Image: Tampa Tribune

Well, tomorrow afternoon at 4:30 Orson Charles will effectively end the 2009 recruiting period for Georgia, Tennessee and USC. He will pull off a shirt to reveal the jersey of the team of his choice at a press conference.

Where will he go? Lately, there has been a little buzz about Tennesee being the slight favorite to gain the use of his services for the next four years.

This little bit from a Q & A with the AJC’s Michael Carvell could be viewed as supporting the rumor that he is leaning towards becoming a Vol.

Another advantage is playing in front of 108,000 people. You wave your arm and the whole stadium shakes. All of their coaching staff comes from the NFL, so they know what it takes to get to that next level. You can tell their coaches have a passion for the game. They expect the best, and they want to win. The other teams want to do that, too. But I feel like something is different about Tennessee. They have a chip on their shoulder, which is good.

“…I feel like something is different about Tennessee”.

That is your lean right there. Will it be enough to tip it for the Vols? Who knows. Remember, Greg Reid went to bed ‘Bama but woke up FSU. I really have no doubt that at the time of that comment Tennessee was the team that may have led by a whisker. After all, Tony Dungy assured him they all were great programs with bright futures all that’s left to distinguish the three is his instinct. “Something different” is Mr. Charles’s instinct pointing him toward Knoxville.

If he does choose UT, it would have to be considered an “upset” if such a characterization exists in recruiting. Georgia has been considered the odds on favorite since he dropped Florida a few weeks ago. Even though Tennessee may have an edge Mr. Charles still has great things to say about the Dawgs.

My [former teammate at Plant High], Aaron Murray, is there. I feel very comfortable with the coaches. They’ve been recruiting me the longest, one full year. I like how they attack at practice. They get after it. Every time Aaron and I went to watch practices last year, they’d always have at least one fight. That’s not hatred; that’s tough love which builds character. Another thing, I went to [UGA's summer] camp and got after it with [tight ends coach John Lilly]. We chest-bumped and everything. He gets really excited about coaching players, and I like that.”

The most important factor may be the first part of his answer. Some believed the Murray factor has been overplayed but what Georgia has going for it is their stability, and Murray being such a known quantity (who is going to throw passes to him at UT?) adds to that tremendously.

He expands on the Murray factor.

It makes a difference. Like with every wide receiver or tight end, you would like to know what type of quarterback you have. I know what Aaron can do. We’re good friends. He really loves Georgia. He would like it for me to play at Georgia with him. But he wants me to pick the school that best fits me. I told Aaron if it’s Georgia, then let’s go ahead and win the national championship. If it’s not Georgia, then we’ll still be good friends down the road.”

I like the way all that sounds. Hopefully, the factors in favor of Georgia will prove insurmountable when 4:30 p.m. Friday rolls around.