After a lengthy process, much consideration, trips across the country, text messages, tugs here and pulls there, the college recruiting process is over for Tampa Plant’s Orson Charles.
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound receiver-tight end will attend the University of Georgia.
His decision will reunite him with former Plant teammate, quarterback Aaron Murray, who signed with the Bulldogs and has been attending classes in Athens since January.
Charles’ recruiting process outlasted signing day as the all-state receiver debated over Southern California, Georgia, Florida State, Florida and Tennessee. He said his final decision came down to USC and Georgia.
He also pushed back his commitment because of tests, playing for Plant’s basketball team in the district playoffs and participating in the U.S. Army All-American football game.
Charles caught a state-best 75 passes during his senior season with the Panthers. He posted 1,421 yards and scored 21 touchdowns, including two scores in the 34-14 Class 4A state title game win against Lincoln of Tallahassee.
More Football: Turner calls it a career
Longtime Tampa Chamberlain football coach Billy Turner wanted to keep coaching but in the end, he was just “too tired to do it.’’
Turner, the winningest coach in Hillsborough County prep football history, retired March 6 after 30 seasons at Chamberlain and a total of 38 coaching in the county.
The 71-year-old Turner leaves the sideline with 254 career victories, 25 winning seasons, 17 playoff appearances (including the Class 5A state championship game in 2001), hundreds of players that went on to college and even a few that played in the NFL.
Turner was hospitalized with heart problems in 2007 and had a pacemaker installed in 2008.
Still, he fielded competitive teams.
The Chiefs advanced to the region finals in both 2007 and 2008, going 11-2 during his final season.
Turner’s son, Brian, who has served as the program’s offensive coordinator the past few seasons, said he likely will be among the applicants for the position.