Georgia Bulldogs: Miami Hurricanes
The football program at Locust Grove High School started in 2009 with a freelance Class AAA schedule, then continued to play in AAA for two more years before making the move to AAAA in 2012. Heading into last fall, the Wildcats had a record of 6-19, having won two games each season. For rising junior Cortez McDowell, it was time to help the fledgling program take the next step.
“My main goal was to help my football team since we have not done well the last two years, so my mindset was to help my team win more than two games,” McDowell said.
The 6-foot, 200-pound prospect was a major part in his program doubling its win total in one season, recording 60 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 10 passes broken up, two interceptions, forcing two fumbles, recovering one fumble on defense while rushing 25 times for 209 yards and three touchdowns and catching 29 passes for 679 yards and eight touchdowns on offense. He took a leadership role on defense, and whenever the team needed a big play on offense, McDowell was there.
Syracuse and NC State had already offered him during the spring of his sophomore year, and after his junior season, scholarships started pouring in. This spring, McDowell has visited Florida State, Tennessee, Georgia, Georgia Tech, South Carolina and North Carolina. While most visits were similar, a few of the trips left an impression on the talented athlete.
“My main goal was to help my football team since we have not done well the last two years, so my mindset was to help my team win more than two games,” McDowell said.
The 6-foot, 200-pound prospect was a major part in his program doubling its win total in one season, recording 60 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 10 passes broken up, two interceptions, forcing two fumbles, recovering one fumble on defense while rushing 25 times for 209 yards and three touchdowns and catching 29 passes for 679 yards and eight touchdowns on offense. He took a leadership role on defense, and whenever the team needed a big play on offense, McDowell was there.
Syracuse and NC State had already offered him during the spring of his sophomore year, and after his junior season, scholarships started pouring in. This spring, McDowell has visited Florida State, Tennessee, Georgia, Georgia Tech, South Carolina and North Carolina. While most visits were similar, a few of the trips left an impression on the talented athlete.
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JEFFERSON, Ga. -- A bystander watching Preston Williams (Lovejoy, Ga./Lovejoy) warm up at the Georgia state track and field championships simply said, “Who is that guy?” Williams stood on the edge of the long jump pit -- where he was challenging for a state title as only a sophomore -- and exploded with a flat-footed jump to the middle of the pit, reaching a height and distance that turned heads.
As did his outfit. Williams wore blindingly bright yellow shoes, mismatched socks (one was a multi-colored, neon leopard print, while the other was decorated with cupcakes), cut-off camouflage sweat pants over black leggings and a Lovejoy t-shirt. The ensemble was topped off with a gray scarf that would look great on a 78-year-old retiree from Boca Raton but seemed out of place wrapped around Williams’ noggin as a headband.
“This is my look,” Williams said. “My jumping look -- I am exotic.”
While his fashion is eclectic, the true answer to who Williams is a lot more complicated.
As did his outfit. Williams wore blindingly bright yellow shoes, mismatched socks (one was a multi-colored, neon leopard print, while the other was decorated with cupcakes), cut-off camouflage sweat pants over black leggings and a Lovejoy t-shirt. The ensemble was topped off with a gray scarf that would look great on a 78-year-old retiree from Boca Raton but seemed out of place wrapped around Williams’ noggin as a headband.
“This is my look,” Williams said. “My jumping look -- I am exotic.”
While his fashion is eclectic, the true answer to who Williams is a lot more complicated.
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Five-star DT eliminates UF, has new leader 
April, 19, 2013
Apr 19
12:33
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By
Derek Tyson | ESPN.com
Just a few weeks after naming Florida his leader, five-star defensive tackle Lamont Gaillard (Fayetville, N.C./Pine Forest) decided to eliminate Florida.
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MIAMI, Fla. -- Sony Michel (Plantation, Fla./American Heritage) has spent the spring working on his hands and trying to become a student of the game as he prepares for the next level. Now at 205 pounds, Michel hopes to add to his 4,819 career rushing yards and 57 touchdowns this fall, but the ESPN Watch List running back also admitted he could be ready to make a decision well before his senior season.
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SUWANEE, Ga. – There is never a shortage of highly coveted football prospects in the state of Georgia. While it remains to be seen if anyone in the 2014 class will be rated as highly as 2013 standouts Robert Nkemdiche or Montravius Adams, there are already a couple defensive recruits that can stake claim to being recruited by just about every prominent program in the country. Raekwon McMillan is one, and Lorenzo Carter is the other.
