The first domino has fallen on the cornerback board with Warren Burrell's commitment to Tennessee. The Atlanta native chose Tennessee over Florida and North Carolina State on Friday in a move that gives Jeremy Pruitt and company their first cornerback for 2019.

"They expressed to me many times that I'm their top guy on the board," Burrell said. "I felt like I was important to them with coach (Jeremy) Pruitt being a DB guy and coach (Terry) Fair and that I was their top guy. I think I look good in orange. I put that jersey on when I was on my official and I liked it."

Burrell wrestled with the decision over the last month after taking trips to Knoxville, Gainesville and Raleigh. He liked what each school had to offer and while they each offered many positive things, he felt like the pros on Rocky Top outweighed everything else.

"All of my finalists offered early playing time," Burrell said. "If I have that opportunity, I'm going to take it and that was attractive for Tennessee. I just had to find the right school for me and I was thankful to have plenty of good choices."

Burrell was very meticulous and methodical with his recruitment. He relied heavily on his relationships and maybe the strongest bond he created was with Tennessee defensive backs coach Terry Fair. The former Vol, who played over half a decade in the NFL is in his first season back at his alma mater. Burrell just jived with Fair as the two talk daily about the vision of Burrell making plays in orange.

"A lot of times, people will tell you not to pick a school because of the coaches because they switch around a lot," Burrell said. "He plays a big part in why I picked Tennessee. He's the one that recruited me throughout the whole process. Both he and coach Pruitt. With coach Fair, he's been through it, and experience what I want to experience. He already did what I want to do with is go to the NFL and pursue a career there."

At 6-foot and 190 pounds, Burrell has long arms and shows an ability to make the tough plays look easy. Pruitt has coached many great defensive backs and made sure Burrell understood that he can be the next in a long line of successful defensive playmakers under the championship savvy coach.

"Coach Pruitt has told me that he likes my length and my speed," Burrell said. "He likes how I get up and go for the ball. He wants a lot of ball hawks. He wants players that make plays on the ball and I believe that I bring that."

Rivals.com ranks Burrell as a 4-star defensive back in the class of 2019.