4-Star Marlon Character Reveals Top 3: Which Team Is Most Likely to Land the DB?

Coveted defensive back Marlon Character cast some light on his recruitment process Sunday afternoon when he announced his three collegiate favorites:

The 4-star Atlanta standout holds 20 scholarship offers, but he's apparently experienced enough on the recruiting trail to whittle things down. Character, a 6'0", 170-pound rising senior at Grady High School, is rated 14th nationally among safeties in 247Sports' composite rankings.

Though there are nearly eight months remaining until national signing day, he seems content to focus on this trio of options moving forward.

"I'm pretty much set on those three," Character told Phil Kornblut of PalmettoSports.com. "There are others recruiting me like Miami, Georgia, Georgia Tech and Pitt. I'm just trying to do what's best for me as far as seeing myself on the next level after college, just trying to make the best decision for the future."

He pointed to the persistence of each coaching staff as motivation to place them atop his list of possible landing spots.

“The coaches recruiting me the hardest are from those three schools, and I have the best relationship with those coaches,” Character told Kornblut. "Mainly going to be my relationship with my position coach and can I see myself there for the next three to four years and producing and getting better as a player and a student."

Among his top choices, Ohio State is the most recent addition to an expansive scholarship list. The Buckeyes extended an offer in mid-February and have remained diligent in this pursuit since.

Ohio State assistants Kerry Coombs and Chris Ash are each instrumental here. The reigning national champions have enjoyed significant Southeast recruiting success under the direction of head coach Urban Meyer, including impressive 2014 Georgia linebacker prospect Raekwon McMillan.

The Buckeyes must secure a campus visit for Character in order to take the next step in this process. It's impressive that Ohio State made the cut here despite not having the on-campus track record with him like Georgia, who was left off the list.

We view Virginia Tech as the underdog in this group. The Hokies have made him a priority, but lack the recent on-field track record of Ohio State and South Carolina.

Head coach Frank Beamer already holds as many as four 2016 pledges who could play a role in the defensive backfield when they arrive in Blacksburg. Secondary coach Torrian Gray spearheads this effort and has made a strong impact on Character.

"(Gray) always makes me want to commit right then and there," Character told Jake Rowe of 247Sports.

Virginia Tech is another team that must be ambitious about setting up a campus trip sooner rather than later.

South Carolina seems to be the front-runner in this race. The Gamecocks hosted him in Columbia earlier this year and currently hold 83 percent of expert predictions in 247Sports' Crystal Ball. 

Neither Ohio State nor Virginia Tech has garnered a single signing day projection during this process.

South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier and co-defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward each spent extensive time with Character at points of this recruitment. The Gamecocks extended an offer last April during his sophomore year.

"What I like about South Carolina is they are unafraid to play certain freshman as long as you come in and execute," Character told Kornblut. "Coach Ward has been very excited about me coming down there and me getting on the field and playing and making an impact on the field.”

Given the program's longevity and consistency here, the Gamecocks are clearly the team to beat on the way to signing day for one of the Peach State's premier players.

Recruit ratings courtesy of 247Sports.