The young man they call “Big Cat” is going to be a big cat.

Markaviest “Big Cat” Bryant, a 4-star defensive end prospect from Crisp County, chose Auburn over Georgia and LSU during his commitment ceremony on National Signing Day.

The 6-foot-5, 235-pounder is rated as the nation’s No. 14 weak-side defensive end prospect and as the No. 181 overall prospect in 2017.

Auburn and its defensive line coach Rodney Garner had made a big difference over the last two weeks as a rising contender for the decision. Montravius Adams, Bryant’s first cousin, had also just completed his college career at Auburn and is now bound for a promising NFL career.

The news serves as another tough loss for Georgia on National Signing Day. Georgia has now missed on Bryant and Aubrey Solomon over the last hour. That news also seems out of context at this time with a source telling DawgNation the Bulldogs pulled the offer from 3-star junior college DT Larrell Murchison.

That source also indicated Murchison, an Ole Miss commit, had also made a silent commitment to UGA last week.

Bryant had developed very strong feelings for Georgia over the last year after he was prioritized at the Rising Seniors game. The Bulldogs had stayed on him as an outside linebacker fit and as a true pass rush threat.

He had developed a tight relationship with Georgia outside linebackers coach Kevin Sherrer. He rated that relationship as good as any that he had established during his recruiting.

How will he land in college football? Bryant’s personal story isn’t easily matched in terms of a hard-charging work ethic.

LSU had been trending late after a great official visit earlier this month. Bryant — who genuinely seemed torn in his process — developed a great friendship with LSU edge rusher Arden Key. Key also left the state of Georgia to continue his career at an SEC West school.