3-star Memphis LB Tamarion McDonald commits to Mississippi State

Having just released his Top Five schools last week, Class of 2020 Tennessee linebacker Tamarion McDonald was planning on waiting before announcing a commitment. But the more he thought about his five options, the more one school in particular, Mississippi State, stood out. After thinking about it some more and talking it over with his family, McDonald made up his mind on Saturday and called the Bulldogs coaches to let him know he was going to commit. Rivals.com caught up with McDonald to break down his decision.

"I have been thinking about it and they have everything I want. The depth chart is open and will give me a chance to come in and compete, I have a good relationship with the coaches and the overall school is just a good fit for me."

On the chance to play early: "They have some very good linebackers now and those guys are getting ready to move onto the league. I just feel like I can come in a compete for a spot to play early and that's what I want. I want to play. I just want to go somewhere and sit the bench. That's the reason we do it, to play football."

On Starkville being relatively close to home: "That was a part of it, too. My momma really liked it down there and now she will be able to come watch me play. Devon Robinson, my old high school teammate, he goes to our church and he had been talking up Mississippi State to her every time we saw him."

Fit in the defense: "They told me the would play me as a hybrid linebacker/safety. They want me blitzing and getting after the quarterback a lot but they also want me to be able to drop back and cover."

Relationship with the coaching staff: "Coach Marve has been my guy there and he really likes me as a player and thinks I will fit in well. He's a Memphis guy and he told me that he would have my back down there. We have had a good relationship for a long time and once he got to Mississippi State it just carried over and grew from there."

On waiting for teammates Bryson Eason and Martavius French to commit: "I had just been thinking about it a lot and I have been telling them, let's all go there. They weren't ready yet but I was so I just decided to go ahead and do it. They're not ready but that's fine, I know where I want to go and I'll be the first to make my decision."

On recruiting French and Eason to come with him: "I was just telling them, I'm going to be recruiting them non-stop now. That's all I'm going to be talking about is trying to get them to come down there with me."

McDonald came to a decision quickly and trusted his gut and now one of the school's top targets at the linebacker position is officially in the fold. The question is whether or not the package deal of the three Whitehaven backers comes to fruition at Mississippi State, as it almost did at Arkansas earlier in the year. McDonald has said he will continue to take visits with his teammates, but feels very good about his decision and intends to be back in Starkville for a visit soon.