Friday, July 28, 2006

Football Recruiting

UPDATE: Guess what, it turns out that Nick Claytor was yanking our chains. Well, actually yanking the AJC reporter's chain. Turns out he hasn't blocked Kyle Jackson's number at all - he just doesn't like talking to reporters. Kyle Jackson himself confirmed this fact over at the Hive.............. Awesome. I love that. Of course you know that could come back to haunt him one day if he does end up a Jacket. Reporters can be fickle - even about 17 year old kids.


This story doesn't bode too well for OL Nick Claytor. The fact that he had to block Kyle Jackson's number cannot be looked at in too good a light. Throw in a desire to major in sports psychology and things get a tad dimmer. He does have a lot of friend committing to GT and he likes to school and coaching staff so there are certainly pros for Tech. But time will tell....................... On a better note, here is an outstanding article on our new head recruiting coordinator Giff Smith and the positive impact he's had in a short amount of time.


Here's Giff's bio from the GA HOF site:


A four-year football letterman from 1987 to 1990. A three-year starter at defensive end and a three-year All-America performer. Named to Associated Press (first-team ‘89-90, honorable mention ‘88), Football Gazette (first-team ‘90, second-team ‘88-89) and Walter Camp (first-team ‘90) national squads. Was a starter in three consecutive NCAA Division I-AA National Championship Games (‘88, ‘89, ‘90) and played pivotal role in Georgia Southern's two national titles in 1989 and 1990. Part of team which recorded NCAA's first-ever 15-0 mark. Helped lead Eagles to 48-10 record (.828) during career. Set school single-game record with five sacks against UT-Chattanooga as a sophomore in 1988. Among Georgia Southern's top five single-season (10 in ‘88) and career (23.5) leaders in sacks. Credited with a career-best 131 tackles (65 solo) in 1988. Followed with overall 112-tackle and 89-tackle totals in 1989 and 1990, respectively. Recorded 34 sacks in three-year, 45-game span as a sophomore, junior and senior. Also was responsible for seven forced fumbles, four recovered fumbles and 12 batted passes. Established personal-best of 15 stops during 1988 NCAA I-AA National Championship contest against Furman in Pocatello, Idaho. Other double-digit notable defensive efforts include 12-tackle performances against Nicholls State and Central Florida (1989) and an 11-tackle day against Middle Tennessee State in 1988. Played instrumental role in Eagles' 45-15 win over Montana during I-AA semifinals at Paulson Stadium with career-best three sacks against Grizzlies. Posted 45.5 all-time tackles for loss. Strong playoff performer who posted 104 lifetime postseason tackles, an average of over seven per game. Made 10.5 sacks during playoff runs in 1989 and 1990, including a unit-best six hits as a senior. Rejoined Georgia Southern program as assistant coach in 1996 and helped Eagles to pair of Southern Conference titles in 1997 and 1998.