Recruiting roundup: Manchester linebacker re-opens recruitment
Nearly one month after Manchester’s Jontavious Ferguson committed to UCF, the rising senior linebacker has had second thoughts.
Ferguson decommitted from the program on June 12. He announced his decision via social media with a tweet that began, “Respect my Decision.”
“I Want to Thank God For the Position He Has Put Me In,” Ferguson tweeted. “I Would Also Like To Thank The Whole UCF Recruiting Staff For Recruiting Me & Given (sic) Me A Place To Play On the Next Level, But After Thinking It Over & Talking To My Parents, I Feel It’s Best For Me To Open Up My Recruiting. With That Being Said I Would Like To Announce, (sic) That I Will Be De-Committing From The University of Central Florida.”
Ferguson is a three-star inside linebacker, according to 247Sports. He has 10 scholarship offers at this point, including ones from schools such as Appalachian State, Arkansas State and South Alabama.
Ferguson’s head coach, Evan Hochstetler, lauded his natural ability on the gridiron.
“He’s explosive,” Hochstetler said. “He gets to the ball and he always makes really good contact when he’s striking. He’s running all over the field. He makes tackles in the A and B gaps, runs the alleys pretty good and runs to the sidelines to make tackles as well.”
Central wide receiver Justyn Ross, considered one of the top receivers in the nation, spoke of the recruiting process to BornToCompete.com on June 13.
“Of course, the in-state (schools) will always have my interest,” Ross said. “Right now, Florida State, Clemson, Auburn, Alabama … It’s a lot right now.”
When asked about what will stand out when he makes his decision, Ross said, “I want a chance to compete for a starting position my freshman season.”
An active Twitter user, Ross tweeted out a video of himself clad in Clemson gear on June 9.
Central quarterback Peter Parrish and wide receiver Eddie Williams participated in Auburn’s football camp on June 8. Two days later, the rising junior Parrish picked up an offer from Jackson State, his second scholarship offer. Parrish also attended a camp at Mississippi State, the first team to offer him a scholarship, on June 10.
Central defensive back Ray Thornton was also at Mississippi State on June 10. The Bulldogs were the first Division I school to offer Thornton back on May 5. He later visited Florida, which he called his “dream school” in a tweet, on June 13, and Clemson on June 15.
Central’s Jahlil Ryles is now up to 10 scholarship offers thanks to his latest from Samford and Georgia State. Ryles, a two-star guard according to Rivals, boasts offers from UConn, Southern Miss and Middle Tennessee.
Central nose guard Jaylin Johnson visited West Georgia on June 12.
Central senior defensive back Marvin Woods Jr. participated in a camp at Samford on June 10. He currently has offers from Austin Peay and Uniontown.
Central defensive lineman Tyler Moore picked up an offer from Alabama A&M on June 9. He also has offers from Mercer, Alabama State and Appalachian State.
Central wide receiver Tyler Teal participated in a camp at Georgia State on June 9.
Central wide receiver Drake Holloway is attending the UAB football on Thursday.
Smiths Station defensive lineman Kelcy Allen visited The Citadel on June 9. He has scholarship offers from The Citadel and Jacksonville State.
Northside sophomore offensive and defensive lineman Destin Brittingham participated in the Kirby Smart Lineman Camp at Georgia on June 14.
Spencer senior running back Johknotter Hill participated in the Champions Elite football camp at LaGrange College on June 9. He is also headed to a camp at Savannah State on June 16.
Baseball
Russell County rising senior Hunter Milam added to his recent achievements on June 12 when he received an invite to play in the 2017 Perfect Game National Showcase. The Showcase runs June 16 through June 21 and will take place in JetBlue Park-Stadium in Ft. Myers, Fla. According to Perfect Game’s official website, Milam will play on the Gold team.
Milam, who recorded 114 strikeouts and a 1.13 ERA in 2017, is currently playing summer baseball with the nationally renowned Ohio Warhawks.
Boys Basketball
Manchester senior guard Jah’Nile Hill will be at camps for Columbus State and Georgia Southern in the coming week. He will take part in a six-hour workout with the Eagles in Statesboro. He has also received camp invites from the University of Tampa and Columbia.
This story was originally published June 15, 2017 at 12:54 PM with the headline "Recruiting roundup: Manchester linebacker re-opens recruitment."