Chaz Elder to South Carolina over UGA: Where Does He Fit in SC's Stacked Class?

Chaz Elder has spurned in-state Georgia for SEC East rival South Carolina. To some around the Peach State, this comes as a surprise, but others figured this one out a short time ago.

Elder is a Gamecock now and I'm here just give you a brief explanation of how it all unfolded. We'll take a look at who Elder is, who his finalists were and what you can expect from him in Columbia.

Let's get started.

Who Is Chaz Elder?

Elder is a 6'2", 185-pound DB from Georgia that looks like a future safety prospect. He's a high cut and lean athlete that will easily tack on some girth at the next level.

He plays with great play speed and pursues relentlessly. Elder looks like a strong safety right now because of his ability to plug the run well.

He also flashes great range thanks to his speed, athleticism and solid ball skills. He drives on routes well and should be a solid collegiate player. 

Who Were the Finalists?

Elder's decision came down to Georgia, Vanderbilt and South Carolina. He took a trip to Athens last month and UGA felt it was a wrap with him.

The Dawgs recruited him hard, but you just never got the feeling they had the pizzazz that Elder was searching for. He'd been to Athens numerous times before his pledge, and he just never really spoke with much enthusiasm about UGA.

Vanderbilt was always a distant third, as it was primarily a Gamecocks vs. Bulldogs race.

Where Does He Fit in the Gamecocks' Class?

Elder becomes Steve Spurrier's 21st commitment and second safety prospect. He joins Kyle Fleetwood, Rico McWilliams and T.J. Gurley as incoming defensive backs for the Gamecocks.

Even Elder commented on the 4-2-5 scheme employed in Columbia to ESPN, as he stated "I love it" when the South Carolina coaching staff explained how he fits their scheme.

Expect him to play a rover/SS role, plugging the run and picking off a few balls on the back end. Elder is a solid pickup for Spurrier and Co.