Archive for the ‘Maryland’ Category

Raphael Kirby won't be able to make an official visit to UGA but is still considering the Bulldogs (AJC photo by Michael Carvell)

Raphael Kirby, one of Georgia’s top linebackers, said it was between UGA and USC for his fifth and final visit.

He ended up picking neither. At least for now. It could change.

The top prospect from Stephenson High School told the AJC on Tuesday night that he will only take four recruiting trips – he has already been to Vanderbilt, with upcoming visits planned for Miami, Florida and South Carolina.

“Yes, more than likely it will be those four,” Kirby said. “I mean, I’m not … I don’t know, I don’t know. I will probably take four visits, but I’m not sure.”

The recruiting process has been grueling on Kirby, who pledged to Miami last spring and insists he’s still committed to the Hurricanes – but began looking at options after Miami was accused of massive NCAA violations in August. Kirby’s attention has been divided between playing for Stephenson’s …

Continue reading Recruiting Insider: Will LB Raphael Kirby take an official visit to UGA? »

This year’s crop of Georgia college basketball prospects is led by “The Big 3” – three power forwards from the Atlanta area that are all ranked among the nation’s top 25 overall players.

You know about Southwest DeKalb’s Shaq Goodwin, who lists UGA, Florida, Memphis, and Alabama as his leaders. UGA and Memphis are the rumored frontrunners.

You know about Miller Grove’s Tony Parker, who made an official visit to Ohio State last weekend, and has recruiting trips planned for Duke and UCLA.

The “mystery guy” of the Big 3 is Robert Carter, and that’s because he played at Thomasville High School before transferring to Gwinnett County’s Shiloh High School for his senior year.

Courtcred.com’s Corey Cooper had an interesting perspective on Carter:

Last weekend, I attended a personal workout with Carter and his trainer Kierre Jordan.  Some college coaches from a D1 program out west were in the building but not to see Robert Carter, and their first question to me was, “Who is this kid?  …

Continue reading Basketball: Robert Carter lists Kentucky, FSU, Georgia Tech, UGA among favorites »

Speedy WR AJ Liddell of Westlake HS

Wide receiver AJ Liddell, who is committed to Maryland, is on UGA’s recruiting radar.

The 6-foot-4, 195-pounder said he talked with UGA recruiting coordinator Rodney Garner after the Bulldogs recently lost a commitment at wide receiver, with Flowery Branch’s CJ Curry flipping from UGA to Oklahoma State.

“I was surprised to hear from Georgia; I thought they were done recruiting at wide receiver,” Liddell told the AJC. “Coach Garner said he likes the way I play wide receiver. He said I have the size and speed they are looking for, and that they like how I catch difficult balls. They didn’t offer me a scholarship or anything. He pretty much just wanted to let me know that they are paying attention to me.”

What if UGA offered? “I don’t know, I’m committed to Maryland. Georgia is a good school, I’d listen to what they had to say.”

Other schools are still actively recruiting Liddell, who runs the 40-yard dash in 4.48 seconds and has a 3.0 GPA. He …

Continue reading Maryland WR commit AJ Liddell transfers schools, on UGA’s recruiting radar »

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Alabama and Georgia Tech are the frontrunners for Henry County defensive end Dalvin Tomlinson, who is a candidate to be Georgia’s No. 1 overall college football prospect for 2012.

The 6-foot-3, 255-pounder is an AJC Super 11 selection and has around 20+ early scholarship offers, with Florida, Clemson and Indiana filling out the rest of his top five. Tomlinson, who is a two-time state champion in wrestling, has a 3.8 GPA.

“Dalvin is relentless,” Henry County coach Mike Rozier said. “He is at full tilt every play, and looks like he never takes a play off. He goes both ways for us and his motor is always running. The college scouts always talk about that when they watch his film. You just don’t see many high school kids that are relentless and have a motor like him.”

Tomlinson made a recruiting trip to Alabama on Saturday and nearly committed.

“I was …

Continue reading Dalvin Tomlinson, AJC Super 11 DE, has Alabama and Georgia Tech as frontrunners »

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UGA’s biggest overall priority for the remainder of this year’s football recruiting class is a few big men.

The Bulldogs picked up a desperately-needed commitment on the offensive line when Greg Pyke committed to the Bulldogs on Friday. The 6-foot-6, 300-pounder from Baltimore picked UGA over Virginia Tech, Penn State and Maryland.

Pyke and his parents made the 11-hour journey from Baltimore to Athens on Friday, and gave UGA coach Mark Richt the news before leaving campus.

“We were talking, and Coach Richt said, ‘So what are your options with other schools? And what do you think about Georgia?’” Pyke told the AJC. “I said, ‘I like Georgia a lot and I would like to come here.’ [Richt] said ‘So are you verbally committing?’ I said yes and he …

Continue reading Mark Richt hugs Maryland OL after he commits to UGA (UPDATED) »

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Can you imagine NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders playing for UGA?

