Georgia Recruiting Crop Looks Fruitful |
The Deep South is the hotbed of recruiting nationally and
Georgia may well be the heart of the South. Speed is the name of the game in the South and the Georgia Class of 2003 prospects is no exception to that across the board at every position. The top recruit in the state this season will be defensive back Paul Oliver (6-0, 185) of Harrison. Oliver runs a 4.32 40 yard dash and had nine interceptions as a junior and made 50 tackles. He took back two picks for touchdowns and returned four punts for scores as well. On offense, he had 30 catches for 800 yards and nine scores. He is going to wait to announce his decision on college, but Georgia and Texas are the leaders for his services. As usual, there is no shortage of top quarterback prospects in the country this year, and once again, that position is dominated by the Deep South and three signal callers from the Peach State are among the South's finest. Blake Mitchell (6-4, 185) of LaGrange was named All-State as a junior after passing for 2,086 yards and 23 touchdowns to lead LaGrange to the Class AAA Championship game. “He’s a perfect drop-back passer and he’s been offered (scholarships) by pretty much everybody,” LaGrange coach Steve Pardue said. “He has a really strong arm and understands the game." Florida, Floria State, Miami (Fl), Arkansas, Georgia, LSU, Maryland, Auburn, Kentucky, USC, North Carolina, Wake Forest, Vanderbilt, East Carolina and Middle Tennessee have all offered Mitchell. Other Georgia QB prospects are Jimmy Barthmaier (6-4,205) of Roswell and Dustin Wade (6-2,180) of Parkview. Barthmaier passed for over 3,000 yards and 20 touchdowns in his career and Led the Hornets to a 9-1 regular season record (lost in the first round of the state playoffs) with 1,451 yards and 10 touchdowns. Wade led the Parkview Panthers to Class AAAAA State Championship in 2001. Wade completed 101-of-155 pass attempts for 2,100 yards as a junior and was named honorable mention All State by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. His touchdown to interception ratio was 26 scores to five picks. Wade has been getting interest from Georgia, Florida, and Duke. The running back position is always of interest in the state of Georgia as the Peach state traditionally puts out some of the nation's best. This year, they offer two very good running backs that have recruiters salivating. Kregg Lumpkin (6-0, 195) of Stephenson ran for 2,088 yards and 29 touchdowns as a junior. Lumpkin favors Georgia, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Nebraska and Penn State but remains wide open between the schools. The other star back is Jason Evans (6-2, 185) of Harrison. Evans rushed for 1,375 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior. He even got it done on defense as a junior with more than 40 tackles and four interceptions. He earned all-metro and all-region honors. He has over 20 offers and his top five favorites are Stanford, Texas A&M, Boston College, Penn State and Notre Dame(not offered yet) and named in that order. Other top running backs to watch are Skyler Thornton (6-1,190) of LaGrange, Tashard Choice (6-0, 195) of Lovejoy, and Micah Andrews (6-0,175) of Greater Atlanta Christian. No less than seven wide recievers will be called upon by major schools and they are led by Sean Bailey (6-2,180) of Milton. Bailey is one of the top receivers in the entire nation. As a junior recorded six touchdown catches on 37 receptions for 790 yards. He also racked up 260 yards on the ground as a junior and had more than 80 tackles and three pickoffs on defense. He has been offered by Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Ga Tech, Maryland, Stanford, and Virginia. He is considered a lean toward Florida State, though has not committed to anyone. Armand Cauthen (6-1,175) Douglas County is another top ranked wide receiver and has been offered by Duke and Wake Forrest. Cory Clemons (6-0, 200) of Lowndes. Clemons caught 63 passes for 880 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior and lists Florida, Georgia, and Auburn as his leaders. Other receivers to watch are Steven Rodgers (6-0, 170) of Lakeside, Bill Grimes (6-2, 195) of Chapel Hill, Brandon Allen (6-5, 190) of Westlake, J.T. Gartell (6-2, 175) of Stephenson, and Harry Douglass (6-0, 165) of Jonesboro. The lone tight end that will garner big attention will be Coleman Watson (6-5, 245) of North Springs. Coleman is a big, mobile tight end caught 30 passes for 400 yards and five touchdowns as a junior. "I think he's going to be the best tight end in the state of Georgia," said North Springs Coah Kevin Whitley. "He's got great size, great hands and moves real well, everything you look for in a tight end." Coleman has been offered by University of Alabama Birmingham, and has interest from Georgia, Nebraska, and Miami, as well as others. The offensive linemen in Georgia are big, strong, and fast and there are several that will be playing on Saturday's next year. Zeb McKinzey (6-4,280) of Parkview is considered the best offensive lineman prospect in the state off of what