SEC East Football Recruiting Battles heat up

[jbcarol]

Michael Carvell @Carvell_AJC  ·  2 hours ago
RB flips from Georgia Southern to UGA http://on-ajc.com/1F0Sp7B

UGA lost its lone commitment at running back in this year's class when Chris Carson flipped to Oklahoma State on Monday afternoon.

But the Bulldogs found another one by the end of the day.

Tae Crowder, a 2-star running back who had committed to Georgia Southern, got a call out of the blue from UGA around 8 p.m. Monday.

Within minutes of the offer — and without ever have visiting UGA's campus — Crowder flipped his commitment on the spot from Georgia Southern to UGA.

"This is like a dream-come-true," Crowder told the AJC.

Crowder is a 6-foot-3, 220-pounder from Harris County High School, alma mater of UGA defensive end Jordan Jenkins. He picked Georgia Southern over Marshall and Kentucky, although he never visited the other two schools...

[jbcarol]

MidlandsPreps.com @midlandspreps  ·  2 hours ago
Louisville pulls scholarship for Dutch Fork star Matt Colburn http://scne.ws/8Mbx0j  #thestate

Chris Dearing @CDearing82  ·  1 hour ago
I think between Arden Key and Matt Colburn we've seen both sides of recruiting.

[jbcarol]

Woody Wommack @RivalsWoody  ·  11 hours ago

Louisville RB commit Matt Colburn says he's "pretty livid" to have Cardinals coaches inform him of change less than 48 hours before NSD.

State of South Carolina's Mr. Football

Dylan Thompson @DT_ONE_SEVEN  ·  2 hours ago

Heard abt @Colburn31 that's so tough. I'm praying for u & know that u may not see it/think it now- but something GREAT is coming from this!

[jbcarol]

Josh Kendall @JoshatTheState  ·  22 minutes ago

ESPN's Tom Luginbill still thinks Gamecocks will have "solid class" despite tough Monday night. http://www.gogamecocks.com/2015/02/02/676120_arden-key-picks-lsu-over-the-gamecocks.html ...

First, it was three-star defensive back prospect Damon Arnette, a Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native who had been verbally committed to South Carolina since July. Arnette announced on Twitter around 8:30 p.m. that he was changing that pledge to Ohio State.

Two hours later, defensive end Arden Key, who twice has committed to and then de-committed from South Carolina in the last 18 months, announced on Fox Sports South's "Countdown to Signing Day" that he now is committed to LSU.

New Tigers defensive coordinator Kevin Steele and defensive line coach Ed Orgeron made Key a recruiting priority when they were hired in January and were overjoyed by his decision, Key said.

"They were loving on me," he said. "Everybody was jumping on me."

"I still think this class is going to be a sound (class)," Luginbill said. "I like it on the offensive and defensive line particularly. I think it's got the hallmarks of a top 25 class. For a class that maybe could have developed into (an elite class) that wasn't quite, I think they are still going to recover nicely when it's all said and done."

[jbcarol]

Michael Carvell @Carvell_AJC  ·  44 minutes ago

#UGA now has flipped 6 kids for 2015, while losing 7 to other schools: http://on-ajc.com/1AmRJuo

Tae Crowder is a diehard UGA fan, but he has never stepped on the SEC school's campus.

The running back from Harris County High School admits he was totally caught off guard when Mark Richt and his staff wanted to talk over the phone around 8 p.m. Monday.

By the end of the conversation, Crowder had switched his commitment from Georgia Southern to UGA — sight unseen.

UGA had lost another running back earlier on Monday, and the Bulldogs really wanted to fill that spot. So they turned to Crowder, a 2-star recruit who had committed to Georgia Southern in December.

The next phone call, to Georgia Southern running backs coach Dell McGee, wasn't as jovial.

"He kind of gave me a little talk," Crowder said. "He understands, but he still gave me a talk about it. He told me to 'Be smart and make smart decisions.'"

