The next step for Mattes

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - R.J. Mattes has taken three official visits and has a pair left on the docket, both to the Palmetto State.

How does the top offensive lineman in the state of North Carolina's leader board currently look?

"All five are all even. I'm not going to let the schools I've already visited making a difference over the ones I've already taken," Mattes told Rivals.com following the morning session of the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas workout. "I'm not going to say just because I'm coming off a visit they are my favorite because it would be a knee-jerk reaction."

How did his numerous in-home visits over the past two weeks go and

"So far only Virginia and Clemson have come by to sit down in the house," the No. 8 prospect in the state of North Carolina stated. "Every day there's been somebody by the school – South Carolina, Virginia, North Carolina, Clemson and NC State always come by. I've got visits planned for January for the head coaches to come by my house and stop in by my family and visit with them."

What are the 6-foot-7, 285-pound four star left tackle's thoughts on each of his final finalists?

UNC – "That official visit was amazing. (Offensive line) coach (Sam) Pittman is a great guy to be around and a good coach, too. Come in red-shirt and then challenge for playing time. Then my red-shirt freshman year help make a brand new program a power."

South Carolina – "They call me every day. Coach Spurrier called me on the way down here to the Shrine Bowl. I'm excited about my official there."

NC State – "I just love my host – JR Sweezy is a great guy when I went up there on my official visit. I just felt like one of the guys when I went up there. I just got to hang out with all of them and had a great time on my visit. Tom O'Brien is a good coach and a great guy to be around."

Virginia – "Their o-line and had some drinks with my dad, some cokes you know. He was just talking about me being a legacy at Virginia. I could get early playing time if I compete hard especially with Eugene Monroe graduating not this year but next year. They want me as their left tackle of the future so that's a great message. It would be awesome for my dad to go back up there (if I went there). When we went up there he showed me he's on the all-time sack list and bragging about making the All-ACC team and showing me pictures of him in the Peach Bowl. It would be great for him to go back up there and see all of his old teammates."

Clemson – "Coach Scott came by and talk with us for about an hour and a half. He talked about being the left tackle of the future there. They've been recruiting a year and a half now. They've been on board for a while now and have always impressing me a lot. I love (tight ends) coach (Billy) Napier and coach Scott. They have some tremendous coaching and they just want me to be part of the Clemson family. I had that one unofficial where I stayed overnight. We didn't go out or anything and just stayed in chilled but I'm looking forward to my official visit on January 11 and hopefully it will be a good time."

Mattes is regarded as the nation's no. 33 offensive tackle by Rivals.com.