Archive for the ‘Tennessee’ Category

Does being Vince Dooley’s son help Tennessee with its recruiting efforts in the state of Georgia?

Vince Dooley remains perhaps the famous coaching name from the state, directing UGA for 25 years and leading the Bulldogs to the 1980 national championship.

Derek Dooley is Vince’s son and the second-year coach at Tennessee, which traditionally recruits well in Georgia.

Derek Dooley on today's recruits knowing about his famous father: "Unless you’re a real sports junkie, it’s hard to have an expectation that they would know all of the people who had such a great impact on college football.” (AP)

Unfortunately for the younger Dooley, he apparently has discovered like the rest of us that kids’ attention spans go about as far back as about a week’s worth of the best soundbites on ESPN’s SportsCenter. Most of today’s football recruits don’t know that Steve Spurrier coached at Florida, much less that he won the Heisman playing quarterback for the Gators.

In fairness to the kids, they …

Continue reading Does being Vince Dooley’s son help Tennessee with recruiting in Georgia? »

• UPDATE: Keithon Redding, a WR from Columbia High School, de-committed from Tennessee on Monday morning. See bottom of this blog for more information

Linebacker Khalid Henderson de-committed from Tennessee on Sunday night after saying he was encouraged to look at other schools by Volunteers coach Derek Dooley.

The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder from Pebblebrook High School had been committed to Tennessee since last summer. Everything was going smooth until about a week after he took his official visit with the Volunteers on Dec. 2. Henderson said he got a call from Dooley.

Derek Dooley has parted way with two Georgia recruits within the last month (AP photo)

“Coach Dooley said there is a ‘possibility’ you might not be coming to Tennessee,” Henderson told the AJC. “He said you have two options: ‘You can stay committed to us, wait it out and see what other players do. Or you can de-commit and try to get some attention from other schools but that doesn’t mean you can’t come to Tennessee’ …

Continue reading Tennessee’s Derek Dooley parts ways with 2 more Georgia football recruits (UPDATED) »

RB Imani Cross was committed to Tennessee for nearly a year before the two sides recently parted ways (Photo courtesy of 247Sports)

Ex-Tennessee RB recruit Imani Cross said he has “no hard feelings” after his recent separation from the Volunteers, and has set up at least two official visits with other schools in January.

The 6-foot-1, 220-pounder from North Hall High School was the Tennessee’s first commitment for its 2012 recruiting class, picking the Volunteers last February among 15 early offers, which included South Carolina and Georgia Tech. Cross is ranked as the No. 19 RB in the nation by ESPN.

However, the yearlong courtship ended after a recent conversation between Cross and Tennessee recruiting coordinator Terry Joseph. What happened? We’ll let Tim Cross, the recruit’s father, explain:

“After being committed for 11 months, the reason the recruiter Terry Joseph told Imani and then Derek Dooley told me was that, ‘they hired a new RB coach from South Carolina and don’t …

Continue reading Imani Cross de-commits from Tennessee after being encouraged to look elsewhere »

UGA offers ex-Florida RB commit Mike Davis (Photo by US Army All-America Bowl)

UGA landed the No. 1 running back in the nation with Keith Marshall on Tuesday.

The Bulldogs have also entered the sweepstakes for the player who many consider the No. 1 running back in Georgia.

Stephenson High School’s Mike Davis, who de-committed from Florida on Sunday after being pledged to the Gators for nearly a year, was offered by UGA on Tuesday.

UGA recruiting coordinator Rodney Garner called Stephenson’s coaches on Monday night to confirm that Davis de-committed from Florida. Garner showed up the next day at the Stone Mountain school to offer Davis in person.

“Georgia saw Mike as a junior and they were slow to react,” Stephenson assistant Corey Johnson said. “They said now that they had a second chance, they were going to move very fast with a scholarship offer and they did. Mike was excited and thankful for the offer.”

Around 30 colleges have inquired about Davis since he abruptly backed …

Continue reading With Keith Marshall committed, UGA quickly offers RB Mike Davis »

AJC Super 11 defensive end Dalvin Tomlinson of Henry County High School gave high marks to his recruiting trip to Georgia Tech this weekend.

When asked to rate the visit on a scale of 1-10, Tomlinson said, “I’d say an 8 or 9. It probably would’ve been a 10 if I had gotten up there on Friday. But the Saturday experience was a great experience.”

