Cade Mays leaves Vols out of top three schools

UPDATE: Five-star offensive line prospect Cade Mays announced his top three schools on Twitter following Knoxville Catholic's state championship victory Thursday night and his hometown Vols were left off the list.

Ohio State, Georgia and Clemson made the cut for Mays' top three.

The No. 2 ranked offensive tackle recruit in the class of 2018 was committed to the Vols for more than two years before decommitting on November 7 in the midst of one of the worst seasons in Tennessee football history.

Mays says UT is permanently removed from his top schools list and he will choose from Ohio State, Georgia and Clemson when he signs on December 20.

ORIGINAL STORY: What a season it's been for Cade Mays.

The can't-miss, five-star offensive lineman and his Knoxville Catholic Fighting Irish will play in Thursday's BlueCross Bowl in Cookeville, for the Class 5A state title.

Also, he still has to pick where he's going to play football.

Mays said Tuesday he plans on making an announcement on his "Top Three" schools after Catholic plays in the championship game.

Mays, a Kingston native, was once a Vols commit under Coach Butch Jones. Shortly before Jones was fired, however, Mays decided to de-commit from Tennessee and reopen his recruitment.

"Obviously, this is my home so it was disappointing to see my home team do the way it did," Mays said of the Vols' 4-8 record, the worst in program history, in 2017.

Mays has visited Clemson, Ohio State, and division rival Georgia - all of which are ranked in the Top 10 teams in the current College Football Playoff rankings.

Mays is picking between Tennessee, Ohio State, Clemson, and Georgia.

The prized prospect said he met with UT Athletics Director John Currie shortly after he de-committed. Mays said Currie asked him what he wanted in a coach, to which he gave three requirements.

"Honesty, a god-fearing man, and somebody who wants to bring Tennessee back to the way they were in the 90's," Mays said. "Anybody who don't have those three, and I'm probably not going to be interested."

Mays said Currie has not contacted him since that conversation.

"I'm just waiting for the coach," Mays said. "I hope they get a good coach. I'll wait 'til they get a coach, then I'll make my decision."

Mays said Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano, whom Currie described as a "leading candidate" for the job before a deal fell apart, likely would not have had his interest. Mays didn't have much to say on the campus protests that led to the non-hire of Coach Schiano, but he was watching the movement unfold on his phone.

"Tennessee fans are one of the best.," Mays said. "Just, the whole Vol Nation came together and got what they wanted. Obviously, the people's voice was heard."

Mays, an avid hunter, said he may not take an official visit to Tennessee in December due to his hunting schedule. He said he would more than likely visit campus unofficially to meet the new coach when UT hires him.

Multiple members of the Fighting Irish described a scene in which Mays brought a deer head from one of his hunts into the locker room before practice this week. Mays intended to run onto the field before the state title game holding the head, but it's unlikely he will be allowed to do so.

Said Mays: "I'm bringin' the country to Catholic."