2019 Rivals 250 DB knows when he wants to commit
Ohio State is the latest school to offer Joseph Charleston. When speaking with the 2019 Rivals 250 defensive back out of Milton (Ga.) late last week, the first school out of his mouth when asked about who he still hoped to pick up an offer from was Ohio State.
So this offer was big for him. He talked with coach Urban Meyer and Kerry Coombs on the phone Sunday and Charleston now hopes to make it to a game in Columbus (Ohio) this season.
The Buckeyes now have a chance to make a big move once they get the No. 8 junior safety in the country on campus.
At this time, five schools that have hosted on him for visits already are high on his list.
"I like Alabama, Clemson, Vanderbilt, Georgia and Tennessee out of the schools that have offered me," said Charleston. "I am still looking at all of the schools, but those do stand out to me."
He has visited Clemson and Tennessee once, Alabama and Vanderbilt twice and Georgia five times as a recruit. His older brother plays baseball for the Volunteers, so he has spent a good bit of time in Knoxville (Tenn.) outside of recruiting.
The answer you hear so often when asking recruits about Alabama came out of Charleston's mouth. "They put players into the NFL left and right," he said. "Coach [Nick] Saban knows defensive backs, I like coach [Derrick] Ansley (defensive backs) a lot and they win a lot."
Charleston saw the Crimson Tide win Saturday from inside Mercedes Bentz Stadium. He was impressed with the defense Alabama played while holding Florida State to seven points.
Clemson has split with Alabama the last two seasons in the national championship game. They vibe there is what a lot of recruits speak on when talking the Tigers and Charleston is no different.
"I just like how they do things up there and the environment. The facilities are amazing, I like coach [Mickey] Conn (defensive backs) a lot and it just feels great there."
Vanderbilt has multiple coaches recruiting one of the best in Georgia and he likes them both.
"I love coach Derek Mason (head coach) and coach [Marc] Mattioli (defensive backs) a lot," said Charleston. "They are great coaches, great guys and I like them both. I also like the education Vanderbilt offers and how they play in the SEC."
Staying in Tennessee, moving from Nashville to Knoxville, the connection is there with his brother playing baseball. He has only been there once as a football recruit, but his feelings are strong.
"I have been around the town and the campus a lot because of my brother and it feels like home there. I want to get to know the football coaches better, but I know a lot of people there, I like it there and it is a place I feel comfortable at."
The school he has visited the most is around an hour from his home. Georgia has a couple of coaches that know Charleston's position well and that stands out to him.
"Coach Kirby Smart (head coach) is a defensive guy and he knows all about defensive backs. Coach [Mel] Tucker (defensive backs) coached in the NFL and he knows a lot about what I play too. I love both of those guys and what they know as coaches. It is also the home team, so I like that about Georgia too."
Not only was Charleston in Atlanta to watch Alabama play Saturday, but he saw Clemson open the season as well. He will be back there this weekend to see the Tigers take on Auburn and this is big for Clemson because visits will be critical for Charleston as he prepares to make his decision.
He wants to commit before next summer, so the next six months will be big.
"I will make my decision before the end of my junior year," said Charleston. "It will probably be around next spring. I will take visits this season, then start thinking about it next year.
"I want to get out, talk to players and hear what they have to say. I know they will have great information for me about the school, the coaches and just how everything is at their school.
"I will also see how I fit in with the players and that is important to me. I will pick the school that feels like the best fit for me."
