VALDOSTA — Michael Gilliard is going to be a Bulldog.
Gilliard, Valdosta High’s standout linebacker, committed to the University of Georgia during a visit to the campus in Athens on Saturday.
“I’m going to be a Georgia Bulldog,” Gilliard said via cell phone on Saturday. “I’m real excited. I’m looking forward to playing for them (in 2009).”
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Gilliard is coming off a big season for Valdosta last year. He made 112 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and had eight sacks for the Wildcats. He also picked off two passes and recovered two fumbles.
Georgia had to beat out a lot of teams to land Gilliard. The rising senior had more than 20 offers, from most of the top schools in the South, when he decided to commit to the Bulldogs. Among the other teams who had offered him a full scholarship were Florida State, Florida, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee, South Carolina, Michigan and Michigan State.
But Gilliard’s heart was pretty much set on being a Bulldog from the start.
“Georgia’s been my favorite for the longest time,” he said. “I wanted to talk to the other schools, and see which one I liked the best. But Georgia was always my favorite. I’ve been watching them play since I was young.”
“I think he’s wanted to go to Georgia for a real long time,” Valdosta head coach Rick Tomberlin said. “There were a lot of teams really after him. Michigan’s defensive coordinator was here this week, and he really laid it on Mike real hard.”
Georgia was the first school to offer Gilliard a scholarship (a copy of that offer hangs on the wall in Valdosta’s weight room, to motivate other Wildcat players). The day after the Bulldogs offered their scholarship, Georgia Tech offered one. Soon after, the offers started pouring in.
Rivals.com has classified Gilliard as a four-star linebacker. Scout.com ranks him 20th among weakside linebackers in the Class of 2009.
Gilliard will be joining one of the nation’s top football programs. The Bulldogs went 11-2 last year, won the Southeastern Conference for the third time in the last six years, and finished second in the nation in the final Associated Press poll.
“Georgia’s got everything going for them as long as Mark Richt is there,” Tomberlin said. “They’re going to contend for the SEC championship and the national championship. Coach Richt is one of the best two or three coaches in the nation, if not the best. I’m real happy Mike has decided to go there.”
On Saturday, shortly after giving Richt his verbal commitment, Gilliard got a phone call from fellow Georgia recruit Aaron Murray, a five-star quarterback from Plant High in Tampa. Murray congratulated his future teammate on choosing the Bulldogs.
Last year, Gilliard helped Valdosta go 9-3, finish second in the always-tough Region 1-AAAAA and finish the season ranked 10th in the state.
Gilliard’s commitment is the 11th for the Bulldogs from the Class of 2009.
Valdosta has sent many football players to the University of Georgia over the years, but Gilliard will be the first Wildcat in over a decade to receive a scholarship from the Bulldogs.
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Michael Gilliard commits to Georgia
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VSU teams hosting summer camps
The national champion Valdosta State softball team will host two separate summer camps this summer, as well as weekly clinics throughout the summer.
The two summer camps will be held on June 11-13 and July 9-11 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The camps will cost $100 each. -
David Dean Youth Camp begins next week
The David Dean Youth Football Camp is quickly approaching.
The fourth annual camp will be held May 29-June 1 at the Athletic Fieldhouse off Mary Street. -
National champion head coach rewarded with new truck
National champion head coach rewarded with new truck Valdosta State head softball coach Thomas Macera was rewarded with a new Toyota Tacoma from Valdosta Toyota on Wednesday for his team’s 4-1 victory over the University of California-San Diego in the Division II Softball National Championship Game.
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Valwood’s Savino, Elliott named All-State soccer
Two Valwood boys’ soccer players have been named to the GISA Class AA All-State team.
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All-American again
Go ahead and add another award to resume of this year’s Valdosta State softball team.
Between conference player of the week awards, a national player of the week award, All-Conference and All-Region honors and four All-American awards, the national champion Blazers had plenty of individuals honored for performances throughout the season, which ultimately led to VSU’s first ever softball national title. -
Local area events coming soon
Several local area runs will take place in the coming weeks.
Monday, May 28, there will be a Memorial Day 5K, which will begin at 8 a.m. from the VECA School located on the corner of Azalea Drive and College Street. -
Tech bound
Donjahae Jones gets it done in the classroom and on the track.
One of the top students in her class, and one of the top track and field competitors in the state, Jones will be taking her talents to the Division I level after she signed a track and field scholarship with Georgia Tech on Tuesday. -
Blazers garner All-Region honors
Two Valdosta State baseball players have been named All-South Region while a third has garnered Academic All-Region, according to announcements made by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) and the Collegiate Sports Information Director's of America (CoSIDA) this week.
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Lowndes' Phelps named tennis Coach of the Year
Lowndes tennis coach Heath Phelps has been named the Region 1-AAAAA girls’ and boys’ tennis Coach of the Year, after he guided both teams to region championships.
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Wildcats close spring practice
VALDOSTA — The Valdosta Wildcats put their finishing touches on spring practice Saturday night with the playing of their annual spring game at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.
No score was kept in the game, but the Wildcats did play best-on-best, pitting the starting offense against the starting defense. - More Local Sports Headlines
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VSU teams hosting summer camps
