December 1, 2021
By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today
… Always a Dawg; Anniston junior OL McElderry sticks to his guns, commits to Georgia, an original Final 5
The way his top five shook out Nov. 17, the world knew Ryqueze McElderry was going to play his college football in the SEC.
Then the biggest dog entered the picture and those who didn’t know the Anniston linemen very well would have thought all bets on the original five were off.
Based on his Nov. 17 post, he was choosing among Ole Miss, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Kentucky. Fans from all five camps flooded his social media with pitches that screamed ‘Choose Me.’
Two days later, Alabama – his “dream school” growing up – made an offer and suddenly the waters didn’t seem so clear.
Not for McElderry. Spurning the Johnny-come-lately in-state school that offered and the one that didn’t, the 6-4, 340-pound junior stuck to his original plan and picked out of the original five, committing to Georgia Tuesday in the lobby of the school auditorium.
“It was kind of hard (to stick to the five), but it really wasn’t,” he said. “I kept telling everybody Alabama always has been my dream school, but at the same time they hadn’t shown as much love and care as Georgia did.
“Georgia showed me the most love of all the schools that were recruiting me, so why not go to a school that’s been showing me this love and really wants you to come play for their program. Every other school I camped with this summer they ended up offering me, so when Alabama offered there really was no use. I don’t want a school to offer me if it takes me to drop my top five just to play for the school.”
“From the get-go Georgia showed him you’re our guy,” Anniston coach Rico White said. “The teams that came on late they had the same opportunity everyone else had. The biggest thing was Georgia was committed to him and like I always tell them you don’t marry the one you love, marry the one that loves you. I think that’s what he’s doing and I think he will be successful.”
McElderry may have made up his mind two weeks ago, but he kept everyone guessing Tuesday as he walked between classes in a crimson hoodie with a big Alabama logo on the chest. [**read more]
**When you click read more you will be taken to the EA Sports Today website. Please make sure to come back to read more Calhoun County News.
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