Football Recruiting Recap - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

February 2, 2005

Undated-- Georgia's 19 player class is being ranked among the top five in the nation by some recruiting analysts.

• Georgia Signees

  Twelve of the 19 are defensive players, but on offense Georgia signs quarterback Joe Cox, who was Chris Leak's successor at Charlotte's Independence High.

Cox's teammate Mohamed Massaquoi may be the best player in the class and C. J. Byrd is the number one player in the state of South Carolina.

Georgia also gets two blue chippers from Florida in receiver Michael Moore and linebacker Jamar Chaney, while defensive tackle Kade Weston is one of the top defensive lineman in the nation.

The Bulldogs also hold on to defensive lineman Jeff Owens, and they get Jacksonville corner Bryan Evans who has family here in Albany.

• Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech  finishing strong with the signing of Cartersville safety Anthony Barnes.  Jackets also sign Trey Dunmon from Hawkinsville.

Quarterback Jonathan Garner was headed to Florida before Ron Zook's firing, now he is a Jacket along with tight end Colin Peek from Jacksonville's Bolles High.

    Receiver Greg Smith could join Calvin Johnson on the field at receiver this wall and the Jackets are very high on linebacker Tallib Tucker from Westlake and Jahi Word Daniles from Birmingham powerhouse Hoover High.


Over at Valdosta High , seven Wildcats are headed off to college.
Defensive linemen Solom Acquaah and Jaudee Lilley along with defensive back Corey Council are going to Bethune-Cookman.
Defensive back Andre Yancey has signed with Savannah State. Running back Jamal Scott and linebacker James Neal are going to Holmes Mississippi Junior College and Antonio Tilllman is headed to Milledgeville to play at Georgia Military.

Florida State coach Bobby Bowden remains the dean of recruiting. Among the new Seminoles is Early County linebacker Dan Foster. Foster was a three year starter for the Bobcats and finished his senior year with 149 tackles and 1 sack. 

After playing both ways his sophomore and junior years, Foster was strickly used as a linebacker this past year. He is expected to make an immediate impact for the Seminoles this fall.

 Crisp County linebacker Jamaal Jackson becomes the second Cougar in as many years to sign with the University of Kentucky. An all-state and all-region performer, Jackson had 88 tackles and 14 sacks last year.  Teammate Andre Ramsey is headed to Ball State University in Muncie Indiana.  The offensive tackle earned all region honors his senior year after grading out at 93 percent for the season.

In Americus ,  Panthers quarterback Cedric Johnson is heading to the University of Illinois.  Johnson had over 8,500 yards of total offense during his high school career where he threw for 92 touchdowns and ran for 36 TD's. Cedric Johnson will play reciever for Ron Zook's Illini.  Defensive end Jeremy Hawkins is headed to Troy University and Donald Minter is coming to town to play for Albany State. Receiver Brandon Gooden head to junior college. Gooden signed with Hinds Community College in Mississippi.

After commiting last week to Valdosta State, Ransom had a change of heart yesterday and decided to stay at home and play for the Albany State Golden Rams.

Rams head coach Mike White and offensive coordinator Donald Pittman are thrilled to get a quarterback like Ransom who threw for more than 7,500 yards and 44 touchdown passes in four years as the Torandoes starting quarterback.

ASU has to replace Uyl Joyner, and Ransom says the chance to play right away was a factor in his decision. Ransom said,  "Valdosta State is a great school but I just felt like I had to stay home." 

Terrence Ransom was the WALB Orthopaedic Associates Spine and Brain Center offensive player of the year.

 posted at 3:55PM by dave.miller@walb.com