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UPDATED: Harvey-Clemons never wavered on UGA, just had to convince granddad

8:57 am February 2, 2012, by Chip Towers

ATHENS — Josh Harvey-Clemons said he never wavered on his decision to sign with Georgia. He just had to convince his grandfather that it was the best move.

“I just had to sit down with my family and get everybody on the same page,” said Harvey-Clemons, reached by phone Thursday morning in Valdosta. “He was looking at it as Florida was closer. I’ve got a cousin who still plays at Lowndes and my little brother is going to be in high school next year. Florida is only like an hour and 20 minutes away, so he was thinking about going to games on Friday and being able to drive down to Gainesville easy. That’s why he liked Florida.

“Georgia’s a little farther away but I told him that’s where I wanted to go.”

Harvey-Clemons said he sent over the letter-of-intent via fax Thursday morning at 8:05 a.m. He said Georgia’s coaching staff never panicked and helped him through the dilemma.

“They were fine,” he said of the coaching staff. “They were just telling me to let them know what was going on and I kept calling them. They stayed with me through the whole thing.”

Harvey-Clemons, the top-ranked recruiting prospect in Georgia per several ratings, committed to the Bulldogs on national television on Wednesday. But he never sent in his signed letter-of-intent, supposedly because his grandfather, Woodrow Clemons, refused to sign it.

Mr. Clemons, 51, is the legal guardian for Harvey-Clemons’ and his brothers and sisters. Both of their parents are deceased. Mr. Clemons could not be reached for comment.

Harvey-Clemons said he was relieved to have all the recruiting drama behind him. Now he plans on focusing on getting ready to come to UGA in June.

“I plan on just working hard so I can get bigger and get stronger so I can get on the field when I get up there,” he said.

With Harvey-Clemons sealed and delivered, Georgia now has 19 signees in the Class of 2012. The group was ranked as high as No. 5 by ESPN and moved up to No. 11 from 19 on the Rivals.com list. The Bulldogs remained No. 6 by 247Sports and No. 12 by Scout.

Meanwhile, here’s Harvey-Clemons’ bio:

  • Born: February 20, 1994
  • High School: Lowndes
  • Ht., wt: 6-foot-5, 208 pounds
  • Accolades: SuperPrep Elite 50, All-America, and All-Dixie Teams . . . PrepStar Top 150. . . .ESPNU Top 150, 17th ranked prospect nationally . . . Scout.com five-star player, #2 OLB and #36 overall prospect in the country, #2 player in the state . . . Rivals.com five-star player, #31 ranked prospect and #2 Athlete in the country, #1 player in Georgia . . . ESPN four-star player, #1 OLB in the country, #7 Player in the Region, #1 player in the state . . . 247sports.com four-star player, #2 OLB and #32 prospect nationally, #2 Player in Georgia . . . Named to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super 11 and Class AAAAA All-State team . . . Member of the Georgia Sports Writers Association Class AAAAA first-team . . . Participated in the 2011 GHSA All-Star game . . . Participated in the 2012 U.S. Army All-America Bowl Armor All-American game . . . As a senior, recorded 132 total tackles (102 solo) three sacks, five tackles for loss, three interceptions . . . also caught 17 passes for 215 yards and two TDs, rushed for 117 yards and three TDs . . . High School Coach: Randy McPherson.

GEORGIA 2012 SIGNEES

  1. DT John Atkins (6-4, 300), Thomson
  2. P Collin Barber (6-2, 191), Cartersville
  3. QB Faton Bauta (6-3, 225), West Palm Beach, Fla.
  4. OL Mark Beard (6-4, 290), Coffeyville (Kan.) CC/Adamsville, Ala.
  5. OLB Josh Dawson (6-4, 225), Tucker
  6. ATH Sheldon Dawson (5-11, 178), Memphis, Tenn.
  7. DL James Deloach (6-3, 260), Jenkins Co.
  8. DE Leonard Floyd (6-4, 215), Dodge Co.
  9. RB Todd Gurley (6-1, 195), Tarburo, NC
  10. OLB Joshua Harvey-Clemons (6-5, 208), Valdosta
  11. FB Quayvon Hicks (6-2, 245), Pierce Co.
  12. OLB Jordan Jenkins (6-3, 245), Harris Co.
  13. RB Keith Marshall (5-11, 190), Raleigh, N.C.
  14. PK Marshall Morgan (6-3, 195), Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
  15. OL Greg Pyke (6-6, 315), Baltimore, Md.
  16. TE Ty Smith (6-3, 228), Colquitt Co.
  17. DL Jonathan Taylor (6-4, 315), Jenkins Co.
  18. OT John Theus (6-6, 292), Jacksonville, Fla.
  19. WR Blake Tibbs (6-2, 185), M.L. King
  • Print

