Caleb Tannor‘s decision came down to Auburn and Georgia.

He chose the Bulldogs on Monday in a commitment interview released by 247Sports. The 4-star defensive end, who is expected to play outside linebacker at Georgia, made his decision to stay in his home state to play for Kirby Smart and Georgia.

Tannor made back-to-back visits to Auburn and Georgia over the past two weekends. Auburn made a big push. It had reached the point where the competition was very close, but the home state Bulldogs won out.

What was the reason? It was always just home to him.

The coaching staff at Miller Grove High School in Lithonia often has told DawgNation about Tannor’s exemplary character on and off the field. That’s evident by the fact the 6-foot-3, 225-pound player has been a multi-year team captain for the Wolverines.

Tannor ranks as the nation’s No. 15 defensive end prospect per the 247Sports composite for the Class of 2018.

He becomes the ninth commitment for the Bulldogs in the Class of 2018. Tannor is now the fourth commitment for Smart’s defense in this cycle.

It also continues a pretty good click of momentum for the Georgia staff. UGA has picked up four commitments in the 2018 and 2019 classes over the last 10 days.

What Georgia is getting with Caleb Tannor

The Miller Grove standout is now the second highest-rated commitment on the UGA board for the Class of 2018. He trails only 5-star RB Zamir White going off the overall 247SportsComposite rating.

Tannor finished his junior season with 54 total tackles, 7 sacks, 2 safeties and also returned a fumble recovery for a touchdown. It is clear that playing for the Miller Grove Wolverines always has mattered a great deal to him as he stayed with the program while other talented one-time teammates moved away to play for other teams.

“He’s just an incredible kid with real good character and a hard worker,” Miller Grove coach Justin Larmond told DawgNation this summer. “You ask him to do something and he does it. So nice and respectful. He’s won the leadership award for our football team all three seasons he’s been here.”

Larmond continued: “He’s a guy that does everything you ask him to do from a coach’s standpoint. Then he does more. Don’t have any problems with him. He’s a good kid.”

Tannor said that Stephen Hill Coaches Award stands as perhaps the biggest honor of his career.

In Tannor’s case, the Bulldogs held off a big push from the Tigers. He’d been to UGA on visits at least 15 to 20 times during his recruiting process.

What kept him coming back?

“The biggest reason I like Georgia is just the love I get over there,” he said. “I like the tradition, the facilities and what they have done with their players at Georgia.”

Tannor said he plans to initially study sports medicine in college. That might not be exactly the same degree path, but he wants to eventually be a physical therapist when his playing days are over.