Chaz Elder postpones college decision between South Carolina and UGA … (UPDATED)
Loading ...Chaz Elder, who is ranked as Georgia’s No. 1 college prospect at safety, decided on Friday to postpone his college decision between South Carolina and UGA.
“I do apologize,” Banneker assistant Ryan Andrews said. “I know everyone is waiting on his announcement. I was just informed by Chaz he will not announce today. I am not sure what caused the change of heart. Again, I do apologize for this. I am not sure when or how soon a decision will come. Thank you.”
Even before the postponement, the 6-foot-2, 180-pounder from Banneker High School had decided against calling a press conference on Friday because it wasn’t his style. Elder felt uncomfortable with drawing attention to himself. He and his coaches were just going to let a few people know via Social Media and text messages. Elder is also considering Vanderbilt, but UGA and South Carolina are the frontrunners.
DELAY ON DECISION: Chaz Elder (AJC photo by Michael Carvell)
What do I think? I have no idea what happened today, but this can be nothing but good news for UGA fans. From all indications (and we’ve been fooled before), Chaz appeared to be headed to South Carolina. I know Chaz has really developed a close friendship with South Carolina defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward, while his family would prefer he stay closer to home and play for UGA. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out.
I do think Chaz deserves major props for how he handled this: If you’re not 100-percent sure, then there is no reason to commit early. If you do commit early and you’re not 100-percent sure (and I realize kids and, well, everybody changes their minds about things here and there; I’m just talking about those who “know”), you could create a chain events that adversely affect college coaches and, most importantly, other kids being recruited. Picking a college is a life decision, not a race. We commend Chaz, his family and coaches for handling this in a respectful and professional manner.
More news of the day
- Ex-UGA recruiting target Kevin Ware, who committed to Louisville over UGA after being released by Central Florida and pledging to Central Florida, may be ineligible to play for Rick Pitino until January (click on story link)
- M.L King WR Blake Tibbs said he was offered a football scholarship by UGA on Friday. He is one of Georgia’s top 2012 college football prospects at WR.
- After a lackluster preseason, Stephenson tailback Mike Davis (committed to Florida) had a electrifying 79-yard TD run on Friday (click on story link)
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126 comments Add your comment
East Repeat
August 27th, 2011
9:42 am
SC vs UGA last 21 games, 8 wins SC, 13 wins UGA, much better than all time record. Last 4 games 2 wins each and will be 3 out of 5 for SC come Sept 10th. SC has caught UGA program. SC on the rise and UGA on the decline. Having SC favored in Athens this year tells you all you need to know about the rivalry. SC is FAVORED over UGA in Athens, nuff said!
RedandBlackDAWG
August 27th, 2011
10:02 am
Did SC’s blog or newspaper get closed down for Irene? Seems like there are a lot of em around here this morning. Almost as many lamecocks as tech. insects on here.
RRTDawgs
August 27th, 2011
10:05 am
I agree that SC has caught up but UGA is not the same team they were last year we have improved on defense and special teams that is were games are won all SC did was win the division beat teams that were in a down year Bama and Florida SC did not get the job done when it counted and win a SEC championship Florida, Bama and UGA are on there way back to the top and its only going to get harder for the Gamecocks to repeat .
Bazooka Joe
August 27th, 2011
10:07 am
Gamecock for life – “keep winning SEC titles” ???? hahahahahahahaha you havent even won ONE SEC title ! In fact the only title you have ever won was the crummy ACC waaay back in 1969 !
Carolin a fans talk about last year being great… 9-5 is great ? Thats an ok year but nothing to write home about. Fact of the matter is, the only reason SC won the east last year is that FL, GA, and TN were all down. Dont expect that this year.
Thanks for giving me a good laugh this morning…..
East Repeat
August 27th, 2011
10:19 am
Gamecock blog’s and newspapers are all pay sites. I can’t believe i am going to say this, but the AJC on-line rocks. worst part of AJC has now been hired by UGA.
Cockofthewalk
August 27th, 2011
10:44 am
You are fooling yourselves if you think Chaz Elder’s family wants him to attend UGA. His mom wants him to leave the state. The kid wants to play for SC and Lorenzo Ward. His high school coach is in Rodney Garner’s (A.K.A the bagman) hip pocket. If Chaz waits too long, South Carolina will fill up. Too bad a HS coach is pressuring a kid to NOT follow his heart. Prolonging this may end well for UGA, but won’t stop the ass whipping that’s coming your way on Sept. 10th. An 0-2 start to another underachieving season for Dawg fans. Hitching your dreams to a 180 pound freshman running back who you are HOPING has a “Marcus LAttimore” type season and a 357 pound juco who can’t make it through practice on a regular basis is foolish. It’s now referred to as a “Marcus LAttimore” type season because he is the ONLY one that has done it. Crowell is no Marcus LAttimore.