It almost happened, as Sanders took three official visits — UGA, Florida and eventual winner FSU.

Before Sanders was “Prime Time” or “Neon Deion” or played for the Atlanta Falcons or Atlanta Braves, he was a speedy football recruit out of Fort Myers, Fla.

Sanders talked to the new-press.com this week about his recruiting trip to UGA:

“I went to the University of Georgia,” Sanders said. “On my recruiting trip, Vince Dooley is the head coach. I had just witnessed them getting their butts kicked against Georgia Tech.

“They got their butts kicked, and I went to Vince Dooley’s office. And he says, ‘Well, I’m sure you’re going to contribute for us. I want you to redshirt and learn the system.’ And I said, …

Continue reading ‘Prime Time’ Deion Sanders on being recruited by UGA and Vince Dooley »

McEachern WR Amba Etta-Towa committed to Maryland over Virginia (AJC photo by Michael Carvell)

One of Georgia’s fastest wide receivers committed to Maryland on Wednesday night.

Amba Etta-Tawo, a 6-foot-3, 178-pounder from McEachern High School, said he picked the Terrapins over Virginia out of around 10 football scholarship offers.

“Maryland’s offense is a great fit for me,” Etta-Towa told the AJC. “The type of scheme they run is perfect for the type of receiver that I am.”

What type of wide receiver is Etta-Towa? A fast one. He was a member of McEachern’s 400-meter relay team that finished runner-up for the Class AAAAA state championship and he has been clocked in the 40-yard dash at 4.4 seconds.

“All the coaches were fired up about the commitment,” Etta-Tawo said.

Etta-Towa is the fourth Georgia player to commit to Maryland, following Marist OL Nick Brigham, Luella DB Alvin Hill and Chapel Hill WR AJ Liddell.

• Lithonia High School’s Joe Harris will announce his college …

Continue reading WR Amba Etta-Tawo commits to Maryland Terrapins over Virginia »

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Mark Richt has seen a lot in his 10 seasons as UGA’s football coach.

He’s never had a recruiting moment like Friday night.

Four players committed at the same time at UGA’s “Dawg Night” prospect camp (This was a “package deal” unlike any other … four players from four different high schools, from three different states).

John Theus, a 5-star offensive lineman from Jacksonville, and a trio of 2013 recruits — Camden County QB Brice Ramsey, WR-DB Tramel Terry of Goose Creek, S.C., and RB Derrick Henry of Yulee, Fla. — all huddled around Richt and pledged at the same time (and a fifth one committed later in the night).

Four? Maybe four on the same day. Maybe. But four at the same time? What?

Ramsey explained how it went down:

He said Theus was one of the first people he saw after reporting to UGA on Friday. ”Theus talked …

Continue reading UGA’s Mark Richt gives ‘group hug’ after 4 commit together at Dawg Night (UPDATED) »

Nick Tompkins, RB for reigning GHSA Class AAAAA state champion Brookwood High School (AJC photo by Michael Carvell)

The star running back on the high school football team that won last year’s state championship in Georgia’s largest classification committed to Michigan State on Sunday night.

Nick Tompkins picked Michigan State over Illinois, Georgia Tech, Wisconsin and Maryland, among his 20 early scholarship offers.

“Michigan State felt like the perfect place for me, it was the complete package,” Tompkins told the AJC. “I gave it a lot of thought. I got that gut feeling about Michigan State and went with it. I knew they were only going to take one running back and I wanted it to be me.”

The 5-foot-9, 175-pound Tompkins will be following two of his teammates from Brookwood High School’s 2010 GHSA Class AAAAA state championship team to Michigan State. DB Andre Sims Jr. signed with Michigan State last February, while kicker Erick Yang will walk-on with the Spartans. Tompkins has …

Continue reading RB Nick Tompkins commits to Michigan State over Wisconsin, Georgia Tech, Illinois and Maryland »

Maryland picked up a football commitment out of Georgia on Sunday.

“A.J. Liddell, our senior wide receiver, committed to Maryland,” Chris Parker, football coach at Chapel Hill High School, said.  “He talked to Coach [Randy] Edsall to let him know of his intentions today.”

The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Liddell said Maryland, UConn and East Carolina were his leaders earlier this month, according to Rivals. Liddell is Maryland’s second commitment from the state of Georgia within the last few days. Luella DB Alvin Hill, whose older brother plays at Virginia Tech, has also pledged to the ACC school.

– By Michael Carvell, AJC Recruiting Blog Got a recruiting item? mcarvell@ajc.com

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Continue reading AJ Liddell commits to Maryland Terrapins »