5-star OT Cade Mays recaps Georgia trip, previews Ohio State

Nov 9, 2017, 10:42 AM

Woody Wommack • Rivals.com

Five-star Knoxville (Tenn.) Catholic offensive lineman Cade Mays made national headlines when he backed off his pledge to Tennessee earlier this week. The longtime Vols commit and Tennessee legacy was fresh off a visit to Georgia when he announced the news, leading to plenty of speculation about just how impactful his trip to Athens was on the timing of the announcement.

The truth is Mays had informed the Tennessee coaches of his decision last month and elected to go public with the news this week. Regardless, there's not doubting Mays enjoyed his time visiting the Dawgs.

"It was awesome," Mays told Rivals.com "They are ranked No. 1 and the atmosphere is crazy. I got to spent a lot of time with Coach Smart and Coach Pittman and I got to talk to Jamaree Salyer and Trey Hill and Justin Fields. I got to be around the players some and I built a good relationship with everyone there."

It was Mays first trip to Athens but not his first interaction with offensive line coach Sam Pittman, who made a stop by Knoxville Catholic back in the spring.

"He came to the school in my school and offered me and [my younger brother] Cooper," Mays said. "I've done my research obviously and he's arguably one of the best. He's put a lot of people in the draft, his players love him, that's what I found out about him when I was there. All his players love him. He's not just a good coach, he's a good man and he cares about his players and coaches them all up."

Mays and Salyer, a pair of elite offensive linemen who once appeared poised to be rivals in college, have now started to consider playing alongside one another in college, something Mays said has been on his mind for almost two years.

"We have known each other since the Rivals Camp in Atlanta our sophomore year and we tore it up," Mays said. "We have talked about playing together since our sophomore year, since that Rivals Camp. We were playing right next to each other and doing 2-on-2, two offensive linemen and two defensive linemen. We were picking up twists and stuff and we didn't lose a rep. So we were talking about what it would be like playing together after we grew and blossomed as players and it's something that could be really special."

Mays will next be in Athens the weekend of Dec. 15 for his final official visit, with a plan to announce a commitment the following week. So should fans read into the order of his trips?

"It's my last visit," Mays said. "It's the way my schedule broke down but I do feel like that last visit means a lot."

Meanwhile, this weekend Mays will take his first of five official visits with a trip to Columbus, Ohio to check out the Buckeyes. He said he's excited to get a closer look at one of the nation's top programs year-in and year-out.

"I've heard Columbus is a crazy atmosphere on a game day," Mays said. "So I'm excited to get up there and see what everybody has been talking about."

The Buckeyes already have two commits from the Volunteer state in four-star offensive lineman Max Wray and three-star running back Master Teague. Mays said he has a relationship with both players and is already getting to know the Buckeyes coaches as well.

"I built a good relationship with Coach Studrawa, the offensive line coach, and I've been talking to Coach Meyer," Mays said. "Coach Stud has put a bunch of people in the draft and his offensive lines are always dominant."

Going forward, Mays said is visit schedule will include officials to Clemson (Nov. 18), Tennessee (Nov. 25), Notre Dame (Dec. 8) and Georgia (Dec. 15).

"My schedule is all the way laid out," Mays said. "I don't plan on making any changes."

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5-star OT Cade Mays recaps Georgia trip, previews Ohio State

Re: 5-star OT Cade Mays recaps Georgia trip, previews Ohio State

Odd to go back to UT on the 25th...

if he chooses gawga

Re: 5-star OT Cade Mays recaps Georgia trip, previews Ohio State

Re: 5-star OT Cade Mays recaps Georgia trip, previews Ohio State

TigerBoard POTD