May 17, 2012

Kublanow planning a summer time decision

Kublanow (L) has impressed scouts with his tenacity

OL Brandon Kublanow of Marietta, GA has over 20 offers at this point and will not reduce his list before he makes a decision at some point this summer. ‘I’m just going to pick,” Kublanow said. Clemson and USC have been by his school with Clemson showing more interest thus far. “I’ve talked to South Carolina a little bit but I know they’ve got Bryce King and don’t know which position they are recruiting me for. Coach Elliott is supposed to come by. Clemson is definitely recruiting me way harder than South Carolina and I have more interest in them.” He said Clemson is recruiting him as a guard. Kublanow’s offers include Clemson, USC, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt, Duke, Virginia, Maryland, Florida, UCLA, Southern Cal, LSU, Florida State and Miami. He does not have a favorite. This summer Kublanow plans to visit Southern Cal, Georgia, Vanderbilt, North Carolina Clemson and some others around the South. 

Clemson remains the favorite for WR Jonathan Howard of Rochelle, GA but he’s not close to making a final decision. And USC has now come on board as a favorite. “Clemson is number one ahead of NC State, Louisville and South Carolina,” Howard said. “Coach Botkin (USC) has been by and wants me to come to a camp before they offer. “ Clemson recruiters Chad Morris and Robbie Caldwell stopped by on separate weeks to check on Howard. ‘I’ve been a Clemson fan for a long time,” he said. “It’s just a nice environment. I can see myself play there for four years and, outside of football, I see myself living there. And I have a good relationship with all the coaches. Coach Caldwell is my favorite coach.” Howard said he’s not sure when he’ll make a decision because he wants to take more visits. Recruiters from NC State, Troy, Alabama, Maryland, Georgia State, South Alabama, Wake Forest and Florida also have been by his school. Howard has offers from Clemson, Louisville, NC State, South Florida, Southern Miss, Troy, Georgia State, Middle Tennessee and Missouri.

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Clemson splits with FSU but earns series victory (AUDIO)

Clemson seniors flank coach Jack Leggett as they salute the fans Monday night

From Clemson SID:

Top-ranked Florida State pounded out 16 hits en route to a 9-5 win over Clemson in front of 4,965 fans in the second game of a doubleheader at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Monday night. The Seminoles, who clinched the ACC Atlantic Division title win the victory, improved to 41-11 overall and 22-5 in the ACC. The Tigers, who won the series 2-1, fell to 31-21 overall and 16-11 in ACC play.

The Seminoles scored two runs in the first inning and four runs in the third inning to build a 6-0 lead. After Florida State scored three runs in the fifth inning to take a 9-2 lead, Jason Stolz hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning to bring the Tigers within four runs. But righty relievers Gage Smith and Robert Benincasa shut the door and preserved the Seminole win.

Smith (2-0), the third of four Florida State pitchers, earned the win by tossing 2.1 hitless and scoreless innings with two strikeouts. Benincasa pitched a perfect ninth inning with two strikeouts to close out the game.

Tiger starter Jonathan Meyer (2-5) suffered the loss, as he allowed six runs on 10 hits in 2.1 innings pitched. Patrick Andrews pitched a career-long 6.2 innings out of the bullpen and gave up three runs.

AUDIO:  Jack Leggett [4:13]

AUDIO:  FSU coach Mike Martin [1:58]

AUDIO:  Richie Shaffer [2:36]

AUDIO:  Jason Stolz [1:14]

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Jenkins has a plan for making his announcement

Ryan Jenkins

WR Ryan Jenkins of Marietta, GA will announce his college decision over the July 4th weekend at The Opening at the University of Oregon. He will cut his list to 3-5 schools after his spring practice ends Friday. He has offers from Clemson, Louisville, Missouri, Wake Forest, UCLA, Mississippi State, Houston and Vanderbilt, and he says he’s close to an offer from Alabama. Jenkins communicated thru Facebook Sunday with Clemson recruiter Chad Morris. “He said he would be real excited to have me at Clemson and light things up in their offense,” said Jenkins who is the brother of Clemson defensive back Martin Jenkins. “It would be cool to play with my brother but that doesn’t really have much of an impact on my decision.” Jenkins said Clemson, Missouri and Alabama have been recruiting him the hardest.

It appears to be just a matter of time until LB Brandon Golson of Georgia Military JC commits to USC. According to his former coach at Calhoun County Walt Wilson, Golson is set on giving it another shot with the Gamecocks after being denied admission to the university following his graduation from high school. “He’s a Carolina boy,” Wilson said. “It’s 35 minutes from home and he’s loving it. And Carolina is a program now that you’re proud to be a part of. If you can go 35 minutes from home and play for one of the top programs in the country and in one of the top conferences in the country….yeah.“ Wilson has been in touch with the USC staff and says linebackers coach Kurt Botkin loves Golson. “He’s playing outside linebacker right now but he’s the kind of kid who can put his hand on the ground,” he said. “He’s an edge player. He’s more of a (Eric) Norwood type with more speed.” Golson has offers from USC, Kansas, Kansas State, Arizona, Middle Tennessee, Kent State and Akron. Plus he’s drawing interest from Tennessee and Ole Miss.

