Freshman leaves UGA football team (UPDATED WITH RICHT REACTION)
Six months after signing with Georgia’s football program, and without participating in a single practice, freshman outside linebacker Dexter Morant left the team.
“Football’s just not for everybody,” coach Mark Richt said at his post-practice media briefing Wednesday. “I think he felt like he lost the desire to play. We tried to convince him that it would be in his best interest to stay and fight through it. . . . In the end, he felt like it wasn’t for him, at least not right now.”
Morant, a 6-foot-7, 240-pounder from Manning, S.C., signed with Georgia in February. He played defensive end in high school but was projected as an outside linebacker in new UGA defensive coordinator Todd Grantham’s 3-4 alignment.
Coming out of high school, Morant was rated the nation’s No. 15 defensive-end prospect by Rivals.com, No. 44 by Scout.com and No. 73 by ESPN.com.
Morant, who had been in Athens since June, informed Richt of his decision to leave before Tuesday’s practice.
“He told me a couple of times,” Richt said. “We were working hard to try to keep him. He was leaving; then he was staying. He was leaving; then he was staying. He finally decided he wasn’t going to stay.
“He came to me with his keys in his hand and said he wanted to go. I sat with him and tried to get him to stay. He didn’t want to do it.”
Richt isn’t sure of Morant’s plans.
“As I spoke to him, it didn’t seem like he was that interested in playing football. Period,” Richt said. “He said, ‘Coach, if I really wanted to play football, Georgia is where I want to be. It’s just that I don’t know what I want to do right now.’ It was more of a feeling like he lost the desire to play the game.”
(AJC correspondent Andy Johnston contributed to this blog from Athens.)
Other UGA coverage:
Contracts reveal UGA basketball non-conference opponents, dates, payouts.
Kansas junior college welcomes former UGA QB Mettenberger.
Coaches challenge UGA offensive line to be ‘dominant’
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374 comments Add your comment
Hunker Down
August 4th, 2010
7:34 pm
I remember rumors when recruiting Dexter that he was not a solid commit. that he might switch. I, nor probably no one else on this blog, knows the complete story and his reasoning for quiting. I think he definately would of added a wringle to the defensive scheme and helped us out. He was recruited fairly heavily by several schools. For those trashing the kid and saying we didn’t want , I say as a true Dawg fan that if that is your attitude towards an athlete then really the one we don’t want is you. Go root for another team please because you are as lame as those who have nothing better to do in life than posting negatvie mindless comments on articles obviously centered about the University of Georgia football program. I for one wish Dexter good luck in life and sorry it didn’t work out.
Durango Dawg
August 4th, 2010
7:41 pm
The Kid might just be homesick. I saw alot of homesick guys in my Air Force Basic Training Unit.
The only difference was they just got told to suck it up, and keep going.
It’s just to bad we didn’t give his scholarship to someone who really had a great desire to play, for UGA.
Jimmy
August 4th, 2010
7:42 pm
TampaGator,
I’m not going to argue w/ you over whether or not Florida’s defense is better than UGA’s, because we all know it is.
However,
How can you say that Florida’s defense will attach more THIS year just because they play multiple formations and UGA won’t??
It doesn’t matter how many formations you play in order to disguise your blitz, as long as you blitz. As you said even if UGA plays in a ‘34′ front on every first & ten, the key is to NOT show a pattern in where your blitz’s are coming from. One first down, your blitz can come from the strong side outside LB. Second down from the Will OLB, third it can come from one of your ILB’s or the safeties. You can even throw in a CB blitz w/ Boykin to throw the opponent off.
My point being is that it doesn’t matter whether you play a ‘34,’ a 3-3-5 or a ‘43.’ The point is to vary where your blitz’s are coming from.
With Grantham we believe the defense will attack much more than it did under WM, so to say that Florida has more styles of attack doesn’t really mean much. Remember, it’s not how you pressure the QB, but how effective your results are.
GATOR SPIT
August 4th, 2010
7:43 pm
Hey Dorsey, u need a job. us Gators own u in every part of ur life. u are so sad to blame it on the poor tech boys. step up or get outta church Dorsey. life sux as a “boy”
SSIgator
August 4th, 2010
7:44 pm
I heard a rumor that he quit because Richt came over to talk to him and coach could not remember his name.
Actually I think he probably quit because that is what the whole UGA team did in the Gator Bowl the last two years and he just wanted to be an individual and get a head start. You know how youngsters are these days – It is all about me.
SSIgator
August 4th, 2010
7:52 pm
AltamahaDawg -
FYI – There is no Golden Isles Gator Club. I make do just hanging out with my UGA buddies at Brogens and Gnats. Funny thing is though, there are all really nice guys (for Dawg fans) but it is interesting that they hardly talk any trash @ UF at all. I guess there is not a UGA KoolAid machine here locally or they are just more realistic than other fans.
You Can't Fix Stupid
August 4th, 2010
7:52 pm
There’s nothing dumber than a Georgia Bulldog.
Richter
August 4th, 2010
8:06 pm
You asked for it!
