It’s been a hectic couple of weeks for first-year Georgia Southern coach Chris Hatcher, who said he’s extremely excited to announce his first recruiting class today, National Signing Day.
“Right now we are waiting on a few guys who could really put this class over the top,” Hatcher said Tuesday afternoon. “We are looking forward to getting this day behind us and focusing on putting the football behind the guys we already have.”
Hatcher, who took over the program less than three weeks ago, said he’s hoping to receive national letters of intent from approximately 15 players today, although the exact number could be a little more or less. He had 18 days to assemble the 2007 recruiting class.
Hatcher’s first signing class is expected to include Zeke Rozier (RB/LB, Bleckley County), Adrian Mora (K, Dalton), Chris Gray (OL, Landrum, S.C.), Aaron “E.J.” Webb (LB, Fort Union Military Academy) and Jared Flowers (OL, David Emanuel Academy).
Rozier is a 6-foot, 197-pound back, whose 40-yard dash has been timed as low as 4.3 seconds, said his high school coach Sam Barrs. Rozier will join a deep Georgia Southern backfield.
“He’s really fast and strong,” Barrs said. “He plays hard, he’s very coachable and he competes every play. He has a chance to be very good, and he’s really excited about going to Georgia Southern.”
Mora had an outstanding high school career at Dalton where he averaged 42.3 yards on 34 punts, was 11-for-13 on field goals and hit 33 of 34 extra points (one was blocked), said his high school coach Ronnie McClurg, adding that 92 percent of Mora’s kickoffs were touchbacks. Mora also sports a 3.85 GPA.
“He’ll never give GSU a problem on or off the field,” said McClurg, whose son Chuck helped the Eagles to national titles in 1989 and 1990. “He’s an outstanding young man, he’s mentally tough and we are excited about his future.”
McClurg, whose kickers have gone on to play at Tennessee, Vanderbilt and NC State, said Mora ranks among the best he’s coached.
Gray is a 6-4, 240 pound offensive lineman and the brother of Sean Gray, a rising junior who plays tight end for Georgia Southern. Gray had initially committed to North Carolina but the Tar Heels changed directions after coaching switch. Gray’s high school coach John Cann said Gray is an exciting and athletic player whose best characteristic is that he finishes blocks.
“Plus the upside is Chris isn’t done growing yet,” Cann said. “He’s a little taller than 6-4 and in two years he’ll be a 300-pound lineman.”
Webb, a 6-1, 205 pound outside linebacker out of William Fleming High School in Roanoke, Va., spent the fall semester at Fork Union Military Academy. He is currently enrolled in classes at GSU and was recruited by Bowling Green, Western Kentucky, Kent State and Eastern Michigan, said Fork Union coach John Shuman.
“He’s a fast, play-making type of guy,” Shuman said. “We definitely feel GSU got a great player.”
Flowers, a 6-5, 305 offensive lineman, is one of the best linemen DEA head man Jim Stomps has coached in his 12 years at the helm.
“He has a tireless work ethic,” Stomps said. “Jared is a blue-collar kid who did whatever we asked of him. He’s got great speed, hands and feet for a big guy.”
Georgia Southern won’t be signing Colquitt County offensive lineman B.J. Baker, who agreed to play for the Eagles under former coach Brian VanGorder. Baker verbally committed to Georgia Southern on Dec. 15 during an in-home visit, said B.J.’s mother, Lisa. At that point, the 6-5, 300-pound Baker removed himself from the recruiting circuit where he was receiving interest from several Football Bowl Subdivision schools, including Marshall and East Carolina, according to Colquitt County coach Tim Cokely.
His official visit to GSU was during the second weekend in January, just days before VanGorder resigned on Jan. 16. A week later Georgia Southern unexpectedly revoked Baker’s scholarship offer, Mrs. Baker said, sending the family into a tailspin two weeks before National Signing Day.
Although the Bakers were very frustrated with the Eagles’ change of direction, such occurrences aren’t uncommon during the recruiting process, said Phil Kornblut, sports director for the South Carolina News Network, who covers recruiting for several newspapers across South Carolina.
“It happens, especially when there is a complete change in the coaching staff,” Kornblut said. “It’s never pleasant, but the offer is verbal and non-binding and can be pulled back at the school’s discretion. It’s never pretty for all parties.”
