Tate Ratledge is now on the commitment clock. When it goes off, he will also be on live television.
The nation’s no. 5 OT prospect out of Darlington School in Rome will now make his commitment on May 13. His decision will be broadcast live on FOX5 in Atlanta during its morning “Good Day Atlanta” program.
Ratledge has been down to Georgia and Tennessee for some time. He has taken recent visits to both schools and was at Georgia for its G-Day game on April 20.
There is no special occasion or reason to mark that decision. It was simply the best programming window for local Atlanta Fox affiliate to broadcast his decision live.
The decision announcement was first reported by Rusty Mansell of 247Sports.
The near 6-foot-7 and 302-pound rising senior has been a priority target for Georgia line coach Sam Pittman. He also rates as the nation’s No. 39 overall prospect on the 247Sports Composite ratings and as the No. 6 player for the state of Georgia for this cycle.
How does he feel about Georgia? There is a strong relationship at work with Georgia line coach Sam Pittman.
“Coach Pittman is probably the coach I have come the closest [with] in my time of being recruited,” Tate Ratledge said about Pittman earlier this year.
What are the biggest things he likes about UGA right now?
“I like Athens,” Ratledge said. “I feel like I’d be happy there if I wasn’t playing football. Like I could live there and coach Pittman.”
He also has deep ties to Tennessee.
“I have been there the most and I have built great relationships with [Tennessee offensive line] coach [Will] Friend and coach Pittman,” Ratledge said. “Every time I go down there it is not a tour of everything. It is getting closer with the coaches and building those relationships.”
Ratledge comes from a Volunteers family. He was born in that state. His father, Dean, does still have an orange power “T” front license plate on his truck.
That is not expected to be a factor here. It will be his choice.
