Alabama was last to offer. Before that was Michigan. Boston College and Cincinnati threw their name in the hat that same week. You get the picture.

Kalen Deloach is one of the hottest 2019 prospects in the state of Georgia and he is closing in on 20 offers.

The 6-foot-1 205 pound linebacker out of Savannah (Ga.) Islands had 168 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, 17 sacks, nine forced fumbles and two interceptions his junior season. Those numbers will draw a prospect a lot of attention.

As Signing Day (February 7) progressed, Nick Saban and Larry Fedora called to check on Deloach. Ohio State called as well. The attention Deloach is receiving is not what he expected at this point in the recruiting process.

"Going into Christmas break, I had two or three offers, so it has been pretty crazy the last few weeks," said Deloach. "Most of my offers came in during January and I did not expect it to happen this fast.

"In January, it seemed like every day I was picking up a new offers. Coaches from different schools were stopping by to talk to my coach about me, to check on me and things like that, so it feels great to see my hard work is paying off. I really did not expect this."

Deloach has talked to a lot of coaches and he is hearing how they like his speed, how he can play sideline to sideline and how he plays a physical brand of football.

Ohio State has talked to him about that and the Buckeyes will have the talented linebacker up for a visit February 16. Not only will he get to spend time with the coaches, but he will see family too. Deloach has a strong connection at Ohio State.

"My sister (Taylor Deloach) runs track at Ohio State, so I have been up there before. I have been to one game and I like the atmosphere they play in. It is loud in the Horseshoe, the fans always show up and I like that.

"I have been talking to coach [Alex] Grinch a lot the last few weeks and he is the coach who offered me. He and the football staff did not even know my sister went there until I told them, so that was funny. I want to get up there, check them out more and just spend time with coach Grinch and the coaching staff."

Will Muschamp and South Carolina had Deloach on campus last month. He has visited Columbia a handful of times now, so he has a good feel for it is like there.

Deloach is starting to get comfortable with the Gamecocks.

"I have been there for some games and I was just at their last Junior Day and I like it there. Their fans are crazy, the atmosphere is loud and I like it on game-day. I talk to coach Coleman Hutzler, the linebackers coach and we have a good relationship. I have been up there as much as I have anywhere and I like it."

It is very early in the process for Deloach and he did not have a childhood favorite, but South Carolina and their in-state rival, Clemson have done enough to become early favorites for the Peach State playmaker.

The relationship he has with the South Carolina coaches combined with the way they compare him to Skai Moore has put them in a good spot.

It is similar with Clemson, a school he visited in the middle of January.

"My relationship with the Clemson coaches is great too," said Deloach. "I am talking to coach [Todd] Bates and coach [Brent] Venables almost every day, so I like them a lot. They have talked to me about what I could do in their defense, how they would use me and I like the atmosphere up there.

"I have been there for a Junior Day and a game and I feel comfortable there."

Deloach had a top two, and Clemson and South Carolina are still high on his list, but that was before he visited Auburn the weekend before Signing Day.

Those Tigers made a move.

"Auburn made their way up there with Clemson and South Carolina," said Deloach. "I spent time with coach [Kevin] Steele and coach T-Will (Travis Williams) and they told me how I would fit into their defense as a MONEY linebacker.

"I got to see the way the players live, what they are provided with, how they don't have to walk far to class and the facilities. Those things stood out to me on the visit."

It is obvious that visits are important and there are more visits on the way. We mentioned the one to Ohio State on February 16. Deloach will then visit Michigan the next day and Alabama a week later on February 24.

It seems like the recruiting process has gone from 0-60 over night for Deloach, but he is taking it all in stride and he is going to go at his own pace. The offers are coming fast and furious, but he sees the big picture and he knows his decision is still way down the road.

"I am not really thinking about committing or anything yet. This has been like a blur the last month or so. I have not had a lot of time to see a lot of schools and to build relationships yet.

"I am probably going to take my official visits during the season, then commit sometime after that. I am not in a rush."