[DeltaBoy]

Michael Carvell @Carvell_AJC  ·  2 hours ago
RB flips from Georgia Southern to UGA http://on-ajc.com/1F0Sp7B

When you look at the 2 programs I don't see that a much of a flip.

[jbcarol]

Adam Sparks @AdamSparks  ·  3 hours ago

CPA LB/RB Jay Hockaday on de-commit from Colorado: "Vandy is the only school I would've de-committed for."

Vandy now has 5 midstate commits (CPA, Father Ryan, Oakland, Station Camp, Ensworth).

In 247 rankings, James Franklin's recruit classes were 52nd, 48th, 26th (avg. 42nd). #Vandy currently at 46th. I don't get the panic.

[jbcarol]

Michael Carvell @Carvell_AJC  ·  4 hours ago
fwiw: Darius Slayton's HS sent email with all of tomorrow's signees for 7:30am ceremony. Slayton is listed as "UGA" http://on-ajc.com/1ApBrRo

[jbcarol]

MidlandsPreps.com @midlandspreps  ·  2 hours ago
Louisville pulls scholarship for Dutch Fork star Matt Colburn http://scne.ws/8Mbx0j  #thestate

Chris Dearing @CDearing82  ·  1 hour ago
I think between Arden Key and Matt Colburn we've seen both sides of recruiting.

Michael Carvell @Carvell_AJC  ·  7 hours ago
South Carolina high school bans Louisville's Bobby Petrino & Todd Grantham http://on-ajc.com/1F2FjXi

[jbcarol]

Michael Carvell @Carvell_AJC  ·  4 hours ago
fwiw: Darius Slayton's HS sent email with all of tomorrow's signees for 7:30am ceremony. Slayton is listed as "UGA" http://on-ajc.com/1ApBrRo

Auburn for DSlay

[jbcarol]

Michael Carvell @Carvell_AJC  ·  2 hours ago

It's OhioSt, UGA or #Vols for OL Patrick Allen at 845am. He's a former #Dawgs commit: http://on-ajc.com/1AravRs

UGa for Patrick Allen

[jbcarol]

SportsTalk @sportstalksc  ·  47 minutes ago

#STRecruiting: DB Rashad Fenton announces commitment to USC http://goo.gl/fb/VjqGuK

[jbcarol]

John Talty        ✔ @JTalty

Oh RT @reuserecruiting: Despite announcing his commitment to #UCLA, 4* LB Roquan Smith tells me he has not reached final decision.
12:29 PM - 4 Feb 2015

[jbcarol]

Michael Carvell @Carvell_AJC  ·  55 minutes ago

WR/DB Shaq Wilson has flipped from West Virginia to #UGA (for a second time) per @JTWilcoxSports .... #FlipBack15

[jbcarol]

Adam Sparks @AdamSparks  ·  2 hours ago

We got a breakdown of all 18 @VandyFootball signees ... http://tnne.ws/1Kc36ad  #VUNSD

Great point by @ChrisSmithVU247. #Vandy is going w/ bigger RBs now in its offense

[jbcarol]

AJC UGA @ChipTowersAJC  ·  2 hours ago

Turns out Roquan Smith's lead recruiter at UCLA is joining Falcons' staff as assistant.

[jbcarol]

AJC UGA @ChipTowersAJC  ·  1 minute ago

RT @Carvell_AJC: BREAKING: Roquan Smith's coach on what the heck is going on with UCLA vs. UGA http://on-ajc.com/1AtsmXG

If Roquan Smith doesn't sign with UCLA, the Bruins can blame Macon County High School's adoring fans, reporters who ask too many questions – and UGA's football coaches.

Signing Day was all supposed to be so simple for the 4-star linebacker who is rated as the state's No. 5 overall college prospect.

In front of ESPN cameras on Wednesday, Smith stated his intentions to sign with UCLA, breaking the heart of his runner-up school, UGA.

