Georgia WR target Josh Vann still gives a slight lead to South Carolina

BEAVERTON, Ore. — Josh Vann deserves his place among the nation’s top college football prospects. That’s pretty much a given after the first two days of the Elite 11 work.

His last trip was to visit South Carolina after the Corky Kell Classic earlier this month. He hasn’t been anywhere else.

That’s important. A Vann visit usually means good things in the back-and-forth of late between Georgia and South Carolina. Is that the way he looks at it?

“Yeah, I think so,” Vann said. “It is tough. Like I always say it is hard to turn down the whole team. I want to be there where I feel at home.”

Where is his decision at? Vann told DawgNation South Carolina still leads for the 4-star prospect and the nation’s No. 39 receiver per the 247SportsComposite.

“I feel like South Carolina is still ahead,” Vann said. “It feels more of a home. It feels more like relaxed and not too serious. I can relate to everybody down there and get along with the coaches.”

How can UGA counter that?

“I wouldn’t say maybe not too much,” Vann said. “I just want to felt like I am at home.”

He was asked how close these two schools are in his process. Vann felt the Gamecocks were about five percent ahead of the Bulldogs.

Is that gap something that UGA can eclipse?

“It wouldn’t be too much,” Vann said. “I just want to feel home and feel gracious. I do feel gracious every time I go up there. It is just something about South Carolina. I feel like I would produce more down at South Carolina. I know Georgia has a big recruiting class that they have a whole bunch of receivers coming in. It is not that I don’t want to compete. I just think that South Carolina would be a better fit where I would be great at.”

Vann does everything at Tucker. He even punts. The senior understands the great opportunity he has to be among the nation’s best out in Oregon this week.

“I have just been out here having a great time,” Vann said. “It is a great experience. It is just like a once-in-a-lifetime thing. I am really blessed to be here. My invite came really late so I am really excited to just be here. Just being here is like a glory. A gift from God. I’m really and truly thankful.”

How UGA ends the race for Josh Vann with one move

Georgia can stack the playing field with Fields. That’s 5-star QB Justin Fields.

Would bring in Fields change up his leaderboard?

“Yeah, actually it would,” Vann said. “A dual-threat quarterback at Georgia who can do both and can run. It would put Georgia a lot bigger up there just by getting Justin Fields. He can run and throw the ball. He could really lead to (bringing in) better targets.”

If Fields chose to commit to UGA, is there any way could he say no to the home state school?

“It would be hard,” Vann said. “It is Justin Fields. He’s almost the No. 1 QB after Trevor Lawrence.”

Vann said matter-of-factly that the hype with Fields is real.

“It is not fake,” Vann said. “Whatever they say about him is real.”

When asked what it was like to catch a ball from Fields, he had a pretty clear level of appreciation for the nation’s No. 3 overall prospect. The two of them are both on the Mach Speed team that will compete in the 7-on-7 tournament at The Opening. That starts on Sunday.

What does a pass from Fields look like?

“It is tight,” Vann said. “It looks so pretty and gets to you in a second. Like no wobble. A perfect spiral. It is there and on time.”

Vann hinted at a revised timeline.

“Either the first week of August or about halfway through the season,” Vann said. “Like the third week of the season. I know I want to at least get one official in or two officials in before I try to make a decision.”

A couple of trips are required before that takes place.

“I know I have got to go back to Georgia,” Vann said. “I know I have to go back to South Carolina and I guess I want to go to Auburn.”

Don’t look for the Tigers to nudge their way in here. Vann made it sound like this was going to be a two-team race in the end. Those are the only schools he has visited.