Richt: Aaron Murray reminds me of Heisman runnerup Weldon
COLUMBUS -– Mark Richt reviewed Georgia’s newly released depth chart, player by player, for the Chattahoochee Valley Bulldog Club here Thursday night. When he got to the quarterbacks and reiterated the several-hours-old news that Aaron Murray is No. 1 on the depth chart, the gathering burst into applause.
Someone asked Richt to name a quarterback he has coached, either at Georgia or Florida State, who was similar to Murray.
“I personally think he’s a lot like Casey Weldon,” said Richt, referring to the former Florida State quarterback who was the Heisman Trophy runnerup in 1991.
“Casey Weldon was a really fine quarterback at Florida State. . . . [Murray] reminds me of him,” Richt said. “[Murray] has got a very quick release. He’s got a very strong arm. He moves well. I think he can move well enough to make plays in the pocket, but he will cross the line of scrimmage and get you a first down when you need them. He’s a leader. He’s a hard worker.”
Richt added that Murray “knows how to win.”
“He quite frankly took a setback in college because he had a broken ankle in high school, and after just a couple of short weeks he went back and played in the playoffs and state championship game and probably wasn’t ready to,” Richt said. “But he did it because that’s how much he loved his team and how much he loves to compete.
“We’re in good hands with him right now,” Richt added.
A few other comments from Richt as he reviewed the depth chart for the group gathered at the Columbus Civic Center:
- On Christian Robinson, who as expected is No. 1 on the depth chart at weak-side inside linebacker: “He really had a great spring and did a super job. [He's] a guy we really feel like we can count on.”
- On converted tailback Richard Samuel, who is No. 3 at weak-side ILB behind Robinson and Marcus Dowtin: “We’re just going to see how [Samuel] comes along He’s fast, we all know that. One thing we learned is, he’s not afraid to stick his face on you.”
- On JUCO transfer Jakar Hamilton, the No. 2 free safety behind Bacarri Rambo: “Jakar is going to play a bunch for us, if not lock down one of those starting [safety] jobs.”
- On the cornerback position, where Brandon Boykin and Branden Smith are Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, at one spot and Vance Cuff No. 1 at the other: Boykin and Smith “are almost co-No. 1’s in our opinion. Boykin, Smith and Cuff really did a great job in man coverage [this spring].”
- On Justin “Bean” Anderson, who moved from the offensive line to the defensive line but is not officially listed on the depth chart because he was injured this spring: “We think big Bean can really help us at nose guard. He’s about a 320-325 pound man who is very quick. We think he can line up on either side of that center and dominate up front.”
Richt reiterated before the meeting that he’s committed to getting Logan Gray — the No. 2 quarterback on the depth chart — into “the best position to help Georgia win.”
“Whether that’s No. 2 quarterback or getting some reps at receiver or something,” Richt said, “that remains to be seen.”
The full depth chart is here.
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131 comments Add your comment
GT BABY
April 23rd, 2010
2:18 pm
Typical Georgia fans like to amp every player up like Hershy Walker. If they dont produce, they rip them apart like Joe Cox….Georgia fans make me sick!
#1 Hater/patrick
April 23rd, 2010
2:18 pm
Georgia will go 14-0 in 2010.
GT BABY
April 23rd, 2010
2:19 pm
I’m really a Richt fan too.
tech thing
April 23rd, 2010
2:19 pm
how does it feel to live in a time warp since 1980?
just checkin in
April 23rd, 2010
2:19 pm
Georgia will have an undefeated season in 2010
tech thing
April 23rd, 2010
2:19 pm
I am converting to Georgia
SEC East Spokesman
April 23rd, 2010
2:20 pm
Please dont fire CMR, he has just named the Saviour as #1
tech thing
April 23rd, 2010
2:20 pm
Big Murray fan, the guy rocks the house.
SEC East Spokesman
April 23rd, 2010
2:20 pm
we are all clones of patrick
SEC East Spokesman
April 23rd, 2010
2:21 pm
Seriousloy, Richt is the #3 winningest coach in America and the senior SEC member. Big fan of Richt.
SEC East Spokesman
April 23rd, 2010
2:21 pm
Patrick is a mystery.
Flo-Ri-Duh!
April 23rd, 2010
2:22 pm
Nesbitt is not going to win the Heisman … he can’t even pass and doesn’t have any one to throw to. Oh, I forgot, Tech doesn’t pass any way….. in that case Nesbitt does make an excellent fullback but fullbacks don’t win the Heismann.
GT BABY
April 23rd, 2010
2:22 pm
Mark Richt is not the best head coach by the way. Richt is a good qb coach, I’ll give him that. Too many penalties results in an undisciplined team.
James T. Kirk
April 23rd, 2010
2:23 pm
Flord-gay is just jealous that Nesbitt turned down Meyer and decided he wanted to win championships at Tech.
#1 Hater
April 23rd, 2010
2:23 pm
I love Murray and Richt, both look great on the field.
Flo-Ri-Duh!
April 23rd, 2010
2:23 pm
Pouncy drafted in round #1 and the #1 reason Tebow got so many yards running up the middle. I hope Tebow makes it but I don’t see how.
Flo-Ri-Duh!
April 23rd, 2010
2:24 pm
I am changing over to Georgia fan.
#1 Hater
April 23rd, 2010
2:24 pm
you tell ‘em BABY!!
I love patrick
April 23rd, 2010
2:24 pm
James T. Kirk what championships, they came in behind uga and sc last year.
Flo-Ri-Duh!
April 23rd, 2010
2:24 pm
Can’t believe Bama killed us in the SEC. Tebow’s fault.
I love patrick
April 23rd, 2010
2:25 pm
He’s such a mystery, seen his profile?