This was a big deal for the hundreds of people from the small Georgia town of Montezuma (population 3,600) which had gathered to hear the future plans of their most famous citizen

Macon County's signing ceremony ran a little long. And when it was over, neighbors and childhood friends lined up to get their picture taken with Smith. After that, there was the media obligation: Smith patiently answered endless questions from crowd of reporters there mostly to cover it from the UGA angle.

Things were taking so long that UCLA coaches began to call Smith's coach to see what the holdup was. Smith had said the magic words on national TV, but he had yet to sign the official paperwork. UCLA wanted the paperwork because kids are kids – and they can change their minds in a hurry.

So just as Roquan and his coach started signing off on the paperwork to send to UCLA, they noticed their cells were getting blown up by UGA's coaches.

How about this for timing? There were reports surfacing that UCLA defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich was joining the Atlanta Falcons as a linebackers coach. Smith's relationship with Ulbrich was the reason he committed to UCLA.

And that's why Smith (committed to UCLA but unsigned) remained unsure of his college plans on Wednesday afternoon.

Here's a Q&A with Macon County coach Larry Harold: ...

[jbcarol]

Justin Hokanson @JHokanson  ·  11 minutes ago

It is odd watching a currently committed Terry Godwin announce where he will sign between three schools, while committed.

Michael Carvell @Carvell_AJC  ·  55 seconds ago

BREAKING: Terry Godwin sticks with UGA over doing Auburn flip http://on-ajc.com/1F7nJSe

[jbcarol]

Michael Carvell @Carvell_AJC  ·  4 hours ago

ICYMI: Terry Godwin announced he was sticking with yearlong commitment to #UGA. Big for #Dawgs to sign sister: http://on-ajc.com/1F7nJSe

[jbcarol]

Marc Weiszer @marcweiszer  ·  8 hours ago

Jacksonville DB Deontai Williams, considered a UGA commitment, was not sent a LOI from school, per Florida Times-Union. He signed with Ohio.

[jbcarol]

Chris Low @ClowESPN  ·  17 hours ago

Butch Jones set to hire Mike DeBord as OC. Safe to say Vols' fans are far more excited about Jones' signing class than his OC hire.

[jbcarol]

C Shurburtt @jcshurburtt  ·  2 hours ago
Fast starters to the 2016 recruiting cycle via @SWiltfong247 http://bit.ly/1DahLAo

Georgia is the only school with two five-star verbals at this point as Mark Richt and his staff have the nation's top-ranked quarterback Jacob Eason and offensive tackle Ben Cleveland in the fold.

[NoNC4Tubs]

When you look at the 2 programs I don't see that a much of a flip.

hahahaha...........agreed! 

[jbcarol]

David Morrison @DavidCMorrison  ·  23 hours ago

As it stands now - with new signees - MU has as many scholarship players from Lee's Summit (7) as it does from Dallas metro (7).

Lee's Summit population: 90,000. Dallas metro population: 6 million.

David Morrison @DavidCMorrison  ·  3 hours ago

What does Cave City, AR, have to do with MU football? - http://bit.ly/1EVEC4T .

Mapping Out MU's Scholarship Players

We'll update all this as Missouri continues its march down to 85 scholarships -- which it must have by the start of the fall.

Class Midpoints

Senior: Muskogee, OK

Junior: Hartville, MO

Sophomore: Mountain View, AR

Redshirt Freshman: Pocahontas, TN

Freshman: Lenox, TN

Overall: Cave City, AR [geographic midpoint of all 90 players.]

[jbcarol]

Bruce Feldman @BruceFeldmanCFB  ·  5 hours ago

Wake signs the Petrino "grayshirt"..Play Lville Oct 30 RT @CoachClawson: Welcome Matthew Colburn to the Deacon Family

[jbcarol]

Zach Abolverdi @ZachAbolverdi  ·  6 hours ago
#UF hands out two notable offers | http://recruiting.blogs.gatorsports.com/20179/uf-hands-out-two-notable-offers/ ... via @Gator_sports

Hallandale wide receiver Josh Hammond and Virginia Beach (Va.) Ocean Lakes cornerback Levonta Taylor are the latest 2016 prospects to get offers from Florida.

