It will be hard to shake the sight of Channing Tindall at the Nike Atlanta “Opening” regional this year.

He’s 6-foot-2 and 213 pounds. He ran a 4.86 on his 40 but clocked a 4.19 on the short shuttle. Tindall was that 4-star LB in the midst of all those elite skill athletes. That was a twitchy crowd.

Bulldogs fans that hope to find more LBs who can do what Roquan Smith should make it a point to remember his name. The major UGA target is basically down to just Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.

The class of 2018 recruit also threw the power ball 45 feet. It was the second-best effort there. The only guy who threw it farther weighed 297 pounds.

Tindall also tested with a vertical leap that was 39.7 inches. It all adds up to one word: explosive.

Channing Tindall rates as the nation’s No. 3 OLB on the 247Sports composite rankings for 2018. If he chose UGA, he could play ILB or OLB. (Hale McGranahan/SEC Country)/Dawgnation)

He was honored by the U.S. Army All-American game on Thursday afternoon with his game jersey presentation.

“I felt like Superman when I put on that jersey,” Tindall told SEC Country. “It is time to ball out in San Antonio and show them what a South Carolina boy can do.”

When he was asked about his school choice Thursday, he said he would make his college decision by the end of the year. But he will not enroll early.

Tindall has visited UGA twice this season for two very entertaining contests. That included the South Carolina game last weekend. What impressed him about that trip?

Channing Tindall rates as the nation’s No. 121 overall prospect for 2018 on the 247Sports composite. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation)/Dawgnation)

“I grew up a Georgia fan, not a South Carolina fan. ” Tindall said. “So dealing with [Georgia linebackers coach Glenn] Schumann and the coaching staff personally is what impressed me. Everything they said they were going to do literally before the season started, they have done.”

“They show proof. Which is really impressive to me.”

When he was asked if Georgia has emerged as a favorite for him, he parried that answer.

“You are just going to have to wake and see what happens,” Tindall said, who also said to look for him to sign in February and not the new early signing period.

He wasn’t sure if he would take in the Auburn vs. Georgia tilt this weekend. Or if he would take an unofficial visit to Clemson. He’s just not sure yet.

The Tigers from his home state may knock, but those efforts will be tough. Can Clemson enter the mix?

“Possibly,” he replied. “But I’m pretty sure that I am firm with those three schools.”

Which head coach does Channing Tindall relate to the best? 

It was hard for Tindall to decide which head coach he relates to the best. It came down to Georgia’s Kirby Smart and his good friend Will Muschamp at South Carolina.

“Coach Smart and Coach Muschamp are really close,” he told SEC Country. “They are funny. They go back and forth and they know I like South Carolina and Georgia a lot. Just the little jokes they make up. For a head coach, I really can’t make a decision for that.”

It was a day of fulfillment for Tindall. His thoughts traced back to when he was five years old. Those were his first steps in the game.

Channing Tindall does not plan to sign or enroll early. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation)/Dawgnation)

“I always told my dad I wanted to go to the NFL when I grew up.”

His father replied the way dads are supposed to.

“Are you really going to put in the work?” his father said.

Then he asked it again.

“I should have thought about it when he asked that the second time,” Tindall said. “I’m just glad that I got to this point. I’m just glad all those long nights and those early mornings have really paid off.”

His senior year at Spring Valley (S.C.) has checked a lot of boxes: 1) Opening invitee; 2) U.S. Army All-American selection to honor the military background of numerous members of his family; 3) A 10-1 season for his high school team.

 

SEC Country’s Hale McGranahan provided these quotes on-scene for DawgNation.