Archive for the ‘Miami’ Category

Stephenson High School's Class of 2012 is a candidate to lead the nation for the number of seniors that will sign major-college football scholarships (AJC photo by Michael Carvell)

Stephenson, the high school which may have had most talent-loaded roster the state of Georgia has ever seen, was eliminated in the first round of the state playoffs.

Stephenson, which has 11 seniors committed to D1 schools and could add several more before February’s signing day, lost to Lowdnes 7-0 in the Class AAAAA playoffs on Saturday.

It was a heartbreaking end for Stephenson (9-2), which got a bad draw in the first round after losing to ML King 50-49 last week when UGA-bound WR Blake Tibbs returned a kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown with 16 seconds left in regulation. The loss knocked Stephenson down to a No. 2 playoff seed, where it had to face an underachieving but always dangerous Lowndes squad.

The state of Georgia may never see a star-studded roster like Stephenson, which was led by AJC …

Continue reading What will be legacy of Stephenson? Maybe best collection of D1 prospects that Georgia has ever seen »

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Several of Stephenson High School’s top football prospects make cameo appearances in a rap video hyping up Friday’s matchup against M.L. King.

The pair of 9-0 undefeated teams will square off at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Hallford Stadium in a game which will also be broadcast live by CSS-TV Comcast Ch. 45.

Stephenson is a candidate to lead the nation this February with the number of seniors signing football scholarships with FBS schools with 11 currently, including AJC Super 11 defensive end Jarontay Jones (committed to Virginia Tech).

Back to the rap video: Linebacker Raphael Kirby steals the show with his swift dance moves. He committed to Miami last spring without ever visiting the ACC school but started looking at other schools at other schools after NCAA allegations swirled around the …

Continue reading Stephenson football prospects appear in rap video about Friday’s showdown with M.L. King »

You know you’ve made it as a big-time football prospect when a college head coach sings you “Happy Birthday.”

That’s what happened with Tray Matthews, a junior defensive back from Newnan High School who has already committed to UGA.

On Tuesday, Mathews turned 17 years old, and he was talking on the phone that night to UGA assistant John Lilly. We’ll let Matthews tell the rest about a birthday he’ll never forget:

Mark Richt sings "Happy Birthday" to recruit (AJC photo)

“Coach Lilly said I’ve got somebody who wants to talk to you and it’s Mark Richt. As soon as Coach Richt got on the phone, without saying anything else, he started singing me ‘Happy Birthday.’ And he sung the whole song to the finish. I was shocked. It made my day. I’ve never had a coach sing me ‘Happy Birthday’ before. That was really cool.”

Matthews said both he and Richt had a good laugh about it, and then talked for a few more minutes. “He wanted to know how my season was …

Continue reading UGA’s Mark Richt sings ‘Happy Birthday’ to football recruit »

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 …

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

Markuss Eligwe is Stone Mountain High School's first-ever AJC Super 11 selection (AJC photo)

UGA is still heavily recruiting two of the state’s top prospects at linebacker, even though they are committed to other schools.

Markuss Eligwe, the first-ever AJC Super 11 selection from Stone Mountain High School, has been committed to Florida State since last spring but said he will take an official visit to UGA and possibly Florida. The 6-foot-3, 223-pound Eligwe is a candidate to be the state’s No. 1 overall prospect.

Raphael Kirby of Stephenson High School is a longtime Miami commitment but re-opened communications with other schools after massive allegations of NCAA rules violations surrounded the Hurricanes. Kirby announced he will take official visits to Vanderbilt (Saturday), Miami (Oct. 22), Florida (Nov. 5) and South Carolina (Nov. 19), along with deciding between UGA and Southern California for his fifth and final recruiting trip later this week.

Both Eligwe and Kirby …

Continue reading UGA still heavily recruiting state’s top LBs, despite commitments to FSU and Miami »

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Georgia Tech offered a football scholarship to the offensive lineman who has been nicknamed “The Finisher” by college scouts.

It the first offer for Brandon Kublanow, the 6-foot-3, 290-pounder from Walton High School who is an early favorite to be the state’s No. 1 college prospect along the offensive line for 2013. Kublanow is a UGA fan and the Bulldogs could be the next to offer.

