Just wondering what our biggest need will be for 08....We're off to a good start w. some solid committs from our verbals thus far.....But where is OUR BIGGEST need? And who is likely to fill it?
Personally I can't wait for the SEASON to begin....GO JACKETS!!!
With 25+ scholarships to give...this will be a balanced class with a player taken at every position...then a few of the best athletes available regardless of position. I guess you could argue we have the biggest need at all DB slots and LB. Our defense gets hit hard with graduation this year as we lose 8 of our 11 starters...and 2 of the remaining three are juniors!
We are done at QB with Sean Renfree unless we get a super athlete QB that could play other spots if he did not win the position.
We will take 1 more RB in addition to Peeples to provide more depth after losing Choice and Grant. This does not have to be a superstar as Dwyer, Evans, and Jones will be fighting for the ball enough for the next few years. However, we will get a look from Covaughn Debokie of Arizone, but California is thought to be the leader. Xavier Avery of Ellenwood is an athlete we would like to have that can play TB or CB.
We already have a super player in Chris Jackson at WR...he could even play safety. We would like to take 2 more here...particularly not knowing yet if the best place for Donley and White is offense. We really want to add superstar AJ Jenkins of Jacksonville, FL to the class. We are also recruitng Jon Lockhart (WR or CB from Florida), Rodriquez Wilkes (Tenn), and a couple of others.
We want two TE's, but they have to be the right ones. We are still in the game for two blue chip TE's...but are underdogs with both (Graham and Williams). Do not be surpised if Ryan Wallace of Kentucky gets an offer after the July 7 camp. Local products Ben Kopacka and Kyle Madden would like offers...as would TE from Bolles School Mikey Triglia.
We want 4-5 OL's are are in on a ton of them...including some superstars like Kenneth Page, Greg Shaw, Preston Bailey, and Barrett Jones. This is a position where you can find lesser know players to develop...if you can get a superstar type like Nick Claytor each year then great.
We want two DT's and we are pushing hard for TJ Barnes and Omoregie Uzzi. We look good for Uzzi...but like Wrotto his best long-term position could be OG...just as some see Barnes as a better OT in the long run. We are also trying to steal Brandon Thompson from the clutches of Clemson...he is a Thomasville product. There are also others that are DE's we are recruiting that could grow into DT's pretty easily like Pete Massaro or Kaleb Ramsey (240 and 260 respectively).
We are all over some big-time DE's and we look good for Keith Wells. We want two...and are still in the game with William Green...and some LB's that could become DE's like Chase Thomas of Marietta. We did get a transfer at this spot in Anthony Egbuniwe...so he could be one of the two.
We want more LB's..you can never have enough. We want 3...but will take 4 if they come from our 'a' list. We are all over Steven Sylvester and Etienne Sabino...but super blue chips. Another big one we are going after but lag behind against Michigan and Florida is JB Fitzgerald. We look strong with OLB/DE from Maritta Chase Thomas. To top it off, we are in the mix for TJ Pridemore (Buford), BJ Machen (Ohio), Malcolm Munroe (Florida), and DeWitt Stuckey (Calif.).
DB's- We want 2 safeties and at 2 CB's...or five total with 3 being versatile enough to try out at either. We would love to go ahead and seal up Ralph Bolden of Charlton County...South Carolina is battling hard for his services. Cooper Taylor (S/OLB) of Marist is down to GT and UVA...any day decision dependant on med school decision. We are also in the mix for David Rowe (CB from Florida), T'Sharvan Bell (Florida), Keanon Cooper (Texas), Brandon Harris (CB from Florida), Mike Shanahan (S from Penn), Brandon Leslie (S from Calif...shoulder is a ?), Karnell Hatcher (Florida), Matt Roark (Kennesaw...FS or WR), etc. etc. Also see Xavier Avery or Jon Lockhart from above.
We have offered the #1 punter (he also kicks) in the country. His name is Jeff Locke and he is from Arizona. He will be taking an unofficial visit here this month. He averaged 43 ypp last year as a junior.
The camp we are holding July 7th is bringing in tons of great athletes...some are not even participating but taking unofficial visits. This could bring new offers and shake the list up some.
who has been steady and fairly reliable. These two have been great assets to our program.
