Gwinnett Daily Post

NORCROSS -- Growing up in a large family with brothers and a sister, Anthony Autry, one of five Norcross seniors to sign National Letters of Intent on Wednesday, is used to at least a little bit of conflict among those close to him.

And there is one little bit of conflict he is looking forward to after signing his NLOI with Georgia Tech.

With the 6-foot-2, 180-pounder having had a strong senior season at both receiver and free safety, he is hearing that both offensive and defensive coaches with the Yellow Jackets may be fighting over which will get to coach him.

For his part, Autry doesn't have a preference which unit he ends up playing for at Tech. In fact, he'd prefer not to have to choose at all.

"I really don't know," Autry said. "I still want to play both (offense and defense). I think they'll put me on which side they need me more. So, I guess we'll see."

Croom on the mend

Blue Devils receiver Jason Croom said coaches from Tennessee, where the 6-5, 213-pound senior signed Wednesday, weren't in a panic after he suffered a dislocated shoulder playing for the Norcross basketball team late last month.

And he is optimistic that he will not only be full strength once he reports to the Volunteers over the summer, but that he may also be back on the basketball court to help the Blue Devils defend last season's Class AAAAA state championship.

"They're not worried about it," Croom said. "I've got full range of motion (back) already. ... They understand, it's just going to happen sometimes. All I can do is rehab it and be ready for this upcoming season."

An omen?

Norcross girls basketball standout Diamond DeShields was not only in attendance for Wednesday's signing ceremony, but also helped a local television station by interviewing some of the football signees.

And she was involved in a moment that could perhaps be a foreshadowing of the future.

While interviewing Croom, the Tennessee-bound receiver playfully put his orange and white baseball cap on top of DeShields' head, perhaps trying to convince the 6-1 junior and 2011 Daily Post Girls Player of the Year to join him at Tennessee, one of DeShields' many suitors.

But DeShields quickly pointed out she has another year of high school, and is not yet ready to make her college decision.