Richt confirms Smith as punt returner (updated)
ATHENS — It was a good conversation piece for the off-season, but you can put aside the idea of A.J. Green as Georgia’s punt returner.
“As it turned out, Branden Smith looks to be our No. 1 [punt-return] guy right now and Carlton Thomas our No. 2,” coach Mark Richt said today. “A.J. can do it. There may come a situation where we say, ‘You know what, let’s put him back there and do it.’”
Or there may not.
Richt noted that punt returners can get “splattered” as soon as they catch the ball and that there’s risk of “an overzealous player deciding they’re going to knock out A.J. Green. So we’re not too thrilled to put him in that situation. If need be, he can do it, but as it turned out we feel Branden Smith is our best option there.”
Green, Georgia’s star receiver, said several times during the spring and summer that he would like to return punts, as he did in high school. But Green said last week that he expected Smith to win the job.
“He’s explosive, man,” Green said.
Smith, a sophomore from Atlanta, cheered the news that he will return punts.
“I’ve been wanting to play punt return ever since I got up here,” he said after practice Wednesday.
Smith said he takes a three-pronged approach to the job: “The No. 1 thing is catching the ball. No. 2 is holding on to the ball. And No. 3 is just do my thing. With my speed and the blocking up front, it should not be that hard.”
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
65 comments Add your comment
Pago Pago Dawg
September 1st, 2010
5:53 pm
We still think the gaytors will be tough even though Tebow is gone. They’re just re-load…don’t be fooled.
Clete
September 1st, 2010
5:54 pm
First>
Clete
September 1st, 2010
5:54 pm
Damn 2nd
Clete
September 1st, 2010
5:55 pm
Dang 2nd
17 of 20
September 1st, 2010
5:55 pm
It doesn’t matter who is returning punts for Georgia, because they are Gator-Bait.
Mcdawghna
September 1st, 2010
5:55 pm
If he gets an opening he can outrun everyone in the stadium…..If he hangs on to the ball its probably a great move……
scdawg
September 1st, 2010
5:59 pm
RUN SMITH RUN
Between the Hedges
September 1st, 2010
6:01 pm
Has any one heard whats up with AJ and the NCAA. I read somewhere a family member confirmed he was at home but the NCAA has said nothing. just wondering Go DAWGS!
CONFEDERATE DAWG
September 1st, 2010
6:06 pm
IF IN DOUBT FAIR CATCH THAT BAD BOY AND KEEP THE D OFF THE FIELD!!!
COME ON DAWGS! LETS GET THEM GAYTORS!
11Dawg
September 1st, 2010
6:08 pm
I hope he’s gotten better at hanging on to the ball.
dawgfan
September 1st, 2010
6:09 pm
Between the Hedges, great question. I guess we’ll never hear anymore about it out of the AJC. I’m still waiting for Schultz’s update on the “dark cloud” hanging over UGA’s football program. I’ll probably be waiting awhile.
Washaun Ealey
September 1st, 2010
6:13 pm
We hit and run this state.
Oompa Loompa Dawg
September 1st, 2010
6:14 pm
Put that midget back there to receive punts. I hear he is pretty good at keeping low to the ground.
Between the Hedges
September 1st, 2010
6:14 pm
I think AJ is a great guy and would not lie about it, but taking this long concerns me.
dawgfan
September 1st, 2010
6:14 pm
There’s nothing dumber than a Georgia Bulldog.
metrodawg
September 1st, 2010
6:18 pm
BTH, I’m with you. Too much time for this investigation IMHO. This shouldve been resolved a while back. AJ wasn’t there, period. That seems like an open and shut case to me. Lets hope the stupid Fulmer Cup is not part of this issue and is biasing the ncaa.
Dances With Whiskey
September 1st, 2010
6:27 pm
What do UGA fans and GT fans have in common?
They are both obsessed with all things UGA!!! GATA DAWGS!!
Gratefuldawghead
September 1st, 2010
6:35 pm
AJ8 for Heisman
Nesbutt4Hyman
September 1st, 2010
6:36 pm
The only award Nesbutt will win is for having the fattest lips!!
Tech fans are so stupid and Islamic terrorists too!
Tide Roll
September 1st, 2010
6:39 pm
FIX THE OFFENSIVE LINE DAMN IT. All ya’ll talk about is how many starts they’ve had as if that makes them good. Jones, Davis and Boling don’t match up with SEC calibre defensive lineman in the red zone. At least use Bean on some short yardage stuff. This offensive line you’re bragging about got beat 49-10 vs. Fla.and completely dominated by Tenneesee. LOOK AT FLORIDA: NIXON, CARL JOHNSON, POUNCY, MAURICE HURT, GILBERT, and match them with DAVIS, GLENN, BURNETTE, ANDERSON, AND STURDIVANT. It’s so simple and yet you refuse do it. It was so simple to sign Cam Newton and develop Murray, and you won’t do it. So you let the kid go to Auburn and allow them to develop Barrett Trotter. Richt and Bobo are more interested in showing everyone what great QB coaches they are than winning ball games . It’ infuriating. How to ya’ll stand getting embarassed year after year. You had two first round draft picks in your backfield and we were up 31-0 at half! It’s your offensive line damn it.
46 out of 86
September 1st, 2010
6:52 pm
Gayter Football……The Tradition of Wake Forrest…….The Ego of Alabama.
Overrated Media Darlings. First SEC Title 1996….Big Mouth Cheats !
mickdog2010
September 1st, 2010
6:55 pm
dawgs vs bama for SEC!!!! 17 of 21 !!!!!
Champs
September 1st, 2010
6:58 pm
Tide Roll,
You are embarrassing yourself and all of us UA alumni and fans. This blog is about UGA’s punt return duties. What the hell do you keep babbling about? Please just stop. Branden Smith is likely the fastest guy in the SEC. If you can teach him to catch and hold the ball consistently, he’s the logical choice.
GTJedi
September 1st, 2010
7:03 pm
We are having a Yoda dress up contest on the GT campus Saturday if any UGA fans are interested?
Between the Bushes
September 1st, 2010
7:05 pm
What do UGA fans and GT fans have in common?
Neither went to UGA.
kb
September 1st, 2010
7:05 pm
Tide roll, same old tired comments. Dawgs 3-1 vs tide past 4 meetings 2 wins in Tuscaloosa.
Coastal Dawg
September 1st, 2010
7:07 pm
I think it’s hilarious on another article, when the defensive players make a mistake or dog it for a play, Coach Grantham yells at them ‘8 and 5′. Meaning that when they don’t play well it gets them to a record of 8-5. At least one team we play early in the season has its high water mark at 8 wins. All depends on your perspective.
Go Dawgs!
midland Dog
September 1st, 2010
7:12 pm
Tide Roll
Nobody gives a s—- about what you say! Are you on medication or do you need to be?
jack e. row
September 1st, 2010
7:19 pm
Tide roll, so you decided not to wait for a discussion on our excellent offensive line, and instead the blog is about returning punts! Do you even read the article or just jump on whatever opinion you think is more important! What a Maroon!!
Mike Unt
September 1st, 2010
7:29 pm
Tide Roll, let me guess…You would of played college ball if your high school coach didn’t hate you, right?
tide roll
September 1st, 2010
7:45 pm
i love all men..
GATOR SPIT
September 1st, 2010
7:45 pm
sew? god this is pathetic
GATOR SPIT
September 1st, 2010
7:46 pm
maybe more revealing!! Richt takes a pee pee along with Grantham at his side! i am soooooooooooo impressssssseddddddddd!
Bulldog huff
September 1st, 2010
7:52 pm
thats just tide trolls way of sayin ?Its great to be a gawga bulldog!!!Go dawgs!!
tide roll, everytime you come in here...
September 1st, 2010
7:53 pm
bringing the same ol crap in here it just makes you look dumb as hell. ( YOU NEED TO GET A LIFE !!!!!…..SERIOUSLY !!! What a moron you are. I hope they banned your sorry a$$ from this forum. My dog has better sense than you !!! what a piece of dirt you are.
gss303
September 1st, 2010
7:56 pm
SEC football is in a league of its own…..
no contenders anywhere
and that goes for all the Gaytors Jerks ...
September 1st, 2010
8:00 pm
out there too. What a bunch Dirt bags !!!!
