Warrior details final month

SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- If there is one recruit that Tennessee fans have been most captivated with during the 2016 recruiting cycle it would likely be Georgia safety Nigel Warrior.

The Peachtree Ridge High School defensive back and son of former Vol Dale Carter has been a top target for the Tennessee coaching staff for just as long.

With just a month until signing day, Tennessee remains battling other top programs for Warrior.

Tennessee along with Alabama and LSU will receive official visits in January and Ohio State received an official visit in December.

But, with coaching movement still happening around the country Warrior said he’s waiting to see what staffs look like after the dead period because he’s looking for stability.

“I’m just waiting on all the coaches to settle down and see what coaches are going to be at a school for more than two years,” Warrior said. “I want to be with a coach that’s going to be there for three or four years so I can have a good relationship with him and not one that will leave where I will have to get to know another coach. So, that’s what I’m doing.”

With Kirby Smart moving from Alabama defensive coordinator to Georgia head coach and Jeremy Pruitt moving from Georgia to Alabama and LSU having to find a new defensive coordinator and hiring Dave Aranda, the recent coaching movements have caused him to slow down his evaluating process.

“It has (affected his recruitment). Everybody is getting thrown around to different places. I don’t want that to happen to me when I go to college,” Warrior said. “I wish I had another year so I could see if someone was going to stay for more than three years.”

One possible destination that has seen stability on the defensive side of the ball over the past few seasons is Tennessee and that is attractive to Warrior.

“It helps a lot because they are stable,” Warrior explained. “I don’t think anybody is leaving right now. Everybody has a great connection. There are no ups and downs at Tennessee so that helps.”

Tennessee’s staff has known Warrior for several years now and the 5-foot-11, 190-pound safety said they’ve invested in him as a person as much as a football player.

“They just check on me and it’s not just about football and I love that,” Warrior said. “It’s not just about football and you can ask questions about what life is like outside of football. That’s something good. They always check up on me. That’s something good.”

The Vols also recently landed Warrior’s high school teammate Baylen Buchanan and while Warrior was shocked by the quick commitment after Tennessee recently offered, Buchanan told him it was the right place for him.

“We talked about it for a little bit. He just said it was a better place. He said he felt really good committing to Tennessee,” Warrior said. “It was really shocking to me because he was committed to Louisville.”

Warrior will visit LSU on Jan. 15, then will see Alabama the weekend of Jan. 22. For the Tigers, Warrior says they are in contention because of the defensive back pedigree.

“It’s hype and I love hype places,” Warrior said. “LSU is just a nice place and nice environment. It’s ‘DBU’ as they say.”

As for the Crimson Tide, who most see as a frontrunner along with Tennessee, Warrior likes their winning ways.

“They're an awesome team and they win a lot,” Warrior said. “I have great communication with coach Saban and he’s a real nice dude. There’s just something about Alabama – I guess it’s just the winning part. That’s what stick out, but it’s not just about the winning.”

Warrior was impressed with Tennessee’s finish to the season as the Vols won six straight and finished the season with a demolishing of 10-win Northwestern.

“It looks like they are heading in the right direction. I think they can make it far and they are heading in the right direction and can win,” Warrior said.

As he makes his way through his final official visits over the next four weeks Warrior said he has several things on a check list.

“Going to a great environment and not just about football,” Warrior said. “I’m really just worried about what school I go to and what college I like to.

“And then, a school my mom can come watch each game. I want that.

“Then, just having a great relationship with the coaches.”