R250 DB Nicholson ready to decide

Rivals250 defensive back Montae Nicholson, the top rated player in Pennsylvania, is set to announce his commitment on Thursday. The Monroeville (Pa.) Gateway star's official top five is Michigan State, Florida State, Oregon, Pittsburgh and Virginia Tech.

"I don't have an order right now," said the 6-foot-2, 202-pound Nicholson. "I'm about 65 or 70 percent sure which school I'll pick."

Each school seems to have a very good shot at landing Nicholson's commitment.

Florida State - "The academics program and the players," he said. "They seem really happy and it's not only because they are number one. The academics in the engineering program seem very strong. They are telling me I could come in and play. They aren't telling I could come in and start but I would get some playing time in the nickel or dime packages. Coach Fisher's job situation won't have an effect on my decision."

Michigan State - "I think it was the atmosphere up there," Nicholson said. "It was really nice and I enjoyed myself. They are telling me I could play on both sides of the ball. It's play on defense first then we'll see about the offense. The players up there seem very happy about how things are going. It wasn't coach Narduzzi and the entire staff that I liked so him leaving wouldn't change my decision."

Oregon - "Things are great with Oregon," he said. "They were my last in-home on Thursday. They're saying I could fill Josh Huff's spot. Some colleges separate the underclassmen and the lower classmen and it wasn't like that at all out there."

Pittsburgh - "The relationship with the staff is outstanding," said Nicholson. "I talk to them all the time. I'm not worried about what other people have said about the coaching staff. I hear it but I want to see it for myself. I'm close with Tyler Boyd, Jaymar Parrish, James Connor and a lot of other player but those are the main three. They came of an in-home visit on Monday of last week."

Virginia Tech - "They were here last Thursday for an in-home visit also," he said. "They were telling me that I could come down there and start at nickel right away. The team is really close. When I was hanging out with my host there were a lot of people hanging out in two dorms. The atmosphere is very strong down there."

Nicholson took his official visit to Florida State on October 5, Michigan State on September 7, Oregon on October 25, Pittsburgh on September 27 and Virginia Tech on November 15.

Nicholson does not plan on taking any other visits after he commits at two o'clock at his high school.