Notes from Memphis: Sturdivant, others face decisions on future
MEMPHIS – Three items to start the day:
- Georgia offensive tackle Trinton Sturdivant, who started six games this season after missing almost all of the previous two seasons because of knee surgeries, is undecided on whether to enter the 2011 NFL draft or return for another year with the Bulldogs.
“I don’t have a clue,” he said Tuesday. “We’ll just see how everything plays out. We’ll see after the bowl game how it looks. . . . I haven’t really weighed all my options with my family.”
Sturdivant described his 2010 season as “all right” but “no All-American type year.” Mark Richt put it this way: “He’s had a good season. Hopefully he’ll come back and have a great season next year.”
Sturidvant said he feels “very close” to regaining the pre-injuries form that made him a season-long starter at left tackle as a freshman in 2007.
“At first, there was a little issue with, ‘Oh, is he going to fall into the mental battle?’” Sturdivant said. “But now I’m at the end of the season, and I’m feeling good, just going all out.”
- Richt said Tuesday that none of Georgia’s underclassmen who are considering the NFL draft have told him whether they are going or staying.
“Even if they knew in their heart what they were doing, I don’t think they’ll say anything until after the [Liberty Bowl] game,” Richt said. “And from what I understand, I don’t know if anybody’s going to be ready that moment.
“There might be a couple who know they’re staying, but I think the guys that are thinking about going … they’re going to want a little time to reflect with their families after the bowl game.”
Georgia’s draft-eligible underclassmen include: wide receiver A.J. Green, a likely top-10 pick who just about everyone assumes will go; offensive linemen Sturdivant and Cordy Glenn; outside linebacker Justin Houston; cornerback Brandon Boykin; punter Drew Butler and kicker Blair Walsh. All of those players have asked the NFL’s underclassmen advisory board for a projection of their draft stock – except Green, who doesn’t need anybody to tell him he’s projected to be a first-round pick. The others expect responses from the NFL board by next week.
The NFL deadline for underclassmen to enter the draft is Jan. 15, but the Georgia players are generally expected to announce their decisions by the start of spring-semester classes on Jan. 10.
- Green, suspended the first four games this season for selling last year’s Independence Bowl jersey, had little reaction to the NCAA’s suspension last week of five Ohio State players for the first five games of next season for selling memorabilia and/or receiving discounts on tattoos. The NCAA is allowing the Ohio State players to play in the Sugar Bowl.
“They know best; that’s their job,” said Green, referring to the NCAA. “I’m not going to question them.”
Please follow @ajcuga on Twitter for updates from Georgia’s Liberty Bowl practices in Memphis.
– Tim Tucker
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
182 comments Add your comment
MoGA
December 29th, 2010
12:13 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C95Cb2ByHNA
GraceLand
December 29th, 2010
12:16 pm
A.J.,
Stay in Athens one more year and try to get that 1,000 yard milestone.
Thank you very much.
Brooksdawg
December 29th, 2010
12:19 pm
If you truly have life experience in ANY SPORT… you know what a winner looks like on the field. By contrast you know what a loser looks like….without ever looking at the score or record.
Bearlover
December 29th, 2010
12:22 pm
Could you Ga guys please sign CMR to a lifetime contract?
So you are paying him 3 million a year for a .500 team, money well spent. You know he is the best Christian and the first to tell you about it. I like the way he handles discipline too. Leads the SEC in penalities on and off the field. Problems are never his fault, just throw an assistant under the bus. It has to be their fault. No way the best Christian in America could be just cashing million dollar checks. He earns every penny. Man there is nothing phony about this guy. Making his wife the waterboy was top notch coaching.
Wild Blue Yonder
December 29th, 2010
12:24 pm
UGA Insider aka NerdCentral: Get a life.
Alabama | MrSEC.com
December 29th, 2010
12:35 pm
[...] Georgia’s offensive line could look a lot different in 2011.6. Several Dawgs are still deciding whether to turn pro or return for their senior seasons.7. AJ Green says the good of 2010 “outweighed the bad, definitely.” Green missed [...]
Jeff Dawg
December 29th, 2010
12:35 pm
hmmm…shouldn’t there be an article on how the AJC reports stuff to early??? Why are you saying now AJ has a decision to make when you reported on your website a week ago that he was 100% sure he was going to the NFL…..hmmmm…credibility?
11 Arrests 6 Wins
December 29th, 2010
12:38 pm
I’m sure Richt and his crew have been researching rap sheets from a lot of Correctional Centers, looking for good “playuhs”.
PHIL
December 29th, 2010
12:40 pm
I see they gave all the inmates at the asylum access to the internet for Christmas
KnowYourRole
December 29th, 2010
12:42 pm
aj green was ready for the nfl after his freshman year. kid is crazy talented and will be a star at the next level. being an auburn fan, i thank god that this will be the last time i see him in red and black (unless its for the Falcons).
same for julio, ingram, dareus, mallett, peterson, and neves.
GEORGIA97
December 29th, 2010
1:04 pm
This blog has gotten ugly. I haven’t seen anything like this since the Anita Bryant concert.
k483
December 29th, 2010
1:10 pm
So, do you think Tebow ended up ahead by waiting a year before going pro? Didn’t he end up signing for an even higher amount than he would have received the year before? Didn’t his stock actually go up during his senior year? If that is the case, might that apply to these UGA underclassmen as well?
Loran, whatdayagot? . . . . . .7-6 we hope
December 29th, 2010
1:11 pm
I hope Georgia will avoid the … ” 6-7 season hall of shame.”
KnowYourRole
December 29th, 2010
1:13 pm
@k483
green’s stock cannot get any higher. barring an injury (which applies to all players), green is probably the safest draft choice out there. i can’t see him no doing well at the next level. with or without another year of college.
bruce mac
December 29th, 2010
1:19 pm
11 arrests, grow up and get some new material. That wasn’t funny the first 150 times it was posted. Yechsters are so juvenile.
suwaneedawg
December 29th, 2010
1:23 pm
Techies, you keep bringing up our arrests and we will keep bringing up all the wins we have against your team for the last 10 years. By the way, Air Force just recovered another one of your fumbles coming off their plane in Colorado Springs. Great offense.
JDawg
December 29th, 2010
1:52 pm
Hey 11…what are you competing in??
C. King
December 29th, 2010
1:56 pm
Dang! Colorin 101 is too hard!
JDawg
December 29th, 2010
1:56 pm
11 the nerd……..You would probably take the red panties and come up with an invention for boxer shorts……chill with the arrest crap…….just look at most of those charges…..You have a second rate program that only surfaces every now and then with a tinge of respectability. Now it’s your basketball team that I am so impressed with……..wow, what a program!!!
edumacated
December 29th, 2010
2:02 pm
I’m not looking to call anyone a name today, or get called one myself, but here is my opinion. I think that folks thinking that Richt will turn it around next year are guilty of wishful thinking. Honestly, if you had to bet your paycheck on Georgia winning the SEC East next year, would you? Probably not. Richt looks tired, and acts tired. That is a high energy job, and it burns people out. He’s likely done. It’s all over but the shouting.
Glenn
December 29th, 2010
2:27 pm
I do find it hard to understand why people want to leave early. If there were a coaching change or something like that maybe but just to leave for the money, where is the loyalty. As far as Green I think he owes UGA another year after what happened at the first of the year, after all he knew he was doing wrong. There is a lot of what ifs in this years team. In my opinion we should have won the East and could have won the SEC. The next big question is how will this effect the recruiting this year. We need a huge year in that area. We shall see.
