Family. It will be a strong factor in Stefon Diggs' recruitment.
That should bode well for Auburn in its recruitment of the No. 10 prospect in the nation.
“They're big on family,” the four-star athlete from Olney (Md.) Good Counsel said when asked about his official visit this weekend to The Plains. “I'm big on family. When I go to a school, I would like it to be like a family when I get there.”
That should bode well for Auburn in its recruitment of the No. 10 prospect in the nation.
“They're big on family,” the four-star athlete from Olney (Md.) Good Counsel said when asked about his official visit this weekend to The Plains. “I'm big on family. When I go to a school, I would like it to be like a family when I get there.”
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Freddie Burden (Statesboro, Ga./Statesboro) made an official visit to Georgia Tech hoping that the Yellow Jackets would make him offer. He got just that on Saturday morning and it came from head coach Paul Johnson.
“I made the decision today,” Burden said. “They offered me on Saturday morning, so I talked it over my parents. It came from coach (Paul) Johnson. At Georgia Tech you get a great education. That’s the first thing for anyone. Football just adds to it. But I have to say that it’s a great place to play football, and it’s the ACC.”
Burden, 6-foot-3 and 290-pounds, played tight end in high school but projects as a guard or center for the Yellow Jackets.
“I made the decision today,” Burden said. “They offered me on Saturday morning, so I talked it over my parents. It came from coach (Paul) Johnson. At Georgia Tech you get a great education. That’s the first thing for anyone. Football just adds to it. But I have to say that it’s a great place to play football, and it’s the ACC.”
Burden, 6-foot-3 and 290-pounds, played tight end in high school but projects as a guard or center for the Yellow Jackets.
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Four-star outside linebacker Jeremi Powell (Largo, Fla./Pinellas Park) took his official visit to Florida this weekend with his mother.
Powell said the visit made him feel at home and that he can't wait to get to Gainesville for good.
"My visit was off the chain," Powell said. "I was hanging out with Mike [Taylor] and Mack [Brown]. Those dudes are real cool. They took care of me. It was crazy. I wish I could stay and not come back to hard living."
Powell said the visit made him feel at home and that he can't wait to get to Gainesville for good.
"My visit was off the chain," Powell said. "I was hanging out with Mike [Taylor] and Mack [Brown]. Those dudes are real cool. They took care of me. It was crazy. I wish I could stay and not come back to hard living."
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Brantley signs with agent Joel Segal
January, 14, 2012
1/14/12
8:32
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By
Michael DiRocco | ESPN.com
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida quarterback John Brantley has begun his post-college career by signing with agent Joel Segal.
John Brantley Sr., said his son signed the contract on Friday. Florida running back Chris Rainey also signed with Segal last week. Segal has a history of signing former Florida players, including Percy Harvin, Mike Pouncey, Maurkice Pouncey and Ahmad Black. Some of Segal's other clients are Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, Tennessee running back Chris Johnson, and Miami running back Reggie Bush.
Brantley, who finished his career with 4,750 yards and 30 touchdowns passing, has been working out at the Coach Tom Shaw Training Program at ESPN's Wide World of Sports in Orlando. Brantley will play in the East-West Shrine Game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., on Jan. 21.
"I've never seen him this excited," Brantley, Sr., said of his son. "He's excited about the [draft] process and the East-West Shrine Game. It's all good. He's finally healthy and ready to roll."
John Brantley Sr., said his son signed the contract on Friday. Florida running back Chris Rainey also signed with Segal last week. Segal has a history of signing former Florida players, including Percy Harvin, Mike Pouncey, Maurkice Pouncey and Ahmad Black. Some of Segal's other clients are Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, Tennessee running back Chris Johnson, and Miami running back Reggie Bush.
Brantley, who finished his career with 4,750 yards and 30 touchdowns passing, has been working out at the Coach Tom Shaw Training Program at ESPN's Wide World of Sports in Orlando. Brantley will play in the East-West Shrine Game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., on Jan. 21.