Robert Hall (suspended 1 game only)
September 1st, 2010
8:34 pm
I smacked my woman up and sent her to Grady. I only got one game suspenshun. I be gettIn my management dugree an playin ugainst the a see see. Glad I be gettin my manugmint dugree.
RomeDawg
September 1st, 2010
9:09 pm
Tide Roll is all about the offensive line. I have seen other post about it. Kinda….odd. The “Washaun Ealey” message was pretty darn funny, though.
World Chumps Baby!
September 1st, 2010
9:22 pm
Who said inbreds and thugs are never winners….
Standings are final UGA takes the 2010 Trophy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.sportsargumentwiki.com/index.php?title=Fulmer_Cup
hunker down
September 1st, 2010
9:35 pm
boogity boogity boogity!
hunker down
September 1st, 2010
9:38 pm
roll tide is obsessed with bean Anderson
you say what?
September 1st, 2010
9:39 pm
You may be a fat A$$ Roll Tide… But your Mama’s a Dog!
Gators Rule the SEC East
September 1st, 2010
9:41 pm
Hey Doggies, just remember your days of almost reaching the top are over, you have no QB, no RB (unless he can bring his scooter on the field)…. all you have is a WR.
You will never be better than UF, so FU dogturds.
For all those touting how easy Urban is on the Gator players, get a life, your coach’s discipline is a freakin joke. He will bring down the hammer hard on players who will never see the field, but will only send a “message” to his starters that they are “AT LEAST” suspended for the game against sisters of the poor. Why even say “AT LEAST” when you mean “AT MOST” geeesh …. St. Richt is a joke.
Enjoy your title in the Fulmer Cup, UF didn’t even make the top 10…. you win doggies. Now go yak and lick it up you disgusting dog turds.
Go Gators….Chomp….Chomp….Chomp….
you say what?
September 1st, 2010
9:42 pm
You may be a PinHead Gator but your Mama’s a Dog!
Jeff in Calhoun
September 1st, 2010
10:06 pm
Sorry, but I can’t think of anything other than Kady Perry in that Teenage Dream video I just saw! LOL
UGA wears red panties
September 1st, 2010
10:14 pm
Unless Damons in the room
The Exterminator
September 1st, 2010
10:24 pm
Will someone please post something intelligent or illuminating?
fan
September 2nd, 2010
2:24 am
just please hold onto the ball!!! if he gets stronger he will be amazing.
tote that pill
September 2nd, 2010
2:36 am
I am very VERY excited about the idea of Smith returning punts…. just please PLEASE hold on to the rock!!
Shawn
September 2nd, 2010
2:53 am
Tide Roll- When you guys were up 31-0 we had a D lineman playing offensive line because everyone else was hurt. It was the only way bama could beat Coach Richt. He was 3-0 prior to that and he would have beaten them again if he was not starting all true freshman and a D lineman due to injuries. Can you tell me who was playing O-line for Bama when you guys lost to La. Monroe?
BTW, you keep after Boling and he is all conference. You must know more than someone.
Also, It’ll be ok for you to fall off the bandwagon and join a new teams when Bama returns to mediocrity!
James T. Kirk
September 2nd, 2010
8:18 am
Smith is the fastest criminal you got? He’s slower than I soon-to-be Highsman competition winner Jason Nezbit!!! Bad news for you mutts I’m afraid!!!
Tired of the talking, let's get to walking!
September 2nd, 2010
8:47 am
Bottom line if Branden can hold on to the football he will be the best PR in the SEC this season. The kid has blazing speed and the quickness to go along with it. UGA’s special team unit this year should be one of the nations best with Smith and Boykin fielding kicks and Walsh and Butler kicking them. All we need is for Murray to be smart and the defense to play fundamentaly sound and this should be a great season. ONLY TWO MORE DAYS! Goooooo DAWGS!
I Know My Players Names
September 2nd, 2010
9:37 am
James T. Kirk – Jason Nesbitt the boxer is going to win the “Highsman”. Get a freakin clue before you post something moron!!
