Tigers, Dawgs neck and neck in battle for offensive lineman

Looks like Clemson and Georgia are headed towards another showdown in football recruiting.

This time the focus is offensive lineman Bobby Massie of Lynchburg, Va. Georgia had been out front in the pursuit of the 6-7, 330-pound lineman, but after an unofficial visit to Clemson on Saturday with his family, Massie is up in the air.

"I've got to think it over," Massie said.

"Clemson feels like the place for me. I can focus on football and school. It would be a good fit more me. Clemson has moved up. I like Clemson a lot. Clemson and Georgia are even."

Massie said he won't make a final decision until after his official visits this fall.

Also visiting Clemson on Saturday was LB Ebele Okakpu (6-1, 201) of Roswell, Ga. Clemson recently offered a scholarship to Okakpu who also has offers from South Carolina, Auburn, Georgia, Louisville, Miami, Mississippi, North Carolina, Purdue, Vanderbilt and Virginia Tech.

Pelion OL Dalton Freeman (6-5, 265) added offers from Florida and Florida State to his impressive list last week. He's now sitting on 22 offers and he won't cut his list for several weeks. Among his other offers are USC, Clemson, Maryland, Tennessee, Georgia Tech, Virginia, Georgia and Virginia Tech.

Clemson offered WR Devonta Bolton (6-4, 222) of Norcross, Ga., last week, joining USC, Michigan, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Boston College, Alabama, Auburn, Virginia Tech, Kentucky, Indiana, Louisville, Florida and Miami.

South Carolina is working hard to lure OL Steven Robinson (6-3, 205) of Tallahassee, Fla., away from hometown Florida State. Clemson also has offered but has not had much recent contact. Robinson also has offers from Georgia, Central Florida, South Florida, Iowa State and Minnesota. He's also hearing from Auburn.

DB Marcus Jemison (6-2, 190) of McCalla, Ala., has a top four of Clemson, Auburn, Mississippi State and Arkansas with no leader. He made an unofficial visit to Clemson last month and has camped at Auburn and Alabama. He will camp at Arkansas this month.

USC likes WR T.J. Lawrence (6-2, 190) of Lakeland, Fla., and has offered. He also has an offer from Clemson but said he's not hearing from the Tigers. Lawrence also has offers from Virginia Tech, Florida State, Florida, Miami, Iowa in addition to 15 others. Last season, Lawrence had 52 catches for 1,245 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Lewisville DE Dion Foster (6-4, 233) now has offers from Tennessee and Auburn. He said the Vols offered him at a camp last month. He will camp at Auburn this month. He also has camped at Georgia Tech and LSU.

WR Melvin Ray (6-4, 203) said last week he has a final four of USC, Florida State, Florida and LSU, and he plans to have a final decision by the end of the month.

Clemson and Florida State will be two of the official visits this fall by TE Mike Cruz (6-5, 260) of Pittsburgh. He also hopes to make an unofficial visit to Clemson this month. Cruz also has offers from Nebraska, Virginia, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Illinois, Akron, Toledo, Kent, Temple, Boston College and Wisconsin.

DL Brandon Thompson (6-2, 294) of Thomasville, Ga., was scheduled for an unofficial visit to Miami over the weekend and he will go to Georgia Tech on July 6, Florida on the 20th, Florida State on the 21st and LSU on the 22nd. He also hopes to visit Ohio State, According to Thompson's father, Georgia Tech and Florida State have tightened the race with Clemson for his son.

DE Jarrett Crittenton (6-6, 280) of North Dakota State College of Science Junior College has offers from Clemson and 21 others. The Fayetteville, Ga., native has not trimmed his list. He has visited Clemson and Mississippi State. Other offers include Ole Miss, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Kansas, Kansas State, Auburn, Arkansas, Nebraska, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Purdue. He will have three years to play two and is on track to graduate in December.

K Casey Barth (6-0, 168) of Wilmington, N.C., kicked for USC coaches at a camp last month and is waiting to hear back about a possible offer. He has an offer from Air Force, and is also getting interest from North Carolina, Marshall, Louisville, Colorado and Maryland. Last season Barth was 7 of 9 on field goals with a long of 50 yards. And he averaged 37 yards per punt.

WR T.J. Brown (6-1, 187) of Lovejoy, Ga., has not been offered, but feels USC could be close after seeing him in camp last month. "Once I get the offer, there is a good chance I will commit," said Brown, who's also getting interest from Florida State, Georgia Tech, N.C. State, Marshall, East Carolina, Virginia and Mississippi State.

DB Derrick Bryant (6-1, 195) of Suwanee, Ga., has a favorites list of USC, LSU, Auburn, Alabama, Virginia Tech and Ohio State with LSU the overall leader. He has visited Auburn and will visit LSU this month. He also plans to visit USC, Virginia Tech and Alabama this summer.

LB Reggie Bowens (6-2, 210) of Garner, N.C., currently favors North Carolina and plans an unofficial visit there this month. He camped at North Carolina last month. He also has offers from USC, Clemson, East Carolina, Appalachian State and Marshall, and he's getting interest from Alabama and Tennessee.

Former Spring Valley LB Jon Glaspie (6-0, 218) will join The Citadel this fall as an invited walk-on.

Baseball news

South Carolina's 2008 class includes commitments from RHP Matt Price (5-11, 160) of Sumter, LHP Adam Westmoreland (6-4, 260) of Brookland-Cayce, OF Austin Ashmore (6-3, 180) of Greer, and OF Adam Matthews (6-1, 187) of White Knoll. And for the 2009 class, the Gamecocks have a commitment from OF/1B Daniel Aldrich of Wando.

USC commitment LHP Marty Gantt of North Augusta was named Mr. Baseball in South Carolina the High School Sports Report and voted on by the state's coaches. As a junior last season, Gantt was 9-3 with a 1.33 ERA, and he batted .486.