Georgia Tech flipped the commitment of one of the state’s top linebackers, who was previously pledged to Vanderbilt.
Nigel Bowden, a 4-star linebacker from Central Macon High School, changed his mind after meeting on Friday in person with Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson, who promptly offered a football scholarship from the Yellow Jackets. Bowden had been committed to Vanderbilt since March.
LB Nigel Bowden flipped from Vanderbilt to Georgia Tech after meeting with Paul Johnson (AJC)
“It worked out real well,” Bowden said. “I came to Georgia Tech and finally had the chance to meet Coach Johnson. I was also here in March but I never got to see Coach Johnson because he had to attend a funeral that day.
The 6-foot, 238-pound Bowden said Georgia Tech recruiting coordinator Andy McCollum stopped by his high school this spring and explained that the Yellow Jackets were still very high on him. “He helped me understand that Coach Johnson likes to meet people face to face before he offers. He said it wasn’t the fact that Georgia Tech didn’t want to offer me, but that Coach Johnson wasn’t there that day to see me.”
On Friday, Johnson was there when Bowden made a return trip. “It was a great conversation – he told me the lineup, who they have now, and who they are recruiting,” Bowden said. “He talked about the team and how hard they work, along with Georgia Tech’s academics.
“Coach Johnson said ‘If you want to do this [commit to Georgia Tech], we can go ahead and do it. You’ve got your offer.’ I said I wanted to do it. We shook hands, and we made it final.”
Why Georgia Tech? “I’ve been thinking about Georgia Tech for a while. It was always between those two, Georgia Tech and Vanderbilt. I switched because I always wanted to play for my home state school. Plus, my mother always wanted to me to go to Georgia Tech. My family can go to all of the games.”
Bowden said he was trying to get in touch with Vanderbilt’s coaches to give them the news. “I don’t think Vanderbilt is going to take it too well. They are probably going to come after me to get me to commit to them again. Overall, Vanderbilt is a great school, but Georgia Tech is where I want to be.”
Bowden is commitment No. 6 for Georgia Tech’s 2013 recruiting class. He has a 3.55 GPA and will likely major in some type of Science.
http://blogs.ajc.com/recruiting/2012/06/01/georgia-tech-flips-the-commitment-of-4-star-linebacker/?cxntfid=blogs_recruiting
