Veteran Durham ‘just can’t wait to see’ what Aaron Murray does
MACON — Kris Durham started his Georgia football career with Matthew Stafford and will end it with Aaron Murray.
Durham graduated early from high school and enrolled at UGA in January 2006, along with the fellow freshman Stafford. Fast forward to June 2010. Stafford is a multi-millionaire NFL quarterback, and Durham is the grizzled veteran of the Bulldogs.
The wide receiver from Calhoun received his bachelor’s degree last month. “That was probably one of the highlights of my life, getting that degree,” he said. This week he began graduate school, starting work toward a master’s degree in education. He wants to teach and coach. But first, he has one season of football eligibility remaining because he was redshirted last fall while rehabbing from shoulder surgery.
Durham represented UGA’s offense at the “Pigskin Preview” event at the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in Macon on Tuesday, and the fifth-year senior exuded enthusiasm each time someone mentioned Murray, the redshirt freshman quarterback.
“Aaron is a special guy,” Durham said. “He’s very, very intelligent. He’s going to bring a new energy. I’m excited to see what he does. He’s a fiery competitor. I just can’t wait to see what he does.
“He gets in there and studies and knows what he’s supposed to do. And he’s a great leader. I mean, you don’t usually see that in a freshman, but he’s definitely taken his leadership role as the quarterback of the team.”
Given the attrition at the position –- Zach Mettenberger’s dismissal and Logan Gray’s quasi-move to wide receiver –- the Bulldogs are banking on Murray. Coach Mark Richt mentioned Tuesday that spending this summer with the responsibilities of being the No. 1 quarterback should allow Murray a smoother transition than the true freshman Stafford was afforded in 2006.
“Along the way, there are going to be bumps in the road, [but] hopefully we can minimize those,” Richt said. “The fact [Murray] is surrounded by a lot of veteran players on offense should help.
“If he doesn’t try to be a hero and he just manages the game well and does the things we’re asking him to do and minimizes any play that starts out poorly and respects the football –- if he does those things, I think we’ll be fine,” Richt said. “If we can get him started on the right foot and gaining some confidence, we’ll let him grow in increments. But the worst thing we could do is just throw so much on him that he’s drowning. You don’t want to set him back.”
Murray, as you know, has never thrown a pass in a collegiate game. But with starters returning at the other 10 positions on offense, Durham envisions Murray leading a balanced unit.
“I feel like the run game is going to open up the pass game, and the pass game is going to open up the run game,” Durham said. “But it all starts with the offensive line. Since we have such a veteran offensive line, I feel like they’re going to be our rock. . . . We can’t do anything without them. Whatever we do, the offensive line is going to be the key.”
Durham, who at 22 is three years older than his quarterback, says the Bulldogs are fueled by last season’s 8-5 record, their worst under Richt.
“You work and build a foundation and start all over again,” Durham said. “You start from scratch. That’s what we’ve tried to do this offseason.”
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180 comments Add your comment
dream team?
June 9th, 2010
8:53 am
Great news about Nick Marshall! What about Quan Bray, Jay Rome, Ray Drew, Crowell (bama?) and Vaughters (stanford?) Anybody got any juicy info?
kaput
June 9th, 2010
8:53 am
WOOOOOOOOOODAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWGGGGGGGGGGGGIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEE!!!!
here we comes!!
Murray is going to be the best quarterback in college this season, mark it down!!!
Heisman? All American? You betcha!!
The Good Doctor
June 9th, 2010
8:53 am
I have wondered what CMR sees in Murray. He’s done nothing even good so far. CMR must be watching Murray’s high school video highlight reel and ignoring what’s happening in college. That plan didn’t work out with Cox, surprised Richt’s falling for it again.
Hobnailed Hater
June 9th, 2010
8:58 am
Yea, everyone is afraid of the midget allright. He looked terrible in his only show before witnesses. Cant wait until the season flops. If Richt has tied his wagon to Murray, it’s headed for the cliff.
Pago Pago Dawg
June 9th, 2010
9:01 am
Here we go again…the next 4 years the DAWGS will finish the season in the Top Five or higher.
Spokesman for the SEC East
June 9th, 2010
9:01 am
We feel the same about Murray as Richt; we hope he wins enough to not get fired. It’s pretty funny observing what the Humpers have to say about Murray. You will believe Richt all the way until the end won’t you. Murray was the worst of the 3 QB’s by FAR at G day.
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
June 9th, 2010
9:04 am
If macots had highlight reels I’d have a good one. We beat Tech and we won a bowl game. I would edit out the a$$ painting incident.
The Hobnail Boot
June 9th, 2010
9:09 am
We have the best group of WR’s in the country. Murray’s gonna light it up boys. I can’t see a game this year where we don’t score 35+.
Sunny Purdue
June 9th, 2010
9:13 am
Ron Zook – 2, Mark Richt – 1
Urban Meyer
June 9th, 2010
9:13 am
Man, I love these articles. Nice thinking Bulldog fans and writers, keep ratcheting up the pressure on your young QB. Do Dawg fans really believe this kid is going to be “good” his Freshman year. He doesn’t have a great supporting cast, the defense is adjusting to a new coach and system and Dawg fans are punching their tickets to the SEC Championship game, I love it. Jim Jones lives in Athens and no one laps up the Kool-Aid like Dawg fans, Murray for the Heisman!
