Archive for the ‘SEC’ Category

UGA officials confirmed on Friday that 13 of its recruits have enrolled early in college.

The Bulldogs, which have 30 commitments for 2013, originally had 17 recruits that intended to start class on Monday for the spring semester. However, only 13 were cleared through admissions. The others will have to wait until May.

UGA needed to hit the magic number of 10 early enrollees circumvent the SEC’s new over-signing rules on a 25-man annual limit on class size. Under the rules, 10 of this year’s recruits will be “back-counted” toward the 2012 scholarship numbers, permitting the Bulldogs to sign 25 in February.

With 13 total enrolling early, 10 of those will count toward last year, and the other three will go toward this year’s numbers.

The last admittance of the group was John Atkins, a defensive tackle from Virginia’s Hargrave prep school.

On Thursday, Atkins told the AJC that he was approved by the NCAA Clearinghouse after his coach discovered that one of his grades had been …

Continue reading UGA confirms that 13 football recruits have enrolled early »

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 »

Whomever RB Alvin Kamara visits on Feb. 1 will likely have inside position (AJC)

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. — Alvin Kamara, the AJC’s Mr. Football, has two major decisions to make over the next month:

The biggest one is picking a college, with the Norcross High School running back listing Alabama and UGA as his co-leaders, and Oregon somewhere in the mix. He’s got a month to figure that out.

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The other one is a little more pressing: Next week, Kamara will finally decide which college he will visit on Feb. 1, the final recruiting weekend before signing day.

“I’m not certain where I will take that last visit, I’m still trying to figure it out,” Kamara said. “Both Alabama and Georgia want that last visit, so I still got to wait and see.”

Kamara has developed close friendships with the assistants from both of his co-leaders who are in charge of recruiting him, Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby …

Continue reading Alabama and UGA fighting it out for last visit with AJC’s Mr. Football »

One of the state’s most inspirational recruiting stories this year involves a former UGA football player.

Since being dismissed from UGA nearly a year ago, Nick Marshall of Wilcox County High School has resurrected his career – and life – somewhere in the middle of Kansas.

The former AJC Super 11 selection switched back to his preferred position of QB, enrolled at Garden City junior college, and had a breakout season that has attracted attention from big-time college scouts.

Former UGA DB Nick Marshall was offered at QB by Texas this week (AP)

“Nick had a great season for us, and that opened up a lot of doors for him,” Garden City coach Jeff Tatum told the AJC.

Texas is the most recent scholarship offer for Marshall, who is also considering Kansas State and Indiana, among others. Auburn has also expressed heavy interest.

What about that Texas offer? “They are really excited about recruiting him,” Tatum said. “They want to do a little more up-tempo offense and a …

Continue reading Texas offers former UGA DB as a quarterback »

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 »

Auburn has made a late offer to one of the state’s top seniors at running back.

Auburn made a late offer to Peyton Barber, who is committed to Ole Miss

Milton High School’s Peyton Barber said he got a “random call” on Sunday from Auburn’s new coach, Gus Malzahn. Barber is committed to Ole Miss.

“I didn’t know who it was, at first,” Barber told the AJC. “Coach Malzahn said he had nothing to do with the old coaching staff at Auburn. He said if he had been there, I would’ve definitely had an offer before the season. (Malzahn) felt like I was one of the best running backs he’s watched this year. He liked the way I ran, blocked and caught balls. He said I could be an every-down back there.”

The 6-foot, 225-pound Barber was overlooked by many colleges because he missed nearly all of his junior season with torn ligaments in his ankle. Ole Miss gambled with an early offer to Barber, who committed to the Rebels last summer.

Barber remains committed to Ole Miss, …

Continue reading Auburn offers Carl Lawson’s teammate as part of possible “package deal” »

The state of Georgia has another strong crop of football prospects for next year.

Around 100 high school juniors will be on display for the RisingSeniors.com Bowl, which will be played at 1 p.m. Monday at Grady High School. Tickets are $20 for the all-star game that will also be broadcasted on ESPN3.com.

Here’s a look at the top five prospects in the game:

• Deshaun Watson, quarterback, Gainesville: The 6-foot-4, 200-pounder has looked like the state’s No. 1 prospect in practices. Watson has prototypical size, he possesses outstanding composure, he’s a running threat, and he can throw on the run with velocity. Watson has been just about perfect on short to intermediate throws in the cold and rainy weather. “He’s as gifted as anybody I’ve seen,” said Blessed Trinity coach Tim McFarlin, the East team’s offensive coordinator. Watson nearly holds all of the state’s major passing records, and he led Gainesville to its first state championship earlier this month. …

Continue reading 5 prospects to watch in RisingSeniors game at 1 p.m. Monday »

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 »

Alvin Kamara, who is one of UGA’s top remaining targets for 2013, said he will likely save his final official visit for Alabama.

Alabama and UGA are the co-leaders for the speedy running back from Norcross High School who also has Oregon in the mix.

Nick Saban could get a 4th commitment at RB if Alabama lands the AJC's Mr. Georgia Football (Special)

Kamara was a guest speaker the RisingSeniors.com banquet on Thursday night, along with two other alums from the junior all-star game — Milton High School DE Carl Lawson (committed to Auburn) and Alpharetta High School QB Joshua Dobbs (committed to Arizona State).

Kamara has a tight friendship with Alabama assistant Kirby Smart. He said that Smart had requested his final official visit and “I’ll probably do that.”

(Note: It’s this close relationship with Smart that caused 247sports.com’s Rusty Mansell to project Kamara to sign with Alabama over UGA)

Despite signing day less than five weeks away, Kamara has yet to set the dates for …

Continue reading UGA target will likely save last visit for … Alabama »

Two of UGA’s football recruits who expected to enroll early will now have to wait until May to join the Bulldogs.

Defensive tackle John Atkins and outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, who both attend Virginia’s Hargrave Military prep school, both have to finish up a little academic work before they can enroll at UGA. They will not be finished in time to start classes with the Bulldogs on Jan. 7.

UGA DT commit John Atkins (hargravesports.com)

“I was kind of upset about it at first,” Atkins told the AJC on Wednesday. “But I’ve kind of gotten over it because there’s nothing we can do about it. I’m keeping my head up, and going to keep doing the things I was doing at Hargrave.”

UGA has at least 17 commitments from high school, prep school or junior college who said that they planned to enroll early. After the change of plans with Atkins and Floyd, the Bulldogs are down to 15.

The magic number for UGA is 10 early enrollees, because that’s the maximum amount that …

Continue reading DELAYED: Two UGA football recruits have to postpone enrollment »