Thursday, July 24, 2008

Looking for me?

Sorry I haven't blogged for a couple of weeks, but things are changing, and change was announced in Wednesday's Star.

For those used to reading me on the Auburn Beat blog, I have a new role with The Star as its sports columnist. I'll have a new blog soon.

My bosses are working out details to get the beat covered, and I expect there'll be news soon.

I've covered the Auburn beat for almost 12 years. It's been interesting (sometimes very interesting) and fun, and I've enjoyed folks I've come to know through that job, especially my colleagues on the beat, the sports info crew and readers who have corresponded with me.

I know people who read an Auburn Beat blog do so because of the school and not the writer, but I hope all take time to read my new blog. Feel free to add your opinions to mine, and I'll gladly respond.

It's been my career goal to be a columnist, and changing times in our business have brought about that opportunity. I'm excited and naturally a little scared.

I certainly intend to take to my new role the same sense of fairness and responsibility with which I've always tried to do my job. Opinions are just that, but I endeavor to get it right first.

As always, you can contact me at jmedley@annistonstar.com or 256-235-3576. Thanks, and blog you soon.
(-:
Joe Medley

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

N-n-n-n-nineteen

Make it 19 early commitments for Auburn's 2009 football recruiting class. The latest came Wednesday, from St. Clair County defensive end Donald Ford. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Ford had 13 sacks in 12 games last season.
See more in Thursday's Star. Here's the updated commitment list:

Terrance Coleman: 3-star DT, 6-1, 244, Mobile Williamson HS
Raymond Cotton: 3-star QB, 6-4, 216, Fort Meade (Md.) Meade HS
Jonathan Evans: 3-star LB, 6-0, 205, Blount HS
Nick Fairley: DT, 6-4, 295, Wesson (Miss.) Copiah-Lincoln CC*
Donald Ford: DE, 6-3, 205, St. Clair County HS
Eltoro Freeman: LB, 5-11, 218, Perkinston (Miss.) Gulf Coast CC*
Harris Gaston: 3-star LB, 6-2, 210, Bessemer Academy
Andre Harris: 3-star OL, 6-4, 327, Hampton (Ga.) Lovejoy HS
Brandon Heavens: 3-star ATH, 5-10, 165, Bessemer Jess Lanier HS
Brandon Jacobs: 3-star RB-LB, 6-1, 230, Lilburn (Ga.) Parkview HS
LaVoyd James: 3-star WR, 5-10, 175, Mobile Williamson HS
Wilfred Journet: DE, 6-3, 247, Wesson (Miss.) Copiah-Lincoln CC*
Philip Lutzenkirchen: 4-star TE, 6-4, 245, Marietta (Ga.) Lassiter HS
Aaron Moore: OL, 6-5, 255, Frisco (Texas) Centennial HS
LaDarius Perkins: ATH, 5-9, 180, Greenville (Miss.) St. Joseph HS
Jamontay Pilson: 4-star DT, 6-3, 265, Greenville HS
Rodney Scott: 4-star RB, 5-9, 185, Cross City (Fla.) Dixie County HS
Travante Stallworth: WR, 5-10, 180, Leesville (La.) HS
Reggie Taylor: DB, 5-10, 167, Fort Valley (Ga.) Peach County HS

*-Signed with Auburn out of high school and has committed

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Jacobs commits

It hardly seems five years since some Auburn fans clamored to see more of a running back named Brandon Jacobs. Well, they might finally get their wish.

Brandon Jacobs, the high school senior from Lilburn, Ga., committed to Auburn on Monday, giving the Tigers 18 commitments for the 2009 class.

The other Brandon Jacobs was a junior college transfer in 2003 who ultimately transferred because Auburn had a crowded backfield with Carnell Williams, Ronnie Brown et al. Jacobs transferred to Southern Illinois, and he helped the New York Giants win last season's Super Bowl.

The new Brandon Jacobs stands 6-foot-1, 230 pounds ... quite a bit smaller than his massive namesake. He rushed for 950 yards last season after missing two games.

Oh, just one catch. He could end up playing linebacker at Auburn. Here is the updated list of Auburn commitments:

Terrance Coleman: 3-star DT, 6-1, 244, Mobile Williamson HS
Raymond Cotton: 3-star QB, 6-4, 216, Fort Meade (Md.) Meade HS
Jonathan Evans: 3-star LB, 6-0, 205, Blount HS
Nick Fairley: DT, 6-4, 295, Wesson (Miss.) Copiah-Lincoln CC*
Eltoro Freeman: LB, 5-11, 218, Perkinston (Miss.) Gulf Coast CC*
Harris Gaston: 3-star LB, 6-2, 210, Bessemer Academy
Andre Harris: 3-star OL, 6-4, 327, Hampton (Ga.) Lovejoy HS
Brandon Heavens: 3-star ATH, 5-10, 165, Bessemer Jess Lanier HS
Brandon Jacobs: 3-star RB-LB, 6-1, 230, Lilburn (Ga.) Parkview HS
LaVoyd James: 3-star WR, 5-10, 175, Mobile Williamson HS
Wilfred Journet: DE, 6-3, 247, Wesson (Miss.) Copiah-Lincoln CC*
Philip Lutzenkirchen: 4-star TE, 6-4, 245, Marietta (Ga.) Lassiter HS
Aaron Moore: OL, 6-5, 255, Frisco (Texas) Centennial HS
LaDarius Perkins: ATH, 5-9, 180, Greenville (Miss.) St. Joseph HS
Jamontay Pilson: 4-star DT, 6-3, 265, Greenville HS
Rodney Scott: 4-star RB, 5-9, 185, Cross City (Fla.) Dixie County HS
Travante Stallworth: WR, 5-10, 180, Leesville (La.) HS
Reggie Taylor: DB, 5-10, 167, Fort Valley (Ga.) Peach County HS

*-Signed with Auburn out of high school and has committed