Football Recruiting - Southeast Region: Shaq Wiggins
ESPN Watch List cornerback Nick Ruffin (Atlanta/St. Pius X) was meeting with two of his football coaches when the three of them were joined by Georgia running backs coach Bryan McClendon. Some good news followed.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
ESPN 150 CB Wiggins makes decision 
January, 17, 2013
Jan 17
6:11
PM ET
By
Kipp Adams and
Radi Nabulsi | ESPN.com
Sunday, ESPN 150 cornerback Shaq Wiggins (Tyrone, Ga./Sandy Creek) returned from an official visit to South Carolina. Later that evening he received a call from Mark Richt. The Georgia head coach asked if he should be worried about Wiggins changing his commitment from Georgia to the Gamecocks. Wiggins told Richt no, but that he still planned to take visits to Florida and Texas A&M.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
ESPN 150 cornerback Shaq Wiggins (Tyrone, Ga./Sandy Creek) spent Sunday morning eating breakfast with South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier, then ended that night on the phone with Georgia coach Mark Richt.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
ESPN 150 cornerback Shaq Wiggins (Tyrone, Ga./Sandy Creek) was in Columbia, S.C., to take a closer look at South Carolina during his official visit. Wiggins said during practice for the Under Armour All-America game last week that the Gamecocks had the best chance at getting him to switch his commitment from the University of Georgia.
“I am still committed to Georgia, but I just need to take these last few visits and I will have a better idea of what my final decision will be,” Wiggins said.
“I am still committed to Georgia, but I just need to take these last few visits and I will have a better idea of what my final decision will be,” Wiggins said.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- ESPN 150 cornerback Shaq Wiggins (Tyrone, Ga./Sandy Creek) has been committed to the University of Georgia for more than 10 months, but when asked this week at Under Armour All-America Game practice about his future, Wiggins did not sound so certain about his plans.
“I am still committed to UGA, but there is a very good chance that if I don’t go to Georgia, that I go to South Carolina,” Wiggins said. “After that it is Ole Miss, then Florida, then Texas A&M.”
The Gamecocks have emerged as a true threat to steal Wiggins, the No. 5 cornerback prospect in the country, from the Bulldogs.
“I am still committed to UGA, but there is a very good chance that if I don’t go to Georgia, that I go to South Carolina,” Wiggins said. “After that it is Ole Miss, then Florida, then Texas A&M.”
The Gamecocks have emerged as a true threat to steal Wiggins, the No. 5 cornerback prospect in the country, from the Bulldogs.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- There were several standouts at Tuesday's Day 2 practice for the Under Armour All-America Game (5 p.m. ET Friday, ESPN). Two players -- one for Team Nitro, the other for Team Highlight -- said they are closing in on their college decisions and will make their announcements Friday. Meanwhile, the nation's No. 1 player left the field at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports with an injury.
Folston closing in on decision
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
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
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
Alan Knott recruits as hard as he blocks
December, 7, 2012
12/07/12
8:00
AM ET
By
Radi Nabulsi | ESPN.com
TYRONE, Ga. -- Much of the recent reporting from Sandy Creek (Ga.) High School has referenced skill players like cornerback Shaq Wiggins, quarterback Cole Garvin and wide receiver Demarre Kitt. But just as in college and the NFL, the success the Patriots have seen starts on the lines. Which for Sandy Creek means it starts with offensive tackle Alan Knott.
Knott is committed to South Carolina, having picked the Gamecocks over Miami, Virginia Tech and North Carolina, among others. In his last playoff game against a stingy Burke County (Ga.) High School defense, his Patriots were in an unfamiliar position: trailing after the third quarter.
“We were down and it was kind of nerve-racking right there for a little bit but we persevered through it,” Knott said. “We got Eric Swinney running that football and we made some adjustments on the line.”
Knott is committed to South Carolina, having picked the Gamecocks over Miami, Virginia Tech and North Carolina, among others. In his last playoff game against a stingy Burke County (Ga.) High School defense, his Patriots were in an unfamiliar position: trailing after the third quarter.
“We were down and it was kind of nerve-racking right there for a little bit but we persevered through it,” Knott said. “We got Eric Swinney running that football and we made some adjustments on the line.”
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
DT Chris Williams eats big, plays big
December, 6, 2012
12/06/12
9:00
AM ET
By
Radi Nabulsi | ESPN.com
TYRONE, Ga. -- With three Georgia coaches watching on the sideline on Friday night, defensive tackle Chris Williams (Tyrone, Ga./Sandy Creek) picked an inopportune time to do his first Willie Beamen impression. Like the quarterback from “Any Given Sunday”, Williams was sick to his stomach on the field, but shook it off and kept playing.
“We fought,” Williams said. “I was throwing up a lot tonight. I don’t know why. I think I ate too much of the pregame meal. We had chicken biscuits and potatoes. I have never had that happen before. I guess it was because I ate three chicken biscuits. Eat big, play big.”
