Elite 4-star LB Tavion Wallace breaks down top contenders

There’s no shortage of schools chasing after a commitment from Jesup (Ga.) Wayne County four-star linebacker Tavion Wallace.

The 6-foot-1, 197-pounder is one of the top defensive prospects in the 2025 cycle. The younger brother of former Kentucky standout LB Trevin Wallace is courting many of the top programs in the nation as he works through his recruitment.

Florida State is trending for the No. 25 overall prospect in the On300, according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM). A host of SEC programs are also in the mix for his pledge, however. Auburn, Florida, Georgia and more have also made their fair share of impressions.

Earlier this week, Wallace sat down with On3’s Phillip Dukes to break down the top contenders in his recruitment on ‘The Five Star Flex.’ Ultimately, finding a home away from home will be a major factor in the linebacker’s final decision.

“Somewhere that feels like home, my mom and my dad — they don’t have to worry about me 24-7,” Wallace said. “I just want them to feel safe wherever I go. I want to feel safe wherever I go, feel like home, feel like family everywhere around me.”

Wallace discusses teams at the top

Auburn: “Really when I first started talking to the coaching staff, it’s just been the same since I started talking to them. I went back in July, it just felt good and well-rounded, I just like everything about it. If I went there, it’d be because of the coaching staff and how it feels like home and feels like family connections from the first time I talked to them and since the last time I talked to them.”

Georgia: “It’s crazy, because growing up I didn’t like Georgia at all, but ever since I started talking to Coach (Kirby) Smart and the whole coaching staff, it’s just been real talking to them, especially Coach (Glenn) Schumann, me and him can talk about anything — life, what i’m doing, it’s just been like a brother relationship with him.”

Florida: “Growing up, that’s been my team. It’s just been a dream to finally get that experience, go to the facility and everything and chill with the coaches. It’s just been a blessing to really sit down and do all of this.”

Florida State: “That’s a big one right there. Ever since I went back in April — I’ve been there four times so far. It’s been love ever since the first day. When I first got there I was like ‘I don’t know,’ but ever since I keep going back and it’s been more love building up. The bond with (Mike) Norvell and Coach (Randy) Shannon and all the coaching staff, it’s just been building for almost a year now. I love it in Tallahassee.”

Kentucky: “My brother went there, so it’s always been love with them for the past three years. The coaches treat me just like they treat him. I know if that was the school to choose, I’d be safe and it would feel like home up there in Lexington.”

LSU: “Other than Florida, LSU’s been my dream school coming up. Then when I went to their game, they played Georgia State — it wasn’t really a big game, but the environment and everything around, Louisiana…it gets crazy down there. The coaching staff, when I talk with Coach (Brian) Kelly, it was really all the things he said, ‘it’s bigger than football.’ All the coaching staff, it wasn’t just football they talked about, they talked about life and everything. Family, they were big on family, so that’s what really put them up there.”

Arkansas: “T-Will (Travis Williams), that’s my dog. Of course, Trevin was committed to him going to Auburn, so that’s really when the relationship started, like three or four years ago. He’s been real ever since. He went to Auburn, UCF and now he’s at Arkansas. It’s just been real love from him and my family. He ain’t even gotta be talking to me, he can call my grandma, my dad, my mom, he can just talk to anybody. It’s just been all love from him anywhere he went.”