Archive for the ‘Other SEC Schools’ Category

THE TEN AT 10:

1. Watts Dantzler’s “Excellent Adventure” continues. The massive offensive tackle (6-7, 310) from Dalton took a trip up to Knoxville this past weekend to attend a Tennessee football practice. But just to keep us all guessing (actually it had nothing to do with “us”), he left UT and drove all the way back down to Athens to spend the night and hang out with friends at UGA. “It was good, it was real good,” Dantzler said of the Tennessee visit. “I got to meet all the coaches on the new coaching staff and that went over real well. There were only like two or three other prospects up there so it was real nice.” Dantzler, one of the top-rated offensive linemen in the state’s Class of 2011, has more than 20 scholarship offers and has been outspoken about his enjoyment of the recruiting process.

2. Don’t pencil in Stephon Tuitt on Tech’s list of commitments just yet. The Yellow Jackets do indeed lead for the services of the talented defensive end from Monroe Area, but …

Continue reading Ten at 10: Watts Dantzler’s ‘Excellent Adventure’ continues »

Milton's Dai-Jon Parker has multiple scholarship options in both football and basketball. (AJC photo by Jason Getz)

As a football prospect, Milton’s Dai-Jon Parker was one of Atlanta’s best-kept secrets.

The emphasis there should be on the past tense word – was.

“I’ve got about 900 pieces of [recruiting] mail for him sitting on my desk right now,” Milton football coach Scott Walker said Friday.

Parker’s name has been floating around in basketball circles for a while. The 6-foot-3, 180-pound shooting guard is rated a four-star prospect in hoops and just helped lead the Eagles to the Class AAAAA state championship. He led Milton with 19 points and six rebounds in the title game against Westlake.

But only recently has Parker emerged as a major football prospect. And that was his coach’s intention.

“To make a long story short, I haven’t said anything about him [as a football prospect] because I promised I wouldn’t until after basketball season,” said Walker, who just sent …

Continue reading Milton two-sport star Dai-Jon Parker contemplates growing options »

Dantzler's Top 40: This is the bulletin board in Watts Dantzler's bedroom. On it are the official team envelopes of schools from which he has received letters of interest. The black check marks signify an official offer. (Photo by Watts Dantzler)

It’s not long into an interview with Watts Dantzler before you realize you’re dealing with a different sort of college football prospect.

You’re thinking that after you hear how he’s sorting through his snowballing recruiting process. But then you’re sure of it when you get around to asking him if he’s involved in any spring sports such as track or baseball.

Dantzler

“I’m actually playing tennis right now,” said the 6-foot-7, 310-pound offensive lineman from Dalton. “I enjoy it and . . .”

It takes a second for that comment to resonate. So I interrupt him make sure I’ve heard him correctly.

“Tennis?” I ask, incredulous. “Like on the varsity tennis team?”

“Well, I’m on the JV right now,” Dantzler says. “I haven’t qualified for varsity …

Continue reading OL Watts Dantzler having fun with recruiting process »

Four Georgians have already been named Under Armour All-Americans for 2011 and plan to participate in the annual high school all-star football game next January in Orlando.

The Georgia players tabbed so far are ATH Quan Bray of Hogansville (Callaway HS), RB Isaiah Crowell of Carver-Columbus, TE Jay Rome of Valdosta and DT Gabriel Wright of Carver-Columbus. Three of the four designees are members of the AJC’s “Tentative Top 10.”

Under Armour has designated only 23 All-Americans so far. There were 87 on last year’s final roster, including 12 from Georgia.

Following is the whole list:

2011 Under Armour All-Americans

Name
Pos.
Ht., Wt.
School
College

Quan Bray
ATH
5-11, 180
Callaway (Ga.)
Undecided

Jadeveon Clowney
DE
6-5, 220
South Pointe (S.C.)
Undecided

La’El Collins
OT
6-5, 285
Redemptorist (La.)
LSU

Isaiah Crowell
RB
5-11, 200
Carver (Ga.)
Undecided

Trey DePriest
OLB
6-2, 220
Springfield South (Ohio)
Undecided

Jeff Driskel
QB
6-4, 224
Paul J. Hagerty …

Continue reading Four Georgians (so far) earn Under Armour All-America distinction »

UPDATED WEDNESDAY, FEB. 10 . . .

