McLendon talks Top 5, hints of leader

One of the South’s elite linemen says he’s got a pretty good idea about the five schools he may make official visits to this season.

“My top five is pretty solid right now,” four-star Vidalia (Ga.) offensive tackle/defensive tackle Eric McLendon said. “I’m probably going to visit Georgia, Auburn, Florida, Florida State and Miami.”

A member of the Rivals100 Team, McLendon (6-6, 288, 4.9) has scholarship offers from all of the schools on his main list, as well as the likes of LSU, Tennessee, South Carolina, Arkansas, Michigan and Illinois.

“I’ve got calls from just about everybody in the country,” he said. “That’s the way it seems. I’m on the phone a lot every night. I talked to Florida State this week. That was the last one.”

Asked if a leader was developing, McLendon initially said no, but later gave some not-so-subtle hints that might indicate how he’s thinking.

“I like all five of them a lot,” he said. “There’s really no difference between them. They’re all great schools. But I kinda like Georgia the most because of three things: Number one, it’s close to home; Number two, I like the coaching staff a whole lot. They’re really cool; and number three, I already know a bunch of the players there. It kinda feels like home when I’m there.”

The only major change to his list is Florida in place of LSU. The two schools have been flip-flopped on occasion through the summer, so either one could wind up on the outside looking in before his recruitment is complete.

“I just like (Florida’s) coaches and the opportunity they’re going to have there,” he said. “That’s the main thing.”

McLendon said he hasn’t taken any visits yet this season. He intended to go see Georgia’s game at LSU, but his transportation fell through. He said there are other games he’d like to attend, most notably the Bulldogs’ matchup with Tennessee.

Through three games this season, McLendon has helped lead Vidalia to a 2-0-1 record. He’s recorded 20 tackles and one sack despite missing the second game due to an illness.

As a junior, he recorded 58 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and six sacks while also providing strong blocking on the offensive side of the line.