Hobnailed idiot
June 9th, 2010
9:14 am
Boot boy, what makes you think he is going to light it up when he sucked on G day. Oh yea, Helen Hunt, I mean Richt was just hiding him.
Urban Meyer
June 9th, 2010
9:15 am
Did anyone see Murray light it up in the G-Day game, neither did I?
The Hobnail Boot
June 9th, 2010
9:20 am
Ya’ll can’t deal with all the speed we field on offense. Murray’s got a big open target ever down baby.
AJ Green
June 9th, 2010
9:22 am
I’m looking forward to everygame except those Gators cause Ahmad Black laid me out.
bill_in_atl
June 9th, 2010
9:24 am
Tide Roll, I appreciate your advice to our coaches. I’m sure they’re all waiting intently for your next bit of wisdom on the matter.
Ben Jones and Clint Boling will both play on Sundays, but it would be great if Sturdivant is healthy enough to push Boling over to RT.
Urban Meyer
June 9th, 2010
9:25 am
Hey Hobnail, go back to your World of Warcraft game and leave the sports talk to the adults. You may be right however, Georgia could rise to maybe 5th or 6th in total defense next year with all that speed.
TOTAL DEFENSE G Rush Pass Plays Yards Avg/P TD Avg/G
1. Alabama 14 1094 2324 844 3418 4.0 16 244.1
2. Florida 14 1406 2139 844 3545 4.2 16 253.2
3. South Carolina 13 1790 2119 828 3909 4.7 27 300.7
4. Ole Miss 13 1824 2267 866 4091 4.7 22 314.7
5. Tennessee 13 1944 2200 852 4144 4.9 25 318.8
6. LSU 13 1734 2525 910 4259 4.7 19 327.6
7. Georgia 13 1640 2772 868 4412 5.1 37 339.4
8. Kentucky 13 2378 2298 845 4676 5.5 35 359.7
9. Vanderbilt 12 2374 1979 845 4353 5.2 32 362.8
10. Miss. State 12 1752 2640 774 4392 5.7 36 366.0
11. Auburn 13 2029 2834 945 4863 5.1 44 374.1
12. Arkansas 13 1985 3230 905 5215 5.8 37 401.2
Chris Petersen
June 9th, 2010
9:26 am
UGA goes 6-6, fires suntanned Helen Hunt look a like Mark Richt and hires me away from Boise State! You heard it here first.
AJ Green
June 9th, 2010
9:27 am
Just throw me the damn ball Murray!
The Hobnail Boot
June 9th, 2010
9:28 am
yes, gator fans should get used to speaking in the past tense. 2010 gators are terrible.
Arron Murray
June 9th, 2010
9:31 am
I want a new offensive line–these guys are just too tall and I can’t see over them.
Hobnailed Idiot
June 9th, 2010
9:32 am
They were “terrible” enough to get Ron Zook fired also, but that didnt work out to well for the queen of the tanning salons did it?
Mark Richt
June 9th, 2010
9:33 am
I just love my followers; Can I have a witness?
AceDawg
June 9th, 2010
9:35 am
Get ‘em Murray – Go Dawgs!
Ray Goff
June 9th, 2010
9:35 am
I wish jawja fans were this delusional when I was the man.
Gatorbait 17-3
June 9th, 2010
9:36 am
The Hobnail Boot
June 9th, 2010
9:28 am
yes, gator fans should get used to speaking in the past tense. 2010 gators are terrible.
================================================================
Why then are the Gators a top 5 preseason pick and the dogs are maybe top 20 in only one poll. Just be happy to try and finish 2nd in the East.
Serious Question for Dawg fans: Except for having blind faith in Richts judgement, what have you seen of Murray other than a few Youtube highlights that give you such hope? Cause he did suck at G day.
June 9th, 2010
9:37 am
Enter your comments here
The Hobnail Boot
June 9th, 2010
9:37 am
CUM, you must be thinking of GT fans playing world of warcraft. We can talk about the defense some other time. This blog is about Murray and all that he can do on the field.
Starring Kam Fong as Chin Ho
June 9th, 2010
9:37 am
Just read a headline that stated ” Plane lands at Florida middle school football field”. I thought, what in hell is Kiffen up to now?. Turned out it was just a pilot with an emergency.
Bulldog
June 9th, 2010
9:38 am
You dorks and your stats…
Hobnailed Idiot
June 9th, 2010
9:39 am
And tell us boot boy, what has the midget done on the field?
Gatorbait 17-3
June 9th, 2010
9:39 am
The Gators do have to replace 11 NFL picks, but the sad news for the dogs is,
every replacement player Florida has would start at UGA. Did I mention that their replacements would also start for the dogs.
AltamahaDawg
June 9th, 2010
9:43 am
Roll Tide, seriously? The 27th time is not more interesting than the first 3rd or 4th.
As an expert on Georgia’s offensive line, we would have assumed that you realize the head coach does not decide the starting lineup or substitutions. There are entities called Offensive Line coaches. At least know who you are criticizing.
ugaexpert
June 9th, 2010
9:48 am
npgator how do you know you cant see the future wait did you just guess i mean think about it. aaron murry at qb aj green t wr a experinced o line and a good defince. i think well have a better season than the gators will so how yo lke them apples
The Hobnail Boot
June 9th, 2010
9:48 am
Gatorbait
I think Deonte Thompson is great, but I wouldn’t take him over Green. Other than that, you got nothing. Demps is the most overrated player in the world. Those other rb’s are not on par with our guys. Noone is scared of Rainey. You need to wake up, cause the dogs are 5 deep at WR.
Hobnailed Idiot
June 9th, 2010
9:52 am
Demps is only the fastest human in the world in 2010. Please tell us how you think Murray is going to improve over his horrid performance at Gday. AJ will be scared shirtless to come over the middle again this year over UF. You have great players on the O line but they have underacheived like the rest of the team. 8-5 at best again this year.
The Hobnail Boot
June 9th, 2010
9:56 am
You can give Demps the ball 8-10 times a game and pray he doesn’t get killed.
Murray the Midget
June 9th, 2010
9:57 am
I’m so glad that Kris Durham is excited to see me on the field. That gives me confidence to hear that…….”No! Kris! Kris! Here I am! OVER HERE! Yeah, behind the Gatorade cooler!”
Hobnailed Idiot
June 9th, 2010
9:57 am
He hasnt got hurt yet boot boy. Murray is the one who is injury prone and won’t finish the year as the starter.
Gatorbait 17-3
June 9th, 2010
9:58 am
Hobby,
The only problem with your 5 great recievers is they will play catch with themselves. Murry can’t see over the line to get the ball out————oh, and I did see the G-Day game impressive—-in your dreams.
Hobnailed Idiot
June 9th, 2010
10:00 am
Please Hobnailed boot boy; we are all waiting to hear how you evaluate Murray’s performance on what you have ACTUALLY seen and not what Helen Hunt is telling you folks.
hartdawg
June 9th, 2010
10:11 am
8-5 are you crazy. Its one thing to be a UF fan but thats just foolish. UF will be a good team again this year but have no more and possible less talent than UGA. You should be worried about what UF’s record will be not UGA’s. Do your homework IDIOT.
Hobnailed Idiot
June 9th, 2010
10:16 am
hartdog, UGA fans are the delusional idiots. You lost almost as many of defense as we did except yours sucked last year. Most of our second team could have started for UGA last year. Promise us though you wont fire mark richt.
hartdawg
June 9th, 2010
10:16 am
And by the way didn’t UF recruit Murray.
Murray the Midget
June 9th, 2010
10:18 am
Why is everyone so judgemental?? I thought I came up “big” in the G-Day game. After all, you heard coach, he said I was “the guy” all along. You DO believe him, don’t you??
Murray the Midget
June 9th, 2010
10:23 am
In spite of all the good news on recruiting, I am a little bummed today though I must admit. The NCAA denied our request to play with nerf balls this season.
Gatorbait 17-3
June 9th, 2010
10:23 am
What were Murray’s stats in the G-Day game, oh here they are ———scary “Aaron Murray finished 10-of-22 for 96 yards.”
What were Murray’s stats in the G-Day game, oh here they are ———scary “Aaron Murray finished 10-of-22 for 96 yards.”
On the other hand, a real college QB set a new Orange and Blue Debut record—-
Brantley finished the day, completing 78 percent of his passes (.789), after hitting 15-of-19 Saturday for 201 yards and two touchdowns. I’ll give the Gators a hugh edge here.
rumblin wreck
June 9th, 2010
10:26 am
I got out my pocket calculator to look closer at Murray.
1) At his .67 td-to-int ratio over 3 spring games/scrimmages, 2 td’s/3 int’s over 3 games, let’s project that out, over a 12 game season=
8 TD’s, 11 Int’s.
2) Let’s say he keeps his .67 td-to-int ratio, and throws lots of TD’s:
40 TD’s, but still has 53 Int’s
30 TD’s, but still has 40 Int’s
20 TD’s, but still has 27 Int’s
Anyone you look at it, if Murray’s starting all 12 games like Cox did, and just continues at his .67 td-to-int ratio, all roads lead to disaster, and he’s on track to SHATTER Joe Cox’s worst performance in 35 years interception record.
Looking at a 6-6 season, at best, with Murray at QB.
hartdawg
June 9th, 2010
10:26 am
And besides with Spikes gone how will UF be able to win if the other team gets to keep thier eyes.
Ace
June 9th, 2010
10:29 am
Couldn’t beat Joe Cox out of the job…can’t see over the line…injury prone…
RxDawg
June 9th, 2010
10:30 am
This is what I think happend on GDAY:
Richt: “Aaron, go out there and throw some ducks.”
Murray: “Coach?”
Richt: “Just do it, make em all think you stink. We all know better, and when Darth Visor tries to crowd the line of scrimage so will the rest of the world”
Murray: “10-4 Coach!”