UGA does not want Ben Jones , they need Ben Jones

[THE KOD]

Jones gets UGA offer; Harmon picks Clemson
By Jeff D'Alessio

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 06/16/07 7:35 PM

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After tossing around defensive linemen all Saturday morning at Georgia?s prospect camp, Ben Jones got that much-anticipated tap on the shoulder.

?Coach Richt wants to see you,? a UGA assistant told the Bibb County, Ala., offensive lineman.

Minutes later, Jones had his first major scholarship offer.

Mark Richt?s message to the 6-foot-2, 306-pound center?

?He told me he didn?t want me,? Jones told the blog Saturday. ?He told me he NEEDED me there.?

Jones said he plans to visit Alabama next weekend, then reach a decision ?in the next week or two.?

Interest in Jones has picked up since he dominated last month?s Scout.com combine at Georgia Tech. He went to having two offers (from Troy and Air Force) to choosing between the Bulldogs and Nick Saban?s Crimson Tide.

Efforts like Saturday?s didn?t hurt Jones, who has climbed to No. 10 in Rivals.com?s national center rankings.

?I had a really good camp,? Jones said. ?The [UGA] coaches really liked my energy and aggressiveness.?

Of his interest in Georgia, Jones said Saturday, ?I really like the coaches a lot. Other [college] coaches have all talked very highly about them. I like the facilities and the atmosphere overall.?

With national signing day still seven-plus months away, the Bulldogs already have 14 commitments, but just one from an offensive lineman (Jonathan Owens of Blountsville, Ala.)

Several top uncommitted line prospects still list the Bulldogs as an option, including Tyler Love of Mountain Brook, Ala., and Matt Patchan of Seffner, Fla.

Another top line prospect ? Jefferson County star A.J. Harmon ? crossed the Bulldogs off his list Friday when he committed to Clemson. Harmon, ranked by Scout.com as the No. 20 overall prospect in the Southeast, also considered Auburn, Florida, Florida State, North Carolina and Tennessee.

Harmon is Rivals.com?s top-ranked offensive guard in the class of 2008 but would prefer to play on the defensive line in college.

?I just knew it was the right situation for me,? Harmon told Tigerillustrated.com of his Clemson commitment. ?Basically the top three reasons I committed is because it?s a small hometown like mine, I?m getting to play the three-technique, and I know it?s just the right fit.?
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[THE KOD]

Like father, like son: Ros commits to UGA
By Jeff Hood

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 06/17/07 5:37 PM

Bryce Ros made Father?s Day a memorable one for his dad, Frank Ros, by committing to Georgia earlier today.

Frank Ros was a captain on Georgia?s 1980 national champion team.

?This morning, it was one of those things that just hit me and I knew where I wanted to go to school,? Ros told Scout.com. ?So I committed to Georgia today. I just started deciding that UGA is the place for me.?

Ros, a tight end for Kennesaw Mountain, had also been contemplating offers from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson North Carolina, South Carolina and Clemson.

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[THE KOD]

Three future Georgia Bulldogs made Scout.com?s new rankings of the top 100 recruits in the class of 2008.

Topping the list, released Monday: Summerville, S.C., wide receiver A.J. Green, the nation?s most highly rated committed recruit at No. 6.

Statesboro defensive tackle DeAngelo Tyson, also a UGA commitment, is No. 17 on Scout.com?s list.

Cartersville Cass running back and UGA recruit Richard Samuel checks in at No. 89.

Other nuggets:

? The only schools other than UGA to land a top 10 recruit: Southern Cal (offensive tackle Matt Kall, No. 7) and Miami (cornerback Patrick Johnson, No. 9).

? Georgia and Oklahoma are the only schools with commitments from two top-20 prospects.

? Other Peach State players to make Scout.com?s top 100: Norcross wide receiver Brice Butler (No. 36) and Cedar Grove wide receiver Josh Jarboe (No. 78).

? Scout.com?s No. 1 overall prospect ? Wichita, Kan., linebacker Arthur Brown ? is considering Florida, Florida State, Kansas State, Miami, Michigan, Oklahoma and Southern Cal.

Brookwood?s Zimmerman commits to Clemson

Brookwood punter Dawson Zimmerman was in the heart of Tar Heel land when he decided his future lied with the Clemson Tigers.

A few hours before he was scheduled to kick at North Carolina?s camp, Zimmerman was touring the university campus with his parents, when he received a text message from Clemson assistant coach Ron West.

Ten minutes later, he committed to Clemson.

?They were my first choice all along,? said Zimmerman, who also had received interest from Wake Forest, Virginia, Maryland and Harvard.

Last year, in his first season as Brookwood?s full-time punter and kickoff specialist, Zimmerman averaged 41 yards per punt, including a 74-yard boot that broke current Denver Broncos kicker Jason Elam?s school record.

Eleven of his punts came to rest inside the 20-yard line. Eighty-six percent of his kickoffs were touchbacks.

?He?s got a talented leg,? said Brookwood coach Mark Crews, ?and he?s only been kicking for three years.?

Zimmerman gave up soccer to concentrate on basketball in eighth grade. He eventually traded in his high tops for football cleats and began working with noted kicking coach Mike McCabe.

