Archive for December, 2012

One of the biggest stars from the RisingSeniors Bowl already has an early scholarship offer from Georgia Tech.

And there’s another one on the way from UGA.

Nick Chubb, a 5-foot-11, 210-pound running back from Cedartown High School, said he talked over the telephone with UGA assistant Bryan McClendon, who told him that he will have an offer from the Bulldogs.

Paul Johnson and Mark Richt are both courting 2014 RB Nick Chubb (AJC)

“Coach McClendon said that they are definitely going to offer,” Chubb said. “He said he wanted to get to me in a hurry because he knows more offers are coming. He wants Georgia to be one of my first offers.”

What was Chubb’s reaction? “It’s an honor to offered by one of the best teams in the nation. I’m going to go over there (in January), sit down with the coaches, and see how I like it.”

Chubb’s family likes the idea: They are all Georgia fans. “Yes, they are. And I grew up liking them. But I kind of like doing my own thing.”

Perhaps no one had more …

Continue reading Both UGA and Georgia Tech offer RB Nick Chubb »

This year’s award for “Best Recruiting Soap Opera” could go to AJC Super 11 wide receiver Demarcus Robinson of Peach County High School.

After arriving at the Army All-America Bowl, Robinson told Rivals that he is no longer committed to Clemson.

It’s the second time that Robinson has de-committed from the Tigers. In between, he’s also switched to Florida, and later backed off that pledge.

Now that Robinson has committed and de-committed three times, which college will be his fourth pick?

It’s between Florida and Clemson.

“It’s 50-50, I don’t really know,” said Robinson, who reported to the all-star game wearing a Florida Gators hat.

Robinson said he will announce his fourth and final decision during Saturday’s game on national TV.

He has to make a quick turnaround because he will begin college classes as an early enrollee on Jan. 7.

MT @jcshurburtt 4-star WR Demarcus Robinson now says #UF leads Clemson, which is weird, per @swiltfong247- bit.ly/131jAfI

— Michael Carvell …

Continue reading AJC Super 11 WR will pick a college for a FOURTH time »

Auburn has made a late offer to one of the state’s top seniors at running back.

Auburn made a late offer to Peyton Barber, who is committed to Ole Miss

Milton High School’s Peyton Barber said he got a “random call” on Sunday from Auburn’s new coach, Gus Malzahn. Barber is committed to Ole Miss.

“I didn’t know who it was, at first,” Barber told the AJC. “Coach Malzahn said he had nothing to do with the old coaching staff at Auburn. He said if he had been there, I would’ve definitely had an offer before the season. (Malzahn) felt like I was one of the best running backs he’s watched this year. He liked the way I ran, blocked and caught balls. He said I could be an every-down back there.”

The 6-foot, 225-pound Barber was overlooked by many colleges because he missed nearly all of his junior season with torn ligaments in his ankle. Ole Miss gambled with an early offer to Barber, who committed to the Rebels last summer.

Barber remains committed to Ole Miss, but will take official …

Continue reading Auburn offers Carl Lawson’s teammate as part of possible “package deal” »

The state of Georgia has another strong crop of football prospects for next year.

Around 100 high school juniors will be on display for the RisingSeniors.com Bowl, which will be played at 1 p.m. Monday at Grady High School. Tickets are $20 for the all-star game that will also be broadcasted on ESPN3.com.

Here’s a look at the top five prospects in the game:

• Deshaun Watson, quarterback, Gainesville: The 6-foot-4, 200-pounder has looked like the state’s No. 1 prospect in practices. Watson has prototypical size, he possesses outstanding composure, he’s a running threat, and he can throw on the run with velocity. Watson has been just about perfect on short to intermediate throws in the cold and rainy weather. “He’s as gifted as anybody I’ve seen,” said Blessed Trinity coach Tim McFarlin, the East team’s offensive coordinator. Watson nearly holds all of the state’s major passing records, and he led Gainesville to its first state championship earlier this month. Watson committed to …

Continue reading 5 prospects to watch in RisingSeniors game at 1 p.m. Monday »

Around 100 of the state top high school juniors are on display in the 2012 RisingSeniors.com all-star football game. Practices kick off on Friday, and Monday’s game will be at 1 p.m. at Grady High School (Tickets are still available for $15 in advance here and it will be broadcast on ESPN3 here).

The headliners for this year’s game are Liberty County LB Raekwon McMillan, who has 50 early scholarship offers and is a frontrunner to be the state’s top prospect for 2014, and Gainesville QB Deshaun Watson, who has already broken nearly every major one of the state’s passing records and is committed to Clemson.

Here’s a look at the rosters, along with juniors claiming early offers:

EASTSIDE

• Alex Cason, Valdosta, WR 6′3″185
• *Allen Artis, Wheeler, safety, 6-0, 195: North Carolina (Note: Not playing due to injury)
• Antavis Rowe, Washington WR/DB 5′10″165
• Bryce Grauss, Alpharetta LB 5′11″190
• *Bryce Lewis, Parkview S 6-1, 175: Vanderbilt and Georgia State.
• *Bryson Allen-Williams, Cedar …

Continue reading Preview of the Georgia’s top college prospects for 2014 »

Note: Saturday’s practices were shortened due to inclement weather.

