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Josh Harvey-Clemons of Valdosta (Ga.) Lowndes had great success playing safety but when coaches switched him to outside linebacker several weeks ago he welcomed the change.

"I [like it better] because I'm closer to the ball," Harvey-Clemons said. "And I can make more plays, especially in the defense that we run. They moved me midway through the season, and I feel like we've been better since then."

Saturday night, the Lowndes defense was at its best.

Behind Harvey-Clemons, who was around the ball most of the game, Lowndes blanked a high-powered Stone Mountain (Ga.) Stephenson offense, which featured four-star running back Mike Davis, 7-0 in a road playoff win.

"Our defense stepped up and played real big," Harvey-Clemons said. "They've got a real good running back and he broke out a couple times but we did a good job containing him most of the night. I feel like I played all right. A couple times I missed tackles but those are hard backs to bring down. Other than that, I feel like I played good."

While Harvey-Clemons, the country's No. 2 outside linebacker prospect and No. 37 overall recruit, focuses on the playoffs, he's also thinking about his recruitment.

"My top three right now I'd probably say are Georgia, Florida and Alabama," Harvey-Clemons said. "I was supposed to go to Georgia [Saturday] for the Auburn game, but we had this game. I think I'm going to go next week when they play Kentucky. I've got my official set up with Georgia. It's the only thing I've got set up right now. I'm going Dec. 9-11."

Who else is getting an official?

"Florida definitely and Alabama," said Harvey-Clemons, who added that Florida State is another option for an official.

Although the dates for his Alabama and Florida officials are not known, Harvey-Clemons said he "probably" would be in Gainesville when the Gators play host to FSU in two weeks.

Florida and Georgia are recruiting Harvey-Clemons to play outside linebacker. Alabama likes him at receiver.

"The Gators are up there," Harvey-Clemons said. "They had a de-commitment at linebacker, so I've been talking to them a lot about playing outside linebacker. I've been trying to get down there but I've been busy. So I'm trying to get down there when I can. [With Georgia], I feel like I have a chance to play early. They're short at linebacker. I like Coach [Todd] Grantham and the system he runs [as defensive coordinator]. I think I'd fit into it real well."

Asked about the possibility of being a receiver in college, Harvey-Clemons, who sees action there for Lowndes, replied, "I don't mind it but it's hard to tell whether I can play it or not since we run the wing-t."

According to Harvey-Clemons, he will announce at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in January.

Keith Niebuhr can be reached at kneebs01@aol.com. You can follow him on Twitter @KeithRIVALS.

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