Here are all the signings to date in the state of Georgia this year (sorted by high school classification and school) as complied by high school historian and AJC correspondent Steve Slay. The recruiting period continues until May 31 so it’s work in progress. Coaches, please be sure to let us know if one of your players is missing:

CLASS AAAAA

ALPHARETTA

Michael Bennett – Georgia

Justin Burns – Delaware

Connor Hollenbeck – Washington & Lee

Brandon Terry – Wake Forest

BERKMAR

Norman Booker – Hampton

BRADWELL INSTITUTE

Sheldon Barnes – Savannah State

Darvean Herron – Savannah State

Ulrick John – Georgia State

BROOKWOOD

Donovan Barker – Brevard

Julian Suber – Georgia Southern

CAMDEN COUNTY

Jeremiah Booth – Wofford

Ean Days – Illinois

Robert Gabriel – Carson-Newman

Zach Griffiths – Carson-Newman

Matt Jackson – South Carolina State

Glenn Mack – Georgia Military (JUCO)

Steven Murphy – South Carolina State

Derrick …

Continue reading Working list of state’s college football signees (updated) »

Henry County wide receiver Markeith Ambles just announced on Fox 5 Sports that he will be following Lane Kiffin out to Southern Cal.

Ambles was a longtime Tennessee commitment until Kiffin and his staff bolted for the West Coast. Ambles immediately decommitted to the Vols, then took official visits to North Carolina, USC and then UT last weekend.

Continue reading AJC Super 11 Markeith Ambles chooses USC »

In all the craziness that was the Da’Rick Rogers watch last night I never was able to put up a post about Rivals.com’s No. 1 running back Marcus Lattimore deciding to sign with South Carolina.

This was a huge get for coach Steve Spurrier, who was under a lot of pressure to land the state’s top player. Lattimore made the announcement before a packed crowd inside his church in Spartanburg. Here’s a link to the story in The State.

Lattimore at one time considered Georgia as well as Oregon and Penn State. It came down to Auburn and South Carolina. Some thought the Tigers might shoot up to No. 1 in the country if Lattimore had chosen them.

Continue reading Spurrier relieved to get S.C.’s top player, RB Marcus Lattimore »

Stephenson's Mike Thornton is Atlanta's big fish that has yet to be reeled in. (AJC photo by Jason Getz)

It’s here!

National signing day has arrived and some of you are like a kid on Christmas morning. You can’t wait to rip open the packages under the tree to see what’s inside. Others of you feel like you’re getting ready to read a great mystery novel, eagerly anticipating some unexpected twists and turns and hoping for the big payoff in the end. Still others, might have an underlying sense of dread knowing your team didn’t close the deal Kid Bluechip, so the heck with the rest of the class.

Wherever you fall on that spectrum, you’re in the right place. Welcome to the AJC Recruiting Blog, which today might be called the “College Recruiting Nerve Center of Georgia.” From this place you’ll be able to monitor everything that happens recruiting-wise in our state today. We’ll be reporting player signings as soon as their letters-of-intent start whirring off the fax machines at 8 …

Continue reading What recruiting drama remains for National Signing Day? »

Will longtime Georgia commitment Da'Rick Rogers (21) of Calhoun make the leap to rival Tennessee on national signing day? It could happen. (Special photo by Lane Bearden)

CALHOUN — When Da’Rick Rogers sits down to make public his college decision on national signing day — if he in fact does it on that day — there will be at least two caps on the table in front of him. One from Georgia and one from Tennessee.

And there is a pretty good chance there will be a third one, too.

“Maybe Ohio State or something, just to throw everybody off,” he said with a laugh.

Rogers is a funny guy. He tries hard to keep things as light as he can these days. But the reality is Bulldogs’ fans probably don’t see much humor in the high-flying receiver’s recent decision to open up his recruitment to include the Vols.

Rogers, the No. 1-rated player in the AJC Top 50 state rankings and a UGA commitment since early June, decided last week to accompany Calhoun quarterback and best friend Nash Nance on an …

Continue reading Da’Rick Rogers ’still committed’ to UGA but serious about Vols »

Permissible contact: This is a photo of North Gwinnett lineman JaWuan James posing with Orange Pride hostesses, including the controversial Lacey Earps (R), before the Vols game against Georgia on Oct. 10. James committed to Tennessee a short time later.

As it turns out, Georgia has committed just as many NCAA secondary violations as Tennessee in the past year.

Volunteers’ coach Lane Kiffin, once referred to in a Florida Times-Union headline as “Lane Violation,” has been hammered by the national media — and more than once in this space — for his penchant for breaking NCAA rules. Tennessee has been cited for six in the year since he was tabbed their new coach on Dec. 1, 2008. Now they face at least two more violations as the NCAA continues an ongoing inquiry into the possible misuse of recruiting hostesses, impermissible visits and other infractions.

Impermissible contact: This is the infamous photo of Byrnes players Brandon Willis and Corey Miller with UT hostesses Dahra …

Continue reading Georgia has as many rules violations (6) as Tennessee »