Here are unofficial awards from the first day of practices at the RisingSeniors.com Bowl, which features 95 of the state’s top high school juniors. These are based on observations from players, coaches, scouts and recruiting analysts.

EASTSIDE TEAM

Clemson-bound QB DeShaun Watson of Gainesville looked like the best overall player at Friday's RisingSenior.com practices (AJC)

MVP, OFFENSE

• Deshaun Watson, QB, Gainesville (committed to Clemson, but also reviewing offers from Ohio State, FSU, Auburn and Tennessee, among others). The 6-foot-4, 200-pounder looked like the best overall player at the all-star game. He’s got prototypical size, outstanding composure, he’s a running threat, and he can throw with accuracy and velocity on the run. Watson was just about perfect on the short and intermediate throws on a cold and windy day. “He’s as gifted as anybody I’ve ever seen,” said Blessed Trinity coach Tim …

Continue reading Recruiting Awards from Day 1 of RisingSeniors.com (UPDATED) »

Alvin Kamara, who is one of UGA’s top remaining targets for 2013, said he will likely save his final official visit for Alabama.

Alabama and UGA are the co-leaders for the speedy running back from Norcross High School who also has Oregon in the mix.

Nick Saban could get a 4th commitment at RB if Alabama lands the AJC's Mr. Georgia Football (Special)

Kamara was a guest speaker the RisingSeniors.com banquet on Thursday night, along with two other alums from the junior all-star game — Milton High School DE Carl Lawson (committed to Auburn) and Alpharetta High School QB Joshua Dobbs (committed to Arizona State).

Kamara has a tight friendship with Alabama assistant Kirby Smart. He said that Smart had requested his final official visit and “I’ll probably do that.”

(Note: It’s this close relationship with Smart that caused 247sports.com’s Rusty Mansell to project Kamara to sign with Alabama over UGA)

Despite signing day less than five weeks away, Kamara has yet to set the dates for …

Continue reading UGA target will likely save last visit for … Alabama »

Two of UGA’s football recruits who expected to enroll early will now have to wait until May to join the Bulldogs.

Defensive tackle John Atkins and outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, who both attend Virginia’s Hargrave Military prep school, both have to finish up a little academic work before they can enroll at UGA. They will not be finished in time to start classes with the Bulldogs on Jan. 7.

UGA DT commit John Atkins (hargravesports.com)

“I was kind of upset about it at first,” Atkins told the AJC on Wednesday. “But I’ve kind of gotten over it because there’s nothing we can do about it. I’m keeping my head up, and going to keep doing the things I was doing at Hargrave.”

UGA has at least 17 commitments from high school, prep school or junior college who said that they planned to enroll early. After the change of plans with Atkins and Floyd, the Bulldogs are down to 15.

The magic number for UGA is 10 early enrollees, because that’s the maximum amount that can count toward last …

Continue reading DELAYED: Two UGA football recruits have to postpone enrollment »

A rarely-used SEC document may have helped Alabama land the nation’s No. 1-ranked offensive tackle out of prep school.

On Tuesday, Brandon Hill of Virginia’s Hargrave Military prep school announced that he was flipping from Ole Miss to Alabama.

It was under unique circumstances:

Ole Miss was ordered to stop recruiting Hill by its compliance office after it was revealed he had signed an SEC financial aid agreement with Alabama earlier this month, according to the Clarion-Ledger’s Hugh Kellenberger — and that was when Hill was still committed to Ole Miss.

The website also reported that Hill may have not realized what he was doing when he signed off on the papers.

Alabama will likely contend for yet another No. 1-ranked recruiting class (AP)

There are three things commonly signed by prospective student-athletes headed to the SEC: A national letter of intent (which binds the PSA to a specific institution), a financial aid agreement with the specific institution (which binds the …

Continue reading Alabama secures top recruit with SEC document (UPDATED) »

Why do high school football stars enroll early in college?

Mainly, it’s to get a headstart on competing for a starting position.

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QB Brice Ramsey has his reasons for graduating from Camden County High School this month so he  could enroll at UGA for the start of the spring semester on Jan. 7. Ramsey will be joined at UGA by his high school teammate, DB JJ Green, who is also committed to the Bulldogs.

“It was for academic and football advantages,” Ramsey told the AJC. “You get to come in and play with the team, along with make the transition to college without having it all piled onto you in July and August.”

Ramsey is one of 17 high school, prep school, or junior college prospects committed to UGA that have said they plan to begin college classes in two weeks. The Bulldogs are only counting on 10, as …

Continue reading UGA may have hit its ‘magic number’ of 10 »