Under Armour All-America Game notebook: Dickson to choose between Alabama and Georgia today

Published: Wednesday, January 05, 2011, 6:33 AM

By Mike Herndon, Press-Register

Will Therezie commit to the Vols ?

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Xzavier Dickson said Tuesday he's not sure whether he wants to go to Alabama or Georgia. But he'll know today.


Dickson, a 6-foot-2, 238-pound pass rusher from Griffin, Ga., is one of eight players who are scheduled to announce their college commitments tonight at the Under Armour All-America Game, set for 6 p.m. at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.

"I'll decide when I get up there," said Dickson, who is rated as the No. 3 weak-side defensive end in the country by Rivals, but would project as a rush linebacker at Alabama or Georgia. "I think both schools are pretty equal. ... I'll probably have equal opportunity of playing (early) at both schools."

Alabama and Auburn, meanwhile, are both in the final four along with Florida and Tennessee for Miami defensive back Robenson Therezie, who also plans to announce his decision today.

LaGrange (Ga.) athlete Quan Bray also will make his choice today between Auburn, Georgia, Alabama, LSU and Florida -- though he's thought to be leaning toward Auburn or Georgia, the only schools he's visited officially.



Also scheduled to announce during tonight's game are Beverly Hills, Calif., defensive end Greg Townsend Jr. (TCU, USC or Miami), Fontana, Calif., athlete Devon Blackmon (UCLA, USC or Oregon), Miami defensive back Jabari Gorman (Florida, Miami or Ohio State), Akron, Ohio, defensive back Doran Grant (Ohio State or Michigan State), and Vero Beach, Fla., offensive lineman Marcus Jackson (Miami, Michigan State or Tennessee).


LEARNING CURVE: It's been an educational week for Auburn commitment Kiehl Frazier and all the quarterbacks in the Under Armour All-America Game.

"I feel like just knowing the reads better and knowing the receivers better that I've made a lot of progress these four days," said Frazier. "All the holes are so much smaller, all the windows to throw in, just because of the speed of the athletes and the caliber of the athletes."

Frazier, who led Shiloh Christian of Springdale, Ark., to a state title this season, said he's been amazed by Auburn's undefeated run.



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"I didn't expect them to do as good as they did, didn't expect Cam (Newton) to be like he is," he said, adding that he expects Auburn to beat Oregon for the title. "That's SEC football. They've done it the last four years, so they can do it again."

LAST-MINUTE DECISIONS: While eight of their teammates this week are ready to announce their commitments, several other players in tonight's game will wait until signing day next month to decide.

One of the top in-state prospects, Valley safety Erique Florence, said he'll announce his decision next month of either Alabama, Auburn or USC, while coveted running back Isaiah Crowell of Columbus, Ga., will make a signing-day decision between Alabama, Georgia and Auburn.

"Really, it's where I'm comfortable and where I have the best relationship with the coaches and players," Crowell said. "At Auburn, I like the coaching staff. I haven't been down there to really hang out with players or nothing like that. At Georgia and Alabama, I have a good relationship with the players and coaches. That's the main thing."

While some prospects may already have an idea which way they're leaning, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., cornerback Marcus Roberson seems torn. Auburn, however, is among the leaders.

"I've kind of narrowed it to Florida, Auburn, Georgia, USC and Texas Tech," said Roberson, the No. 2 cornerback prospect in the nation according to Rivals. "But I'm confused right now. Right now, it's about who you can trust."

THEY'VE GOT SKILLS: Not only does Cyrus Kouandjio look like an future NFL offensive tackle, he's got the strength and agility to back it up.

Kouandjio (6-7, 325), considered the top tackle in the country by Scout.com, won the lineman strength challenge at the Under Armour All-America skills competition Monday. The Hyattsville, Md., native, who is considering both Alabama and Auburn, successfully navigated a series of challenges that included flipping a tractor tire, leaping over hurdles, pushing a sled, running through an "agility chute" and finding the football in a "dummy scrum."

Other skills competition winners were Chandler, Ariz., quarterback Brett Hundley in the pass-attack quarterback competition, Virginia Beach, Va., linebacker Travis Hughes in the obstacle course, and Miami receiver Eli Rogers in the hands competition.