Tech commit O.J. Tucker withdraws commitment

Cornerback O.J. Tucker from Vanguard High in Ocala, Fla. (247 Sports)

Cornerback O.J. Tucker from Vanguard High in Ocala, Fla. (247 Sports)

O.J. Tucker, a three-star cornerback from Ocala, Fla., has withdrawn his commitment from Georgia Tech but still intends to take an official visit there in January.

Tucker said in an e-mail Friday that he spoke with Tech A-backs coach Lamar Owens, Tucker’s area recruiter, earlier that day. Owens said he understood and remained interested, Tucker said.

When Tucker committed in August, he was the third cornerback to join Tech’s 2017 class. Two more cornerbacks gave their commitments after him, Gentry Bonds of Murfreesboro, Tenn., and Tre Swilling of New Orleans, which Tucker said concerned him.

Five is an unusually high number of cornerbacks for Tech, which has typically signed between one and three cornerbacks. However, Tech only took one cornerback in the 2016 class (Ajani Kerr) and will have three senior cornerbacks on the 2017 roster, Lance and Lawrence Austin and Step Durham.

Tucker said that he will take official visits to Maryland and Wake Forest and plans to take two others in addition to the visit to Tech. By withdrawing his commitment, there is the possibility that Tech could offer a scholarship to another cornerback who could take the spot Tucker had been holding with his commitment. Tucker said he accepts that possibility.

“I can’t expect them to hold it for me, because I’m not committed, and recruiting is a business,” he said in the e-mail. “Sometimes that happens. I appreciate the coaches of Tech for recruiting me.”

Tech’s class stands at 14 commits.