Archive for the ‘Tennessee’ Category

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Georgia Tech’s No. 1 football recruit said he remains committed to the Yellow Jackets after visiting Auburn over the weekend.

“I enjoyed Auburn but my jacket stays yellow … I’m committed to Georgia Tech,” Francis Kallon told the AJC.

Kallon is a 6-foot-6, 250-pound defensive end from Central Gwinnett High School who is in his first year of playing organized football after moving from London, England. He committed to Georgia Tech last spring, and had only been to Tech games this fall before going to see Auburn this past weekend.

“It was a really, really good game at Auburn,” Kallon said. “Auburn was …

Continue reading What did Georgia Tech’s No. 1 football recruit think about his visit to Auburn? »

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With UGA playing Tennessee, it has brought back memories of the intense recruiting battle between the two SEC schools for Da’Rick Rogers, a longtime UGA commitment who flipped to the Vols just before signing day in 2010.

Rogers is on the brink of stardom at Tennessee, if he is not there already. He is Tennessee’s No. 1 offensive weapon, leading the Volunteers in receptions and receiving yards.

• Here’s our “Armchair Quarterback” question for college football recruiting: Should UGA have presented a package deal – like Tennessee — and offered Calhoun High School quarterback Nash Nance to secure Rogers?

Flashback to 2010: Rogers was an AJC Super 11 selection and the state’s No. 1 overall prospect. The Calhoun High School wide receiver had been committed to the Bulldogs for seven months, while Nance was pledged to Vanderbilt, when they both …

Continue reading Armchair QB Recruiting: Should UGA have offered package deal to secure Da’Rick Rogers? »

Justin King will play linebacker at Tennessee and was supposed to play the position this year at Dunwoody High School.

However, the 6-foot-3, 220-pounder was shifted to quarterback after his team’s 0-2 start and King accepted the call, leading Dunwoody to three straight wins.

Dunwoody plays Southwest DeKalb at 7:30 p.m. Thursday (televised live on WSB-TV’s digital channel 2.2 and at wsbtv.com).

The future Tennessee defender is fine with playing quarterback because “the team is winning ballgames” and said his college coaches approve of it. “They like that I’m athletic enough to play different positions, especially QB. Tennessee’s coaches don’t have any problems with it. They want the best for my team, and right now that’s me playing quarterback.”

Tennessee LB commit Justin King of Dunwoody HS (AJC photo by Michael Carvell)

The original plan was for King to play linebacker and running back. “Having Justin at quarterback gives us a big-time weapon at the position,” Dunwoody coach …

Continue reading Justin King, Tennessee LB recruit, switches to QB »

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Guess what kept Georgia Tech’s No. 1 football recruit from making an unofficial visit to archrival UGA last week?

This is a good story. Refreshing.

Francis Kallon, the star defensive end from England who is playing his first year of high school football, didn’t go to UGA last Saturday because he had to take the SAT.

What’s really interesting about that is that the 6-foot-6, 260-pounder has already has an outstanding SAT score of 1,530. But his parents, who wouldn’t allow Francis to play football unless he made straight A’s, want a better score.

“I think his parents think the higher he scores on the SAT, the more money he will get for his football scholarship — but he’s already getting a full scholarship,” Central Gwinnett High School coach Todd Wofford said with a laugh. “But hey, you have to admire how his parents stress academics.”

UGA is the latest …

Continue reading Guess why Georgia Tech’s No. 1 recruit didn’t visit UGA? True story »

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BREAKING NEWS: Lane Kiffin flashbacks? Vanderbilt coach recruits Atlanta in a helicopter! click here to read

The mean and nasty offensive lineman nicknamed “The Finisher” got his “dream offer” on Saturday.

UGA coach Mark Richt offered an early football scholarship to Walton High School’s Brandon Kublanow, who is likely the state’s No. 1 junior prospect on the offensive line. UGA offered the 6-foot-3, 280-pound Kublanow at the center and offensive guard position.

“As soon as we got to Georgia on Saturday, they said Coach Richt wants to see you,” Kublanow told the AJC. “My mom and I talked to Coach Richt for about 45 minutes. At the end of the conversation, [Richt] said ‘you have an offer from us and we really want you to come here.’

