ORLANDO, Fla. — Broderick Jones met the media on Saturday at the Under Armour All-American bowl session with the 2020 teams.

He is a 5-star. Rated as the nation’s No. 2 OT prospect for this cycle on the 247Sports Team Composite.

But he did not sign with any program during the early period. He said he wasn’t planning to do so even if Sam Pittman would have remained as the offensive line coach.

The 6-foot-6, 285-pound senior from Lithonia High School (Lithonia, Ga.) shared plans for three official visits in January once the dead period lifts. Those will be to Tennessee, Georgia and Auburn in successive order.

Those visits will be limited by the fact he plays for one of the best high school basketball teams in the state of Georgia.

Jones had a wide-ranging evening discussion on the Under Armour “Media Day” event. He said that he was still committed to Georgia and discussed those reasons why.

First and foremost, he said he still considers himself committed to Georgia.

“Still committed,” he said. “They are still my top school right now. Just I have got to take my official visits. Georgia is still the top. Still the top ‘Dawg right now.”

Relationships matter in recruiting. He said that Auburn assistant coach Larry Porter handles the tight ends and special teams for that SEC West program.

But he said he still has sustained relationships with the staff at Georgia. He brought up Kirby Smart and personnel director Jonas Jennings and staffer Fernando Velasco, too.

He was always accommodating and respectful but it appeared at times that he doing his best to put up with the questions about it all. Georgia? Auburn? Tennessee? Florida State?

The young man was able to put it all into perspective. His perspective. He knows that the traditional signing period in February is still six weeks away.

“I have time,” he said. “I have more problems to stress about right now than signing. So I am just going to take my time to make the best decision for me.”

Which schools have a chance? What does Georgia have to do to hold onto his commitment?

“I’m just waiting to take my official visits right now,” Jones said.

That’s a big key for the rest of his process. How those visits go. Those will determine his future.

Broderick Jones did not sign during the early period, but he said on Saturday that he remains committed to Georgia. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation)/Dawgnation)

Broderick Jones: What keeps him committed to UGA

He didn’t rule out the fact he might take some unofficial visits.

“It just depends on how much time I have to free up from basketball,” he added.

Jones stated he is already in contact with new Georgia line coach Matt Luke.

“I talk to him often,” he said. “Trying to build a relationship with him and the coaching staff at Georgia. I’m just trying to get a chance to meet him and feel him out.”

The new line coach has already made a strong initial impression.

“He’s very fired up,” Jones said. “He’s very excited about the job he has. I’ve never really got a chance to meet him personally. I’ve talked to him on the phone before. But I really don’t like to talk on the phone like that. I have got to see you like face to face so I can get a perception of you.”

He said he didn’t have any questions about the UGA program at this time.

“I don’t have a big concern with Georgia right now,” he said. “Because I know if I go in and do what I have to do then everything will work out the way I plan it to.”

He stated the comfort level was “50/50” between those two programs right now.

Georgia continues to make him a priority for the 2020 class.

“It has always been that way,” he said. “It is nothing new.”

He said he’s down about 15 pounds from his playing weight this fall. That’s what averaging an approximate 10 points and 10 rebounds per game on the hardwood will do to an offensive lineman’s waistline.

Jones remains an impressive athlete to play the left tackle position. He is a true left tackle and yet always one that looks like he’s about 20 pounds lighter than his listed weight.

The status as the in-state school would seem to be an ally for the Bulldogs here. A lot of things matter here, including the route that fellow Lithonia resident Andrew Thomas took in just three years at UGA to now reach for his NFL dreams.

“The fact that it is Athens is a big priority,” he said. “Because I want my family to be able to come up to the games. Because that’s right up the road from where I live. That’s a big factor for them so they won’t have to do too much traveling.”

“I want to stay close to home because of my mom and my grandmother,” he said. “I want to stay close to be able to help them out too as well.”

He also pointed out that he noticed the class that Georgia has built. And can still keep building. The Bulldogs can still finish the recruiting cycle with the nation’s No. 1 class.

“That’s a big point, too,” he said. “Because with that, the people that came in I feel like we can build a powerhouse team. It was already a powerhouse team so that has just added on fuel to the fire. We’ve got to seal the deal now for however, it goes and then get the job done.”

DawgNation at the Under Armour All-American Game