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The 6-foot-3, 270-pounder, who is one of the state’s Top 5 uncommitted prospects, said he was unable to make it on Friday because of wrestling practice at school (he’s a two-time state champion in the heavyweight division) and he was going to watch Eagles Landing Christian Academy in football’s playoff semifinals (wasn’t able to go after all).

Tomlinson was the big man on campus this weekend at Georgia Tech, which also welcomed QB Dennis Andrews of Tallahassee, Fla., and Allatoona High School RB Miles Jones. …

Continue reading Dalvin Tomlinson, AJC Super 11 DE, rates his visit to Georgia Tech as ‘8 or 9′ »

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After the historic loss to Kentucky on Saturday, Tennessee coach Derek Dooley told reporters that the Volunteers had hit rock bottom but that “we’re going to begin our climb right now.”

Dooley now will be joined on that climb by Quenshaun Watson.

The Clarke Central High School running back privately committed to Tennessee last week and went public with it on Monday. The 5-foot-9, 181-pound Watson picked the Volunteers over Indiana, and also had serious interest from Arkansas.

Is this the beginning of a Clarke Central-to-Tennessee pipeline? Dooley grew up in Athens while his father Vince Dooley coached at UGA. The younger Dooley is a graduate of Clarke Central High School, which also sent a player last year to the Volunteers, offensive lineman Alan Posey.

Curiously, neither Watson nor Posey was recruited by UGA, which is located only a couple of miles from Clarke Central. The …

Continue reading Tennessee’s Derek Dooley ‘begins climb’ with commitment from Georgia RB »

What do you think about the No. 1 recruit of Georgia Tech’s 2012 class?

Now you can get a good look at English transplant who is causing such a stir in college football’s recruiting circles. We’re talking about Francis Kallon, the 6-foot-6, 250-pound defensive end from Central Gwinnett High School. He’s committed to Georgia Tech.

Kallon, who is ranked as a 4-star recruit by both Scout and ESPN, recently had a highlight video of his senior year – his only year of playing organized football – put on YouTube (see video at bottom).

Up until now, only college scouts and high school coaches had seen the video. What did they think? Central Gwinnett coach Todd Wofford paused before answering. “You wouldn’t believe it if I said it. I … don’t want to put that kind of pressure on him.”

Georgia Tech DE commit Francis Kallon of Central Gwinnett High School (AJC photo by Michael Carvell)

You can take a look at the video yourself below. One important thing to keep in mind when watching it: …

Continue reading Sneak a peek at Georgia Tech’s No. 1 football commit »

• BREAKING NEWS: Florida QB who some call the “next Tim Tebow” commits to UGA (go here for story)

UGA is now a serious contender for AJC Super 11 DE Jordan Jenkins after his official visit with the Bulldogs this past weekend (AJC)

Jordan Jenkins, the 5-star defensive end from Harris County High School, liked his official visit to UGA so much that the Bulldogs may be sneaking up to join his longtime frontrunners, Alabama and Florida.

It was some surprising good news for UGA, which had been given up as all but dead in the fierce recruiting battle for the 6-foot-3, 250-pounder who is considered one of the nation’s top overall athletes. Jenkins nearly canceled his official visit to UGA on two separate occasions before finally making the recruiting trip this past weekend.

UGA’s chances for the AJC Super 11 selection who is ranked as the state’s No.1 prospect by at least one recruiting publication have dramatically improved.

“Jordan told somebody that Alabama and Florida are on top, …

Continue reading Surprise! UGA gains ground with 5-star DE Jordan Jenkins after visit — “too close to call” »

Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson (AJC)

How do you know which prospects are a top recruiting priority? By where a college head coach appears during his team’s off week.

Georgia Tech was off last weekend, and Paul Johnson spent a day at Central Gwinnett High School. He was there to see the No. 1 commitment of Georgia Tech’s 2012 recruiting class, defensive end Francis Kallon.

Johnson and recruiting coordinator Andy McCollum stopped by the high school early in the day to talk with Kallon’s coaches, then returned later in the evening to closely observe Kallon in Central Gwinnett’s loss to Grayson.

“Coach Johnson was really impressed with Francis, with how hard he has worked to learn football and get better,” Central Gwinnett coach Todd Wofford told the AJC. “He wanted to let Francis know that he was really proud of his season.”

The 6-foot-6, 250-pound Kallon played only his senior season of high school football after moving to the Atlanta area from England. Last May, due to his …

Continue reading Paul Johnson spends a full day observing Georgia Tech’s No. 1 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 playing for Stephenson’s …

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