"I've never seen him this excited," Brantley, Sr., said of his son. "He's excited about the [draft] process and the East-West Shrine Game. It's all good. He's finally healthy and ready to roll."
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- With football season sadly in the rear-view mirror, it's time to devote more attention to hoops. No. 19 Florida tries to break its road losing skein at South Carolina on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET (you can watch the game here on ESPN3). Here are some Gator-related links from ESPN to get you in the mood.
King: Top sixth men thrive coming off the bench
In the past, being in the starting lineup was considered a status symbol among players. But these days, substituting is becoming chic as top players from some of the nation's best programs make their mark off the bench. Florida's Mike Rosario makes Jason King's top 10.
Player Rankings: How top prospects stack up in PER (Insider)
Matt Giles looks at how Chad Ford’s top 10 prospects in the 2012 NBA draft stack up in John Hollinger's college basketball player power rankings. Florida freshman guard Bradley Beal ranks among the SEC's elite.
Power Rankings: Syracuse, Kentucky, North Carolina lead the way
Florida drops one spot to No. 15.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- We're still trying to digest all of what happened at the start of the new year with Florida's bowl win and the Southeastern Conference's annual BCS Championship Game showcase. Here's all the Gator-related football content you could find from the Worldwide Leader.
Five SEC contenders for 2012 (Insider)
Using his statistical analysis, Football Outsiders' Brian Fremeau has Florida among five teams (after Alabama and LSU, of course) that could win the SEC in 2012. Using your eyes, do you agree?
Final SEC power rankings
SEC blogger Chris Low has Florida ranked No. 7 in the 12-team SEC.
Five SEC contenders for 2012 (Insider)
Using his statistical analysis, Football Outsiders' Brian Fremeau has Florida among five teams (after Alabama and LSU, of course) that could win the SEC in 2012. Using your eyes, do you agree?
Final SEC power rankings
SEC blogger Chris Low has Florida ranked No. 7 in the 12-team SEC.
Agholor highlights huge FSU visit weekend 
January, 13, 2012
1/13/12
12:53
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By
Corey Long | ESPN.com
Florida State will entertain ESPNU 150 prospects Nelson Agholor, Ronald Darby and Leonard Williams this weekend.
Agholor (Tampa, Fla./Berkeley Prep), the nation's 41st-ranked prospect, has said that the Seminoles are part of his top group of schools with Notre Dame, Florida, USC and Oklahoma.
This is his fourth official visit, with the final one expected to be USC.
Agholor (Tampa, Fla./Berkeley Prep), the nation's 41st-ranked prospect, has said that the Seminoles are part of his top group of schools with Notre Dame, Florida, USC and Oklahoma.
This is his fourth official visit, with the final one expected to be USC.
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The 2011 SEC All-Bowl team
January, 13, 2012
1/13/12
11:48
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By
Chris Low and
Edward Aschoff | ESPN.com
[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Mark HumphreyMississippi State's Vick Ballard rushed for 180 yards against Wake Forest in the Music City Bowl.
AP Photo/Mark HumphreyMississippi State's Vick Ballard rushed for 180 yards against Wake Forest in the Music City Bowl.OFFENSE
QB: Connor Shaw, South Carolina: Shaw didn't seem to feel the pressure of a bowl game, completing 11 of 17 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for 42 yards and another score in the Gamecocks' win against Nebraska in the Capital One Bowl. He even gave South Carolina the momentum going into the second half with a touchdown on a Hail Mary to end the first half.
RB: Vick Ballard, Mississippi State: Ballard ended his career with the Bulldogs with one of his best performances, as he rushed for 180 yards and two touchdowns on just 14 carries in Mississippi State's win against Wake Forest in the Music City Bowl. His touchdowns went for 72 and 60 yards.