B.J. eventually landed at the Big South Conference’s Charleston Southern University where is expected to sign today.
“Right now we are waiting on a few guys who could really put this class over the top,” Hatcher said Tuesday afternoon. “We are looking forward to getting this day behind us and focusing on putting the football behind the guys we already have.”
Hatcher, who took over the program less than three weeks ago, said he’s hoping to receive national letters of intent from approximately 15 players today, although the exact number could be a little more or less. He had 18 days to assemble the 2007 recruiting class.
Hatcher’s first signing class is expected to include Zeke Rozier (RB/LB, Bleckley County), Adrian Mora (K, Dalton), Chris Gray (OL, Landrum, S.C.), Aaron “E.J.” Webb (LB, Fort Union Military Academy) and Jared Flowers (OL, David Emanuel Academy).
Rozier is a 6-foot, 197-pound back, whose 40-yard dash has been timed as low as 4.3 seconds, said his high school coach Sam Barrs. Rozier will join a deep Georgia Southern backfield.
“He’s really fast and strong,” Barrs said. “He plays hard, he’s very coachable and he competes every play. He has a chance to be very good, and he’s really excited about going to Georgia Southern.”
Mora had an outstanding high school career at Dalton where he averaged 42.3 yards on 34 punts, was 11-for-13 on field goals and hit 33 of 34 extra points (one was blocked), said his high school coach Ronnie McClurg, adding that 92 percent of Mora’s kickoffs were touchbacks. Mora also sports a 3.85 GPA.
“He’ll never give GSU a problem on or off the field,” said McClurg, whose son Chuck helped the Eagles to national titles in 1989 and 1990. “He’s an outstanding young man, he’s mentally tough and we are excited about his future.”
McClurg, whose kickers have gone on to play at Tennessee, Vanderbilt and NC State, said Mora ranks among the best he’s coached.
Gray is a 6-4, 240 pound offensive lineman and the brother of Sean Gray, a rising junior who plays tight end for Georgia Southern. Gray had initially committed to North Carolina but the Tar Heels changed directions after coaching switch. Gray’s high school coach John Cann said Gray is an exciting and athletic player whose best characteristic is that he finishes blocks.
“Plus the upside is Chris isn’t done growing yet,” Cann said. “He’s a little taller than 6-4 and in two years he’ll be a 300-pound lineman.”
Webb, a 6-1, 205 pound outside linebacker out of William Fleming High School in Roanoke, Va., spent the fall semester at Fork Union Military Academy. He is currently enrolled in classes at GSU and was recruited by Bowling Green, Western Kentucky, Kent State and Eastern Michigan, said Fork Union coach John Shuman.
“He’s a fast, play-making type of guy,” Shuman said. “We definitely feel GSU got a great player.”
Flowers, a 6-5, 305 offensive lineman, is one of the best linemen DEA head man Jim Stomps has coached in his 12 years at the helm.
“He has a tireless work ethic,” Stomps said. “Jared is a blue-collar kid who did whatever we asked of him. He’s got great speed, hands and feet for a big guy.”
Georgia Southern won’t be signing Colquitt County offensive lineman B.J. Baker, who agreed to play for the Eagles under former coach Brian VanGorder. Baker verbally committed to Georgia Southern on Dec. 15 during an in-home visit, said B.J.’s mother, Lisa. At that point, the 6-5, 300-pound Baker removed himself from the recruiting circuit where he was receiving interest from several Football Bowl Subdivision schools, including Marshall and East Carolina, according to Colquitt County coach Tim Cokely.
His official visit to GSU was during the second weekend in January, just days before VanGorder resigned on Jan. 16. A week later Georgia Southern unexpectedly revoked Baker’s scholarship offer, Mrs. Baker said, sending the family into a tailspin two weeks before National Signing Day.
Although the Bakers were very frustrated with the Eagles’ change of direction, such occurrences aren’t uncommon during the recruiting process, said Phil Kornblut, sports director for the South Carolina News Network, who covers recruiting for several newspapers across South Carolina.
“It happens, especially when there is a complete change in the coaching staff,” Kornblut said. “It’s never pleasant, but the offer is verbal and non-binding and can be pulled back at the school’s discretion. It’s never pretty for all parties.”
B.J. eventually landed at the Big South Conference’s Charleston Southern University where is expected to sign today.
