Nathan

Pickering

Pickering (6'4/310), one of the SEC’s top newcomers in 2019 as he earned All-Freshman Team honors, appeared in five games this season before deciding to sit out. In those games the sophomore accounted for 16 total tackles (2.0 for loss), 2.0 sacks and one quarterback hurry. Pickering was listed as Jaden Crumedy’s backup at nose tackle on this week’s depth chart.

Pickering’s leaders in November were Alabama, FSU, Georgia, LSU and Mississippi State, and ultimately, it’s the Bulldogs he pledges to. Verbally, anyway. Pickering (6'5/277) is a high-profile commit for their 2019 class, ranking fourth among all defensive ends in the composite rankings of 247 Sports, and second among players from the state of Mississippi.

“From an ability and ceiling-for-development standpoint, Pickering brings similar physical tools,” Haubert writes of the similarities between the 6-foot-5, 277-pound baby Bulldog and Simmons. The latter has developed into one of the top defensive tackle prospect in the country since signing on with Mississippi State in 2016. Haubert notes that Pickering is “a talented, versatile defensive line prospect whose best football is very much still ahead of him.” He’s also the highest-ranked recruit in the Bulldogs’ 2019 recruiting class, sliding into the ESPN 300 at No. 62 overall.

Pickering (6'5/277) has been committed to the Bulldogs since last June, but Rivals analyst Chad Simmons passes along that the Seminary, Mississippi, native has kept in touch with LSU over the proceeding months. This coming weekend will represent the Tigers’ big shot to make the headway needed for a potential flip. LSU is far from the only program attempting to pry him loose, though, as he will be taking an official visit to Alabama the final weekend before National Signing Day. And Oregon and Ole Miss are both in play for official visits two weekends from now. Last summer, ESPN’s Craig Haubert compared Pickering to draft-bound Bulldogs DT Jeffery Simmons. Rivals currently ranks the defensive tackle as the No. 117 overall prospect in the 2019 class.

Alabama is charging hard, here. Not only will Saban be giving Pickering’s recruitment the late personal touch with his in-home visit, the 6-foot-5, 277-pound native of Seminary, Mississippi, is expected to be in Tuscaloosa for an official visit this coming weekend -- giving Alabama the last word in Pickering’s recruitment prior to next Wednesday’s National Signing Day. LSU and Ole Miss are two other programs attempting to pry him loose from his current pledge. On the 247Sports composite board, Pickering lands at No. 73 overall in the 2019 class. Outlet analyst Barton Simmons compares him to Seahawks DL Rasheem Green.

Pickering (6'5/277) tweeted out this decision on Thursday night. It’s a tough blow for Alabama, as the defensive tackle had previously been planning an official visit to Tuscaloosa for this weekend just days after Tide HC Nick Saban paid him an in-home visit. While something could always change in the interim, it looks very much at this juncture like Pickering will be signing an NLI with Mississippi State come Wednesday. The 247Sports composite board sees him in as the No. 73 overall prospect in the 2019 class.

Pickering (6'5/277) said that he does not see any other schools working their way into the mix at this point in time. He has visited all five of the above schools outside of FSU and Georgia, with plans to check out those two programs in the spring. Look for Rivals’ No. 119 overall prospect in the 2018 cycle to make his pledge some time next spring or early summer. Rivals analyst Chad Simmons is keen on Pickering’s combination of “size, athleticism, versatility and upside.”