Archive for the ‘Insider’ Category

Stanley Williams, one of the state’s top prospects for next year, told the AJC this week that’s he’s “90-percent committed” to UGA but also said that he is unsure if he will end up signing with the Bulldogs in February 2014.

UGA's Mark Richt has lost a few recruits recently but the overall class is still looking strong (AP)

The 5-foot-9, 192-pound Williams is a junior tailback from George Walton Academy. He was offered the summer after his freshman year of high school at Dawg Night prospect camp – and committed on the spot.

Will he sign with UGA? “I’m not sure yet about that,” Williams said. “Of course, it’s getting close. It’s coming down to crunch time and it’s time for me to focus on which schools do I really want to attend. Who knows? I’m not sure yet. I just want to take a closer look and see what the best option is for me.”

Williams has attended games this season at UGA, Clemson, South Carolina and Florida. He plans to check out games at both Auburn …

Continue reading Stanley Williams: UGA RB recruit is “90-percent committed” »

Perhaps no out-of-state school has recruited Georgia better this year than Clemson.

The Tigers have seven commitments from the state for 2013, including the nation’s undisputed No. 1 overall prospect (Robert Nkemdiche) and a wide receiver (Demarcus Robinson) who is considered by some to be Georgia’s best at his position.

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However, the big question is: Can Clemson hold onto its all-star class from Georgia – particularly Nkemdiche and Robinson?

Robinson, who is ranked as the nation’s No. 10 wide receiver by Rivals, has been committed to Clemson since July but recently told TigerIllustrated.com that he is a “soft commit” to the Tigers. Robinson is being heavily pursued by Florida and Notre Dame, and wants to attend games at both schools.

“I don’t know if he will visit Florida and Notre Dame,” Peach County coach Chad Campbell …

Continue reading Can Clemson hold onto Nkemdiche and other Georgia stars? »

UGA target Missy Franklin committed to Cal (AP)

One of the biggest stars of the 2012 Olympics has picked a college.

Missy Franklin, who won five swimming medals at the London Olympics, committed to Cal over UGA and Texas.

“Committed to swim at Cal Berkeley!” Franklin wrote on Twitter. “I am officially a baby Golden Bear. I am so honored to part of such a special team! #GoBears.”

Franklin took visits to all three of her finalists, according to the AP. Cal is coached by Teri McKeever, who guided the U.S. women’s swim team in London.

Probably the biggest surprise was Franklin even choosing a college. She stands to lose millions of dollars in endorsement deals by attending college rather than turning professional this year. Franklin only plans to swim in college for two years, according to Swimming World.

RECRUITING HEADLINES

• Can Clemson hold onto Nkemdiche & other star Georgia recruits???
• Georgia TE calls his de-commitment from Auburn a “misunderstanding”
• Olympic star …

Continue reading Missy Franklin: Cal beats out UGA and Texas for Olympics sensation »

How big of a priority is JC defensive tackle Toby Johnson for UGA?

With UGA off last weekend, the Bulldogs dispatched recruiting coordinator Rodney Garner to Kansas to personally observe Johnson play for Hutchinson junior college in the 75-0 win over Independence.

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“Coach Garner had said that he wanted to watch me play in person,” Johnson told the AJC. “He told my coaches that I played pretty well and he liked what he saw.

“When I talked to him, we didn’t talk much about how they need me. I already know that for a fact. I’ve looked at the depth chart, and I’ve seen Georgia play this season.”

Johnson is a former standout at Atlanta’s Banneker High School, and he’s currently ranked as the No. 1 overall prospect out of the junior college ranks by 247sports.com.

The 6-foot-5, 310-pounder plans to take all five official visits before he picks a college by the end of …

Continue reading Toby Johnson: UGA flies to Kansas for No. 1-ranked recruit »

Trey Johnson, the 4-star linebacker who is committed to Auburn, will likely decide after this weekend if he will take his fifth and final official visit to Florida.

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Johnson, who is considered by many to be the state’s best senior linebacker after Reuben Foster transferred last spring, will go through the entire recruiting process and all of his visits — despite being committed to Auburn for 15 months.

“He just wants to make sure about everything; this is the only time he gets to control anything,” Central Gwinnett coach Todd Wofford told the AJC. “He knows college football is a business from his relationship with (Ted Roof, who resigned as Auburn’s defensive coordinator last December).

“After seeing other coaches take other jobs or get fired, this is a chance for Trey to double-check everything and make sure. It’s a chance for Trey and his family to make sure everything is …

Continue reading Auburn is safe with 4-star commit “as long as there’s not a catastrophe” »

AJC Super 11 QB Eddie Printz (AJC)

Eddie Printz, who was committed to UCLA but said he had his scholarship offer withdrawn by the Bruins last month, committed to Missouri on Friday night.