Hammond is the younger brother of former Gators wide receiver Frankie Hammond, now with the Kansas City Chiefs. The 6-foot-1, 180-pounder is unrated by most recruiting services but now holds 20 offers, including LSU, Mississippi State, Ohio State and Tennessee.

Rivals ranks Taylor as the nation's top cornerback and No. 8 overall prospect. He's also rated a five-star recruit by Scout and ranked 20th nationally by ESPN.

With the strong possibility of Vernon Hargreaves III turning pro after next season, the Gators will need to sign an elite corner...

[jbcarol]

'15 Macon County 4-star LB Roquan Smith has signed a Southeastern Conference Grant-in-Aid agreement to attend Georgia.

Luke Stampini @LukeStampini  ·  58 minutes ago

Roquan Smith to UGA...

[jbcarol]

Seth Emerson @SethEmerson  ·  37 minutes ago

Offensive lineman for 2016 class: RT @Biga_75 I am officially committed to tg University of Georgia #GoDawgs

Fairburn Creekside O-lineman Aaron Dowdell

[jbcarol]

'16 Miami Norland LB Vosean Joseph commits to Gators

Joseph was offered by new Gators linebacker coach Randy Shannon, a veteran South Florida recruiter who also attended Norland, has made an instant impact in recruiting for new head coach Jim McElwain.

Joseph is an extremely athletic 6-foot-1, 210-pound backer who could also play defensive back. He's quick and long.

5.6-rated OLB

[jbcarol]

Michael Carvell @Carvell_AJC  ·  15 hours ago

Evander Holyfield's son talks about his football recruiting http://on-ajc.com/1G5Xn3u
(video at link)

Elijah Holyfield, son of boxing legend Evander Holyfield, is one of the state's top college football prospects for next year.

Holyfield is a junior running back out of Woodward Academy, and he has more than 35 early scholarship offers, including UGA.

[jbcarol]

Zach Abolverdi @ZachAbolverdi  ·  Feb 18
Randy Shannon lands a pair of Miami recruits for #UF | http://bit.ly/19y5cUO  via @Gator_sports

[jbcarol]

'16 Peach County 3-star ATH Tyrique McGhee gave a verbal to UGa.

[jbcarol]

Corey Bender @Corey_Bender  ·  22 hours ago

Four-star safety Chauncey Gardner "@StillDat_: Top 10 No Order 🏈🏆🙏☝️ "

[jbcarol]

Michael Carvell @Carvell_AJC  ·  11 hours ago
Will UGA pick up another commitment on Monday? http://on-ajc.com/1CbCPrT

Darion Anderson, a 3-star receiver from Houston County High School, will tweet out his decision between UGA and Cincinnati at 7:30 p.m. Monday.

Anderson, who claims around 10 early offers, is projected to pick UGA by 100% of the recruiting analysts in the Crystal Ball predictions via 247sports. The Bulldogs already have six commits for 2016.

"They told us that Coach Richt wanted to talk to us," Anderson's father, Timothy Anderson, told the AJC.

"They took us upstairs to his office. Then we went into a little room and sat down. He (Richt) said 'I like your son. We've been studying his film, we like the way he plays, and I want to offer your son a full scholarship to the University of Georgia. That's how badly we want him.'

"I was wide-eyed. I asked my son what he thought. He was happy and surprised, too."

Why does Anderson want to go ahead and commit to a school now? "If I told you that, I would be giving away the secret, wouldn't I?" his father said with a laugh...

[jbcarol]

McElwain wants to turn Georgia into Gator Country

Florida head coach Jim McElwain is looking to win some more recruiting battles in the state of Georgia, and he and his staff have the connections to do just that.

Florida added five players from the state of Georgia in the Class of 2015. Given how fertile the recruiting soil is in the state of Georgia, it only makes sense for Florida to try to tap the state whenever possible to add to the haul in can bring in from the sunshine state. In recruiting, it is all about having the connections in place.