“I was a little surprised. Some people had told me that I might be getting an offer, but I was still surprised. And I’m really excited …

Continue reading UGA offers football scholarship to ‘The Finisher’ … Alabama, Florida and SC may be next »

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Jhaustin Thomas, one of the state’s top defensive ends, committed to South Carolina on Saturday. He is commit No. 8 from the state of Georgia for Steve Spurrier’s 2012 college football recruiting class.

Thomas is a 6-foot-6, 240-pounder from DeKalb’s Columbia High School who was also hearing from Auburn, Tennessee and Alabama.

“South Carolina is getting a kid with a lot of upside,” Columbia coach Mario Allen told the AJC. “He’s still learning football and he’s still growing. But I think he will definitely be a kid who can probably help South Carolina in his first year. He’s 6-6, close to 6-7, and can run. He has a dominating presence on the football. South Carolina is getting a kid who will work hard and is going to come out and compete on a daily basis.”

Last week, Thomas was matched up against Cedar Grove offensive tackle Brandon Greene, …

Continue reading Steve Spurrier lands ‘dominant’ Georgia DE Jhaustin Thomas »

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Will Kenderius Whitehead follow his high school teammate to UGA? If so, it would give the Bulldogs the player that some feel may be the best pure pass rusher in the state.

A few days ago, M.L. King High School wide receiver Blake Tibbs committed to UGA. Tibbs was asked about bringing along another top UGA recruiting target, M.L. King defensive end Kenderius Whitehead.

“I’d love for him to play at Georgia with me,” Tibbs said. “I think he was thinking about committing to Georgia anyways. Now with me doing it, I think it will motivate him a little bit more.”

Whitehead has been leaning to UGA since the summer, but had North Carolina move ahead of the Bulldogs after an official visit with the Tar Heels a couple of weeks ago. “North Carolina actually is my top school,” Whitehead told the AJC.

However, when asked to compare his top two schools, Whitehead shifted back in favor …

Continue reading Will DE Kenderius Whitehead follow his high school teammate to UGA?? »

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Jordan Jenkins, who is a candidate to be Georgia’s No. 1 overall college football prospect, may be close to the end of his recruiting journey.

The 6-foot-4, 250-pound defensive end from Harris County High School made an unofficial visit to Alabama last weekend, and is headed to Florida this Saturday. Alabama and Florida are the co-leaders for Jenkins, followed by Auburn, UGA and Tennessee.

“I think after this Florida visit, I think his announcement is nearing,” his father, Ronald Jenkins, told the AJC. “I anticipate it definitely before the end of the season, in my opinion, or right after the end of the season. I really think he’s getting closer to his decision.

“Next Saturday at Florida is going to go a long way in his decision process, even though February is a long ways away. The visit to Florida will help clear his head on a few things.”

Harris, an AJC Super 11 …

Continue reading Jordan Jenkins, AJC Super 11 DE, may be close to deciding between Alabama, Florida, UGA, Auburn and Tenn. »

M.L. King WR Blake Tibbs (left) committed to UGA and hopes his high school teammate, DE Kenderius Whitehead, will follow him to the Bulldogs (AJC photo by Michael Carvell)

Saturday was a good day at the office for UGA.

The Bulldogs beat Ole Miss on the road in the afternoon, and picked up a commitment from one of the state’s top wide receivers later that night:

Blake Tibbs of M.L. King High School picked UGA over North Carolina, Southern Miss and Kentucky.

The 6-foot-1, 175-pound Tibbs is commit No. 15 for UGA’s 2012 college football recruiting class.

“I watched college football all day on Saturday, started thinking about recruiting, and UGA kept popping up in my head,” Tibbs told the AJC. “I was thinking about all the boys in my area [Atlanta area] that Georgia is recruiting … and that if we all go down to Georgia together, we can make an impact there.”

Tibbs called UGA’s Mark Richt to inform him of his decision on Saturday evening and got his voicemail. Then Tibbs dialed up …

Continue reading WR Blake Tibbs is commitment No. 15 for UGA »

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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 he got the …

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