a row that Clemson finished as runner-up for one of the state’s top basketball prospects, with Marist swingman Quinton Stephens committing to Georgia Tech over Clemson on Sunday.

Davis, who was ranked a 3-star by Rivals, also considered Auburn, Georgia Tech and UGA.

While Davis had everybody’s attention on Twitter, he also put out a message about Adam Smith, his late teammate who died on Sunday after collapsing three days earlier during a basketball workout.

I just wanted to let everybody know that my Buford family & Adam Blake smith is still whats …

Continue reading AJ Davis: Tennessee lands son of former NBA star »