Character has new leader with key USC visit coming up

USC, Auburn and Virginia Tech had been locked in a three way tie for defensive back Marlon Character of Atlanta until Wednesday. That's when Character visited Auburn and left there with the Tigers as his No. 1 team, for now.

"What stood out about them was the whole facility, the campus and the dorms and the things I never got a chance to see, and talking to the coaches a little bit more and them showing their interest in me and how bad they really wanted me," Character said. "That really stood out to me."

USC will get its chance to change Character's thinking on Friday. He plans to attend the pool party and he wants to get his first in depth look at the campus and the program.

"I still have them high on the radar," he said. "It will probably be a big chance between South Carolina and Auburn that my decision will be made pretty soon. I just talked to Coach Spurrier today (Wednesday). I guess they heard about my visit to Auburn. They just reached out to me to make sure I'm coming down there. I'm still going to make that visit down there."

Character said he plans to make his decision "pretty soon after" his visit to USC. "I want to get a chance to talk to some of the coaches I haven't gotten a chance to talk to. I want to see the dorms where I will be staying and some of the academic facilities and where my classes will be."

Character adds that Auburn's lead over the Gamecocks is not so big that things could change for him overnight in Columbia.

"South Carolina could change it or it could make them stay where they are, it all depends on this visit to South Carolina because I've been there on campus and shown around and find out information about the school. I've just been to a game."

Character said he probably would not make any more visits after the one to USC and is basically down to the Gamecocks and Tigers. He has not decided if he will stay over for Saturday's camp.