Ward off FAU's list

Atlantic wide receiver Chad Ward will not be signing with FAU.

Originally published on 1/24/2012

The new Florida Atlantic coaching staff inherited five recruits who had committed to play at FAU.

Now, only two remain.

On Tuesday FAU and Delray Beach-Atlantic wide receiver Chad Ward parted ways.

“The people at FAU said they weren't going to honor my scholarship, so I went ahead and de-committed,” Ward said.

In August Ward became the second player to commit to the Owls' 2012 recruiting class.

He caught 27 passes for 407 yards and five touchdowns for the Eagles as a senior.

“They said coach (Carl) Pelini was going in a different direction, looking for another type of receiver,” Ward said.

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Ward had been expected to be an outside receiver. With the Owls switching from the pro-style to a spread offense FAU is looking for more slot receivers, which tend to be smaller and quicker.

Ward said he's trying to contact as many schools as possible to let them know he's available. It's possible Ward will visit Illinois St. this weekend, but the Redbirds told him he'd have to wait to see whether a different receiver accepts the Illinois St. offer to visit, first.

“That really leaves me with no offers at all, nowhere to go,” Ward said. “I'm stuck right now.”

FAU had been enjoying it's best recruiting year in Palm Beach County, but in recent days that has taken a hit.

Greenacres-John I. Leonard Nesly Ovincy had thought he was committed to FAU, only to find out the Owls hadn't actually offered him a scholarship.

Ovincy's teammate and best friend, defensive lineman Andy Daceus, had said he would attend whichever school took Ovincy. Daceus said on Monday he is still committed to FAU, refuting published reports that he changed his commitment to UAB.

Daceus did say he is considering other schools.

Counting Daceus, the Owls are down to three Palm Beach County commitments. West Palm Beach-Forest Hill receiver Mike Bullard and Delray Beach-American Heritage running back Jeremy Gaskins are still expected to sign with FAU on Feb. 1.

Of the original five FAU recruits, only Miami-Braddock running back Jarvon Anderson and Kempner (Tex.) defensive lineman Shalom Ogbonda are still committed to FAU.

Miami-Coral Reef defensive back Brendon Clements is now committed to Navy. Stephenson (Ga.) running back T. J. Moon has yet to announce a commitment to another school.