Montravius Adams, a defensive tackle considered one of the top undecided prospects in the country, has chosen Auburn over Clemson and Georgia on National Signing Day. He’s rated a five-star and ranked as the 247 composite’s No. 3 defensive tackle recruit. Gus Malzahn and staff react:
Montravius Adams commits to Auburn on National Signing Day
A top-five defensive tackle recruit has made a National Signing Day decision. Follow @SBNationCFB Follow @SBNRecruiting
Adams had been speculated as a potential Clemson commit from the very start of his process, but made it clear he was going to leave the decision until near signing day. The five-star recruit would take his fair share of visits -- Florida, Alabama, and Georgia joined Clemson, with Auburn being added to the mix when they hired Georgia defensive line coach Rodney Garner. But it was long considered to be a race between Clemson and his home-state school of Georgia.
This summer, when most recruits were teasing top-five lists, Adams insisted on waiting to do even that:
“I just ain’t ready yet,” Adams said when asked why he won’t name an official top six until after his senior season.
Adams visited Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Auburn, Clemson and Michigan State over the summer. While he won’t name a top six, it’s safe to assume that those schools stand out to him.
What is it about those schools? “Family, tradition and the need for defensive linemen,” Adams said. “The coaches were great and just hanging out with the players.”
Clemson was the first to offer Adams, and has always been a favorite of his.
“One thing I love is the hill. There’s just something about it I love,” Adams said, referencing the hill down which Clemson runs to enter its stadium on gameday.
Auburn re-entered the picture for Adams when Gus Malzahn and his staff took over.
At 6’3, 290 pounds, the Vienna, Ga., native is big enough to play defensive tackle in college straight out of high school. At Georgia, Adams would have had to play nose tackle in the team’s 3-4 defense -- a position that just produced two likely NFL players, John Jenkins and Kwame Geathers, leaving Bulldogs fans to hope Adams would choose Georgia to fill their shoes. For its part, Clemson had been close to putting together an immediately elite defensive line, having previously landed Robert Nkemdiche and Elijah Daniel -- the top recruit at any position in the country and another top defensive end -- only to have both decommit.
Adams’ video highlights:
Look through SB Nation’s many excellent college football blogs to find your team’s community.
