Is 5-Star DT Derrick Brown Leaning Away from Georgia?

Up to this point in his recruitment, there’s been little mystery as to which school has been at the top of 5-star defensive tackle Derrick Brown's list.

That perch has been reserved for the home-state Georgia Bulldogs.

However, as he prepares to take a visit to Auburn this weekend for the Tigers’ Big Cat Weekend, the 6’4”, 305-pounder told reporters that the Bulldogs are no longer the clear-cut leaders for his services, via Keith Niebuhr of Auburn Undercover.

"I don't really have an overall favorite," Brown said Wednesday. "I just want to be able to step back and take a look at all the schools, and with having a favorite, I do not feel like I would be able to give every school a fair opportunity."

Does this news mean that Georgia should no longer be considered the overwhelming favorite to land him?

Not necessarily.

However, the fact that this news is coming out right before a trip to Auburn—which has long been considered to be No. 2 on Brown's list—is enough to cause a slight concern among the Bulldogs fanbase.

Auburn has a huge need at defensive tackle, and Brown is one of a handful of the nation’s elite prospects who is physically capable of making an impact early in his career.

He will arrive a day early to meet with Tigers head coach Gus Malzahn and his staff and to tour the facilities.

As Niebuhr notes, he will also have family, a coach and his girlfriend accompanying him on the trip. The presence of people who are close to him hints at the level of importance of the visit.

While Auburn has a shot to make a strong impression on the nation’s No. 4 overall player in the 2016 class, the Bulldogs are still major factors in the race to land the Peach State’s top prospect.

After all, he’s been a frequent visitor to the Bulldogs campus this spring and has established a strong bond with head coach Mark Richt and his staff.

“I love the atmosphere there (at Georgia),” Brown told Bleacher Report in March. “When I go there, it feels like home.”

Still, the fact that he has backed off on naming the Bulldogs as leaders means there is more work to be done. 

He’s cracked the door open enough to give others a chance to woo him. However, at this point, it would still be a major upset if he landed anywhere other than Athens when signing day rolls around.

Sanjay Kirpalani is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained firsthand and all recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.

Follow @SanjayKirpalani