may be the best offensive line in the country. McKinzey was named first team all-state offense line and first team all-region as an offensive guard and defensive tackle. Clemson, Georgia, Vanderbilt, Florida State, and Arkansas have offered and he lists Georgia and Clemson as his favorites. Jarrod Britt (6-4, 270) of McEachern is another of the top blue chip linemen. Britt ended his recruiting early by committing to Clemson. He also had offers from Auburn, Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland and Arkansas. Other big men to watch from Georgia will be Brandon Pligram (6-5, 275) of Parkview, Tyler Medlin (6-5, 295) of Forsyth, Blake Bonner (6-3, 275) of Lowndes, David Overmyer (6-5, 270) of Parkview, and Gerrett Cranford (6-3, 280) of West Laurens. The defensive line prospect list is as long as the offensive line list, and just as talented. Marcus Dixon (6-6, 260) of Pepperell is the leader and has committed to Vanderbilt. He recorded 65 tackles, three sacks, seven QB hurries/knockdowns and seven pass deflections as a junior primarily at the DE position. Also an excellent basketball player and 4.0 student. Andre Fluellen (6-4, 270) of Cartersville is close behind Dixon in rankings. This big defensive end recorded 88 tackles, 10 sacks, six forced fumbles and scored two touchdowns as a junior. He has offers from Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Maryland, Notre Dame and Vanderbilt, and lists them, along with South Carolina, as his favorites in no particular order. Richard Cook (6-4,260) of Washington-Wilkes racked up 75 solo tackles, 30 assists, five sacks, five tackles for a loss and two fumble recoveries. This defensive end lists Georgia and South Carolina as his favorites. Other defensive linemen recruiters will be after are Josh Thompson (6-1,285) of Statesboro, Scott Lenahan (6-1, 295) of Harrison, Mansfield Wrotto (6-4, 305) of Brookwood, and Delanie Means (6-5,290) of Avondale. The linebacker group is blessed with strength and versatility and that is exemplified by Des Williams (6-2, 235) of Dacula. He runs a 4.65 40, and had 173 total tackles (70 solo), 20 tackles for loss, three sacks and four fumble recoveries as a junior. A three year starter, he was named first team Class AAAAA all-state last season. He is a solid commit to Georgia. Another super backer is Jarvis Jackson (6-2, 205) of Washington. He was a second-team all-state selection and recorded 156 tackles, nine sacks and two interceptions as a junior at outside linebacker. He's been offered by Clemson, Ga Tech, Ole Miss, North Carolina, and Virginia. Other linebackers to watch from this class will be Tim Cesa (6-3, 235) of Harrison, Deonte Burman (6-3, 235) of Dooly County, Clinton Willis (6-0, 220) of Washington-Wilkes, Drew Robinson (6-3, 225) of Cedartown, Matthew Wilcox (6-0, 210) of Washington, and Matt Robinson (6-3, 220) of Cedartown. Paul Oliver, the state's top player, leads the lists of top corner back prospects this season. He is followed by Jeramie Johnson (5-11, 180) of Washington. He recorded 64 tackles and a state-leading nine interceptions as a junior, and has been offered by Ole Miss, Maryland, North Carolina, Clemson, Auburn, Memphis and Hampton. Adrienn Griffin (5-11, 160) of LaGrange is attracting attention as well. He recorded 73 tackles and five interceptions as a junior. Also caught eight passes for 188 yards and four touchdowns at wide receiver. He has offers from LSU, Maryland, South Carolina, Wake Forrest, and East Carolina. Other corners to watch will be DeRae Allen (5-11, 175) of Lovejoy, and Deante Battle (5-10, 185) of Starrs Mill. At least four safeties will see recruitiers at all of their games this season. Avery Roberson (6-3, 185) of Washington leads this group. He is a versatile defensive back with potential to play either free safety or corner at the college level. A four-year starter, has 263 tackles and 12 interceptions to his credit. Has offers from Georgia, LSU, South Carolina, Wisconsin, and has interest from Nebraska too. Johnny Edwards (5-11, 180) of Starrs Mill recorded 60 tackles and six interceptions as a junior and has offers from Duke, Stanford, Vanderbilt, and Wake Forrest. Joe Sturdivant (6-3,190) of Parkview and Ryan Smith (6-0, 190) of Washington will also both get looks. Sturdivant had 133 tackles has a junior. versatile athlete who will get some serious looks. A 6-foot-1, 185-pound quarterback, Scoggins rushed for 886 yards and passed for 417 as a junior in Rome's option-based attack. A handful of college programs are recruiting him for that position, but others envision using his good frame and 4.4 speed at wideout or safety. Versatility, strength, and speed are the things that make Georgia high school football players some of the most sought after recruits in the country each year. As it is plain to see by this crop, the Class of 2003 will be no exception to that rule and is the reason that Georgia is the heart of the Deep South. Jim Baxter is the editor of GAVarsity.com and SCVarsity.com.
Cody Scroggins (6-1, 185) of Rome is a
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