237 comments Add your comment

calmdawg

February 2nd, 2012
1:13 pm

DJ how is things going at McDonalds for ya.

Jim

February 2nd, 2012
1:35 pm

It’s not like grandpa is footing the bill. Anyway there’s a new sheriff in town at Florida and they don’t buy players anymore.

Da Dude

February 2nd, 2012
1:37 pm

Grandpa is only 51…wow. So he became a grandfather at 34…wow. I am in my 30’s. Can’t imagine being a grandparent.

Tampa Jack

February 2nd, 2012
1:39 pm

Richt openly violated this ncaa rule yesterday……

Title:13.10.2 – Comments Before Signing.
Before the signing of a prospective student-athlete to a National Letter of Intent or an institution’s written offer of admission and/or financial aid, a member institution may comment publicly only to the extent of confirming its recruitment of the prospective student-athlete. The institution may not comment generally about the prospective student-athlete’s ability or the contribution that the prospective student-athlete might make to the institution’s team; further, the institution is precluded from commenting in any manner as to the likelihood of the prospective student-athlete’s signing with that institution. [D] (Revised: 1/14/97)

Dawgs got it in 2012

February 2nd, 2012
1:51 pm

Commenting on blog from Jeff,dude you left out Dallas Lee who was starting until getting hurt vs Florida.

PR

February 2nd, 2012
1:51 pm

Whats your point Tampa Jack? This will be a non issue secondary violation. Run along…

tape worm

February 2nd, 2012
1:52 pm

It appears that Todd Grantham is taking over UGA’s football program all though it be unintentionally.

doug dawg

February 2nd, 2012
1:56 pm

well, good for that young man, and for us. i am glad he managed to get away from grandpa, and the pull to north florida. sounds like he really stood up for himself. that is a great sign. now, put on the weight, bulk up, coach up, and get ready for great saturdays in athens, and wherever your dawgs play. you can be a legend in this state, and i pray that you will. so very many of us dawgs are rooting for you. great decision, especially under the circumstances. dr.dawg

and, above all, love, love your school, know its traditions, and live up to them.

doug dawg

February 2nd, 2012
1:59 pm

ring that chapel bell as early and as often as you can. even if you have played for a number of years, young man, go over after the game and ring the bell. i’m in my 60;s, and i ring it every time i am in athens.

Big Bull Dawg

February 2nd, 2012
2:07 pm

We are proud of you JHC! From a So. GA. dawg…God Bless UGA and no one else…

SEC Fans for Richt

February 2nd, 2012
2:12 pm

Thanks to grandpa, that idiot Richt committed another NCAA violation! Nice going, grandpa!

Stinger2

February 2nd, 2012
2:16 pm

The comments made by UGA fans are amazing.

Iliketacos

February 2nd, 2012
2:19 pm

Who was that “next herschel” the pups signed last year?……Crowless…Nocrow…..This kid will be back at home in less than 2 years playing for Valdosta State.

JB

February 2nd, 2012
2:30 pm

Stinger2……………Amazing was Tech’s class.

saltydog

February 2nd, 2012
2:31 pm

This is gonna get fun! Keep ‘em coming, Mark Richt..

Iliketacos

February 2nd, 2012
2:40 pm

Keep ‘em coming, Mark Richt….and the coaches at uga will continue to coach ‘em down.

Big Old Dawg

February 2nd, 2012
2:40 pm

13-1….it looks like the news is starting to spread about old tricky Nick….if a kids gets banged up no worry old Nick will tell you anything not to sign with another school, then he’ll tell you gotta wait a year to sign with Bama…..kids are smart enough to wonder if next year old tricky Nick will honor is agreement or just leave a kid hanging…2 dumped in 1 class…wonder how many he’s gonna pump & bump next year

Speve Sturrier

February 2nd, 2012
2:40 pm

UGA – where 5 star recruits go to become two stars.

