It has been a busy morning for SEC Country. Butch Jones is out at Tennessee and now one of the program’s top recruits has backed off his commitment to the program. Wide receiver Alontae Taylor told DawgNation on Sunday afternoon that he is no longer a part of that class.
“I am no longer committed to Tennessee,” Taylor said.
He should now be considered a legitimate target for the Bulldogs in 2018. Taylor is a versatile athlete who could wind up at receiver or defensive back . He also has an official visit set up to UGA for this weekend against Kentucky.
“Most definitely,” Taylor told DawgNation. “I can’t freaking wait.”
Taylor’s move wasn’t the first ripple in the 2018 class for the Volunteers. But he is a target the Bulldogs have in mind for the nation’s No. 5 class, based on the 247Sports team composite rankings.
Five-star offensive lineman Cade Mays, another priority UGA target, de-committed from the Vols last week. When he backed off that pledge, it meant Tennessee lost its highest-rated recruit for 2018.
Taylor, the nation’s No. 29 receiver for this cycle, was the second-highest rated recruit on the Volunteers’ board.
Was.
The Under Armour All-American had been committed to Tennessee since June 18, 2016. He now will look to find a new home. Taylor said he plans to enroll early in January.
That only will accelerate his thought process during the next five weeks. He already has received quite a lot of attention from other programs as the nation’s No. 149 overall prospect for 2018.
Taylor admitted he still had some thinking to do during the last month, given that Jones might not be back for 2018. But he had hoped to remain committed to Tennessee until his ultimate final decision date on Dec. 22.
That is no longer the case.
Taylor was going to take his visits. He went on a recent trip to Notre Dame and also included the Bulldogs among his final official visits. Taylor is very close with 5-star UGA quarterback commit Justin Fields.
“Tae” had even joked with Fields back in July at Nike’s The Opening in Oregon that he was eventually going to follow him wherever he goes.
It looks like the 6-foot-1, 185-pound prospect might now have that chance.
“I just want to see what the hype is about for DawgNation and its senior night,” Taylor said.
He also shared his new top 5 schools. It appears the Coffee County, Tenn., resident now is definitely looking to play out of state.
Alontae Taylor’s top 5 schools, in no order
- Louisville
- Georgia
- Wake Forest
- Alabama
- Georgia Tech
