4-Star CB John Broussard Breaks Down His All-SEC Top 3

And then there were three.

Phenix City, Alabama, cornerback John Broussard, the nation's No. 7 cornerback and the No. 4 player in Alabama, per 247Sports, announced Tuesday evening that he has narrowed his choices to Mississippi State, LSU and Auburn. The 4-star standout has 16 reported offers, seven of which represent the SEC.

Broussard said he will give his verbal commitment on May 7. He will be an SEC cornerback, but will he choose the in-state school closest to his immediate family, the out-of-state school that's close to additional family members or the school that's arguably recruited him the strongest?

Broussard, a 6'0", 164-pound cornerback, has his options, and he's excited about the position he's in. To him, it's a win-win-win.

"They all have success within their programs," Broussard said. "I have good relationships with the coaches, and they all excel at my position."

With three solid choices, Broussard is looking forward to learning from one of three outstanding secondary coaches. All three coaches—Mississippi State's Deshea Townsend, LSU's Corey Raymond and Auburn's Travaris Robinson—have spent time in the NFL.

LSU always has been a team to watch. Broussard has family in Lafayette, Louisiana, which is less than an hour away from Baton Rouge. He reportedly last made an unofficial visit to LSU in January, but he said he is still on schedule to visit the campus this weekend.

"I get lots of love when I go there," Broussard said. "They're DBU, and it's just like home."

Per Broussard's 247Sports Crystal Ball, Auburn is considered a heavy favorite in the race. The campus is a little more than a half hour from where he lives, and he's made multiple visits since the start of the new year.

Broussard said Auburn's level of hospitality is similar to LSU's, and he also is a fan of the defensive coaches. Broussard added that the campus environment makes Auburn feel like a place he can call home.

"I love the atmosphere. It's a winning program," he said. "It's like a big family there."

Of the three schools, Mississippi State is the wild card. The Bulldogs have made Broussard a high priority on their big board, and he is a fan of the coaching staff there. He really likes the fact that Townsend, a longtime member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, won two Super Bowls.

"They've been on me for a while," Broussard said of Mississippi State. "It was like I was already committed when I went down there. To have a coach that has played at the highest level is a plus."

All three schools are solid fits for Broussard, a cornerback who plays larger than his frame and uses his length well in coverage. He's a defender with good makeup speed and someone who uses his instincts well when on an island.

The determining factors for choosing a winner? Broussard said there are three things he's focusing on.

"Wherever I feel home at the most and the quickest I could get on the field," he said. "And, of course, education."

Broussard, who wants to major in business management, also said he's looking for the best fit in reference to the combination of athletics, academics and alumni relations after college. May 7 will be a big day for the school he feels is the most qualified.

Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles