Jordan Black, DL, Eastern Kentucky
Recorded 33.5 tackles and two sacks as a senior ... first-team All-Region ... suffered a concussion against Warner Robins that kept him out of the Vikings’ two playoff games.
Justin Browning, LT, Valdosta State
Three-year starter on the offensive line ... second-team All-Region ... VSU coach David Dean praised his footwork, said that he can adjust to pass blocking.
Ed Christian, RG, Auburn
Named to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super 11 team as a senior ... first-team All-State ... first-team All-Region ... played offense and defense for the Vikings as a senior ... will play on the right side of the offensive line at Auburn ... chose Auburn over Southern California, Tennessee and South Carolina.
Michael Copeland, DE, Florida Atlantic
Finished fourth on the Vikings with 54.5 tackles, six sacks and tackles for loss as a senior ... honorable mention All-State by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution ... first-team All-Region ... chose Florida Atlantic over Florida International, where former Viking Darriet Perry showed him around ... will play for the Owls under legendary coach Howard Schnellenberger.
Dion Crenshaw, DT, Valdosta State
Finished fifth on the Vikings with 44 tackles, a sack and four tackles for loss as a senior ... played his best game against Valdosta, where he totaled five solo tackles and stopped a Wildcats’ sneak on fourth-and-one ... VSU head coach David Dean said Blazers seek defensive lineman with players like Demario Jones facing their senior years.
Khary Franklin, RB, Troy State
Started at quarterback for the Vikings as a sophomore and junior ... as a senior played wingback and ran for a team-high 981 yards and 13 touchdowns ... first-team All-Region ... said Troy coaches took him in their film room and showed him what they have planned for him ... said Troy staff wants him to play right away, probably as a slotback ... said it was tempting to accept Georgia Southern’s offer to play quarterback, but he like Troy too much.
Layne Grant, LG, Valdosta State
Three-year starter on the offensive line ... honorable mention All-Region ... was the Vikings’ lead pulling blocker ... Franklin always credited him after games for opening up running lanes with pancake blocks ... was impressed with VSU’s facilities, mainly the new student union.
Michael Miller, C, Valdosta State
Three-year started on the offensive line ... Valdosta State coach David Dean said the Blazers seek a center/guard combo and believes Miller can fit that role ... said playing close to home in front of friends and family was a factor in his decision to choose VSU ... considers himself the smartest member of the Sons of Thunders (nickname for Lowndes’ offensive line in 2009)
#16 Riyadh Moore, DE, Hutchinson CC
Finished eighth on the Vikings with 37.5 tackles and had three sacks ... Hutchinson CC has produced players like NFL quarterback Shaun Hill ... 16 Hutchinson CC players in 2008 moved on to four-year schools.
#10 Telvin Smith, Florida State (ACC)
Led the Vikings with 106.5 tackles and three interceptions in 2009 ... first-team All-State ... first-team All-Region ... honored verbal commitment to FSU after nearly switching to Georgia on National Signing Day ... LSU was third choice ... said Greg Reid and Gerald Demps were not a factor in choosing FSU ... feels like FSU is a program on the rise.
#19 Aaron Winston, West Georgia
Finished second on the Vikings with eight catches and two touchdowns ... led the Vikings with an average of 23.3 yards per catch for players with more than one catch ... served as the Vikings punter on long punts ... said West Georgia will likely switch him to defensive back ... former Viking Kelly Dawsey plays in West Georgia’s secondary ... sixth man on the Vikings’ basketball team.