7-5 is where the Dawgs are headed. Congratulations UGA, you are the Old South Carolina now, You have been passed by your dreaded Nemisis, The Evil Genius, The Head Ball Coach Steve Orr Spurrier.
Melvin Ingram, Devin Taylor, Jadeveon Clowney and Travian Robertson will live in your backfield Sept. 10th, as you have no one who can block them. Marcus Lattimore will live in your secondary, as you have no one who can tackle him. Alshon Jeffery will roam free on the green grass between the hedges, as you have no one who can cover him.
Get used to it UGA fans. Your worst nightmare is back. The Evil Genius is back. South Carolina has passed you. Now you get to battle Tennessee for 3rd place in the East.
RRTDawgs
August 27th, 2011
10:59 am
Elder’s mom wants him to stay closer to home just the facts Gamecocks fans can whine and complain all you want truth hurts UGA says he play CB which is the position he wants play .
BOSS GATOR
August 27th, 2011
11:04 am
Oct. 29, 2011………Jacksonville……….We’re waiting…..Red Panties……YOUR BOSS
Destin Dawg
August 27th, 2011
11:07 am
why not wait 2 weeks. ?? go to the UGA. vs. S.C. game.. that will make up his mind !! Go Dawgs !!
Destin Dawg
August 27th, 2011
11:08 am
Boss… Gators will have alraedy lost 3 or 4 games by Oct. 29, 2011
RRTDawgs
August 27th, 2011
11:09 am
Has anyone notice how annoying Gamecocks fans are they just don’t how good our defence is going to be SC fans can sleep on UGA all you want just wait and see how big are front seven is Gamecocks don’t play good against real good defense they found that out against Auburn and FSU when SC got there butts kicked .
Lyn
August 27th, 2011
11:34 am
Rivals guy just said on radio that Dooley is getting an official visit from Elder. Anybody else hearing Tennessee making a run at him?
Lyn
August 27th, 2011
11:36 am
He also said to look for Tennessee to get a commit from a top Miami DE commit. Know who that could be?
RRTDawgs
August 27th, 2011
11:47 am
Elder is staying closer to home he may give the Vols a look i would not buy to much stock in to it his mom obviously doe not want to travel out of state.
RRTDawgs
August 27th, 2011
11:51 am
Meant to say his mom does not want travel out of state nice try Vols fans though .
TampaGator
August 27th, 2011
11:51 am
Destin Dawg……
Bama is playing the Gators in THE SWAMP with an 8PM start time. I think there will be some really nervous Bama fans sitting in front of TV sets that night. The Gators will most likely be 3-0 and the fans will be jacked up. Watch out, Bama.
RRTDawgs
August 27th, 2011
11:55 am
Dawgs close to offering instate WR my guess is Blake Tibbs .
TampaGator
August 27th, 2011
12:00 pm
The ESPN pre-game, preseason show hardly mentioned Florida…..I am loving this. I am also loving how Dawg fans continue to put down and underestimate the Gators. Every encountered a hungry Gator? Not a pleasant experience.
By the way…..two of the three talking heads picked Georiga to win the East. The last time that happend, Florida won the NC. I am loving it.
Lyn
August 27th, 2011
12:00 pm
RRTDawgs: dawg fan here…… who is the Miami DE commit that he thought Vols would get, didn’t catch his name. 4* from Florida on visit in Knoxville this weekend
RRTDawgs
August 27th, 2011
12:01 pm
This should make tide roll happy dawgs still in the hunt for Bama commit Brandon Greene Richt has not given up on Greene.
RRTDawgs
August 27th, 2011
12:04 pm
@Lyn i don’t know who the Miami DE is i don’t keep up with Vols recruiting but i would not worry about Elder his parents want him to stay home.
KnowAllSeeAll
August 27th, 2011
12:06 pm
UGA has a coach on the hotseat, 1 playmaker on offense, a banged up oline, crappy defense which the national pundits will insist is much improved, and an overall win total that has dropped each year since what 08? Georgia may have a decent season this year only bc of their easy schedule. UGA fans just need to face it, the Bulldogs have dropped a few notches down the food chain.