"I think (it was due to a) couple of things," McElwain told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution this week. "There were pre-existing relationships with some guys on our staff who recruited that area in the past. That obviously helps.

"But for us, our thought is a five-hour radius of Gainesville," McElwain said. "And with that being said, that (radius) goes up into Georgia, and that will be something that we'll try to continue to make Gator Country."

That should add some spice to the rivalry between Georgia and Florida.

[jbcarol]

ICYMI: NOLA John Curtis Safety Hunter Dale signed with Washington State on Monday. He had been on Florida and Tennessee's list.

[jbcarol]

'16 3-star Houston County WR Darion Anderson gave a verbal to UGa.

[jbcarol]

ESPN SEC @ESPN_SEC  ·  14 hours ago
Early Commit: S Chauncey Gardner back to Florida http://es.pn/1Ld7lWV

Gators added a pair of key in-state commitments on Saturday in defensive end JaQuan Bailey and safety Chauncey Gardner, with the Cocoa High star being the first ESPN Jr 300 pledge for Jim McElwain and staff.

[jbcarol]

Zach Abolverdi @ZachAbolverdi  ·  14m 14 minutes ago
#Gators land receiver Isaiah Johnson and safety Spencer Perry, who both visited today. #UF now has seven commits for 2016.

A.$.A.P Perry @Black___Jesus7  ·  29m 29 minutes ago
I have verbally committed to THE University of Florida 🐊 #BDN #CHOMP 🔷🔶 http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2778130/highlights/220353377/v2 ... IM A GATOR 🐊 FAMILY 🏈

[jbcarol]

Michael Carvell @Carvell_AJC  ·  23h 23 hours ago
Does it bother Mark Richt when a kid flips from UGA? http://on-ajc.com/1xe1HO7

This year, UGA had nine kids from its 2015 class who de-committed, although three of them were "re-commits" – meaning they eventually pledged again (and more importantly signed) with the Bulldogs.

On the flip side, UGA was also a beneficiary of all the commitment switching. The Bulldogs flipped seven recruits who were committed to other schools.

That's enough flipping and flopping in one year to make your head spin.

"Each individual situation, you're either excited about or disappointed about," Richt told the AJC. "So it's just natural that if you lose a guy that you had committed, it's disappointing — without a doubt.

"But you can't sit there and act like that's never going to happen — because it happens all across America. So you've got to be prepared for that, but also celebrate the good things that happened as well. There were a lot of great things that happened in this last class."

For UGA, this year's number of flip-flopping among commits was at an all-time high. However, the good news was this: The Bulldogs seem prepared to fill the vacant spots almost immediately, unlike in past years after losing a commit late in the recruiting process.

Said Richt, "Sometimes you know it's coming, and sometimes you get a call out the blue from a kid with like, 'You know, coach, I just changed my mind again. I want to come back.'

"You just never know how it's going to happen, or if it's going to happen. So again, you just recruit like mad until the end. Then when the dust settles, you get excited about the guys you signed. And you concentrate and focus on them, and their future at Georgia.

"You don't worry about the guys who went somewhere. You know, that's just the way it goes sometimes in recruiting."

[jbcarol]

Zach Abolverdi @ZachAbolverdi  ·  Mar 27

ATH @TyrekTisdale has committed to #UF. #Gators






SportsTalk @sportstalksc  ·  18h 18 hours ago

#STRecruiting: WR Bryan Edwards of Conway and RB CJ Freeman of Greensboro, NC commit to USC Saturday.

USC gains running back prospect in CJ Freeman of Greensboro http://goo.gl/fb/JGp5Qd

Conway wide receiver Bryan Edwards commits to USC Saturday http://goo.gl/fb/7ulDfS

[jbcarol]

4-star '16 Archer OT EJ Price gave a verbal to UGa.