During his junior season, Zimmerman made the journey to Prattville, Ala., to work out with McCabe every other weekend.

?Coach McCabe really helped me develop my fundamentals and made me a better kicker,? Zimmerman said.

Heading into his senior season at Brookwood, Zimmerman is focusing on improving his hang time.

?I average anywhere from 4.5-4.9 seconds,? he said. ?I?d like to become consistently around 4.9.?
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[THE KOD]

Updates on the top 50 recruits in Georgia
By Jeff D'Alessio

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 06/19/07 1:28 PM

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Eric Berry signed with Tennessee. Tray Blackmon landed at Auburn. Antonio Henton left for Ohio State.

In recent years, one top-ranked recruit after another has left Georgia to play college football.

This year, expect that trend to end.

Tuesday, Rivals.com released its new list of the top 50 prospects in the Peach State. Topping the list: Statesboro defensive tackle and Georgia commitment DeAngelo Tyson. No. 2: Cartersville Cass running back Richard Samuel, another UGA commitment.

?Georgia is off to the best start in the Southeastern Conference and the foundation of this group is in-state talent,? Rivals analyst JC Shurburtt tells the blog. ?It also helps to re-establish the Bulldogs dominance in the state of Georgia after the last recruiting cycle, which saw the Dawgs lose six of the eight top 10 prospects it offered.?

This time around, five of the top 11 seniors-to-be in the state ? and eight of the top 20 ? have committed to Mark Richt?s Bulldogs, according to Rivals? list. Only two top 25 Peach State prospects have committed somewhere other than Georgia: Jefferson County lineman A.J. Harmon (No. 3, to Clemson) and Buford defensive tackle Omar Hunter (No. 16, to Notre Dame).

A look at Rivals? top 50:

DeAngelo Tyson, DT, Statesboro : Committed to Georgia

Richard Samuel, RB, Cartersville Cass: Committed to Georgia

A.J. Harmon, OG, Jefferson County: Committed to Clemson

Dontavius Jackson, RB, Heard County : Top five: Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, LSU, Penn State

Tavarres King, WR, Habersham Central: Committed to Georgia

Brice Butler, WR, Norcross: Long list of options includes both Oregon and Oregon State, which he?s visiting this week.

Cornelius Washington, DE, Burke County: Committed to Georgia

Jamoris Slaughter, S, Tucker: Has a top three of LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame

Brandon Thompson, DT , Thomasville : Georgia reportedly in the lead.

Cordy Glenn, OT, Riverdale: Big offers: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisville, LSU, South Carolina, Virginia

Toby Jackson, DT, Griffin: Committed to Georgia

Keith Wells, DE, Gainesville: High on Georgia Tech?s wish list, but Yellow Jackets will have to beat out Florida, Notre Dame Ohio State.

Josh Jarboe, WR, Cedar Grove: ?I really like LSU. And then I?d go with Oklahoma, Florida, North Carolina and Georgia.?

Christian Robinson, LB, Greater Atlanta Christian: Committed to Georgia

Martin Ward, RB, Mount Zion: Undecided after pulling back on early commitment to Georgia; Dogs still in the mix.

Omar Hunter, DT, Buford: Committed to Notre Dame

Ebele Okakpu, LB, Roswell: Landed recent offer from Miami. ?It?s an honor that Miami wants me,? he said. ?I?ve dreamed about playing for them since I was a little kid, ? Okakpu said. ?Miami will be tough to beat, but I?m going to take my time and check out all my options.?

Chase Thomas, DE, Walton: Auburn, Florida, LSU among offers

Baccari Rambo, S, Seminole County: Committed to Georgia

Brandon Boykin, CB, Fayette County : Committed to Georgia

Darvin Adams, WR, Harrison: Rivals: Auburn, Tennessee the co-leaders, with Georgia and Georgia Tech also in the hunt.

Omoregie Uzzi, OG, Chamblee: Interested in Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Georgia Tech

Devonta Bolton, WR, Norcross: Wide open and wanted, with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Boston College, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi State and South Carolina. High on Georgia, telling the blog recently, ?Coach Richt has got a great program. He?s a religious man who believes in a strong foundation. He?s going to win some games.?

B.J. Brand, OG, Coffee: Undecided after withdrawing early commitment to Georgia. Still interested in Bulldogs, along with Florida, Maryland and South Carolina.

Steven Sylvester, LB, Union Grove: Has top five of Alabama, Georgia, Georgia Tech, North Carolina and South Carolina

Terrence Parks, S, Creekside: Undecided

Derrick Bryant, CB, Peachtree Ridge: Alabama, Auburn, LSU top his wish list

Tauren Poole, RB, Stephens County: Committed to Tennessee

Cordian Hagans, DT, Northview: Undecided

Neiko Lipscomb, CB, Tucker: Undecided

Xavier Avery, ATH, Cedar Grove: Georgia, Georgia Tech both in the mix.

Deron Furr, QB, Columbus Carver: Committed to Auburn

Brandon Davis, RB , Peachtree Ridge: Undecided

Justin Tuggle, QB, Northview: Mississippi State and Indiana have made offers to the son of former Falcons star Jessie Tuggle. ?I like those offers, but I?m still waiting to see what else comes in,? Tuggle said.

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