Sanders Commings kept a poker face when it came to his recruitment in college football.

The Westside defensive back never named a leader. He never touted Auburn more than Georgia or South Carolina. He also wanted to play baseball in the spring.

Commings played his cards Tuesday night. The decision came down to the first and last name of Georgia coach Mark Richt.

"South Carolina was my number two," he said. "I liked their team. I liked how close they were. I liked the school and their baseball team. But the difference was Coach Richt. He is the reason I will be a Georgia Bulldog."

Commings phoned Richt at 9:30 Monday evening.

"I told him I was ready to be a Bulldog," he said.

Commings spoke to Richt and the team's defensive coaches for 30 minutes. He said the decision had little to do with Georgia's win against Florida. Commings said he only briefly watched that game.

He had offers from Auburn, Georgia, Maryland and South Carolina. Interest was also coming from Boston College, Clemson and Louisville.

"I started thinking and praying about my decision before the Laney game last Friday," he said. "I kept going over what I liked about each school. I'd think about Carolina but my mind always kept coming back to Georgia. I made my mind up on Georgia over the weekend and it felt right when I woke up on Monday."

The bottom line was Richt.

"Coach Richt made an impression when he visited earlier this year," Commings said. "He came to visit our school and then went to go visit with coach Barnes' wife."

Sissy Barnes is recovering from surgery two years ago to remove a brain tumor. She's had complications but seen both good and bad days. She's been able to attend team events in a wheelchair over the past year.

"Coach Richt went to see her and prayed with her," Commings said. "It hit home. I think he was late to a Bulldog Club meeting that night because of the time he spent with her. He is just a real good Christian guy."

Commings (6-foot-1, 195) missed five games this year with a cracked fibula. But he looked every bit a ball-hawking safety against Laney with two interceptions. He had seven interceptions last season.

"I want to be a balanced safety," he said. "I want to be physical but also make plays on the ball."

Commings should be one of at least six area players on the Georgia team next fall.

Westside coach Gerald Barnes said Commings will be the first player from Westside to sign a scholarship to play at Georgia since Jock Stephens in 1992.