Teammate and Georgia commit Shaq Wiggins joked that Williams was eating biscuits “like Starbursts.”
“We fought,” Williams said. “I was throwing up a lot tonight. I don’t know why. I think I ate too much of the pregame meal. We had chicken biscuits and potatoes. I have never had that happen before. I guess it was because I ate three chicken biscuits. Eat big, play big.”
Teammate and Georgia commit Shaq Wiggins joked that Williams was eating biscuits “like Starbursts.”
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
Demarre Kitt's popularity on the rise
December, 5, 2012
12/05/12
2:25
PM ET
By
Radi Nabulsi | ESPN.com
TYRONE, Ga. -- ESPN Watch List wide receiver Demarre Kitt has been popular over the last 10 days. A number of college coaches have stopped by Sandy Creek (Ga.) High School to check in on the 6-foot-1, 185-pound junior who sports offers from 11 major programs such as USC, Alabama, Ohio State and Clemson.
Kitt was verbally committed to Georgia for a few months before reopening his recruitment. The Bulldogs had three coaches, Rodney Garner, Kirk Olivadotti and Scott Lakos, at his game Friday night. While their attention was focused mainly on Georgia commit cornerback Shaq Wiggins, Kitt was happy to see them.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
Decision soon for WR Ja'Quay Williams
November, 29, 2012
11/29/12
11:34
PM ET
By
Kipp Adams | ESPN.com
Wide receiver Ja'Quay Williams (Tyrone, Ga./Fork Union Military Academy) might have decommitted from Auburn last week, but the 6-foot-3, 195-pound prospect appears to still have plans to play in the SEC. After taking official visits to Texas A&M and Georgia the last two weekends, Williams will check out South Carolina this weekend, with a decision coming immediately following his trip.
"I'm going on an official to South Carolina now and committing Sunday," Williams said.
South Carolina has come on late for Williams, beating out Mississippi State, Miami and Michigan for the chance to get the talented wideout on campus. A four-star receiver out of Tyrone (Ga.) Sandy Creek, Williams is close friends with ESPN 150 cornerback Shaq Wiggins (Tyrone, Ga./Sandy Creek), another prospect the Gamecocks are making a move to get. The two are contemplating signing with the same program.
"I'm going on an official to South Carolina now and committing Sunday," Williams said.
South Carolina has come on late for Williams, beating out Mississippi State, Miami and Michigan for the chance to get the talented wideout on campus. A four-star receiver out of Tyrone (Ga.) Sandy Creek, Williams is close friends with ESPN 150 cornerback Shaq Wiggins (Tyrone, Ga./Sandy Creek), another prospect the Gamecocks are making a move to get. The two are contemplating signing with the same program.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
Georgia commits looking elsewhere?
November, 29, 2012
11/29/12
11:30
AM ET
By
Radi Nabulsi | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- Georgia has the nation’s second largest recruiting class with 30 prospects verbally committed to for the Class of 2013, despite having had four decommitments in the last year. The Bulldogs are hoping to add six more targets and to sign the largest class Mark Richt has ever had. But will the 30 recruits verbally committed to Georgia stick? Recent history says no.
So who could flip? That is tough to gauge but we thought we would examine a few players that have been rumored to be looking around.
CB Shaq Wiggins (Tyrone, Ga./Sandy Creek) -- The No. 5 ranked cornerback is also Georgia’s highest rated commitment. Wiggins has been a tireless recruiter for the Bulldogs, trying to help Georgia sign as strong a class as possible. He would seem like the most solid recruit Georgia had but additions to the class have the Under Armour All-American worried.
So who could flip? That is tough to gauge but we thought we would examine a few players that have been rumored to be looking around.
CB Shaq Wiggins (Tyrone, Ga./Sandy Creek) -- The No. 5 ranked cornerback is also Georgia’s highest rated commitment. Wiggins has been a tireless recruiter for the Bulldogs, trying to help Georgia sign as strong a class as possible. He would seem like the most solid recruit Georgia had but additions to the class have the Under Armour All-American worried.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
With Tuesday’s addition of ESPN 300 athlete Brendan Langley (Marietta, Ga./Kell) to the commitment list, Georgia has secured its top target at cornerback for the 2013 class. It has been a battle since the spring for the 6-foot-1, 186-pound prospect, with programs like Alabama, South Carolina and Tennessee all fighting for Langley. Getting Langley was a priority for the Bulldogs’ coaching staff, who heavily pursued the four-star recruit even after he committed to the Gamecocks.
With his size and athletic ability, Langley should be able to come in and help Georgia in several ways. He is a playmaker with the ball in his hands, and has made just as big of an impact on offense at Kell this season as he has on defense. That could continue in Athens.
Langley was sold early on being utilized in a similar manner to former Georgia standout Brandon Boykin, and that would be a smooth transition for the two-way standout. With only three scholarship cornerbacks returning and a void in the return game, Langley has a chance to contribute next fall.
