WATCH: Georgia commits erupt when 4-star RB Chauncey Bowens flips pledge to the Bulldogs

North Palm Beach (Fla.) The Benjamin School four-star running back Chauncey Bowens pulled off a bit of a recruiting shocker on Saturday when he flipped his commitment from Florida to SEC East rival Georgia while on his official visit to Athens this weekend.

But while it might have come as a surprise to many on Saturday, a small group of about 100 people got advanced notice on Friday night during the Bulldogs’ recruiting dinner and photo shoot. Bowen, who had been committed to the Gators since last September, grabbed the mic and made an announcement.

“I’m 100 percent committed to ‘The G,'” he said as other commits and coaches erupted with excitement.

New Georgia 4-star RB commit Chauncey Bowens announced his flip to the Bulldogs during their recruiting dinner last night🐶

(🎥: @NyCarr1) https://t.co/vqIXMYWiCE pic.twitter.com/gxUBFpwlMv

— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) June 10, 2023

Georgia had yet to offer Bowens when he committed to the Gators last fall. But since then, UGA turned things up a notch as he visited Athens multiple times, including this weekend for an official visit. Georgia’s pursuit paid off as he gives them a second running back commitment in the 2024 class.

Flipping to Georgia wasn’t an easy choice for Chauncey Bowens

“It was definitely a tough decision,” Bowens told On3’s Chad Simmons. “I still have 100 percent respect for Florida and what they’ve done there and their recruiting process and this season, but I took some time off and I really thought about it and I thought about the message that Coach Kirby Smart and Coach Dell McGee said to me. That time off helped me see that Georgia is the best option for me and my family. I am committed to Georgia and I am shutting down my recruitment.”

Georgia’s player development played a key role in his decision and credit the recent success of Georgia’s running backs to McGee. The Bulldogs have had success with fellow South Florida natives like James Cook and Sony Michel, and Bowens believes he can be next.

“My second time visiting Georgia, one of the first things coach Smart told me was, ‘Even if you don’t come to Georgia, you are still the prototype Georgia running back,” said Bowens, the No. 92 overall prospect and No. 10 running back in the 2024 On300. “Coach McGee, he told me the same thing, ‘You’re the prototype Georgia running back, so you have the build, you have the speed, you have everything that a Georgia running back has.’ They compete in the NFL, how Georgia sends their running backs to the league and how prepared they are is impressive.”