Don’t send my boy to MIT
The dying mother said,
Don’t send my boy to Emory
I’d rather see him dead,
But send my boy to Georgia Tech
‘Tis better than Cornell.
And as for the University of Georgia
I’d rather see him in hell!
To hell, to hell to hell with Georgia,
To hell, to hell to hell with Georgia,
To hell, to hell to hell with Georgia,
The cesspool of the South!
Mine eyes have seen the glory
Of the stomping of the Dogs
We will teach the poor dumb farm boys
They should stick to sloppin’ hogs
When the Jackets are triumphant
There will be a mighty cheer
We’ll do the same next year!
To hell, to hell to hell with Georgia,
To hell, to hell to hell with Georgia,
To hell, to hell to hell with Georgia,
The cesspool of the South!
On the Field between the hedges
There arose a mighty stench,
In the Dogs’ machine the engineers
Had thrown a monkey wrench.
When the Jackets are triumphant
We will raise a mighty yell,
Them Dogs can GO TO HELL!
To hell, to hell to hell with Georgia,
To hell, to hell to hell with Georgia,
To hell, to hell to hell with Georgia,
The cesspool of the South!
Mine eyes have seen the glory
Of the N.C. Double-A
They’re investigating G.A. players
To see how much they’re paid
After counting all the cars
And the loans Alumni made,
They out pay the NBA.
To hell, to hell to hell with Georgia,
To hell, hell to hell with Georgia,
To hell, to hell to hell with Georgia,
The cesspool of the South!
Jesse James
August 4th, 2010
8:07 pm
I don’t know of anybody as dumb as You Can’t Fix Stupid. I am sorry Coach Richt didn’t offer you a scholarship or your son.
PT
August 4th, 2010
8:10 pm
not any interesting reads tonight with this group
Jesse James
August 4th, 2010
8:15 pm
PT – The bottom line is that these dawg bashers are getting old. I really believe some are just mad because Damon didn’t have their red panties.
15 wins in 50 years
August 4th, 2010
8:24 pm
Moire, same tired post under another name
Yes, We're Lame
August 4th, 2010
8:28 pm
how lame is it that you have to spell the name. must be a graduate level class.
Beast from the East
August 4th, 2010
8:36 pm
Just read Richt’s comments. I sure hope the kid can afford to pay for college on his own. That’s a FULL scholarship he’s walking away from. Could be a major life-changing event. He may regret that decision the rest of his life. Best wishes, young man.
CLEVON LITTLE
August 4th, 2010
8:38 pm
cantondawg, Wow…you took that personally I see. SO, you did cry I take it. BTW…I didn’t play college football –I grew up in Athens. My father played at UGA in the 1950’s & my brother was an all-state LB. I wasn’t big enough to play CFB, but I certainally didn’t cry when I moved away from home. Sorry I hurt your fellings.
Nick
August 4th, 2010
8:43 pm
I will hope and assume that he’ll lose his scholarship and it will pass to someone who deserves it. Anyone know?
Ms. Chokesondick
August 4th, 2010
8:44 pm
First!
David Green Sells Avon Products
August 4th, 2010
8:55 pm
He saw the future, the NCAA Death Penalty…..FIVE YEARS OF NO FOOTBALL…..HE HE HA HA, ROFL
ryan
August 4th, 2010
8:55 pm
This kid is a joke i don’t care what you haters say he did not want to work hard some of the blame does go with CMR for recruiting this guy in the first place .
kevin
August 4th, 2010
8:56 pm
Richter,
Great post (if you are retarded). Despite GT being a great school, it’s not MIT or Cornell. Also, 1-8–nice job, dork!
kevin
August 4th, 2010
9:02 pm
oh, and emory is a better school too.
Jimmy
August 4th, 2010
9:02 pm
I think someone said it earlier already and was spot on. So what if your heart isn’t in it anymore? We’re talking about a FREE EDUCATION here! Fake it! My God man. This just shows you that most of these “kids” just don’t value an education these days.
I wish him luck back home pumping gas for a living.
kevin
August 4th, 2010
9:03 pm
The kid simply changed his mind about what he wants to do with his life. Too bad for UGA, but best of luck to him.
NOBODYYOUKNOW
August 4th, 2010
9:05 pm
Years ago I was a big Tech fan. But after attending some games at Tech feild I got fed up. The tech students throwing bottles and fish at the Notre Dame sideline. And at an Auburn game some years ago after mouthing back and forth at the Auburn fans, the idiots jumped on the feild at halftime, went over in front of some Auburn people and started yelling insults at them. The Auburn fans got tired of listening to it and jumped on the feild and beat the hell out of the ones they could catch. Most Tech kids ran for they’re life. And Tech lost the game!
Dawg Rule
August 4th, 2010
9:10 pm
No big deal—the dawgs are loaded at this position. Maybe he can transfer to georgia state. Bill Curry will be nice to him.
ugag is irrelevant
August 4th, 2010
9:12 pm
wah wah wah
David Green Sells Avon Products
August 4th, 2010
9:13 pm
There’s more VD in Athens than in NYC!
David Green Sells Avon Products
August 4th, 2010
9:14 pm
The stench in Athens is “tuna crotch.”
