VN Article: AJ Johnson names top 3

#53
#53
Well UF could be out of the AJ hunt ESPN is reporting we took a commit from Rahim Cassell out of Cali(teammate of Todd Barr) tonite. Ranked #25 LB by Espn and 49 by Rivals.
 
#58
#58
Cassell

Lakewood (Calif.) High linebacker Rahim Cassell committed to the University Florida on Thursday night, the linebacker confirmed via phone from his California home in Los Angeles County.

"I'm stoked," Cassell said of his Gators choice. "They were my first choice all along, them and Oregon, but I was more leaning toward Florida all along."

The 6-foot-1, 215 pound outside backer also had heavy interest from Nebraska, Cal, Boise State, Minnesota, and Arizona State, among others.

His commitment came about 4 p.m. PST and he spoke with tight ends coach Brian White to make his commitment and said he "is supposed to be calling the rest tonight," including head coach Urban Meyer.

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Cassell will be in Orlando the weekend of July 23rd, when ESPN's Wide World of sports hosts the Gridiron Kings 7-on-7 tournament, and he will also take his first visit to Gainesville, the night of the Gators' Friday Night Lights.

Though he hasn't visited Florida yet, Cassell, the ninth Gator commitment for 2011, said he took the impression that Gainesville left on his former teammate quarterback Jesse Scroggins, who chose USC over the Gators and Tennessee last year.

"He just told me so many good things about when they went down there to visit that it just sounded perfect for me," Cassell said. "I'm glad I got this done and committed to Florida (early). Coaches are starting to hit me up and trying to have me take all these unofficial visits and I can't visit everywhere. I'm really happy that I committed."

Cassell also said he was supposed to attend a camp at UCLA but didn't make it, and was in communication with USC assistant Ed Orgeron, "but they weren't really recruiting me that hard."

He said he doesn't plan any more visits besides the Florida trip, although he said he might go up to Oregon to talk to the coaches about his decision. As of Thursday night, Cassell had not told any other schools of his decision.

"I'm just beginning to tell them now through e-mail. I haven't spoken with any of them yet," Cassell said.

Cassell said he isn't concerned about the long distance from home. He's an L.A. original who played at Playa del Ray Saint Bernard before transferring to Lakewood for his sophomore year.

"It's an experience that everybody should be able to go through," Cassell said of being away from home. "Especially with me growing up in L.A. and California, I don't just want to stay here all the time. I want to experience other places."

Last year Cassell had 95 tackles, 7 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries for the Lakewood Lancers, who were 11-2 and lost their first game and the last game, which was a state semifinal.

"I'd say I'm agile as a linebacker. I have good foot movement and I'm very aggressive," Cassell said of his style of play. "I'm very good in the zone, probably still need a little bit of work on the man coverage, but it's on the way, I'm getting better.

"I just love to play. I'm very passionate for the game."
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#59
#59
I4Jay said:
Cassell
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Thanks Jay(u should come over to the darkside FTT lol).....I'm totally out the loop on this kid(many west coast kids) but I hear that Durkin has a list of unkown from his time in Cali so I guess he pointed this kid in Meyer direction. Goes to show you it's not about stars and what the "talking heads" may think. Players and coaches build programs...it kills me when I see so many UT fans bashing Dooley before he gets a final product on the field because of a 9.99+ membership about recruiting. Just look at the wins VT, Iowa and TCU (to name a few) have produced with 3* talent(at best).
 
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#62
#62
HialeahGator said:
Thanks Jay(u should come over to the darkside FTT lol).....I'm totally out the loop on this kid(many west coast kids) but I hear that Durkin has a list of unkown from his time in Cali so I guess he pointed this kid in Meyer direction. Goes to show you it's not about stars and what the "talking heads" may think. Players and coaches build programs...it kills me when I see so many UT fans bashing Dooley before he gets a final product on the field because of a 9.99+ membership about recruiting. Just look at the wins VT, Iowa and TCU (to name a few) have produced with 3* talent(at best).
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your logic is sound. but Iowa and TCU didnt have to play Florida and Bama. and VT lost to Bama.

just saying.
 
#63
#63
HG i am a member of FG and GC, I rarely post, usually just read

A buddy of mine is a Mod on FG
 
#65
#65
:lol: :dunno: Ive made good friends all over the state and they invite me to join them so I oblige.
 
#66
#66
I think A.J. Johnson will be an excellent SEC LB once you get him in the S&C program and coach him up.
 
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#67
#67
Jhop said:
I think Eric was simply trying to temper expectations for some here. A lot of folks act like Tennessee is like Alabama where top 20 guys line up to come on down.. meanwhile Tenn is a great school, but the coaching turnover, bad pub (no pub is bad pub mentality of Kiffin), tough seasons, will force Dooley and company to be better evaluators and find some talent while adding some top guys along the way.
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This.
 
#70
#70
Lo and behold, nearly a week after our last item on four-star LB A.J. Johnson of Georgia (No. 148 on the ESPNU 150), Johnson's three finalists have not changed. Maybe this means that Johnson really will make a decision from among Clemson, Florida and Tennessee.

In the meantime, Johnson broke down his finalists in a number of categories for Keith McGonigle of TheClemsonInsider.com. On the subject of coaching staffs, Johnson feels closest to Clemson's. He also sees Clemson as having the best opportunity for immediate playing time and even the best academics. But he loves Florida's location and he loves the big-time atmosphere at Tennessee. This, however, could be the kicker: He says that overall the school he is most comfortable with is UT, to which he originally committed before backing off.

That last category is important because Johnson said he is trying to secure a package deal for him and his brother Nick, who will be a sophomore TE this fall at juco Georgia Military. (Hey, we think the Vols have some extra scholarships available! And Derek Dooley loves multiple-TE sets!) But if none of his finalists want the two-for-one deal, Johnson said he will decide based on where he feels most comfortable.

So it sounds as if Tennessee could be the winner on both those fronts.
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espn
 
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