With offers from USC and Missouri, OL Lucas Crowley of Ponte Vedra, FL picks up his third offer last week from Tennessee. “I was really happy with that offer, Crowley said.  ”They came by spring practice last week and that’s when they offered.” He has yet to visit Knoxville but plans to do so. “I’ve got a lot of family up that way so I’ve grown up always kind of liking them (Tennessee),” he said. “I definitely want to get up there for a visit.” Crowley has visited USC four times and remains interested in the Gamecocks but is unsure of a return trip. “If I can work things out, I’m going to go back but I just don’t know right now,” said Crowley. He is hearing from Florida, Florida State, Georgia Tech, South Florida and Alabama. Each school has visited him during spring practice. Steve Spurrier, Jr. has also been by to see him. Crowley plans to camp at Florida this summer with Alabama as a possibility. “They told me they didn’t want to waste my time so they told me they’d let me know if they’re going to offer before the camp,” he said. “If they offer, I’ll go. I’m sure I’ll go to some other camps but I just haven’t made up my mind yet.” Crowley did not name a favorite.

DL Jaynard Bostwick of Port St. Lucie, FL continues to favor Miami and is also showing interest in USC. He visited the Gamecocks in April and picked up an offer. “I like the way their coaches were real honest with me,” Bostwick said. “They also told me about their academics and how a lot of players graduate. They took me to see their football facilities and they were really nice.” Bostwick is considering a return visit but is not firm on that decision. “To be real honest, I don’t know yet if I’m going to go back,” he said. “I would like to, but I don’t know.” His other offers include Florida, Florida State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Cincinnati, Illinois, Louisville and Miami. The Hurricanes lead for Bostwick. “It’s what I’ve grown up around,” he admitted. “My cousin plays there so I’ve been around them a lot.” A week into spring practices, LSU, FSU, Alabama, Florida International, Florida Atlantic and Miami have been by to see him. He is expecting USC this week. He did not name a time frame for a commitment.

Rain wins out in Athens & Clemson Sunday

Rain washed out the USC & Clemson games Sunday (File Photo)

Sunday’s baseball series finale against Georgia is cancelled due to heavy rain in the Athens area. The contest will not be rescheduled.

The Gamecocks return to action on Tuesday at home against USC Upstate. First pitch for the non-conference tilt is set for 7 p.m. at Carolina Stadium.

The Clemson vs. Florida State baseball game scheduled for Sunday was rained out. The two teams are now scheduled to conclude the three-game series with two games on Monday.

The first game will start at 1:00 PM and be available live via webcast at ESPN, while the second game will start at 6:00 PM and be televised live by ESPNU.

Clemson will honor its seniors prior to the first game on Monday.

Milestone win for Johnson at historic Darlington Raceway (AUDIO)

Jimmy Johnson raises his arms in victory after winning the Southern 500

Jimmy Johnson earned the 200th Sprint Cup victory for Hendrick Motorsports Saturday night fighting off  Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin on a green-white-checker restart  to win the 63rd annual Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.

NASCAR's Mike Helton presents Rick Hendrick & Jimmy Johnson with 200th win poster

It’s the first win of the season for Johnson who snapped a 16 race winless streak.  And The Hendrick team joins Petty Enterprises as the only teams with 200 or more Cup victories.  The Petty team has 268.

The victory is Johnson’s third at Darlington, his first since 2004, and his second in the Southern 500.  And it’s his 56th career Sprint Cup win. 

Hamlin edged out Stewart for second.  Kyle Busch finished fourth and Martin Truex Jr. fifth.  Pole sitter and points leader Greg Biffle came home 12th Dale Earnhardt Jr. 17th.

Danica Patrick, in her first Southern 500, finished 31st, six laps down.  Jeff Gordon had a late tire issue and mechanical problems and finished 35th. 

Southern 500 Results

AUDIO:  Jimmy Johnson, Chad Knaus & Rick Hendrick [18:51]

AUDIO:  Denny Hamlin [5:28]  

AUDIO:  Tony Stewart [8:44]

The race also was historic for its green flag laps to start.  The first 172 laps were run under green, and that’s the most caution free laps to start a race since NASCAR began keeping track of that statistic.  The teams went thru three green flag pitstops before the first caution came out on lap 173 for debris. 

Johnson led the most laps with 134 and took the lead for good on lap 325.  On the final restart, Johnson powered away from Stewart on the outside.  Stewart’s car was having fuel pressure issues and it cost him on the restart.  Not only could he not keep pace with Johnson, he couldn’t hold off Hamlin either.  Stewart remains winless in 20 Sprint Cup races at Darlington.

Johnson, who started on the outside pole,  cruised home to the victory from there as Hamlin was not able to close the gap.  Johnson beat him to the checkered flag by .781 seconds. 

Johnson moved up three places in the points race with the victory and is now 5th.  Biffle’s lead over 6th place Matt Kenseth is down to 2 points.  Dale Earnhardt Jr. remains third and is 14 points back.  And Hamlin is fourth, 17 points off the pace.

Points Standings

The series moves to Charlotte for the next two weeks with the All Star race next Saturday night and the Coca-Cola 600 the following Sunday.