Eddie Goldman: The Best Sales Pitch from Each of His Four Finalists

With national signing day just days away, all of the nation's top prospects are doing their last bit of homework before they make their final decision. This includes wrapping up those official visits, talking to coaches one last time and getting opinions from family and friends to try to figure out where they'd like to play their college football.

One of the top prospects that will likely make his decision rather quickly is defensive tackle Eddie Goldman. He's considering schools like Auburn and Miami, but the schools that appear to be the front-runners are Alabama and Florida State. He will make his decision on the morning of national signing day and will instantly bless a defensive line with a great pass-rusher and run-stopper.

Let's see what the best sales pitch could be for all four programs he's considering.

Florida State

Florida State was the first school Goldman visited back in September, and it's a program he really enjoyed. The best reason to join Florida State is he'd have a chance to see quality playing time right away and would be a part of a great defensive line. This is a team that led the ACC with 41 sacks last year with 41 and that was tied for sixth best in the country.

Add Goldman to this defense, along with defensive end Mario Edwards, and you have a defense that will be absolutely scary for the next few years.

This is also a program that appears to be just a couple of pieces away from rising back to the top of the college football world. It would feel a lot better to be part of bringing a program back than to be just another player on a team that's already there.

Alabama

You see that crystal ball next to head coach Nick Saban? That's what you could be playing for if you join the Crimson Tide family.

Joining Alabama will likely give Goldman the best opportunity to win a BCS national championship right away. He'd also get to play around extremely talented players and wouldn't have to become the leader of the team right away. Goldman would also be playing in the toughest conference in college football, which would just raise his NFL draft stock more than the ACC would.

Something that Goldman enjoyed during his visit to Alabama was the crowd. Did I forget to mention that Bryant-Denny Stadium holds over 100,000 people? Yes, that's more than any of the other stadiums you're considering playing in.

Alabama produces tons of NFL talent and wins tons of games—do I really need to say more?

Miami

Much like Florida State, Miami appears to be just a few steps away from competing for BCS bowls. And this is still "the U"—every top college football player in the country has thought about playing for this university at one point or another. 

With the Hurricanes, he'd have the opportunity to start right away with so many key defensive players leaving. He'd be in sunny South Florida, where the weather is never bad and the women are absolutely gorgeous. Also, while playing in an NFL stadium may not exactly provide the traditional college football atmosphere, it does allow for a huge crowd and thousands of passionate Hurricane fans.

Miami may no longer be in its glory days, but this is a program that always has talent and should be on top in a year or two. Adding Goldman could help this team speed that process up.

Auburn

Auburn may not have the same team they had in 2010, but they are extremely talented to possibly get back to where they were. They are also very young and have a talented recruiting class coming in. There is no question that this team will be competing in SEC championships in no time.

Remember Nick Fairley? Yes, the guy who finished the 2010 season with 11.5 sacks, 56 tackles and a interception? The same guy who was a first-round pick in the 2011 NFL draft and will become a quality player for the Detroit Lions? You could have that same role and rack up those impressive statistics as well and then eventually get drafted high in the NFL.

Playing for a defensive-minded coach like Gene Chizik will only benefit you in the long run and help you grow as a defensive tackle. Playing in the SEC doesn't hurt either, and you'll get to play against the top competition in the country.

Randy Chambers is a B/R Featured Columnist that covers college football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail]