Kell's Brian Randolph is headed to Knoxville. Photo by Jon Barash

Derek Dooley may have sweated out a nail-biter against UAB last week, but next season he’ll have two players from the state of Georgia willing to do whatever it takes to win. Dooley has received pledges from several Georgia prep stars but two in particular have really made Georgia fans and Tech fans upset that their programs couldn’t keep these guys in-state. Gainesville’s AJ Johnson and Kell’s Brian Randolph have done whatever their coaches have asked to get the job done in the 2010 campaign. Johnson, a super-star linebacker and member of the Score 44, has laid the wood on defense but it has been his offense that people really take notice. In what he dubs the Gorilla formation, Johnson has come in and run the ball like Darren McFadden used to do for Arkansas. Johnson has put the Red Elephants on his back to lead the team to a winning record following the team’s season-opening loss to Buford. In an interview last week, Johnson told Score Atlanta that he has been told by the Vols' coaching staff that he might be used on offense as well as at SAM linebacker.
Brian Randolph meanwhile will likely only play safety next season at Tennessee, but it has been his offense for Kell this year that has helped the Longhorns get off to the best start in school history. The Longhorns, thanks to Randolph have also reached its highest ranking ever after a win over No.6 Hiram last Friday. Randolph has scored the game-winning touchdown in several of Kell’s wins this season and scored to beat Grayson in the Georgia Dome to start the season. If Randolph keeps scoring and playing defense like he did as a sophomore (he was injured for much of last season), he might have a chance to score a game-winner in the Georgia Dome at the end of this season too.
The Volunteers have stolen two fine Georgia athletes from the Yellow Jackets and the Bulldogs, but Georgia residents are still able to watch these two for the next six or seven weeks in the Peach State. I’d advise them to get out and watch these two while they can.