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Pappoe has a leader and he's inching closer to a decision

Last week he was at Georgia. He snuck up to Tennessee, then traveled quietly over to Auburn this weekend. Who will Owen Pappoe visit next? When will he commit?

Those answers are still to be determined, but what he does know, is who's on top of his list.

That'd be the in-state Georgia Bulldogs.

"I have been to Georgia so many times now that it is not even about recruiting anymore when I am there," said Pappoe. "I go there to chill with the coaches, hang out with the players and just talk ball.

"Honestly, it is like I am part of the family over there. That is a big part of why Georgia is my leader. I know everyone there. Not only the coaches and the players, but all of the recruits too. I am very comfortable over there and my family likes Georgia a lot too."

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A school that is really making a push is Auburn. Pappoe has a strong bond with Georgia's inside linebackers coach Glenn Schumann, but the Rivals 100 linebacker out of Loganville (Ga.) Grayson doesn't hide his connection with Travis Williams of Auburn.

"I have the best relationship with T-Will out of all the coaches I have talked to. He is just so easy for me to talk to and we can talk about anything.

"It is a family atmosphere over there, they treat me like family and they are coming real strong right now. They tell me I play early, they make me feel at home and having T-Will on that staff has really pushed them up my list."

Auburn is right behind Georgia at this point. The Tigers were on the outside looking in, but if you remember, when he named his top three on Halloween, Auburn was talked about as the one to watch.

Tennessee is another one you have to keep an eye on. The Vols have made some changes already under new head coach Jeremy Pruitt and that has Pappoe's attention.

"The culture is definitely different at Tennessee under coach Pruitt," said Pappoe. "I really think coach Pruitt will do something big there. He is going to make things happen and you can already feel the difference there.

"I have been up there a couple of times since he was hired and it is a lot different. He is from that Nick Saban program and coach Pruitt is the right guy there."

With Pappoe, anything is possible. His list changes, his commitment timeline is adjusted from time to time, but as of now, Georgia leads Auburn and a decision is likely this spring.

Other schools are in the mix too.

"I want to decide around May as of right now, but you know, with me, it could happen tomorrow. I just want to have this behind me going into my senior year.

"I am still going to get out to LSU soon, then I am looking to take official visits to schools a little farther away. I am set to visit Texas April 27 with my teammate [Kenyatta Watson] and I am looking at Penn State, Michigan and Ohio State too.

"I have been talking to coaches from each of those programs about official visits. I just have to get the dates locked in."

For now, Pappoe looks to be at least a couple of months away from a decision and the school less than an hour from his home is in front.

"My commitment is going to happen before too much longer," said Pappoe. "Georgia is No. 1 right now. I can say that. They have been straight with me from the beginning and I love that coaching staff.

"I am looking at a lot of other schools, but right now, Georgia is on top."

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