RB: Onterio McCalebb, Auburn: As the Tigers' lead back in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, McCalebb had a game-high 109 rushing yards, including a long of 60. He also recorded a three-yard touchdown run and caught two passes for 53 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown in Auburn's win against Virginia.
Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville, Fla.) Watch List wide receiver Ahmad Fulwood will be visiting Clemson at the end of January for a junior day event.
"Clemson is a very good school and very serious about education," Fulwood said "I like Coach [Jeff] Scott and I think the team is loaded with good talent."
Fulwood, who said he measured in at 6-foot-4, 192 pounds at the U.S. Army combine, has been offered by Miami, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Ole Miss, Tennessee and South Carolina, among others. He said he's also hearing from LSU currently, but the Tigers haven't extended an offer yet.
"Clemson is a very good school and very serious about education," Fulwood said "I like Coach [Jeff] Scott and I think the team is loaded with good talent."
Fulwood, who said he measured in at 6-foot-4, 192 pounds at the U.S. Army combine, has been offered by Miami, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Ole Miss, Tennessee and South Carolina, among others. He said he's also hearing from LSU currently, but the Tigers haven't extended an offer yet.
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UF has key visitors slated this weekend
January, 13, 2012
1/13/12
7:04
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By
Derek Tyson | ESPN.com
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida may not be hosting many prospects this weekend, but it is still an important recruiting weekend.
Of the four official visitors expected, outside linebacker Jeremi Powell (Largo, Fla./Pinellas Park) is the only committed prospect. Powell wanted to visit Florida on another weekend, but this was the only time his mom could make it.
Three-star defensive tackle Vincent Valentine (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville) will be taking his official visit to Florida with his family. Valentine said he is looking forward to it.
Of the four official visitors expected, outside linebacker Jeremi Powell (Largo, Fla./Pinellas Park) is the only committed prospect. Powell wanted to visit Florida on another weekend, but this was the only time his mom could make it.
Three-star defensive tackle Vincent Valentine (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville) will be taking his official visit to Florida with his family. Valentine said he is looking forward to it.
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Offensive lineman Kyle Murphy (San Clemente, Calif.) was having a relaxing Thursday packing for his weekend visit to Stanford when his phone started to blow up with text messages asking if he had made his college choice.
Twitter was rampant with talk that Murphy had committed to his long time leader, the Stanford Cardinal Thursday afternoon. The talented lineman said he has an idea of how the rumor got started.
“It was crazy, my phone started going crazy, I must have gotten a 100 text messages,” Murphy said. “At first I thought it was a joke, but then people kept asking me if I had committed to Stanford. I think I know what happened. On my facebook page, I wrote, ‘officiallying to Stanford,’ but I meant I was taking my official visit to Stanford, not committing.
Twitter was rampant with talk that Murphy had committed to his long time leader, the Stanford Cardinal Thursday afternoon. The talented lineman said he has an idea of how the rumor got started.
“It was crazy, my phone started going crazy, I must have gotten a 100 text messages,” Murphy said. “At first I thought it was a joke, but then people kept asking me if I had committed to Stanford. I think I know what happened. On my facebook page, I wrote, ‘officiallying to Stanford,’ but I meant I was taking my official visit to Stanford, not committing.
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Schyler Miles has Gators in his top three
January, 13, 2012
1/13/12
12:01
AM ET
By
Derek Tyson | ESPN.com
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- With just a few short weeks left until National Signing Day, three-star linebacker/fullback Schyler Miles (Tampa, Fla./Berekely Prep) has started to narrow down his choices.
"Florida, West Virginia and Kansas are probably standing out the most right now," Miles said, "but in no particular order."
Miles, who has already visited Florida, will visit West Virginia this weekend and is unsure if he will visit Kansas before making his decision.
"Florida, West Virginia and Kansas are probably standing out the most right now," Miles said, "but in no particular order."
Miles, who has already visited Florida, will visit West Virginia this weekend and is unsure if he will visit Kansas before making his decision.