Lyn
August 27th, 2011
12:07 pm
I don’t keep up with it either….. just going by what the rivals guy said. You seem to have your finger on recruiting so I asked
Lyn
August 27th, 2011
12:09 pm
Rivals guy was very high on this DE so I was curious
RRTDawgs
August 27th, 2011
12:14 pm
One playmaker i don’t think so try Crowell , Jay Rome, Malcolm Mitchell, Orson Charles and our defense is not going to be crappy this it going to much more aggressive and hard hitting .
RRTDawgs
August 27th, 2011
12:17 pm
Don’t go to rivals a bunch i get my info from 247 sports .
Carolina
August 27th, 2011
12:20 pm
He will still be a Gamecock. We will shut you mutts up soon enough.
Luke
August 27th, 2011
12:21 pm
RRTDawgs, You just named three frosh as your playmakers. The only one who has played a snap of football is Orson Charles, who plays the same position as Jay Rome. Before you call them “playmakers,” maybe they should make some plays, no?
Right now, the only ones who have been anywhere near impressive has been Murray, Charles, and your all-American kicking team. I’ll be sold on UGA if they can take the field and last for an entire game. Last time I checked, big ole’ John Jenkins couldn’t stay on the field for an entire practice, let alone an entire game. Maybe the S&C coach isn’t as good as advertised?
RRTDawgs
August 27th, 2011
12:22 pm
If the dawgs add big John Atkins , Elder , Watkins that would be sweat we have very good shot at pulling those guys in .
RRTDawgs
August 27th, 2011
12:27 pm
Mitchell and Rome have been getting it done in practice from what i have heard Geathers is getting the start not Jenkins defense has been getting it done in practice from what i have read .
Carolina
August 27th, 2011
12:29 pm
Georgia is overrated every year. You think your team is going to run over everyone. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Boise beat the mutts.
RRTDawgs
August 27th, 2011
12:31 pm
Brandon Smith injury not as serious as we thought he is day to day and will play so some good news there .
RRTDawgs
August 27th, 2011
12:34 pm
We will see all you guys sleeping on dawgs this is not the same team there is more of a swagger with this team than last year .
Carolina
August 27th, 2011
12:39 pm
And you think the other teams won’t be better? Get over yourself mutt.
RRTDawgs
August 27th, 2011
12:41 pm
That the case it wont be easy for SC this year its always much harder to repeat than think .
Dawg Tired
August 27th, 2011
2:04 pm
This kid seems to have his head on straight.
SC, Pleaassse...
August 27th, 2011
2:19 pm
Young Mr. Elder, you do realize S. Carolina is and always will be mediocre. Sure they might have 1 year where they make some noise in between many, many bad years. But that’s only because if they win 8 games it’s a reason for them, and only them, to celebrate. They are,at best, a notch above Vandy (athletically of course) when it comes to winning consistently in the SEC.
RRTDawgs
August 27th, 2011
2:27 pm
I not denying that SC will be good i am just trying to explain to the SC fans not sleep on UGA that’s all .
Scott
August 27th, 2011
2:43 pm
I’m obviously a Gamecock fan and realist. Yes I think we have a very talented team. Yes I think we are a program on the rise. But we haven’t really done anything YET… I hope Chaz Elder comes to USC and has a great college career for the Gamecocks, we will defintely need some CB’s to come in and be able to play next year. But this is a big decision for any young man and I hope he goes where he feels comfortable with the coaches, players and the academic program. We want kids in this program who truly WANT to be a Gamecock! Go where YOU think YOU will be happy for the next 4 (3 or 5?) years whether that’s uSC or Georgia or Vanderbilt!!! Good luck with your decision!
UGA
August 27th, 2011
3:39 pm
Of course it’s gotta be UGA!
Connie Lingous
August 27th, 2011
5:52 pm
Hey Carvell – the SC defensive co-ordinator is not Lorenzo Ward unless I’m mistaken – Ellis Johnson has had that job for 3 years now.
Phil_will1
August 27th, 2011
8:05 pm
“Hey Carvell – the SC defensive co-ordinator is not Lorenzo Ward unless I’m mistaken – Ellis Johnson has had that job for 3 years now.”
You are mistaken. Coach Johnson’s title was changed to assistant Head Coach for Defense or something like that a year or two ago. Coach Ward was given the title of offensive coordinator at that time. It is mainly because the AD at SC does not want to give multiple year contracts to any assistants except coordinators.
