The nation’s No. 1 athlete has a new timeline for his “secret commitment.”

Elbert County 5-star Mecole Hardman, Jr. told the AJC he’s now thinking October or November for the time frame for when he will announce his secret pledge to his chosen school.

The major UGA target at cornerback and receiver said he might need to wait until he’s taken all of his official visits before making his secret commitment. It will be a secret between Hardman and his future college coach, with Hardman finally revealing his choice to the public on February’s signing day.

“I am probably going to be busy for a lot of Saturdays going to games,” Hardman Jr. said. “After my visits I am going to start narrowing things down and try to make my decision within October or November.

“Somewhere within that two-month range. Like I said I am going to make a silent commitment so I just know what school I want by then. After that just ride out to Signing Day and then announce it.”

Hardman is planning an official visit to Michigan for the Ohio State game on Nov. 28. He said there’s a possibility he might wait until after that official visit before making that silent commitment.

“It is going to be around that range of October or November,” Hardman, Jr. said. “It could happen before that. It could happen after that. I’m not set on any certain date, but it is just when I feel right at a certain time. It could happen after that (Michigan) official which would be my last one, but I am not sure about that.”

That may sound like a lot of complications, but any school in the country will wait that long to sign Hardman. He’s just that good of a prospect.

 

Jeff Sentell covers UGA recruiting for AJC.com and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Follow him on Twitter for the latest on who’s on their way to play Between the Hedges.