Thomas A.
August 4th, 2010
9:16 pm
I never understood people that love to pet there egos through a football team. i love football but the teams shouldn’t define you guys. really insecure bashing on schools that are about the same. get a life
?GT Complex?
August 4th, 2010
9:20 pm
GT Complex, You have two degrees I have one. Congrats! I only needed one and doing quite well. All I am saying is too many who post have degrees from neither school and are generally the most obnoxious – though you may be the exception. What Tech alums need to realize, is for the last ten years or so, there has been little to no differnce in the scholastic aptitude between Tech and Georgia students. This seems to irk the folks at Tech now. I think they call it a “chip”.
reddawg27
August 4th, 2010
9:20 pm
Hey Moire, I AM a Dawg grad and will bet you I make twice what you do. And I was accepted to Tech w/o ever applying (Georgia certificate of merit – top 5%). What gets to many Dawgs is the attitudes of insects, that are annoying, like you. If you do not feel inferior, why come to our blogs to spew your crap? I have never written on a bug blog. Why, b/c they simply are irrelevant. I know that hurts, and to compensate you hate us. We all understand. But come off the almighty intellect superior crap. If you don’t care about football, why are you here? Just understand that you do not matter and leave us alone!
ryan
August 4th, 2010
9:23 pm
Well good news out of this is that it opens a scholarship up we add a player who wants to play for 2011 or 12.
Not a Nerd
August 4th, 2010
9:24 pm
@ Moire….you claim UGA fans don’t have a life, yet you write a mini novel regarding an article about a UGA player who has decided not to leave football. Pot, meet kettle.
Thomas A.
August 4th, 2010
9:24 pm
nice.
LowCountryDawg07
August 4th, 2010
9:24 pm
GT is horrible at football. We own them, end of story. Next
Thomas A.
August 4th, 2010
9:27 pm
I did make a neutral statement……. The guy is right. every person i have met from tech thinks they are above and beyond.
thunderdong
August 4th, 2010
9:29 pm
Georgia fans do love the smell of their own farts.
adultamongpunks
August 4th, 2010
9:31 pm
This is a kid struggling with a decision. For the adults that posted (was it 3?)….nice job. For the rest of you blowhards…….grow up!
LowCountryDawg07
August 4th, 2010
9:32 pm
Georgia fans love their own smell of farts, have criminals (as with any team), wear red panties, anything else? I don’t care if we wear clown suits, pink helmets, and party who cares? We will stomp tech as we always do and they can’t stand it.
ryan
August 4th, 2010
10:09 pm
people that all they can talk about is panties they obviously live in there moms basement those tech fans should be like those guys on Revenge of the the Nerds and have a panty raid.
Lindsay Scott's finger
August 4th, 2010
10:10 pm
Does any one remember the year when Tech ran onto Grant Field through a banner that said “Georgia: Cesspool of the South” to face the ‘dogs in the year end rivalry?? Lindsay Scott took the opening KO back all the way for a Georgia TD; as he streaked down the sideline he gave the Tech student section “the finger”. UGA went on to take the score to 42 -0 or thereabouts before Dooley called off the ‘dogs. The AJC headline the next day didn’t give the final score; it said “At 42-0 Saint Vincent the Mercifull Calls Off The ‘Dogs”. If Red Panties, Saint Simons, & the like would only learn; I guess they enjoy those all too frequent trips to the woodshed!!!!!! GATA
Dawg 1
August 4th, 2010
10:10 pm
Moire – Jan Kemp? Really? That was 25 + years ago. Give it a rest. UGA’s Academics improve every year. And I’m pretty sure only one of the two schools lost a couple of scholarships by not improving on Academics. That’s right. It was Georgia Tech.
Same old lame theme. Problem is that it simply doesn’t fly anymore.
Pathetic.
The Thin Guy
August 4th, 2010
10:17 pm
If the Red Panties don’t fit you must quit. The kid was recruited to play one position and they switched him to another. Maybe he just didn’t like being lied to.
ryan
August 4th, 2010
10:31 pm
Logan Gray is not crying about switching positions please don’t give me that crap players switch to do what ever they can to help out this guy does not have heart or passion. Stop making excuses haters.
kerryb
August 4th, 2010
10:31 pm
Tech fans like their mascot are just annoying and should just be swatted with a fly swatter like their team will be this year.
kerryb
August 4th, 2010
10:32 pm
Red panties, red panties , red panties…..morons. It’s so stupid it’s not even funny.
SC 99
August 4th, 2010
10:32 pm
Another 4 star hits the road. He just wanted to come back and play in his home state. Gonna be fun to whip up on you dogs in a month.
DawgGirl32
August 4th, 2010
10:32 pm
Wow, so Tech has an entire song about UGA? Obsessed much? I guess that’s what happens when you get beat every year.
kerryb
August 4th, 2010
10:34 pm
SC 99, pretty bold statement about a team that has’nt won in two years.
Dawggrl
August 4th, 2010
10:37 pm
Good luck to the young man! I hate the loss for UGA but lets use the scholly for someone who wants to play!