Darnell Jefferies In Search of the 'Family Feel'
THE LATEST: Darnell Jefferies has added scholarship offers from Louisville and West Virginia this week. The 6-foot-4, 275 pound defensive lineman of Covington (Ga.) Newton now sits at nine offers.
He is set to visit Alabama this weekend and the Crimson Tide is one school Jefferies feels could offer him soon. Two others are Clemson and Penn State.
He has only visited a couple of schools the first two months of the new year and both are programs are in his home state.
Each impressed him when they had him on campus.
"When I went down to Georgia Tech, I really liked their academic support," said Jefferies. "They have great tutors that help the players there one-on-one at any time, they are always there for support and that is important to me.
"I also like Georgia Tech because it is close to home and I think I would have a chance to play early there.
"My only other visit was to Georgia and when I was over there, the coaching staff really stood out to me.
"I have known coach [Kirby] Smart since he was at Alabama and we have a good relationship. I also like the academic center and new facilities there."
He had a favorite growing up, but now as a top 2018 recruit in the Peach State, he is wide open.
IN HIS OWN WORDS: "Georgia was my favorite school when I was a kid, but now, I just want to wait, see what is out there and enjoy the recruiting process," said Jefferies.
"Nobody leads for me yet. I am just focused on school and keeping my head on straight with all the offers coming in. I don't think I will be committing until sometime in 2018. It could be on signing day."
RIVALS REACTION: Jefferies has interest in many different schools but he admitted he was blown away when Georgia offered him. The Bulldogs could be viewed as the team to beat if there is one, but Jefferies plans to take a lot of visits, see what schools offer him this spring and really take it all in. Keep an eye on the Yellow Jackets too. They signed Jaquan Henderson in 2017, a former teammate of Jefferies'. The junior is a versatile defensive lineman who may be best at the five-technique, but could also do well at the three-technique inside, so schools could recruit him differently depending on how they see him in their system. He is athletic with good length and power. When it comes time for him to make a decision, he wants a chance to see the field early, and he said most importantly, he wants a family feel on campus. Clemson and Georgia Tech are the schools currently showing the most interest he said.