GT/GS

February 2nd, 2012
2:59 pm

SLAWDAWG;That mean you eat em or look like one…Amazing its suppose to be a big Dawg day and all you want to do is bring up Tech. Just like our other 4 star that had to go packing, half of your signees probably did not meet GPA at Tech. And by the way the last dawg to spend time in Valdosta is fixing to get his turn at the beatdown.Mettenburg…oh thats right, yall have another easy schedule this year…maybe back into the SEC-CG again…

dawgrific

February 2nd, 2012
3:12 pm

I am very excited about him, and about this class. I cannot, for the life of me, understand how saban and others who oversign go unpunished. Furthermore, I cannot understand how these recruits continue to trust him, when all he cares about is wins and his program. We need to step it back up for sure, but we have a big-time program that sends plenty of players ti the NFL, but we DO NOT lie to and trample all over our kids just to win, and he OBVIOUSLY DOES!!

dawgrific

February 2nd, 2012
3:14 pm

By the way, have all of Saban’s assistants signed up for the post-season appointments with Napoleon, because they darn sure better not try to just walk into his office unannounced.

AltamahaDawg

February 2nd, 2012
3:19 pm

For those of you insisting that somehow the coaches are so stupid as to leave a bunch of scholarships laying around inexplicably:

http://uga.rivals.com/content.asp?SID=878&CID=387116

AltamahaDawg

February 2nd, 2012
3:27 pm

Had 19 to give without resorting to Sabanization. How many did they sign? 19.

That’s not to say that normal attrition will not happen and be a couple short of the max in Sept, which I am sure is why they were prepared to sign a couple more. Personally,Ii like that guys like the Blake Sailors of the team get a chance to be rewarded when the staff errs on the side of doing the right thing, and has a ride to give.

bitter dawgs fan

February 2nd, 2012
3:45 pm

now grand dad ill give you my buessness if I ever get arrested in south jaw-jer

———–good job ole-school

UGA has to report NCAA secondary violation due to comments on Harvey-Clemons | UGA sports blog

February 2nd, 2012
3:47 pm

[...] Shortly after Harvey-Clemons made his announcement in Valdosta, ESPN reporter Cara Capuano asked Richt for his reaction and for his thoughts on prospect’s athletic abilities. Turns out that violates NCAA bylaw 13.10.2, which states that no one from a member institution can comment on a prospective student-athlete until his or her signed letter-of-intent has been received. As has been well-documented now, Harvey-Clemons’ letter-of-intent was not received by UGA until Thursday morning. [...]

bitter dawgs fan

February 2nd, 2012
3:48 pm

ood job —grantham/richt/bobo—and god bless a dawg nation that now includes another

————————————-ole school——————–grand dad——see a at the games woodrow

TampaGator

February 2nd, 2012
3:54 pm

To Woodrow and all the other Dawg fans ripping into Muschamp and who accused him of paying off the grandpa yesterday…now you know the story. To be honest, I am glad the kid got to do what he wanted to do instead of what the grandpa wanted. If the grandpa wanted him to go to Florida so bad, why in the world did he put the kid and all the coaches through what he did put them through…..the focus just should have been Florida and he should have committed to Florida a long time ago….and the kid would be going to Florida and they would have a short drive on Saturdays. But a kid going to college should not be about how long or short a drive is….but where the kid feels most comfortable playing and going to school. Obviously, JHC felt Athens was the best place for him. Good for him. Bad for the grandpa…and, in my opinion, the grandpa got what he deserved.

Secondary Violation for UGA Related to Harvey-Clemons | College Football News, Opinion and Analysis | Chuck Oliver.Net

February 2nd, 2012
4:10 pm

[...] until his or her signed letter-of-intent has been received. As has been well-documented now, Harvey-Clemons’ letter-of-intent was not received by UGA until Thursday morning. Read the source article Additional coverage for the Georgia [...]

