Archive for the ‘ACC’ Category

It will be interesting to see the impact that new Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Ted Roof will have on recruiting.

Roof still carries a big name in the Atlanta area because of his accomplishments as a football player at Georgia Tech and Central Gwinnett High School.

New Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Ted Roof will likely have a bigger impact on recruiting next year but then again … (AP)

What about the “Ted Roof effect”?

It will most likely be felt next year.

But it could make some things interesting this year — three weeks away from signing day.

One name to watch is Trey Johnson, the Under Armour All-American linebacker who is committed to Ohio State.

Johnson played at Central Gwinnett, the same high school as Roof. And, if you remember, that formed the bond of their friendship which caused Auburn (when Roof was defensive coordinator there in 2011) to be the first school to offer Johnson, and then for Johnson later to commit to the Tigers.

Johnson is so fond of Roof …

Continue reading How will Georgia Tech’s hiring of Ted Roof affect recruiting? (UPDATED) »

Monday was a rough day for Clemson in the state of Georgia.

Two wide receivers from the state that had been committed to Clemson decided to go to other schools.

Lassiter High School’s Ryan Jenkins flipped from Clemson (where his brother plays) to Tennessee (where his father played).

Demarcus Robinson also ended the year’s wildest recruiting soap opera.

The AJC Super 11 wide receiver from Peach County High School originally committed to Clemson, switched to Florida, changed back to Clemson, de-committed last week from the Tigers at an all-star while wearing a Florida hat, was set to announce for a fourth time on NBC on Saturday but canceled because he wasn’t ready, then announced on Twitter on Monday that he would be enrolling that same day at Florida.

I love my gators can’t wait to arrive on campus!

— Demarcus Robinson (@demarcus11robin) January 7, 2013

Jenkins made up his mind after visiting Tennessee last weekend. “After spending time with the coaches and walking …

Continue reading Clemson loses two Georgia WRs in the same day »

UGA suffered a big blow when Naim Mustafaa switched his commitment from the Bulldogs to Oklahoma State.

The 6-foot-4, 235-pound defensive end from Alpharetta High School said he let UGA’s coaches know his decision a few days ago, and went public with it on Saturday. He starts college on Monday.

For the second year in a row, one of UGA's football recruits switched to … Oklahoma State. LB Naim Mustafaa let the Bulldogs know a few days ago (247sports)

“I kept re-evaluating my decision, and I felt like Oklahoma State was better off for me,” said Mustafaa over the telephone from Oklahoma City’s airport.

“I really like the area in Stillwater, and the team, and the tradition of the Oklahoma State program, and all of that.

“It’s hard not going to Georgia because I’m from Georgia. But I want to go to the NFL one day, so I have got to do what’s best for me.”

Mustafaa thinks he will be better fit as a defensive end in Oklahoma State’s 4-3 defense rather than in UGA’s 3-4 as an outside …

Continue reading Longtime UGA DE commit Naim Mustafaa flips to Oklahoma State »

Ohio State-bound LB Trey Johnson (right) with his Central Gwinnett coach Todd Wofford

ST. PETERSBURG, FL. – The best linebacker from Georgia not named Reuben Foster committed to Ohio State on national TV on Friday.

Central Gwinnett High School’s Trey Johnson picked Ohio State over Florida and Tennessee during the Under Armour All-America football game on ESPN. Johnson de-committed from Auburn last month after the coaching change.

“Ohio State is getting an SEC-caliber player, which is what Urban Meyer is trying to bring to his Ohio State teams,” Central Gwinnett coach Todd Wofford told the AJC.

“It’s the same format that Brian Kelly did with Notre Dame and their defense – bring as many kids from the south up north, and have them outrun the offenses.

After Friday’s game, Johnson was scheduled to meet in the team hotel with Meyer. He’s also supposed to sit down with Auburn’s defensive coaches, which are desperately trying to lure him back to the Tigers before …

Continue reading Trey Johnson: Ohio State beats out Florida and Tennessee for ex-Auburn LB commit »

UGA got some unexpected good news with one of its commitments on Thursday.

John Atkins, a 6-foot-4, 310-pound defensive tackle from Virginia’s Hargrave prep school, was told that the NCAA Clearinghouse had corrected a mistake on his transcript — allowing him to enroll early at UGA.

UGA DT commit John Atkins (hargravesports.com)

“I feel good, I feel blessed,” Atkins told the AJC on Thursday evening, while making the six-hour trip from Virginia to Georgia.

“I couldn’t believe it when I heard it. They told me ‘You’re going to Georgia, and you will be there by tomorrow.”

Atkins will provide immediate help this spring to a UGA defense that will be depleted by graduation and NFL departures. He will play nose tackle.

Last year, Atkins signed with UGA out of Thomson High School but failed to meet NCAA academic requirements. This year, Atkins went to Hargrave to improve his academics and hoped to enroll at UGA in January but was told he needed to stay at the prep school longer to …

Continue reading UGA gets some unexpected good news »

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 …

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

— …

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

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) »

Pretend you’re sitting on Santa’s lap.

If there’s one prospect that could wish for … for your favorite college football team, who would it be?

Post the prospect’s name and college team below, i.e. Robert Nkemdiche for Ole Miss. Or for Alabama, LSU, Clemson or whomever.

Just to make things interesting, we’ll only allow Santa wishes for uncommitted prospects, even though some of the committed prospects will surely waver over the next five weeks.

If you’re UGA, who do you put atop your wishlist?

Some would think the top priority would be 5-star LT Laremy Tunsil. That would give UGA Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall as tailbacks, with Tunsil and John Theus at tackles for the next few years. Some would ask Santa for 5-star DT Montravius Adams with the Bulldogs being wiped out on defense next year due to graduation and early NFL departures. Or there’s RB Alvin Kamara.

If you’re Georgia Tech, this class could be full already but the Yellow Jackets will likely add one or two more …

Continue reading Which football recruit is on your Christmas wishlist? »