Peachton.com

You may recall the story of an assistant high school football coach in Greensboro, NC and how he was somehow came up with the funds to take blue-chip players on recruiting trips to places like Eugene, Oregon and Berkeley, CA (see below). There was also rumors that he would end up on the Oregon coaching staff despite having no head coaching experience.

Well, now the Ducks are in DEEP trouble with the NCAA and don’t be surprised if the name Otis Yelverton resurfaces.

Mr. Yelverton got a short-lived job at the shady Oak Ridge (NC) Military Academy that was enrolling men who were much older than your average high school player and steamrolling over these other poor programs. Yelverton has resigned.

Newly unemployed and reputation tarnished, might Yelverton be ready to speak out?

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Despite Northern Guilford High School opening on January 29, 2008, the basketball team still “won the 3A state championship title – and with no seniors. But questions arose about the team’s fairytale rise to glory, leading to an investigation by Guilford County Schools that determined some of the players on the team resided outside of the school’s district. As a result, the team was stripped of its championship title and (Coach Stan) Kowalewski’s coaching contract was not renewed.”
http://www.nwobserver.com/articles/2009/12/06/news/doc4b1807ee49f40864555335.txt

As you may know, Northern Guilford is football home to Parade All-American Keenan Allen, University of Oregon commits Chris McCain 4-star LB and James Scales 3-star DB.

FISH #1: How can a high school whose paint is still drying have a state champion basketball team and a nationally ranked football team?

Kowalewski is now the head basketball coach at ORMA (Oak Ridge Military Academy) 13 miles west of Greensboro.

ORMA’s AD Derrell Force resigned from Northern Guilford last spring amid the school’s eligibility scandal.

“Sources said Force is expected to offer Oak Ridge’s football job to Otis Yelverton, a nonfaculty assistant coach at Northern Guilford last year. Guilford County Schools declined to renew Yelverton’s contract for the fall. Yelverton declined to comment.”
http://www.news-record.com/content/2009/07/30/article/former_northern_guilford_coach_ad_headed_to_oak_ridge_military_academy

FISH #2: It’s interesting that all these shady characters end up together again. According to this article, ORMA’s new athletics director is Otis Yelverton. What happened to Force? I don’t know Yelverton’s resume but he was a nonfaculty assistant coach at Northern Guilford – not head coach. That is quite a career jump.
http://www.nwobserver.com/articles/2009/12/06/news/doc4b1807ee49f40864555335.txt

So who is Otis Yelverton? He is a coach in North Carolina who has coached and “mentored” McCain, Scales and Allen as well as Allen’s half brother and former Buffalo University starting QB Zach Maynard who wants to transfer and play with Allen. He also coached/mentored 4-star DE Gabe King who was found ineligible to play high school football in North Carolina due to living in the wrong district (sound familiar?) and transferred to South Eugene (OR) High School.

Representatives of University of Oregon have been very careful about this issue and it may be why King has yet to commit to the Ducks.
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Newest+Axeman+looks+comfortable+at+first+practice.-a0208717756

FISH #3: It seems awfully strange, coincidental and expensive for a family to up and move from Greensboro, North Carolina across the country to Eugene, Oregon just so their kid can play HS football. Why Eugene? Did they have financial help? From whom?

Additionally, Yelverton did his mentoring thing with Remene Alston who will be a senior RB at Oregon. As far as I can tell, Yelverton was not a high school head coach for any of these recruits. He was an assistant.

Yelverton’s distant cousin, Dino Philyaw, is a former Duck star RB who had a cup of coffee in the NFL. He has no official affiliation with Oregon other than being an alumnus. He is currently the president of SSD Luxury Builders in Eugene and operates Philyaw’s Cookout & Catering. He is a local hero/celebrity in Eugene. After high school, he played some minor league baseball and went to Taft JUCO in California before ending up at UO. Yelverton and Philyaw played against each other in high school in North Carolina and have stayed close. The two were involved in the Rivals.com Five-Star Showdown in March 2009 that included Allen, King and many other blue chippers from the Carolinas.
http://purdue.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=923236

This past summer, Yelverton took Allen, King, Scales, McCain, and Maurice Harris to Oregon’s football camp. Harris is a class of 2011 WR at NGHS and already has offers from Alabama, Cal, Clemson, etc. He is also Allen’s cousin.

