Mercer 2017 Commits

Young man is definitely good enough to play for the Jackets on either side of the ball.

Hope he gets the chance to do that - sometimes tough to get a fair chance at doing that as a Preferred Walk-On at an FBS Program. I've had 3 Roswell kids I Coached go that route at GT, who are as talented as the ones I saw on the field for GT this season, but they haven't been able to get on the field there. They do get to dress and travel sometimes and pick up some Weedeater Bowl 'swag' & such, but no PT. We did have an excellent DB that finally played some on Special Teams as a SR.

I think with the 'bright light' of Recruiting shining on FBS Coaching Staffs these days, if they have a Walk-on (other than Kickers) get regular playing time early (say, anytime in their 1st 3 years), Media & Fans 'call them out' for not doing their jobs because it means they offered some 3 or 4 star instead of the kid who was better than him. I think, by the time the Walk-On's are 4th Year Jr's or 5th Year Sr's, though, the Coaches/Program can claim that it's THEIR expertise in Player Development and/or Strength & Conditioning that enabled a kid who worked hard to BECOME a Player that would NOW be a Scholarship Player. So, maybe it will work out for him. Any good examples of Pref. Walk-Ons that have Played a lot early (or at all) at GT recently? I know Robbie Godhigh (RB) was one,  but that's been a few years.

Regardless, even if the ball doesn't go as desired, a GT degree still makes it a good decision. I mean, it's not like he's going to go to GaSou, y'know. 

...and, if I'm not mistaken, his Head Coach was a home-state 'big-time' school walk-on WR, himself...who doesn't have to worry at all what Fans / Media say about his Recruiting results. Exact right place & right time for Mr. Renfrow. I bet he would have never seen the field at Georgia or Tennessee or South Carolina...not that he shouldn't have, but the Coaches in those places couldn't have 'afforded' to have a FR or SO walk-on playing due to the message that their fans/media would have perceived from that regarding their Recruiting effectiveness.

I keep up with a fellow Cougar who is a preferred walkon at UGA www.wltz.com/2016/04/04/prather-hudson-accepts-invite-to-be-preferred-walk-on-at-uga/

Coach Smart has publicly referenced him a time or two on work ethic.  I assumed he would head up there to be cannon fodder, but seems to be holding his own.  Had some scholarship offers at smaller schools, but sometimes hard to turn down the bright lights and 90k people.

I guess, for some.

I had a business partner one time tell me that he would rather go to FSU and NEVER play than to be a 4 Year Starter on an FCS Team.
He said that just the opportunity to wear the jersey and be on the sidelines in a big stadium was more important to him than actually playing the game and competing with his Team on the Field.

I just don't get that kind of thinking at all. It makes me feel 'dirty' somehow. I would compare it to preferring going to Strip Clubs than...well...anyway...

BTW - he wasn't a Football Player AND he DID like to go to Strip Clubs.

To each his/her own, I guess...

LB Cam Brown (6-2 210) Florida High School, Tallahassee, FL (committed to Mercer 7/26/16; decomitted from Mercer 1/23/17; committed to Western Carolina 1/24/17)

CB BJ Bohler (5-9 178) Ocoee HS, Ocoee, FL

S Danijah Gammage (6-2 185) Brunswick HS, Brunswick, GA
S Zane Ashley (6-1, 180) Peachtree Ridge HS, Suwanee, GA (committed to Mercer 1/19/17; committed to Georgia Tech 1/26/17)
S Jamar Hall (6-2, 190) Mill Creek HS, Hoschton, GA

DL Daniel Farzaneh (6-5, 260) Woodward Academy, College Park, GA
DL Bailey Clark (6-2 275) Benedictine High School, Savannah, GA


Ath Edmond Graham (5-9 164) Mill Creek HS, Hoschton, GA


QB Robert Riddle (6-2 185) The McCallie School, Chattanooga, TN

RB C.J. Leggett (5-9 210) North Gwinnett HS, Suwanee, GA / Georgia Tech / Mesa Community College
RB Tyray Devezin (5-9 205) Etowah HS, Woodstock, GA

WR David Durden (6-2 190) Emmanuel County Institute, Twin City, GA

OL/DL Thomas McBride (6-3 285) First Presbyterian Day School, Macon, GA
OL Trey Iorillo (6-4 289) Harrison HS, Kennesaw, GA
OL Eric Allen (6-5 285) Harrison HS, Kennesaw, GA
OL David May (6-4 297) Fleming Island HS, Orange Park, FL / Valdosta State University
OL Levi Seabolt (6-3 310) Elijay, GA ("reopened" recruiting on 11/22/16; reporting an offer from Valdosta State (1/18/17))
OL Nicholas Noyen (6-2 280) Cincinnati, OH (committed to Mercer on 7/21/16; committed to Air Force on 1/5/17)


P Grant Goupil (6-1, 170) Lake Mary HS, Lake Mary, FL

LB Cam Brown (6-2 210) Florida High School, Tallahassee, FL (committed to Mercer 7/26/16; decommitted from Mercer 1/23/17; committed to Western Carolina 1/24/17)

CB BJ Bohler (5-9 178) Ocoee HS, Ocoee, FL

S Danijah Gammage (6-2 185) Brunswick HS, Brunswick, GA
S Zane Ashley (6-1, 180) Peachtree Ridge HS, Suwanee, GA (committed to Mercer 1/19/17; committed to Georgia Tech 1/26/17)
S Jamar Hall (6-2, 190) Mill Creek HS, Hoschton, GA

DL Daniel Farzaneh (6-5, 260) Woodward Academy, College Park, GA
DL Bailey Clark (6-2 275) Benedictine High School, Savannah, GA


Ath Edmond Graham (5-9 164) Mill Creek HS, Hoschton, GA


QB Robert Riddle (6-2 185) The McCallie School, Chattanooga, TN
QB Brett Burnett (6-3 207) Airport HS, West Columbia, SC

RB C.J. Leggett (5-9 210) North Gwinnett HS, Suwanee, GA / Georgia Tech / Mesa Community College
RB Tyray Devezin (5-9 205) Etowah HS, Woodstock, GA

WR David Durden (6-2 190) Emmanuel County Institute, Twin City, GA

OL/DL Thomas McBride (6-3 285) First Presbyterian Day School, Macon, GA
OL Trey Iorillo (6-4 289) Harrison HS, Kennesaw, GA
OL Eric Allen (6-5 285) Harrison HS, Kennesaw, GA
OL David May (6-4 297) Fleming Island HS, Orange Park, FL / Valdosta State University
OL Levi Seabolt (6-3 310) Elijay, GA ("reopened" recruiting on 11/22/16; reporting an offer from Valdosta State (1/18/17))
OL Nicholas Noyen (6-2 280) Cincinnati, OH (committed to Mercer on 7/21/16; committed to Air Force on 1/5/17)


P Grant Goupil (6-1, 170) Lake Mary HS, Lake Mary, FL
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