Energy Vampire
August 27th, 2011
8:10 pm
11, 10, 8, 6…those aren’t lottery numbers. Adding a JUCO DT who can’t get through a practice isn’t going to shore up the run defense and Kwame is RS freshman, no matter how awesome you want to think he is based on practice. Good luck getting 70+ productive snaps out of them each week.
GatorsEatDawgs4Lunch
August 27th, 2011
11:57 pm
I am tired of hearing all the crying out of Athens. It’s obvious the smart kids are bailing out knowing UGa has a lame duck Coach. Quite frankly Georgia talks about how dominant they are when they have won ONE more National Title than SC and that was 31 years ago lol. If the kid is smart he will go play for Spurrier as SC is a Team on the rise while UGa is a has been.
Columbus
August 28th, 2011
1:36 am
I commend him and his family too for not making the decision if he was not ready. That is very admirable and fair to everyone involved. This is the kind of player and person we want at UGA and one of the reasons why we recruited him and not some others in the state. He is the one we wnat and belongs at UGA. Take your time young man. I am sure you are praying about it and God will lead you to the right place for you. Don’t be in any hurry. God never is. I hope to see you in Athens though. We need you. So does Coach Richt. You are the perfect fit in the defense. You can be a great player. You can even become a greater man under Richt than just about anyone else. It is your home state school. They need your help. I hope you will go become part of Georgia history, a big part, because the next 5 years are going to be special and even more special with you on the field and part of the team. I hope that is where God leads you and only God leads you and nobody else.
Columbus
August 28th, 2011
1:58 am
Lame duck coach LOL, Players bailing out LOL. Remember Dawg night? We signed several great recruits. Remember your gator night thing you did this year? Half didnt show up and the pther half did not participate, much less anyone commit. By the way UGA will roll all over Florida this year and that is just the start of a multi-year run. When Weis cant coach anymore after a year or two or misses his family, he will be gone and then the offense will be upside down again, just like it is goign to be this year. Have a weak-armed Qb who threw more INT’s than TD’s last year returning, have no running game and defense cant stop the run nor the pass well. New systems on each side of the ball to learn, players still have to be recruited to fit in the new systems and get experience. It took UF overtime to beat UGA last year and that was with UGA having 3 turnovers by the freshman QB in regulation and STILL UGA could have won in regulation but blew it. Your “Big 3″ freshmen last year were more like the little 3 who barely seen the field after it was expected they would contribute significantly last year so there is not much coming in to help the d this year on top of th enew system that has to be learned. Good news is that your SEC Easy hopes will be gone by the time we meet and the team can play without any pressure and let it all hang out and have fun. But still UGA wins 34-24 and clinches the East ahead if South Carolina. Kentucky and Florida tie for 3rd. Mnay we got a lot of Florida recruits the last few years with more on the way. LOL Florida fans just mand because they cant come in Georiga and pick and choose anymore and that we now come INTO Florida and take a few every year ourselves. The Dawg has turned. UGA will be on a roll for the next few years and Muschamp will be gone before Richt I assure you of that. So will Saban, So will Spurrier. it is going to be Richt and Miles going head to head for the next 15 years and the rest will gone in 5 or less. Especially Saban. Muschamp will be canned or after getting experience at UF, take over at Texas when Brown leaves, he was 5-7 last year. Another year like that and he might just hang it up. Anyway. Sucks to be a Gator the next couple years. We will be looking down at you while we are on a yearly trip to the SEC Championship game. You can mark that down and come see me at the end of th season the next 5 years barring signfiicant key injuries. UF will be good in 2-3 years maybe, but not good enough. Remember how it was before Spurrier? After Tebow left? Get used to it. Muschamp might suck as a head coach. He certainly is no Saban and even Saban, while good, was not great until after 10 years as a head coach. RIcht’s record was much better than Saban’s, actually better than every head coach I could find in their first 10 years except Paterno. Paterno and Richt’s first 10 years are unmatched. Much better than Dooley. Better then the Bear by far. Better than Saban. Look it up for yourselves. 1st 10 years. Mark Richt is on his way to becoming one the greatest coaches in History. All he needs is a National Championship, which he would have already won if the BCS had not took LSU instead of UGA. UGA plays and destroys undefeated Hawaii instead. But hey, another chance is around the corner and this time UGA will get the chance.