With his size and athletic ability, Langley should be able to come in and help Georgia in several ways. He is a playmaker with the ball in his hands, and has made just as big of an impact on offense at Kell this season as he has on defense. That could continue in Athens.
Langley was sold early on being utilized in a similar manner to former Georgia standout Brandon Boykin, and that would be a smooth transition for the two-way standout. With only three scholarship cornerbacks returning and a void in the return game, Langley has a chance to contribute next fall.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
Exactly one week after losing juco cornerback Steven Nelson (Warner Robins, Ga./College of Sequoias), the University of Georgia replaced him on the commitment list by pulling off a switch with ESPN 300 athlete Brendan Langley (Marietta, Ga./Kell). The 6-foot-1, 186-pound prospect had been verbally committed to South Carolina since August, but took four trips to Athens during the three months that followed. Langley announced today that he has decided to flip to the Bulldogs.
A month after he committed to South Carolina, Georgia was able to get Langley on campus two weeks in a row, where two different coaching staffs let him know he would have a chance to play in Athens. Head basketball coach Mark Fox informed Langley that he would have an opportunity to contribute to the hoops team as well, something the Gamecocks did not discuss seriously.
Tom Hauck/ESPNHSCB Brendan Langley (Marietta, Ga./Kell) says friend and teammate Quincy Mauger never stopped recruiting him to join him as a UGA commit."I just felt more comfortable at Georgia."
He received his first two scholarship offers from Georgia and South Carolina back on Valentine’s Day. The Georgia coaching staff told Langley throughout the 2013 recruiting cycle that he has been their top target on the board at cornerback. The Bulldogs led with the athlete for much of the spring before some miscommunication dropped them further down the list. Nevertheless, Georgia didn’t let up its pursuit, even after his commitment to the Gamecocks.
Langley told DawgNation that he had silently committed to Georgia last Thursday. On Tuesday, it became public news.
He added: "I am pretty sure people already saw it coming."
Teammate and safety Quincy Mauger has been selling Langley on joining him in Athens since Mauger himself committed to Georgia in July.
“He is pushing me pretty hard, but he knows the whole situation, so he is supportive of anything I choose,” Langley said after his third visit to Georgia on Nov. 3. “Basically -- and I kind of like it -- he tells me I have to do what is right for me and that I will be successful wherever I go. Then why not be successful with your best friend?”
The chance to join several other commitments he had grown close to, an opportunity to make an early impact on both sides of the ball, and the allure of playing for his childhood favorite in-state program proved too much for Langley to dismiss. His addition gives the Bulldogs a secondary class that includes two ESPN 150 prospects and two ESPN 300 prospects.
With ESPN 150 cornerback Shaq Wiggins (Tyrone, Ga./Sandy Creek), ESPN 300 athlete Reggie Wilkerson (Citra, Fla./North Marion) and Langley, Georgia now has three cornerback commitments rated as four-star prospects. Langley has the size that secondary coach Scott Lakatos has coveted since he came to Georgia, and gives the Bulldogs 28 commitments overall for the 2013 class.
Naim Mustafaa takes official to Tennessee
October, 22, 2012
10/22/12
8:47
AM ET
By
Kipp Adams | ESPN.com
On Saturday, defensive end Naim Mustafaa (Alpharetta, Ga./Alpharetta) took his first official visit -- not to the University of Georgia where he has been committed since June -- but to Tennessee. The 6-foot-4, 235-pound senior was excited to see the Volunteers' defensive coordinator in action for the first time.
"I have been there a few times, but I have not been able to see Coach Sal [Sunseri] in an actual game," Mustafaa said. "I love Coach Sal and how intense he is and I also love their stands and their stadium."
The day before his official to Tennessee began, Mustafaa was on the phone with his recruiter of record for Georgia. As the two talked, Mustafaa says there was no sense of worry on the other line.
"I have been there a few times, but I have not been able to see Coach Sal [Sunseri] in an actual game," Mustafaa said. "I love Coach Sal and how intense he is and I also love their stands and their stadium."
The day before his official to Tennessee began, Mustafaa was on the phone with his recruiter of record for Georgia. As the two talked, Mustafaa says there was no sense of worry on the other line.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
RECRUITING NATION SOUTHEAST COVERAGE
The Southeast Region consists of the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee and is home to some of the nation's most talented football recruits each recruiting cycle.More RecruitingNation blogs
RecruitingNation has the latest recruiting news from across the country:
• On The Trail • East Region blog
• Midlands Region blog
• Midwest Region blog • West Region blog
SOUTHEAST RECRUITING CONTRIBUTORS
Kipp AdamsESPN Archive |
Corey DowlarESPN Archive |
Dave HookerESPN Archive |
Greg OstendorfESPN Archive |
Bob PrzybyloESPN Archive |
Derek TysonESPN Archive |