FISH #4: Who paid for the flight, etc? How much do you think a summer flight for six or more from Greensboro to Eugene costs?

FISH #5: Philyaw was there to greet them. It seems to me, as a UO booster Philyaw has probably had some illegal contact, but I don’t know the details of the contact or the NCAA rules.
http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindducksbeat/2009/09/oregon_football_could_reap_div.html

“ ‘Yeah we are all taking off tomorrow around 7:30 am and will be landing in Eugene around 1:30 pm,’ said Coach O. ‘James Scales, Keenan Allen, Gabe King, and Chris McCain will all be traveling with me to visit Oregon. James is also bringing some of his family on the trip. We plan on visiting Oregon, Oregon State, and Cal on the six day trip,” said Coach O.’ ”

FISH #4.5: Add in Scales family members, rental cars, gas, food and lodging… $$$

http://duckterritory.com/football/football-recruiting/130-nc-athletes-invade-oregon
http://queencityhigh.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=957496

Mighty fishy….

Recruiting for Ohio State Buckeyes is the first sign of the backlash on Jim Tressel’s firing and Tattoogate. Of the 2012 Rivals250 (top 250 recruits for 2012) that are from the state of Ohio, three have chosen to go to Columbus, three to arch-rival Michigan, one each to Michigan State, Nebraska and Wisconsin:

Let’s face it. Auburn’s success in 2010 and the difference between 14-0 and 9-4 were squarely dependent on quarterback Cam Newton and D-lineman Nick Fairley. Without them, the Tigers lose to Clemson, LSU, Alabama and possibly Arkansas, Mississippi State and Kentucky. But those two are gone and have left big gaping holes in the team.  That said, it could be a loooong year for the War Eagle.

Utah State Win
Mississippi State -  this game is a  toss-up. MSU is much improved and dangerous but the game is at Auburn.
at Clemson – another toss-up. Clemson will be hard-pressed to forget last year’s heartbreaking loss, when they missed an easy OT touchdown and an easier field goal. Played at Clemson.
Florida Atlantic Win
at South Carolina is going to have a better team than last year. 19 of the 21 projected starters are seniors and juniors and some of them will probably be leaving for the NFL (Alshon Jeffery, Stephon Gilmore). It is now or never. Plus, Steve Spurrier is getting old. Prediction: LOSS
at Arkansas – on the road against a team that also might be better even without Ryan Mallett. Prediction: LOSS
Florida – what a  tough SEC stretch! Finally, the Tigers get a home game. Too bad the also get another  LOSS
at LSU – and Baton Rouge makes four straight:  LOSS
Ole Miss – finally a  Win
Open Date
at Georgia – in Athens = LOSS
Samford Win
Alabama =  LOSS

*Bonus Prediction: reports of the deaths of the Toomer’s Corner trees were greatly exaggerated.

SEC WEST:

ALABAMA
Start of spring practice: March 21
Spring game: April 16

ARKANSAS
Start of spring practice: March 15
Spring game: April 16

AUBURN
Start of spring practice: March 23
Spring game: April 16

LSU
Start of spring practice: March 11
Spring game: April 9

MISSISSIPPI STATE
Start of spring practice: March 4
Spring game: April 9

OLE MISS
Start of spring practice: March 28
Spring game: April 16

SEC EAST:

FLORIDA
Start of spring practice: March 16
Spring game: April 9

GEORGIA
Start of spring practice: March 10
Spring game: April 16

KENTUCKY
Start of spring practice: March 30
Spring game: April 23

SOUTH CAROLINA
Start of spring practice: March 15
Spring game: April 9

TENNESSEE
Start of spring practice: March 22
Spring game: April 16

VANDERBILT
Start of spring practice: March 18
Spring game: April 17

UNC hopes to have one of the top defenses in the nation in 2011 football season. Experience will definitely point them in the right direction in 11 players returning with starting experience.

After a season of turmoil in 2010 that saw several Tar Heels suspended including safety Brian Gupton, safety Da’Norris Searcy and cornerback Kendric Burney, many young players got extended playing time and will return.

Defensive end Linwan Euwell and safety Jonathan Smith also saw suspensions for 2011 and are expected to compete for starting spots.