#1 Hater
April 23rd, 2010
2:26 pm
I have backstage passes to Justin Bieber. Jealous????
I love patrick
April 23rd, 2010
2:26 pm
Anybody seen Patrick/Mystery’s profile? Lokking a ok, baby.
#1 Hater
April 23rd, 2010
2:27 pm
Urban Meyer can’t coach. Tebow can’t perform.
The Grinch
April 23rd, 2010
2:27 pm
GT BABY
April 23rd, 2010
2:18 pm
Actually, I like to “amp” up other beloved players in the Bulldawg nation…..like Reggie Ball. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
patrick
April 23rd, 2010
2:27 pm
who cares about tebow he sucks, aaron murra is the bomb.
kerryb
April 23rd, 2010
2:28 pm
#1 Hater, Your best players on a sorry defense went to the NFL and your #1 RB is gone too. Your QB is only a runner, and if you think you are going to win a NC with that you are pretty stupid. Josh Nesbit will be lucky to get drafted in the NFL and if he does it will be as a RB.
#1 Hater
April 23rd, 2010
2:29 pm
stone washed jeans are cool
#1 Hater
April 23rd, 2010
2:30 pm
funny, since they’ve all but already given Josh the Heisman for next season!!!!
TUCK FECH
April 23rd, 2010
2:45 pm
Whish we had Casey Weldon’s ACC (All Coast Clear) Schedule hahahahaha
AltamahaDawg
April 23rd, 2010
2:51 pm
yea, I got to say as far as haters go, you can’t even see the front of the line.
CLEVON LITTLE
April 23rd, 2010
3:04 pm
Not trying to look at the glass half empty, but I worry a little that we only have Gray & an incoming freshman for back-up QB. And if Richt is saying that he may not be suited for QB, and it took all of last years’ practice & this springs’ practice to decide on a QB, then what does that REALLY say about Murray?? I just hope he pans out.
ugaaccountant
April 23rd, 2010
3:25 pm
chicken little – It didn’t take “all of last years practice and this springs practice to decide on a QB”. It was announced this week because that’s the proper time frame to announce it. You have to give all players who sign with your program a chance to compete for the job first before announcing, as that’s the only right way to treat people. But you can rest assured that Richt had already decided long ago on Murray.
#1 Hater
April 23rd, 2010
3:48 pm
What I’m really trying to say is that I hate we’ve only beat UGA #1 time in the last decade!
Ernesto P. Chubbaleen
April 23rd, 2010
3:49 pm
I don’t really have anything else to say other than the following:
(((30-24)))
9 out of 10
5 IAR-B @ Bobby Dodd
We own Tech, because their students smell like an Arab’s arm pit.
nobody
April 23rd, 2010
3:50 pm
I believe that Logan Gray is a quality young man…harken back to the old days when qb’s Payne & Little were defensive ends…certainly, Gray’s too small to play there but he’s street smart…if he’s interested, mix him in at FS…let him sit back there and pick the opposing qb’s mind…like Jake Scott did….
Mike in the SAV
April 23rd, 2010
3:51 pm
Tim, you might need to close comments on this one since the kids are taking it over…
yoda
April 23rd, 2010
3:55 pm
Sounds to this UGA grad that ole CMR is trying to convince himself that his spotty recruiting ain’t gonna deliver another Joe T or Joe Cox
#1 Hater
April 23rd, 2010
4:02 pm
please love me
Jeff
April 23rd, 2010
4:10 pm
Love what I hear but not going to get my hopes up…have heard this before…most recently last year when coach Richt felt “the best about a team than he ever has”…..and of course Stafford hype…..let’s just stop the talk and walk the walk
paulmacon
April 23rd, 2010
4:13 pm
Tim Tucker,
Would you PLEASE have one of your minion remove all of the pathetic, juvenile posting that have been added above, it’s getting a bit embarrassing. Perhaps you can ban some of these clowns while you are at it. It would only elevate the discussion.
With appreciation in advance for your efforts,
paulmacon
paulmacon
April 23rd, 2010
4:15 pm
And yes, I know I mis-typed “postings.”
Bigdawg
April 23rd, 2010
4:18 pm
Murray is too short for college football…Not going to work. Hudson Matson is the answer. Incoming freshmen QB. Time will tell.
kauai dawg
April 23rd, 2010
4:22 pm
I agree AJC who looks over these post? Does your delete button work?
Go DAWGS!
Thanks to all the honorable and subject worthy post
yoda
April 23rd, 2010
4:26 pm
The sad fact is CMR loves QB’s that are similar to he and BooBoo in height & talent……yikes, here we go again, at least Murray isn’t being compared to Qball (Quincy Carter).
76-Dawg
April 23rd, 2010
4:27 pm
If CMR feels that way about Murray, then that’s good enough for me. Hope he can stay healthy. I still think UGA has a good chance at Lemay out of North Carolina in 2011’s recruiting class. MR knows how important a good QB is especially after last years disaster.
McDawg
April 23rd, 2010
4:30 pm
Gamble was expected to start at ILB and is now 2nd Steing OLB must be tough for the Senior
McDawg
April 23rd, 2010
4:35 pm
Mr Tucker-
Could we also remove postings that describe black players as “thugs” getting sick of some of the veiled racism on this and other AJC blogs
yoda
April 23rd, 2010
4:37 pm
76-Dawg – the sad fact is CMR has recruit only 2 decent QBs in his time in Athens…Shockley & Stafford….the guy with the best record wasn’t even a CMR recruit, David Greene, and he made CMR’s record look a whole lot better than all the others combined. Makes me wonder what CMR is lokking for in QB’s
Murray finds life as No. 1 quarterback ‘pretty cool’ | UGA sports blog
April 23rd, 2010
4:40 pm
[...] Richt says Murray reminds him of Heisman runnerup Weldon. [...]