Papadawg
September 2nd, 2010
10:59 am
Who cares who returns punts, I just want to see some meat eating defense
cadawg
September 2nd, 2010
11:18 am
tide roll: you don’t know anything. if you did, you’d know that your boy bean anderson was playing on the 2008 O line that you consistently disparage (he even played against bama). just imagine is we’d had chris burnette handling cody, though! we would have run for 350 yards, right tide roll? if i were a tide fan (and i don’t think you are), i’d less worried about the UGA offensive line and more worried about the alabama defensive backfield (2 freshmen corners behind a sophomore, and 1 experienced safety). i think chance warmack needs a handy; maybe you should go give him one.
b smith will be the latest in a long line of explosive punt returners. that kid can really bounce. here’s hoping he’s improved his ball security…
so much negativity on this thread! isn’t anyone just fired up about the season starting up? it’s great to be a georgia bulldog!!!
Mad Mike
September 2nd, 2010
11:35 am
let’s hope Branden applies his “three pronged” return mantra to his kickoff returns as well this year (because he didn’t last year). particularly prong #2.
DawginLex
September 2nd, 2010
2:52 pm
tide roll needs to worry about Bama.
Our OL is better than yours.
our DL is better than yours because Anderson is there at nose to provide depth.
Our punt return game, punter are both better than yours.
Our running backs are almost as good and now that Ingram is hurt, may be equal.
Our WR and TE are better than yours.
Our kicker is better than yours.
Why don’t you discuss that moron instead of harping about the same old crap?
Alabama will not repeat as champs this year.
No Javier Arenas-best player in the SEC last year.
too many holes to fill
Jborodawg
September 2nd, 2010
6:24 pm
I like Branden’s attitude…the “three pronged approach”. If he does that, he’ll do well.
(Yep, the article is about punt returning, not the OL, nor Flawduh nor Aladambammer. Good lord people.)
takedowndawg
September 3rd, 2010
8:31 am
roll tide, your “sincere” worry about OUR offensive line is both touching and”greatly” appreciated for all those who are looking for your “sensitive”, feminine side”. I, like most life long DAWG fans,are not. Let your team, take its best shot at us or any other fellow SEC member. OUR offensive line will be waiting. Your eyes have to be “brown,” if you know what I mean! Very, very brown!
earl
September 3rd, 2010
10:37 am
Let’s just hope the new A>D> can keep UGA players out of jail long enough to play a ballgame. I guess he’ll have to keep them in jail Sunday thrugh Friday and let them out to play on Saturday. Better keep a close eye on them during pre-game warmups and at halftime. They may find a way to get arrested.
UGA grad here, class of 71 & 73
September 3rd, 2010
12:17 pm
I am distressed about the latest arrest in Athens. I for one, have had enough.
Frankly, I would ask Alec Oogletree to leave the squad. He would be my example, for no particular reason. “Musical chairs” I would call it and “the music stopped with him” would be my reason, if asked. We all know that CMR and his coaches preach up the rules and talk about personal honor and personal comportment,etc.
These kids represent the flagship school in Georgia and this is the last one for me …………..the bloom is off the rose with CMR with me. His players DO NOT get it, so now, he needs to drop kick them one by one. Who cares???
Congress is full of lame ducks and CMR ought to be one too. AD Greg McGarity needs to put CMR on notice. Winning is not gonna do it for me. To go 10-1 with all of this bad news for me would be horrible. frankly, if they were to win, these kigs would accelerate their horrible behavior.
Mr. Ogletree ………..come get your son. The other son can remain, IF he can comport himself properly.
Something has to be done. I am a UGA man, wife is, my sis is, kids are, cousins are and tons of family and friends for many, many years. We have all had enough.
Go Dogs.
PRATTVILLEDAWG
September 3rd, 2010
12:26 pm
Hey TIDE ROLL, by the end of this season you will have a new cheer. Around the bowl and down the hole, ROLL TIDE ROLL.
Mike on Lake Hartwell
September 3rd, 2010
6:41 pm
im ok with branden returning punts as long as the ball doesnt
just pop out of his grasp after running about 8 yards.
bdawge71
September 7th, 2010
5:31 pm
dear fellow bloggers, please remember the immortal words of PAUL JOHNSON, able was i ere i saw elba. see if you can figure that one out. 10-4.