Columbus
August 28th, 2011
2:14 am
RIcht’s record was much better than Saban’s, actually better than every head coach I could find in their first 10 years except Paterno. Paterno and Richt’s first 10 years are unmatched. Much better than Dooley. Better then the Bear by far. Better than Saban. Look it up for yourselves. 1st 10 years. Mark Richt is on his way to becoming one the greatest coaches in History.
All he needs is a National Championship, which he would have already won if the BCS had not took LSU instead of UGA. UGA plays and destroys undefeated Hawaii instead. But hey, another chance is around the corner and this time UGA will get the chance and then win it. A couple chances are coming in the next 4 years and then another 5 years from now. Come play at UGA. Richt is one of the greatest coaches in history this far into a head coaching career. Saban won his first national Championship about this far into his career, where Richt is now. So for Richt to keep pace with that he must win one soon. But hey its not like Saban has won a lot of them. UGA has been to the SEC Championship game more times in the last 10 years than any team in the SEC except LSU. Both went 3 times. LSU might go a 4th this year. I thing Bama is over-rated this year so that would be 4 times and ironically this would be a 4th time for UGA too. UGA is going to win the east with one of the best coaches in the history of college football after 10 years. By far compared to most all great coaches and on par with Paterno. it is time for a NC to put him in his deserved place among coaches today. And he is doing this with Bobo as a OC. Think if we had Cutcliffe or somebody really good. Bobo might come around this year but if he does not, he must go. he has strengths but his weaknesses cost us sometimes with his play-calling. Although he does know things we dont know and the play might be a good one but it just dont work out a lot, maybe caleld at the wrong time or we dont execute I dont know .
But I know Richt is on the way to the College Football Hall of Fame if his record is even close in the next 15 years to what is was in his first 10 years. One NC will wrap it up. He is so far ahead of where Dooley was in wins and in SEC Championships it is not even a contest. If not for Herschel, Dooley would have won one SEC Championship and tied for another in 25 years. Richt has 2 in 2 years and 6 10 WIN SEASONS IN 10 YEARS. DID I SAY 6? YES 6 10 WIN SEASONS IN 10 YEARS AND FOR ALL WHO TALK ABOUT DONNAN’S PLAYERS, UMMM…I said 6 10 win seasons with Richt’s first year not being one of them, then a Freshman QB named Greene is groomed that had nothing to do with Donnan and 6 10 win seasons after the first ones makes Donnan’s players gone. Did I mention Moreno? Was he a Donnan player? Stafford? I could go on and on. Oh and Bobo was on the staff, a carryover and he recruited several offensive players so they were his players, not Donnan’s. Donnan sucked man. he won a couple big games but he sucked and I would take Richt over him and Goff and Dooley any day. Richt is the best head coach in UGA history. It is not even CLOSE!
GT/Fl football fan
August 28th, 2011
7:30 am
columbus fan he got those wins in a down sec east, even though we did beat you guys in that time, we still had ron zook, and underachieved. Other than that Tennessee was the only other team that competed for the sec east during that time. Even though I didn’t like the fact that a 2 loss lsu team was going to the national championship game, tennessee won the sec east that year. If you couldn’t even win the sec east in 2007, then it makes perfect sense that the bcs made that decision. Another thing mark richt does have a good coaching record, he still doesn’t have a national championship. It’ll be interesting to see how Georgia does this year, if he has another season like last year, or a 7 win season, he’ll be fired. It’s important for you guys to go through the first 2 games unscathed.
GT/Fl football fan
August 28th, 2011
7:35 am
Another thing he’s a decent coach not great, and you just can’t compare him to paterno, he needs to get a national championship first.
Big Aristotle
August 28th, 2011
10:21 am
UGA fans are both DEDICATED and DELUSIONAL. CMR is a good coach but not a great one. UGA had a window of opportunity when Zook was in FL, Tenn was on the decline, Bama was down, FSU was mediocre and they did not capitalize.
Saban is doing a great job recruiting here and he can coach circles around CMR. Jimbo Fisher the coach is a work in progress but as a recruiter he is doing a great job. UF always has top notch talent and UF gets the majority of the kids they want.
UGA your problem is you think you are better than you are. 1 national title the last 30 years? 2 SEC titles in 10 years is nothing to brag about. Your state produces the 4 highest number of D1 talent (but the most per capita) only 1 other D1 in state school(GA TECH isn’t relevant recruiting wise), The available talent alone should mean at worst you trade wins and SEC titles with UF every other year.
You need a new coach. CMR isn’t going to get it done.
Yo ought to be better in Basketball and Baseball too but that’s another discussion.