Two of the most highly prized recruits in the Bay Area seem to be on their way to South Bend next season. Both George III and Josh made the announcement yesterday.
George, a running back/wide receiver by trade, is ranked the 11th best recruit in the state by Rivals. SF Chronicle marks him as the best prep athlete in the Contra Costa/Tri Valley area.
Ranked the No. 11 recruit in the state by rivals.com, the 6-foot-2, 195-pound running back is scheduled to visit Notre Dame and Oregon this month. He is fully recovered from a hamstring injury that ended his 2010 track season in May, Granada-Livermore coach Tim Silva said.
The son of the former Raiders Pro Bowl defensive back by the same name, Atkinson is a physical specimen with a superb attitude. He medaled in the state 100- and 200-meter dashes as a sophomore.
George Atkinson III football highlights jr year granada high school (via joshgeorgeatkinson)
The Notre Dame Observer believes Atkinson can play multiple roles, similar to many explosive dual threats at other college schools.
George Atkinson could play multiple positions for the Irish. Frank compared George to former Florida receiver Percy Harvin, who left college after the 2008 season.
"George is a real dynamic player that could play nearly anything," Frank said. "I think Notre Dame envisions him in a Percy Harvin role, you put him at wide receiver or running back. He could play a lot of different positions.
"The main thing is you just want to put the ball in his hands, because he has the ability to score from anywhere."
Josh is no slouch himself. A cornerback at the local Livermore high school, he's had plenty of his own success. He's ranked 66th in the state by Rivals. And of the twins, he seems to be the main guy to go all out for the Irish.
Josh Atkinson #43 Highlights from 2009 (via GranadaFootball)
Wes Morgan of ESPN Chicago with the story.
"It was kind of funny because we were both nervous at first," Josh said. "One of the dudes that works there said, 'So who wants to talk to coach first?' We didn't really say anything and were like, 'I don't know.' Then he said, 'Do you want to talk to him together?' I was like, 'You know what? That's not a bad idea.' But George was like, 'No, we should talk to him separately.'
"The guy was like, 'It's not like you guys are going to see the principal. It's not like you guys are in trouble.' It was funny. I just stepped up and said, 'I'll talk to [Kelly] first.'"