4-star CB Chuck McDonald announces top four schools

Alabama, Georgia, Oregon and USC remain in contention for four-star cornerback Chuck McDonald. The soon-to-be senior at Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei has around 30 offers, but after taking numerous visits and building relationships with different coaching staffs, McDonald is planning to commit to the Crimson Tide, Bulldogs, Ducks or Trojans before his senior season.

“These four schools showed me I am a top priority and made me feel like they really want me,” McDonald told On3. “I hear from the coaches at these schools a lot, they have built relationships with me and that was important to me.

“Now, when I go on official visits to each school, that will be my decision-maker. I know I like all four schools a lot, the coaches like me and now I just need to take these final visits, then make my decision.”

McDonald will take his official visit to Alabama on May 31. Georgia will host the No. 86 prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking on June 7. He will stay on the west coast to visit Oregon on June 14, the close out his official visit schedule with a trip down the road to USC on June 21.

USC has had him on campus over 10 times. He visited USC, Oregon and Georgia this year. McDonald has not tripped to Alabama since Kalen DeBoer took over. These final visits will be key in his decision.

“The plan is to take the four official visits, talk it out with my parents, then make my decision,” McDonald added. “The official visits will carry a lot of weight in my decision. All four schools are close together on my list, so these last visit will be a big factor for me.

“I know the schools want me, so now I want to see how I feel in the culture and learn more about the development when it comes to me as a player. My longterm goal is to play in the NFL, so player development will be key for me.”

Alabama, Georgia, Oregon and USC all are high on McDonald’s list

Alabama: “I didn’t know what to think when the coaching staff changed, but they have done a great job. I was really high on Alabama before the coaching change, but after they visited me about a week or so ago, that made a big impact on me. Coach Maurice Linguist and Coach Kane Wommack sat down with me, had a meeting with me and I really liked what they had to say. I have Abduall Sanders committed, Zabien Brown just signed there and Domani Jackson is from Mater Dei too, so I know a lot of people there and I need to get on campus and see how I feel around the new coaches.”

Georgia: “I liked everything about the visit I took to Georgia this spring. Coach Donte Williams and T-Rob (Travaris Robinson) are great coaches who know how to develop defensive backs. I feel Georgia’s coaches know how to utilize my talents and develop me. Georgia is a great program and it is the place to be if your goal is to get developed and make it to the league.”

Oregon: “I took my first visit to Oregon this spring and I had a great time. I didn’t know what to expect up there, but everything went well. Coach Tosh Lupoi, Coach Chris Hampton and Coach Dan Lanning all met with me and talked about my versatility and how they like me as a player. They like how I fit into their defensive scheme and they have done a great job making me feel like a priority.”

USC: “I have visited USC a lot, and I have been there twice since the new defensive coaches have come in. I like Coach D’Anton Lynn and Coach Doug Belk a lot. Their defense is going to be really improved and what they have done with the defensive staff has really caught my attention. With USC, I like the coaches, how it is close to home and the direction of the program under Coach Lincoln Riley.”