Road Report: Rivals250 DB honoring brother's memory

JEFFERSON, Ga. - For many, stepping onto the field on Friday night and into the crisp fall air is a release - a chance to focus on nothing but football for four straight hours and escape from everything else.

For Rivals250 cornerback Christian Tutt, that's especially true this season.

While many prospects spent the summer playing 7-on-7s, taking part in the Rivals Five-Star Challenge, or getting face time with college coaches, Tutt was mourning the loss of his brother.

Christopher Jamal Tutt passed away in a car accident on June 2. He was only 20 years old.

A Friday night game under the lights allowed the younger Tutt to focus on something other besides summer of grieving. Christian continued to channel his emotions into football against the Jefferson Dragons, honoring his late brother's memory. He did so in convincing fashion.

Aside from being a lockdown cornerback, Tutt returned a kickoff for a touchdown.

“There was a lot going through my mind," Tutt said. "It was really the first time I’d gotten a chance, because they had been kicking away from me all year. When I got a chance, I took it, and I know my brother is looking down and proud of me.”

The elder Tutt would also have to be proud of Christian's 35 college scholarship offers.

“My last visit was to Miami," Tutt said. "I haven’t gotten to Georgia in a while because of everything with my brother. We went to Miami to get our mind off of things. My visits are coming up though, so I’ll be getting to Georgia about three or four times for a game. I’ll be at Georgia a lot. When we got down to Miami, (Coach Mark Richt) just left to go on vacation. He told me he wanted me to come down for a game, though. I don’t know when I’ll do it, but I plan on going for a game. I like Miami, but Georgia is still up there. They’re high on the list.”

Tutt's plans to see Athens include a mix of games and settings, giving him time to see all aspects.

“I know I'll be at Tennessee and Auburn, as a matter of fact," he said. "There may be some other games where they’re not getting tested. That’s when I’ll go out to spend some time with the coaches, staff, and players. I want a chance to get to know all of them.”

What has Tutt wanting to see the Bulldogs so frequently?

“With the coaching staff leaving last year with Richt and all of them, my relationship was strong, but with Kirby and Coach (Mel) Tucker, my relationship with Georgia has gotten stronger," Tutt said. "They really want me up there. They’ve also got Richard (LeCounte), and he’s been trying to recruit me. That’s my big brother right there. I’ve got a strong relationship with all of the defensive coaches. They’re really about relationships. They want you to build it before you even commit. They’ve just been on me hard. It’s everyday type of stuff.”

LeCounte, a key recruiter for several prospects, is working his magic once again.

“He wants me to come up and join him," Tutt said of the 2017 Georgia commit. "Coach Tucker really wants the two of us under him so he can teach us what he knows to try and get to the NFL.”

It's not just relationships that are luring him toward Athens, however.

“There’s a lot that’s different," Tutt said. "I grew up in Georgia. I’ve also been around them a lot, so I’m so familiar with it. Everything stands out, from tradition, fan base, coaching staff. I like how they coach, and I like the players. Everything stands out for me.”

Though he's just released a top 11, Georgia, along with two others, are standing out already.

“I’ll give you Georgia. That’s one," Tutt said. "I’m going to give you Ohio State, and I’m going to give you Alabama.”

Those schools, along with the rest of his long list, better impress this season, as Tutt plans to further honor his brother with a college decision on his birthday, May 30, 2017.

“Basically, I'm looking at relationships," Tutt said. "Also, the playing time. I’ve got to look at the depth. Do I like the coaches? Do I like how they coach? How do they put DBs into the league? It’s crunch time, so I’ve got to decide by May. I’ll be taking a lot of visits even after the season."