“The Finisher” earned his nickname after devastating and dominating blocking skills were caught on tape by Rivals and Scout at last month’s Corky Kell Classic at the Georgia Dome. Kublanow had 13 pancake blocks against Peachtree Ridge, including a couple where he fell on top of the defender as he was making the block and – to the amazement of scouts – stayed on top of the defender and shoved his helmet into the artificial turf, as if to make sure …

Continue reading OL Brandon Kublanow gets Georgia Tech offer; UGA may be next »

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Will UGA be able to flip the commitment of Miami LB recruit Raphael Kirby?

The Bulldogs have a chance.

The 6-foot, 210-pound linebacker from Stephenson High School will make an unofficial visit to UGA for Saturday’s game against Coastal Carolina.

Kirby made the decision to take the last-minute recruiting trip after talking with UGA recruiting coordinator Rodney Garner on Thursday night.

“We had a long conversation and Coach Garner said he wanted me to come up for a visit soon; I told him that I’m not really doing anything this weekend, so I’m going on Saturday,” Kirby told the AJC.

“Georgia is one of the schools recruiting me the hardest. They let it be known that they are excited that I am coming to visit. And I’m excited to go on the visit and have a good time watching college football.”

It is a surprising turn of events in the relationship between UGA and Kirby. When the star …

Continue reading Raphael Kirby: Will UGA be able to flip commitment of Miami recruit? »

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• Breaking news: Miller Grove’s Brandon Morris commits to UGA over Auburn and Arkansas (read here)

How does UGA’s 0-2 start affect football recruiting?

The Bulldogs have 14 players committed to sign football scholarships with the team in February, along with four high school juniors pledged the sign with UGA the following year.

Many of Georgia’s commitments made unofficial visits to Georgia for Saturday’s 45-42 loss to South Carolina, including 5-star offensive lineman John Theus of Jacksonville and Thomson High School defensive tackle John John Atkins (UGA’s most recent commit). As far as junior prospects, Camden County QB Brice Ramsey, Newnan safety Tray Matthews, and Goose Creek (S.C) wide receiver Tramal Terry – both early commitments to UGA — were among …

Continue reading How does UGA’s 0-2 start affect football recruiting? »

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Buford High School tight end Kurt Freitag had originally planned to announce his college decision after Friday’s game on ESPNU.

Then he changed mind. He wants to make official visits this three finalists of Alabama, Florida and Florida State. He will commit after the trips.

The 6-foot-3, 245-pound Frietag is one of Georgia’s top college football prospects at tight end. He will make a recruiting trip to Florida State next week, Alabama on Sept. 24, and Florida on Oct. 1.

Buford TE Kurt Freitag will pick between Alabama, Florida, and FSU after his visits (Photo courtesy of Freitag family)

Buford plays Yulee (Fla.) High School at 8:30 p.m. Friday on ESPNU. Yulee is led by 2013 running back Derrick Henry, who committed early to UGA this past summer.

WE’VE MOVED!!! Visit the AJC’s NEW Recruiting page by clicking here or going to ajc.com/sports/recruiting

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Continue reading TE Kurt Freitag will take visits to FSU, Alabama and Florida before deciding »

WR Jason Croom, who will sign with Tennessee, is the featured player on tonight's WSB-TV's "Thursday Night Football." See below for specific TV channels (AJC photo by Michael Carvell)

Jason Croom, one of Georgia’s top college football prospects at wide receiver, committed to Tennessee on Thursday.

The 6-foot-5, 226-pounder picked the Volunteers over Mississippi State, among his 17 early offers, which also included Auburn, Michigan and Florida State. Croom is the fifth player from Georgia to join Tennessee’s 2012 recruiting class, and No. 2 at wide reciever, along with Columbia High School’s Keithon Redding.

“You know how they say ‘when you visit the right school, you will just know it?’ That’s how it was at Tennessee,” Croom told the AJC. “They think I can develop into a special player for them. They really care about my academics and helping me get a degree. I really like the coaches, the players, the atmosphere — you know, everything about the place.”

Norcross coach Keith …

Continue reading Jason Croom picks Tennessee over Mississippi State »