Offers starting to roll in for 2019 ATH Joseph Charleston

MILTON, Ga. — Spring break is something all high school students look forward to. If they aren't a baseball player playing games that week, is it usually a week off and a time they can unwind, hit the beach, spend time with friends and not worry about homework. On the first day of spring break 2017, Joseph Charleston traveled up to Nashville (Tenn.) and when he went to bed that night, he rested knowing he had his first scholarship offer.

The 6-foot-2, 190-pound rising junior out of Milton (Ga.) had been hearing from Vanderbilt for some time, so the offer did not completely shock him, but he headed north not really expecting one.

"I did not want to go there to Vanderbilt expecting an offers just because they had been showing a lot of interest in me, so I went up there just to see what would happen," said Charleston. "I did not want to think I was getting it, then not get it and be disappointed. I was hoping I would get it and I did, so it was very exciting."

Charleston was offered by defensive backs coach Marc Mattioli. That was the highlight of the trip, but plenty of other things stood out to one of the top 2019 prospects in the Peach State.

"I like the coaches at Vanderbilt a lot. I like how coach [Derek] Mason is the head coach, but how he also coaches the defense and he works with the defensive backs and I think that is a great thing. I like the city of Nashville, I like what I saw around the campus and the academics are great there.

"It was just really nice up there and them offering me first will always mean something to me."

After about four weeks passed, then a few days after shining at the Rivals 3 Stripe Camp in Atlanta, an in-state school offered Charleston. He had already taken two trips to Athens (Ga.) this year and he attended a game last year, so he knew he was on the Bulldog's radar, but when he got the news from Dell McGee (area recruiter/running backs), he couldn't help but be a little surprised.

"I talked to coach McGee and he told me that Georgia likes my physicality and how I play, so they were ready to offer," said Charleston. "Georgia is the home-state school and it is a school I have interest in, so it was pretty exciting to get that news.

"I knew they had interest in me, but I still did not know that the offer was coming. I think it did surprise me when I found out about it."

There is a coach on the UGA staff that has really impressed Charlseton. It is defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Mel Tucker.

"I really like coach Tucker a lot. He has talked to me about my game, what he likes and he is a great coach. I have heard a lot about him, he has worked at Alabama, he has coached top players before and he is someone who has really impressed me at Georgia.

"Coach Tucker and the game-day atmosphere really stand out to me. When I was there for the Georgia Tech game, it was crazy. It is really loud and it was a great atmosphere."

West Virginia offered right after Georgia and another SEC school could be next. Alabama had Charleston on campus Monday and the Crimson Tide will take a look at Charletson with pads on in the near future.

"They were saying that they are close to offering me, but that they just want to see me play in person first. They are coming soon to see me at spring practice and they want me to come over early in the summer for their camp too."

If, or maybe it should be when Alabama offers, it will be a big deal in Charleston's recruitment. He has watched Alabama win championships and put so many players into the NFL since Nick Saban took over, so an offer would have his attention immediately.

"It seems like Alabama plays for or wins championships each year," said Charleston. "They have a great program, so an offer from them would mean a whole lot to me.

"When I was over there, I liked what I saw in their players, I liked their coaches and I know I will be back for camp this summer."

Before moving to Georgia to start high school, Charleston lived in Florida through the eighth grade. He grew up a fan of the Miami Hurricanes. Charleston said he likes their history and their culture, so that is an offer he would love to add.