Chad Lindberg is used to pancaking things on the football field. He opted to do just that with any potential early signing period drama regarding his choice on Wednesday.
He set it up with a “big news” decision tease, but then punched out a tweet that signaled an All-American affirmation.
He’s committed to the G. Still.
The reason? He chose Georgia not just because of one great assistant coach.
“I was sold on more than just the coach,” Lindberg told DawgNation after he released his decison. “Loved Pittman but loved the university and the program. I feel the anticipation and energy for historic seasons.”
The 4-star from Clear Creek High (League City, Tex.) rates as the nation’s No. 17 OT and the No. 168 overall recruit for this cycle on the 247Sports Composite ratings.
With the decision, the Georgia class sticks at 15 public commitments for the 2020 cycle. Lindberg did not follow 4-star OT Joshua Braun as a de-commitment from the “Great Wall of Georgia” class Pittman had assembeled for 2020.
He told DawgNation earlier in the week he planned to sign on Wednesday during the early period, but did not say that he planned to stick with UGA.
Prior to his decision, he shared the following tweet on his social media.
Chad Lindberg: What this means to the 2020 class at UGA
The young man with the Texas-sized GPA (5.43 out of a 6.0 heading into his senior year) knew full well that Georgia was going to lose a pair of starting tackles to the NFL after the 2019 season.
It meant the news involving Andrew Thomas and Isaiah Wilson wasn’t a major factor.
“I knew the tackles would leave,” Lindberg said. “And that’s always been big for me. I’ve been sold on coach [Kirby] Smart and the school. I trust that all the love coach [Matt] Luke’s NFL guys give him is real and I trust that he’s a good guy.”
“Coach [Scott] Sinclair and the strength program is also big to me.”
Lindberg chose Georgia after developing a long-term relationship with Pittman. He took officials to Georgia, LSU, Texas, Texas A&M and USC.
In the end, he felt a personal connection to Pittman. That was big, plus he also knew that Pittman could get guys into the league.
“His recent history of turning high potential, low skill guys into first-round picks,” Lindberg told DawgNation. “He’s figured out how to develop.”
He stayed for other reasons at UGA beyond a beloved position coach.
Lindberg was offered by Georgia back in April of 2018. He felt back in January that other schools were recruiting him harder at the start of the year, but noticed Pittman and the staff picked things up after the 2019 class was signed.
In that class, he still has a mutual friend.
Freshman ILB Rian “Trouble” Davis competed against Lindberg when he played high school football in Texas in his junior year. Those two have maintained a friendship since then.
Lindberg will be the first member of his family to play college football.
Check out some of Lindberg’s senior films below. He’s set to play in the Under Armour 2020 All-American Game in Orlando later this month.