Check out this list of 2011 players who signed Letters Of Intent with a certain school minus 4 of them:

Can you guess which school this is? Miami Hurricanes? UCF Knights? South Fla Bulls? No, no and nope.
How about a hint in the form of the other 4 signees:

Yep, Charlie Strong’s Louisville Cardinals. 12 of 19 from Florida, 8 from the Miami area. Overall, the Cards signed 4 sets of teammates.

It is probably best for underclassmen to declare for the NFL draft ONLy if theythink they can go in the first round. Many of these guys will, but some of them are delusional:

SEC (14)

Alabama: Marcell Dareus, DE; Julio Jones, WR; Mark Ingram, RB – these three could go in the top 15.
Arkansas: Ryan Mallett, QB – mid-first round to mid-second round
Auburn: Nick Fairley DT; Cameron Newton, QB; Darvin Adams WR – UnFairley should go top 10; SCam in late 1st round; Adams 3rd round
Florida: Will Hill, S – meh, shoulda stayed
Georgia: Justin Houston, DE; A.J. Green, WR – AJ is a top 10 pick. Houston probably 2nd round or later
Kentucky: Randall Cobb, WR/KR/QB – interesting prospect but not a first rounder; maybe 3rd
LSU: Patrick Peterson, CB; Stevan Ridley, RB – Peterson is top 5; Ridley, are you kidding me?
Ole Miss: Jerrell Powe, DT – 2nd to 3rd round
South Carolina: Tori Gurley, WR – insane

ACC (9)

Clemson: Da’Quan Bowers, DE; Jamie Harper, RB – Da’Quan is a top 10
Georgia Tech: Nick Claytor, OT
Maryland: Torrey Smith, WR/KR; Kenny Tate, S
Miami: Brandon Harris, CB
Virginia: Zane Parr, DE
Virginia Tech: Darren Evans, RB; Ryan Williams, RB

BIG TEN (7) – I am truly surprised none of the Ohio State Tattoo-gate 5 are going pro.

ILLINOIS: Mikel Leshoure, RB; Corey Liuget, DT; Martez Wilson, LB
INDIANA: Tandon Doss, WR
IOWA: Tyler Sash, S
WISCONSIN: John Clay, RB; J.J. Watt, DE

BIG 12 (3)

MISSOURI: Blane Gabbert, QB; Aldon Smith, DE – not good for Mizzou. Blane will be 2nd or 3rd rounder
TEXAS: Aaron Williams, CB

BIG EAST (5)

CONNECTICUT: Jordan Todman, RB
PITTSBURGH: Jon Baldwin, WR; Henry Hynoski, FB; Dion Lewis, RB
WEST VIRGINIA: Robert Sands, S

PAC-10 (7)

ARIZONA STATE: Lawrence Guy, DT
CALIFORNIA: Shane Vereen, RB
OREGON STATE: Jacquizz Rogers, RB
UCLA: Akeem Ayers, LB; Rahim Moore
USC: Jurrell Casey, DT; Tryon Smith, OT

CONFERENCE USA (1)

SOUTHERN MISS: DeAndre Brown, WR.

MID-AMERICAN(1)

TEMPLE: Muhammad Wilkerson, DT

MOUNTAIN WEST (2)

UTAH: Brandon Burton, CB;  Sealver Siliga, DT

INDEPENDENT (1)

NOTRE DAME: Kyle Rudolph, TE

Damian Swann – UGA
Harvey Langi – Utah
Tobias Singleton – Ole Miss
Colt Lyerla – Oregon
Donovan Smith – Penn State
Lateek Townsend – Clemson
Gerrod Holliman – Louisville
James Sample – Washington
Wayne Lyons – Stanford
Viliam Moala – Cal
Kris Frost – Auburn
Odell Beckham – LSU
Dee Hart – Alabama
Brent Calloway – Auburn

Coming off an 8-5 2009 season, Georgia football coach Mark Richt made the insinuation that the Class of 2011 recruits in the state of Geoergia might all come to UGA and be a “Dream Team”. Despite, Georgia going 6-7 in 2010, many of Georgia’s elite bought into the slogan.

Below are recruits from Georgia with a Rivals.com rating of 4-stars or higher (updated 2/7/11):

The Bulldogs ends up with eleven of the Top 22 players in the state of Georgia. Only time will tell if the “Dream” pans out.