One of the reasons Kearney's stock is rising faster
than the hottest new blue chip on the NASDAQ is the
superb senior turned in.
"It was pretty good," he said of the recently finished
season. "We went on to go 12-1. I had 97 tackles, 18
sacks and 51 quarterback hurries. I played tight end
on offense and had six catches for 187 yards and one
touchdown."
Tucker took an unbeaten record into the Georgia
semifinals only to see the quest for an unbeaten
season and state title to slip away in the final
seconds.
"We lost in the third round, right before the dome
(championship game)," Tavares Kearney said. "Basically they
kicked a field goal with point-2 seconds left on the
clock."
He's heard from almost all the big boys in the
recruiting battle, but he's narrowed it down to a list
of five.
"I am interested in South Carolina, Ohio State,
Maryland, North Carolina, and Florida," he said.
South Carolina will get his first visit, and the
Gamecocks depth chart is quite appealing. .
"I am going up there (SC) this weekend on my first
official visit," he said. "In my position there is
only one guy ahead of me. My position coach, I have
gotten to know him real well. I get to meet Coach
Spurrier. Basically, I am going to go down there and
see if that is where I want to be for the next four
years. They have offered."
Ohio State has maintained contact, but with the
Buckeyes, it's a waiting game.
"Coach Tucker came down the other day and I am waiting
for them to call me back on Monday to see if they are
going to offer me a scholarship or not." He said. "If
they are, I am going to take a visit."
When he spoke of Maryland, it wasn't with a lot of
confidence.
"I am not real big with them right now, but the
coaches do call me a lot," he said.
There's a familiar name keeping up with Kearney when
it comes to the University of Florida.
"Coach (Mike) Locksley," he said. "I don't really get
phone calls but I get postcards everyday. He couldn't
call because of the bowl game. Coach Locksley was at
my school twice. Right after the season he came up."
North Carolina's reputation for heavy academic
pressure has him taking a careful look into things at
Chapel Hill.
"Really I am going to go there (North Carolina) on the
22nd," he said. "I probably will go check out a class
and see a teacher or something but I heard it is very
hard."
The school that lands him will have to meet a few
specific requirements to earn his name on the dotted
line on signing day.
"I want to be there for the next four years," he said.
"I want to be on TV. I have to like the players and coaches."