Michael Carvell @Carvell_AJC  ·  2h 2 hours ago

How did UGA turn things around with EJ Price? http://on-ajc.com/1P51p1R

[jbcarol]

3-star '16 Coconut Creek CB Malek Young gave a verbal to UGa.

[jbcarol]

 Michael Carvell @Carvell_AJC  ·  Apr 6

The nation's No. 1 prospect for 2016 will visit #UGA today --> http://on-ajc.com/1P6V6uE

The headliner for UGA's 2016 football recruiting class will take a three-day visit with the Bulldogs, beginning on Monday.

Jacob Eason is the quarterback from Lake Stevens, Wash., who is rated as the nation's No. 1 overall prospect for next year. He is committed to UGA.

Here are five things to know about the 5-star recruit's visit:

First trip to UGA since commit. This will be Eason's first trip to UGA since he abruptly committed during last July's Dawg Night prospect camp. Because Eason lives on the other side of the country and plays three sports in high school, he wasn't able to attend any football games this past season. "It will be a chance to get on campus and meet the new guys that are there," Eason's father, Tony Eason, told the AJC. "He'll get one-on-one time with Schotty, and the new strength coach. He'll just be around the guys and watching practice on Tuesday." New UGA offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer attended one of Eason's basketball games, and the two keep in touch over the telephone. "It's going great between them," Eason said. "It couldn't be better. He has got a personality that Jacob really likes. The other quarterbacks say he's not going chew you out as fast as Bobo might. I don't know. He's a brand-new coach. Jacob wants to go down and get a good feel for him – see what his style is like. Everything looks great so far."

[jbcarol]

 Michael Carvell @Carvell_AJC  ·  9h 9 hours ago

Jacob Eason "reaffirms everything" with UGA after visit http://on-ajc.com/1attcsA

[jbcarol]

 Michael Carvell @Carvell_AJC  ·  9h 9 hours ago

#Bama was runner-up for newest UGA commit: http://on-ajc.com/1CJ7FTg

Chris Barnes, a 3-star offensive lineman from Lee County High School, committed to UGA after Saturday's G-Day spring football game.

The 6-foot-5, 270-pound Barnes is rated as the state's No. 56 overall prospect. He is commitment No. 10 for UGA's 2016 recruiting class.

UGA has 10 commitments, and Barnes is the fourth for the offensive line. Two are state's No. 1- and No. 2-rated prospects at the position, Ben Cleveland of Stephens County and E.J. Price of Archer, along with Aaron Dowdell of Creekside.. Where will Barnes play at UGA? "They told me guard or center," Barnes said.

His father is 6-9 and 345 pounds, and he's a former college football player at Albany State.

UGA edged out Alabama for Barnes, who took an unofficial visit with the Crimson Tide last week.

After Barnes committed to UGA on Saturday, he also mentioned to Mark Richt that he'd still like to take his five official visits as a senior.

What was Richt's reaction? "He just said 'We'll see.'"

[jbcarol]

'16 3-star Jenks safety Austin Quillen gave a verbal to Vandy.

[jbcarol]

 Michael Carvell @Carvell_AJC  ·  2h 2 hours ago

DE Jordan Smith of Lithonia (Ga) was visited today by #UGA DL coach Tracy Rocker, per HS coach

[jbcarol]

 Seth Emerson @SethEmerson  ·  3h 3 hours ago

Georgia signee Gary McRae headed to junior college, per @Mansell247 . http://www.macon.com/2015/04/15/3696074/georgia-signee-mcrae-to-attend.html ...

At least one member of Georgia's 30-man signing class will not be making it to campus this year.

Gary McRae, an outside linebacker from south Georgia, will enroll at a junior college instead...

So far McRae is the only member of the signing class who is not projected to make it to campus this year. Eight members of the class enrolled early.

[jbcarol]

 Brian Austin @btaustin  ·  6h 6 hours ago

Mizzou target Brendan Scales was recently offered by Alabama RT @bscales25: St. Louis ✈️ Tuscaloosa #A-Day 🔴⚪️🏈#RollTide