Top Recruit James Wilder Jr. Will Commit To Georgia, According To Source

In a surprising turn of events sources indicate that James Wilder Jr. has opted for to commit to Georgia over Florida and FSU. 

Brent McMurphy of AOL Fanhouse first reported the news on Tuesday, though Wilder will wait until Wednesday at 5 p.m. to make his official announcement.

The commitment announcement will be held in Tampa at the Plant High auditorium. 

Wilder is the No. 1 prospect in the country on MaxPreps, the No. 3 prospect on Rivals and the No. 7 prospect on Scout. He's projected as a 5-star talent on both ends of the field and has thrived as a running back and linebacker in high school. 

Most scouts projected Wilder as an outside linebacker or defensive end based on his ability to get to the quarterback and excellent instincts chasing down ball-carriers, but Wilder had different plans. 

The 6'3" and 215 pound prospect insisted that he wanted to play running back in college and once schools figured out that he demands were legitimate, they changed their tune about where they'd allow Wilder to play. 

Florida was the first school that said they try Wilder out at fullback and was even believed to be willing to re-tailor the offense to fit his skill-set. 

Wilder narrowed his choices down to Florida, Georgia and FSU after considering his options and deciding that his best chances to pursue his offensive game were at one of these three schools. 

“I am now researching a lot of schools to see which ones have used big backs to carry the ball for them in the past and things like that," he said. "I want to play in an offense that a big back like me fits into the best."

But Wilder knows how this game works—he's seen other players go through it and won't just eat up everything schools are throwing his way. That's why honesty will play such a huge role in this process, and why a promise to play running back must be sincere.

“I know some coaches are probably telling me what they think I want to hear so I am looking hard to find what coaches are being totally honest with me," said Wilder. "I want to trust the coaching staff that I play for and trusting the coaches is actually the biggest part of my decision...so if I don’t trust the coaching staff, then I am definitely not choosing that school.”

If sources are correct, it appears Wilder feels like Georgia, and not Florida or FSU is the school he's looking for. 

We'll keep you up to date with any further developments up until Wilder's official commitment at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Check back for a full feature on his commitment then.