“It feels like family,” Printz told the AJC. “They never gave up on recruiting me, and I am so happy to be a Tiger.”

The quarterback from Lassiter High School picked Missouri soon after arriving an an official visit this weekend with the new SEC school.

Printz was 16-of-30 passing for 196 yards in a 21-9 victory over Walton last week. On the season, Printz is 106-of-167 passing (63.5 percent) for 1,442 yards, 13 touchdowns and four interceptions. Lassiter is 6-0 and ranked No. 2 in Class AAAAAA.

Printz first committed to SMU, then switched to UCLA, and now is it Missouri.

RECRUITING HEADLINES

• Georgia QB is headed to SEC rival
• UGA loses another top football recruit … 4-star Demarre Kitt de-commits from Bulldogs
• Could UGA WR recruit Tramel Terry commit for a … THIRD time???
• Kelsey Griffin …

Continue reading Eddie Printz: Missouri lands Georgia QB »

Robert Nkemdiche, the nation’s No. 1 prospect, finally spoke about his mother’s recent comments to ESPN The Magazine.

Undisputed No. 1 prospect Robert Nkemdiche (AJC)

And it may not be good news for Clemson.

On Tuesday, Nkemdiche confirmed that he and his family are torn with his college decision. Nkemdiche surprisingly committed to Clemson over the summer, but is still being actively pursued by Ole Miss, where his older brother Denzel is a rising star who was recently named SEC co-Defensive Player of the Week.

Here’s what Nkemdiche told ESPN’s Kipp Adams on Tuesday:

“My recruitment is crazy still and Ole Miss is making a push for me. It does not matter to my dad, but my mom wants me to go to Ole Miss and we are still talking about it, so we have not come to an agreement on it yet.

“It is tugging my heart in two different directions.”

Last month, Nkemdiche’s mother, who resides in Nigeria, caused shockwaves in Clemson when she told ESPN the Magazine:

“His …

Continue reading Robert Nkemdiche, Clemson’s star recruit: “My mom wants me to go to Ole Miss” »

Kelsey Griffin, who has kept a low profile since he tried to commit to UGA a few weeks ago, spoke to the AJC about Tuesday’s pledge to South Carolina and his feelings towards the Bulldogs.

Steve Spurrier has Georgia on his mind when it comes to recruiting with 21 signees or commits from this state over the past two seasons (AJC)

“I’m pretty excited about South Carolina; they were second on my list for a reason,” said the 4-star defensive tackle from Mill Creek High School.

“When things didn’t work out with Georgia, I went to the second person on my list, which I had up there for a reason. I got to see a game for the first time at South Carolina this past weekend, and I enjoyed myself. I had them second on my list, I really liked them a lot, and I committed.”

The 6-foot-1, 290-pounder had a face-to-face meeting with Steve Spurrier on the day after South Carolina’s 35-7 win over UGA. “It was a pretty nice conversation. He got pretty excited about about me coming there, and he …

Continue reading INSIDER: Kelsey Griffin speaks out about UGA, South Carolina »

Milton High School may have its best crop of college football prospects in school history with five seniors committed to BCS conference schools, including the nation’s No. 5-ranked overall recruit and a running back that is now considered one of the state’s top five at his position after missing nearly all of last season with an injury.

Why aren’t any of them going to UGA or Georgia Tech?

That’s a question asked repeatedly and almost daily to Milton coach Howie DeCristofaro and his five seniors – DE Carl Lawson (committed to Auburn), RB Peyton Barber (Ole Miss), OL Cory Helms (Wake Forest), OL Eason Fromayan (TCU) and OL Josh Harris (Wake Forest)

Milton is an affluent suburb of Atlanta located 35 miles from Georgia Tech and is home to one of UGA’s most fervent fan bases.

DE Carl Lawson is ranked by ESPN as the nation's No. 5 overall college prospect. His dad played football at Georgia Tech and he grew up a UGA fan. He's committed to Auburn (AJC)

UGA has yet to …

Continue reading Carl Lawson: What happened between 5-star DE, his four D1 teammates … and UGA and Georgia Tech »

Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson got on the phone with some of the team's recruits after Monday's coaching changes (AJC)

One of Georgia Tech’s top football recruits said he got a call on Monday evening from Paul Johnson, explaining the team’s coaching changes.

Darius Commissiong, a three-star defensive tackle from Forestville, Md., was told that Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Al Groh had been relieved of his duties, while a few other assistants had been moved around on defense.

“I was shocked at first because Coach Groh was my recruiting coach, and we talked on a nightly basis,” Commissiong said. “I was disappointed because he was like a father figure to me. We used to talk about a lot of things outside of football. He would give me life advice, and things like that.

“But that’s the business aspect of college football, especially when things aren’t going as well as you would like. I think a big part of it was Clemson putting up 600 yards against them last …

Continue reading Georgia Tech recruits react to firing of Al Groh »