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Michele Steele and ESPN Regional Coordinators Jaime Newberg, Dave Hooker, Damon Sayles, Mitch Sherman, and Jared Shanker take you through the latest news on the college football recruiting scene.
Gators try to hold off charging Dawgs
January, 12, 2012
1/12/12
2:47
PM ET
By
Michael DiRocco | ESPN.com
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida lost a key recruiting battle to rival Georgia earlier this week and as a result the Bulldogs are right behind the Gators in ESPN's final pre-Signing Day Class of 2012 rankings.
The Gators remained fourth in the rankings, but the Bulldogs moved up from seventh to fifth after landing ESPNU defensive end Jordan Jenkins (Hamilton, Ga./Harris County). The two schools will be competing for several other high-profile recruits in the coming weeks -- including four-star linebacker Josh Harvey-Clemons and four-star offensive tackle Avery Young -- and the Gators will need to close strong in order to avoid a repeat of what happened between the schools on the field last October: a come-from-behind victory by the Bulldogs.
Florida's class includes one five-star recruit (D.J. Humphries) and 12 four-star recruits, including two (receiver Latroy Pittman and offensive lineman Jessamen Dunker) who have enrolled early. Humphries also has enrolled early. The Gators also have a chance to make the class even better and possibly crack the top three in the final rankings should they finish strong in the next few weeks.
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Jeff Demps said in November that he wanted to give the NFL a try, but the Florida running back has changed his mind and instead plans on concentrating on qualifying for the Olympics and pursuing a professional track career.
Demps told UF track coach Mike Holloway this week that he would run for the Gators in the spring but also wanted to try and qualify for the 2012 London Olympics as a sprinter and then compete internationally, the school announced Thursday.
"Once I got done with the Gator Bowl, I kind of already had my mind made up, it was just when was I going to tell everyone,'' Demps told the school's website. "I enjoy track and it's something I love to do. When I'm out here, I'm enjoying myself and having fun with the guys. I wanted to come back and run."
Demps finished his football career No. 8 on the school's all-time rushing list (2,470 yards). He has run track throughout his football career and is the two-time defending NCAA champion in the indoor 60-meter dash and a four-time national champion. He also set a junior world record in the 100 meters in the 2008 Olympic Trials (10.01 seconds).
Scouts Inc., rates Demps (5-foot-8, 190 pounds) as the No. 11 running back heading into April's NFL Draft, which means he projects as a middle- to late-round selection.
Demps told UF track coach Mike Holloway this week that he would run for the Gators in the spring but also wanted to try and qualify for the 2012 London Olympics as a sprinter and then compete internationally, the school announced Thursday.
"Once I got done with the Gator Bowl, I kind of already had my mind made up, it was just when was I going to tell everyone,'' Demps told the school's website. "I enjoy track and it's something I love to do. When I'm out here, I'm enjoying myself and having fun with the guys. I wanted to come back and run."
Demps finished his football career No. 8 on the school's all-time rushing list (2,470 yards). He has run track throughout his football career and is the two-time defending NCAA champion in the indoor 60-meter dash and a four-time national champion. He also set a junior world record in the 100 meters in the 2008 Olympic Trials (10.01 seconds).
Scouts Inc., rates Demps (5-foot-8, 190 pounds) as the No. 11 running back heading into April's NFL Draft, which means he projects as a middle- to late-round selection.
ABOUT GATOR NATION
Michael DiRocco
Michael DiRocco came to ESPN.com in 2011 after spending 10 and a half years covering UF for the Florida Times-Union. He lives in Middleburg, Fla., with his wife and two sons. Email him at espndirocco@gmail.com.
Derek Tyson
Derek Tyson joined ESPN.com in 2011. He worked as a football and recruiting analyst for GatorCountry.com before joining ESPN. He currently resides in Gainesville, Fla. Email him at derektysonespn@gmail.com.