By Kevin Price
SouthernPigskin.com

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Regarded by several recruiting services as the No. 1 tight end prospect in the nation, Rome chose Georgia over Alabama.

Jay Rome has decided to become a Georgia Bulldog.

The Valdosta (Ga.) High standout made a verbal commitment to Georgia head coach Mark Richt and the Georgia program Thursday afternoon in a taped segment for the 5:30 p.m. “Recruiting Insider” show which aired on ESPNU.

“To all the Georgia Bulldog fans, I know you have been heckling me on Facebook and every chance you get, and I am just giving you what you want,” said Rome during an interview on the show. “Jay Rome is going to Georgia.”

Regarded by several recruiting services as the No. 1 tight end prospect in the nation, Rome chose Georgia over Alabama.

He took his official visit to the Crimson Tide last weekend. His official trip to Georgia took place in November.

“Alabama is a great school and Coach (Nick) Saban has built a good program, but I think I am gonna stay in state and go to Georgia,” Rome said as he made his announcement.

Meantime, Malcolm Mitchell, a close friend and high school teammate of Rome, is scheduled to make his verbal commitment at 7 p.m. today at a Valdosta restaurant. He also is set to decide between Georgia and Alabama.

Mitchell, considered the No. 45 overall prospect by ESPN, is being projected as a cornerback or wide receiver.

You can check this website shortly after the 7 o’clock hour to see where Mitchell elects to go. He declined an offer to join Rome at a Tallahassee, Fla., television station to tape his announcement for the nationally-televised show. His announcement is expected to be made on a local radio station.

Rome’s commitment is a breath of fresh air for a beleaguered Georgia program and its head coach which has come under intense scrutiny since finishing a disappointing 6-7 season that included a shocking loss to Central Florida in the Dec. 31 Liberty Bowl.

Rome, a five-star rated prospect who is considered the No. 3 player in Georgia by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the No. 18 overall prospect the country by ESPN, is optimistic about the future of the Georgia program under Richt.

“Mark Richt is a great coach, and I don’t think he is going anywhere anytime soon,” Rome said. “If we get a couple more guys we have everything we need and we will start winning football games.”

When asked to make his sales pitch on the Bulldogs to other highly-regarded recruits and Georgia products Isaiah Crowell, a running back from Carver-Columbus, and Ray Drew, a defensive end from Thomas County Central, Rome said the following:

“Isaiah and Ray, come be a Dog. We can have a dream team and we are gonna do it. Come be a Dog, baby.”

Crowell, who also has supposedly narrowed his choices to the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide, has said he would wait until signing day to make a commitment. Drew, who is considering Georgia and Miami among others, may announce his choice before the end of the month. Crowell will visit Athens this weekend while Drew will be at Clemson.

As for Rome, he said he likes the prospects for Georgia’s offense in the future with rising sophomore Aaron Murray pulling the trigger as the quarterback.

“I feel like Georgia’s offense is great,” he said. “If we add a few more big-time players, and they already have some big-time players there, Georgia has no place to go but up. And, that’s where we’re going.”

Rome is the son of former Clemson great Stan Rome. He said his father offered advice but never pressured him to attend a certain school, not even Clemson, during the recruiting process.

“He told me to go where I would be happiest,” Rome said.

Verbal commitments are non-binding, of course. College prospects will make their official commitments on National Signing Day on Feb. 2 when they sign their letter of intents to the colleges of their choice.