Elite Young DB Jaheim Singletary: 'Big Decision Coming Soon'
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Nearly 20 college football programs have already seen enough of class of 2022 defensive back prospect Jaheim Singletary to extend him a scholarship offer. More are almost certainly on the way this spring as programs hit the recruiting trail.
Around that time, though, the 6-foot-2, 185-pound prospect could be close to coming off of the board.
"Towards the end of the spring," he told SI All-American of his timeline. "I need to see what school's at home, which school my mother will feel comfortable with.
"Big decision coming soon."
Among the early offers to the Jacksonville (Fla.) Robert E. Lee standout's name are Florida, Georgia, Auburn, Tennessee, Oregon, Florida State, Miami, Michigan and many more.
To this point, though, the SEC programs are where the conversation around his future begins.
"I just like the way they play ball," he said. "I think the SEC has the most competition and I love competition."
It starts with the program he grew up following the most, the in-state Florida Gators.
"They have kept in touch as much as they can, they say I'm a great kid and fit," Singletary said. "The Gators are the leader. The love they show, not just the coaches, but the fan base...it's just love.
"I always watch Florida but when I solidified that I was going to play DB, I saw something in watching Florida's secondary. I would go down there and see something I wouldn't seen anywhere else. They gave me that first feeling of greatness."
Don't count out some of the other top schools in the SEC East.
"Georgia is great," he said. "It's hard work, I've watched them practice and everything. The coaches are going to stay on top of you. I'm not gonna lie, I even got cussed out by Kirby Smart. It was at camp. I like that. He was just telling me to drive, like really want it, to never give up.
"It's a different work ethic. I've never worked that hard. It was fast tempo, everything was quick and on point. It was real work.They're definitely going to be in it for me."
Another program led by a former Alabama assistant coach is higher on the list than many would suspect.
"Tennessee," Singleatry said. "Coach (Derrick) Ansley, I like him a lot and he stays in touch with me. That's real love. I went down there and he showed me a lot about life, not just football."
Having been to each of the SEC trio's campuses already, return trips are likely for Singletary this spring. The only visit with a date already in mind, though, is to a program that can thrust its way into the conversation should it extend an offer to the cornerback.
"Alabama is coming up," he said. "February 6, I think. I was there for the LSU game but they haven't offered me.
"I'll be back at Georgia in a couple of weeks and I'll see Georgia Tech, too."
Programs in contact without having offered also include national champion LSU, Clemson and USC. Singletary says either of those tenders would factor into a final decision.
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