AltamahaDawg

February 2nd, 2012
4:27 pm

I can’t believe you even wasted your time responding to accusation that Muschamp paid off the gramps.

Columbus

February 2nd, 2012
5:02 pm

Bad thing about the entire deal was Grandpa said several days before that they did not want any drama like the kid who picked Bama and his mom wanted LSU. Said they would be on the same page and support Josh’s choice wherever he picked. Then to pull that crap yesterday was just totally uncalled for and very selfish if the reason is true. Maybe the media blew it way out of proportion? Made Josh and the family look silly. Glad he is getting to play where HE wants to play and not grandpa’s pick for him. Maybe Grandpa did not realize what he was doing? I hope for his sake that was the case.
Anyone know what happened to his parents? Maybe Grandpa is very overprotective because how Josh’s parents died?

2Dawgs

February 2nd, 2012
5:45 pm

That was selfish of grandpa. Thinking of his drive time instead of his grandsons wishes.

ak47

February 2nd, 2012
9:19 pm

DAWG NATION let us look at the big picture…it is not about us and fooball but a young person who is going to grow in a great atmoshere and gain a degree. It makes me sick to read crap that people type and can not be happy for someone who ended in the place he wanted to be. If it was your child what woud you do? I am not a Lawyer, doctor but a Professor at Florida..check me out.

DJ

February 3rd, 2012
12:33 am

Glad to see I got under the skin of some of you idiots. You had to stop drooling over this 18-year old kid and reply with your wit. You know it’s the truth. And there’s nothing wrong with the kids that go to State U to really major in those areas of study. But your school is a joke when it comes to getting these special admissions in and hidding them in something that doesn’t even require the equivalent of Pre-Algebra. Hey man, I’m happy for you, but call it what it is….a football factory. Go ahead, knock Tech or any other school, but you won’t defend the “education” that most of your ballplayers get. Yep, some will make millions in the pros, but there’s a higher percentage that won’t. That’s not an elitest attitude, it’s the sad truth.

RED DOG 77

February 3rd, 2012
12:50 am

Alabama fans……….I have a question, and I ask it sincerily. There was alot in the recruiting news over the last few weeks concerning a young man who was supposedly offered by Saban months ago. I can’t place his name, but those in the know are aware to whom I am speaking, a RB, I believe. Now this kid was told a couple weeks ago Alabama was out of room [it happens]………..but somehow mysteriously Coach Saban majically came up with a scholarship just in time on Wednesday February 1, to offer and recieve a LOI from the big DT he coveted………….My question, I believe this story to be true, do you?…….also is this an ethical issue [I believe it to be] and do you think this practice is just fine?………….Problem seems to be loopholes in recruiting rules………Some coaches just wouldn’t consider this practice [I wouldn't] and some seem to think crushing a young man’s dreams of playing for the Crimson Tide is A-OK as long as they get their man……………….Something about this whole story makes my stomach sick……..does it yours? After all this is college footbal, not the NFL………………What price are we paying for winning?………Is the playing field level? Please only mature responses…………as my inquiry is heart felt and sincere………….Oh, and by the way, this was not a case of the young man not being committed…………Saban offered months ago, the young man accepted months ago, both solid committments……………Regards, RED

john

February 3rd, 2012
9:30 am

I understand that Georgia will be bringing in Colquitt County’s Preston Mobley, a 6′2 300 pound offensive guard from Moultrie and Grayson’s Devin Gillespie, the state champion’s star defensive back/wide receiver as preferred walk-ons. If so, I like these two over any plan B offers that might have been offered. Nebraska made a habit of building its offensive line during the Osborne era with walk-on offensive linemen similar to guys like Mobley. Gillespie could end up being a player in the mold of Will Muschamp and Tra Battle, former preferred walk-on dbs. Go Dawgs!!

Lars Taint Defender

February 5th, 2012
3:08 pm

Unrelated, but did Michael Carvell ever retract his chronic mis-information regarding UGA and top ten recruiting classes?

bitter dawgs fan

February 7th, 2012
10:08 pm

grand dad——-think of me, im also a 50 year old fool who would open up a can of whopp a$$

if you would have f#$% this up ole school————-i guess we can be friends now

————-lots of love to the clemmons clan———–see ya at the games—-go dawgs

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