Four-star defensive tackle Karlos May is down to the wire.
The Birmingham Ramsay High standout will announce his college choice tomorrow at 3 p.m. ET, and the decision comes with plenty of weight: he’s the No. 120 prospect nationally, the No. 5 prospect in Alabama, and the state’s top remaining uncommitted player.
His final four is a loaded one - Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, and Ohio State - and each school has made its case in a different way. In an interview with 247Sports, May laid out what has kept each program in the mix heading into Saturday’s commitment ceremony.
Auburn has leaned on relationships, and that’s clearly resonated. May pointed to defensive tackles coach Vontrell King-Williams and head coach Alex Golesh as major reasons the Tigers are still in the hunt.
He said, "It's the relationship I have with Coach Vontrell [defensive tackles coach Vontrell King-Williams ] and Coach Golesh (head coach Alex Golesh ]. The way he recruited me is insane.
"From a head-coach perspective, I can tell he's not doing it just to recruit me. Coach Vontrell is going to have a great career with what he can do.
You can go to him about anything, he's a good coach on and off the field. Being young, he's developed guys first- and second-round picks.
He could be labeled as one of the best DL coaches in the country."
Florida State has sold May on development and early opportunity. Defensive line coach Terrance Knighton made a strong impression by showing him how the Seminoles see him fitting in, and May said the chance to get on the field early matters.
He said, " Florida State, man, the development, is definitely something I'm interested in. T-Knight [defensive line coach Terrance Knighton ] explained the way they wanted and needed me as a player.
I could come in and possibly get a chance to get on the field because they play guys early just to see where they're at.
"Coach Norvell [head coach Mike Norvell ] is a great coach, I can tell from going to spring practice and the Miami game, he's on a different level. He's got to win. I can see him being the guy to turn things around."
Georgia has stayed in the picture because it checked the boxes May was looking for from the start. He said, " Georgia is one of those schools that fits what I wanted to do. They have what I was really looking for in a school, they had it with a development plan, and the people there.
"Coach Scott [defensive line coach Tray Scott ], even when I got hurt, he was with me through the process. He didn't offer me right then, but he stayed with me.
He's been there for a minute, he's not faking. What really got me is when I went on the official visit, and he broke everything down."
Ohio State, meanwhile, has made its push with a familiar formula: development, standards, and relationships. May said, "I feel like I just have a good opportunity there with their development.
"Coach Johnson [defensive line coach/associate head coach Larry Johnson ] and Coach Pat [analyst Miguel Patrick ] when he was at UAB and then back to Ohio State. It's relationship-based.
"But the development is crazy. I feel like I could get coached by one of the best defensive line coaches. The standard, that's a program I'd have interest in being a part of."
247Sports national scouting analyst TJ Randall described May as an excitable gap-shooting, up-field penetrator in an even front, noting that he’s north of 300 pounds. Randall also pointed to reassuring returns in 2025 after May missed his sophomore season to injury, along with his bend, physical moldability, and disruptive range. He added that May’s shot put mark of 50 feet reflects strength and power that doesn’t always show up on film.
Randall also noted that May can get too eager at times, racing through gaps before his hands fully take over, which can leave him stuck on blocks. Even so, the projection is clear: a multiyear starter at the Power Four level with enough size and athleticism to hint at Day 3 potential.
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