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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Class of 2014 wide receiver Travis Rudolph (West Palm Beach, Fla./Cardinal Newman) has been committed to Miami for several months. But the 6-foot, 177-pound junior might be having some second thoughts.
“I’ve been hearing from a few other programs so I’m going to try to see some of them over the summer,” Rudolph said while participating in the Under Armour National Combine. “I’m probably going to look to get to Florida and Georgia for sure, but not until the summer because I’m going to focus on the SAT this spring.”
Until the,n Rudolph said he’s continuing to communicate with the Miami staff.
“I’ve been hearing from a few other programs so I’m going to try to see some of them over the summer,” Rudolph said while participating in the Under Armour National Combine. “I’m probably going to look to get to Florida and Georgia for sure, but not until the summer because I’m going to focus on the SAT this spring.”
Until the,n Rudolph said he’s continuing to communicate with the Miami staff.
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LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Five-star linebacker Matthew Thomas (Miami, Fla./Booker T. Washington) said he wanted to win a state championship before he would deal with his recruitment.
Last month he led Booker T. Washington to the Class 4A state title and now he’s ready to get down to business in preparations for a signing day decision.
“It felt good to win state,” Thomas said. It was the main goal from the beginning of the season and it feels good to accomplish your goals, especially after coming up short the year before.
Last month he led Booker T. Washington to the Class 4A state title and now he’s ready to get down to business in preparations for a signing day decision.
“It felt good to win state,” Thomas said. It was the main goal from the beginning of the season and it feels good to accomplish your goals, especially after coming up short the year before.
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LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -– Team Nitro and Team Highlight took to the fields at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports on Monday for Day 1 of practice for Friday’s Under Armour All-America Game (5 p.m. ET, ESPN). Two powerhouse programs in the Southeastern Conference look to battle it out for one of the standout running backs, and one of the top uncommitted offensive linemen is out with an injury.
Tide and Dawgs at top for RB Kamara
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Family decision for LB Reuben Foster
December, 14, 2012
12/14/12
8:39
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By
Kipp Adams | ESPN.com
A week ago, Reuben Foster (Auburn, Ala./Auburn) made one of the toughest decisions any prospect has to make when he decommitted from Auburn after it was announced that assistant coach Trooper Taylor and the entire Tigers staff would not be retained.
After that, Alabama, the first team to gain Foster’s commitment, was back after the No. 24 prospect.
“Kirby Smart talked to me about how I felt when I first committed to [Alabama] and how I needed to get back on that train so I can be a great linebacker at Alabama,” Foster said. “Coach Smart said that I hurt them when I decommitted and they never wanted me to rush into anything. They would have rather me take my time. I am serious about Alabama. Not too serious, but I want to get back on that road.”
After that, Alabama, the first team to gain Foster’s commitment, was back after the No. 24 prospect.
“Kirby Smart talked to me about how I felt when I first committed to [Alabama] and how I needed to get back on that train so I can be a great linebacker at Alabama,” Foster said. “Coach Smart said that I hurt them when I decommitted and they never wanted me to rush into anything. They would have rather me take my time. I am serious about Alabama. Not too serious, but I want to get back on that road.”
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Matthew Thomas waiting for visits
December, 9, 2012
12/09/12
11:27
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By
Corey Dowlar and
Corey Long | ESPN.com
ORLANDO, Fla. -- A state championship is best served with a side of redemption for five-star linebacker Matthew Thomas (Miami/Booker T. Washington).
Having fallen to The Bolles School just a year ago in the same game, it was Thomas and his Tornadoes teammates that came out on top 35-7. And it was Thomas that finally got to walk across the stage with a medal on his neck.
"It feels so good," he said. "Last year, I was supposed to [win it]. We were here, but we let it slip. But I am a senior and it feels great to win a state championship."
Having fallen to The Bolles School just a year ago in the same game, it was Thomas and his Tornadoes teammates that came out on top 35-7. And it was Thomas that finally got to walk across the stage with a medal on his neck.
"It feels so good," he said. "Last year, I was supposed to [win it]. We were here, but we let it slip. But I am a senior and it feels great to win a state championship."
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Juco DT Toby Johnson ready for Athens
December, 4, 2012
12/04/12
9:17
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By
Kipp Adams | ESPN.com
Last week, defensive tackle Toby Johnson (Hutchinson, Kans./Hutchinson C.C.) had surgery to repair a partially torn ACL and a torn MCL. As one of the most coveted juco prospects in the country, Johnson was reassured by several college coaches that he was still very much wanted by their programs. Georgia was one of them.
