Georgia football: Who is local standout wide receiver Deion Colzie
Athens Academy wide receiver Deion Colzie recently recommitted from Notre Dame. Georgia football is back in the hunt for one of the best local players.
Two months ago, Prince Avenue Christian quarterback Brock Vandagriff decommitted from Oklahoma and committed to Georgia football. Recently, the star wide receiver from one of Prince Avenue’s biggest rivals had his own change of heart.
Deion Colzie, the leading wide receiver at Athens Academy, recently decommitted from Notre Dame, placing Georgia football back in contention. Colzie is regarded as one of the best wide receivers in the nation. 247Sports Composite ranks him the No. 46 player in the nation and the No. 5 wide receiver.
Head coach Kirby Smart has placed a larger emphasis on signing wide receivers recently. Georgia football has signed five top 100 wide receivers in the past two seasons. Smart and the rest of the coaching staff will do everything in their power to keep one of the best Athens-area prospects home.
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Now, who is Deion Colzie? What kind of wide receiver is he? And what chances does Georgia football have at signing him in the 2021 recruiting class?
Local powerhouse
Since 1998, Athens Academy has been one of the best programs among Georgia’s small school classifications. The Spartans have reached 10 wins 12 times since 1998 and have won 10 region championships.
Lately, with head coach Josh Alexander on the sidelines and Deion Colzie on the field, Athens Academy’s program has been on a whole other level. The Spartans have won three-straight Region 8-A Championships and haven’t lost a regular-season game in that time. Since 2017, Athens Academy’s record is 37-3. All three losses were against Eagles Landing Christian, who features 2020 early enrollee Justin Robinson.
Outstanding athlete, even better receiver
Deion Colzie is a tall kid at 6-4, and he’s been adding size to his tall frame without losing any athleticism. Off the football field, Colzie is a state medalist high jumper and that athleticism certainly comes into play on the gridiron.
The most impressive part of the rising senior’s game so far is his route running. Colzie isn’t just a deep threat or a jump ball receiver, he can get open on short-to-middle routes. He has a good head fake to create space on sudden cuts and he stays in front of defenders on inside routes.
Best of all, Colzie is a physical player which is a must to get on the field for Georgia football as a wide receiver. He has a mean stiff-arm and he’s an excellent blocker. Those two attributes will help him get on the field early wherever he decides to sign.
Future Georgia Bulldog?
Georgia football certainly has a good chance of signing Deion Colzie because of proximity. Colzie admitted to Rivals.com that he rushed his decision and didn’t “think about it enough.” He also said Notre Dame is his dream school, so what is there to think about? Hopefully for the Bulldogs, the proximity between home and school.
That was the deciding factor for Vandagriff back in January. Prince Avenue’s quarterback said he realized being close to home was a big deal after several visits to Norman, Oklahoma. He committed to Georgia football a few days later. Before the 2018 season, Savannah native Demetris Robertson transferred from California back to Georgia to be closer to home. Colzie might be the next player to realize there’s no place like home.