“Mark Richt called me and let me that everything would be alright, to focus on the rehab and they would not give up on me because they knew what type of player I am,” Johnson said. “Then Coach [Rodney] Garner hit me up and really calmed me down from there.”
After taking his first official visit to Oklahoma in Sept., Johnson will take his second this weekend to Athens, Ga. A former College Park (Ga.) Banneker standout, the 6-foot-5, 305-pound lineman is looking forward to learning more about the Bulldogs.
“Mark Richt called me and let me that everything would be alright, to focus on the rehab and they would not give up on me because they knew what type of player I am,” Johnson said. “Then Coach [Rodney] Garner hit me up and really calmed me down from there.”
After taking his first official visit to Oklahoma in Sept., Johnson will take his second this weekend to Athens, Ga. A former College Park (Ga.) Banneker standout, the 6-foot-5, 305-pound lineman is looking forward to learning more about the Bulldogs.
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#BlueChipBattles: Nov. 16
November, 16, 2012
11/16/12
12:13
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By RecruitingNation staff | ESPN.com
ESPN.comUncommitted 2013 running backs Alvin Kamara and Derrick Green.ESPN 100 running backs Alvin Kamara and Derrick Green can score from anywhere on the field thanks to their breakaway speed, an attribute that makes them very attractive recruits to the Oregon Ducks. Oregon's pursuit of the duo headlines this week’s #BlueChipBattles.
Click through for our list to rank the top 10 recruiting battles
.With the addition of ESPN 300 running back A.J. Turman (Orlando, Fla./Boone), Georgia has filled a basic need for the 2013 class with one of the most productive running backs in the Southeast, continuing the success the Bulldogs have had in recent years recruiting the position.
Once Turman arrives in Athens next year, he will compete with Ken Malcome for the third running back spot. In 2011, Georgia was forced to start a former walk-on in Brandon Harton and back him up with another in Kyle Karempelis because they were without four other scholarship running backs. That game provided a stark reminder of just how easily depth can diminish, especially at running back, making it imperative that the Bulldogs avoid that type of situation in the future.
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ESPN 300 RB A.J. Turman set to announce
November, 11, 2012
11/11/12
8:27
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By
Kipp Adams | ESPN.com
After wrapping up an outstanding high school career that includes 4,867 rushing yards and 55 touchdowns as a starter for more than three seasons, ESPN 300 prospect A.J. Turman (Orlando, Fla./Boone) felt he need not delay his commitment any longer. On Sunday, Turman told ESPN.com he intends to announce his decision Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in a downtown Orlando restaurant.
He was actually ready to announce his decision almost a month ago, but his parents advised him to wait.
“I wanted to get my decision done with three weeks ago and I had a good feeling about where I wanted to go, but I had not taken my final trip to Georgia yet,” Turman said. “My parents wanted to wait until after that trip to make my decision. I felt the same after the visit, so I figured since the season was over I should get it out of the way.”
He was actually ready to announce his decision almost a month ago, but his parents advised him to wait.
“I wanted to get my decision done with three weeks ago and I had a good feeling about where I wanted to go, but I had not taken my final trip to Georgia yet,” Turman said. “My parents wanted to wait until after that trip to make my decision. I felt the same after the visit, so I figured since the season was over I should get it out of the way.”
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Top juco defensive tackle suffers injury
November, 4, 2012
11/04/12
7:27
PM ET
By
Kipp Adams | ESPN.com
Highly coveted junior college prospect Toby Johnson (Hutchinson, Kan./Hutchinson Community College) was injured in Sunday's Region VI semifinals matchup with Coffeyville C.C.
"They said I tore my ACL and MCL," Johnson said. "I am getting X-rays [Monday]."
"They said I tore my ACL and MCL," Johnson said. "I am getting X-rays [Monday]."
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David Ching
David Ching came to ESPN.com in 2011 after six years covering UGA for the Columbus (Ga.) Ledger-Enquirer and Athens (Ga.) Banner-Herald. He lives in Athens. Email him at davidchingespn@gmail.com.
Radi Nabulsi
Radi Nabulsi joined ESPN.com in 2011 after covering the University of Georgia for Rivals.com for four years and for the UGA Athletic Association since 1993. Nabulsi is a graduate of the University of Georgia's Grady College of Journalism and lives in Athens. He can be reached at radinabulsiespn@gmail.com.
Kipp Adams
Kipp Adams joined ESPN.com in 2011 after covering University of Georgia football and basketball recruiting for five years at Rivals.com. He lives in Sandy Springs, Ga., and enjoys spending time with his two sons. He can be reached at kippadamsespn@gmail.com.