Terry
December 29th, 2010
2:32 pm
edumacated, I wouldn’t bet a paycheck on any sports team, to many things can go wrong in a year. Look at Auburn, how many people would have thou they would be playing for the BCS Championship.
bruce mac
December 29th, 2010
2:32 pm
edumacated, that is a thoughtful reasonable post. If I had to bet my paycheck on 2011 I would bet UGA wins 9 games. I don’t think 12 and 0 or even 11 and
bruce mac
December 29th, 2010
2:36 pm
and 1 is reasonable. CMR has done very well when he has the QB. His offense is centered around having a great talent at the QB position. For the first time in 3 years he has what he needs to be successful on the offensive side of the ball. There is no 3 – 4 defense in the country that succeeds without a huge presence in the middle. We will have that in 2011 and it will change everything. I would bet the pay check on both of these two facts and our special teams are the best in the country. That is logical and reasonable. Keep the faith.
Magnolia, Tx Dawg
December 29th, 2010
2:45 pm
With Richt as coach, it is hard to keep the faith. We are losing good recruits because no one wants to play on a Mark Richt coached team.
Pago Pago Dawg
December 29th, 2010
2:47 pm
Let’em leave….we were 6-6 with them..can’t get much worse…or can it!
Believe It
December 29th, 2010
2:55 pm
Vad Lee named AP NC prep player of the year. Next years QB for the Yellow Jackets.
bruce mac
December 29th, 2010
2:55 pm
Yea Magnolia, CMR never has good recruting years. Where do you morons come up with this stuff?
KB
December 29th, 2010
3:06 pm
AJ Green is a given to go pro. Matter of fact AJ would be a fool to not go pro. Justin Houston is on the edge and only question is timing.
But look at who else is trying to get out of UGA and into the NFL. Both kickers, an average offensive lineman, and average DB and a above-average offensive linemen who has missed 2 of the last 4 seasons with major injuries.
Is this a vote of non confidence by players? What does this say about the state of affairs for UGA Football?
Buckeye
December 29th, 2010
3:09 pm
How’s the weather in Memphis?
Snoop Dawg
December 29th, 2010
3:15 pm
…like rats jumping from a sinking ship. The captain of the ship, Markt Wrecked, has been sighted in a life raft with da Water Girrrrl , Willie, and Bobo rowing toward the shore.
Snoop Dawg
December 29th, 2010
3:19 pm
AJ, you sold everyone out just like Judas for a handful of sheckels. Get out of Athens and leave your UGA red and black stuff there as you are not a true Dawg. Good riddance! PS love those big diamond earrings–you’re a real player for sure… Idiot!
bruce mac
December 29th, 2010
3:35 pm
It says nothing of the sort JB and Snoop. Your post does say you are typical ignorant blogger that knows nothing of the process used by Major college football programs to help their athletes access their future prospects in the NFL. I am sure you would rather see our athletes shackled and whipped like peasants but unfortunately for you this is the 21st Century.
GTrek Season In Review
December 29th, 2010
3:37 pm
I got the Georgia Tech/ Paul Johnson Breakfast Special at Shoneys this morning.
All the cereal you can eat, except no bowl.
UGAKev
December 29th, 2010
3:41 pm
I can understand players leaving early, but I could be the number one pick, and would come back to georgia, because nothing would mean more to me then putting on that red helmet and jersey and running out in the greatest stadium in front of the greatest fans. No money in the world could replace that great feeling
GTrek Season In Review
December 29th, 2010
3:45 pm
1. 9 of 10 – FAIL
2. 42-34- FAIL
3. But we’re a basketball school (73-72)- FAIL (also see Kennesaw State)
4. The triple joke (excuse me) option is unstoppable- FAIL
5. CPJ is smart by giving up an extra 7- FAIL
6. Nesbitt for Heisman- FAIL
7. We’ll sell out at least one game this year – FAIL
8. Free hot dogs are worth watching a 1940 offensive scheme – FAIL
9. Sure recruits will come to play for an offense shunned by the NFL and a defensive coordinator who’s coaching record is first mentioned in the Dead Sea Scrolls- FAIL
10. At least we’re not in Shreveport – FAIL
TTOUGH44
December 29th, 2010
3:46 pm
How is it that UGA ALWAYS has several to head to the NFL every season…I believe to, in a situation as Green breaking the rules being suspended as well as any others (ohio, Newton), if you used your scholarship, then you should have to honor it…a player as green, should not be allowed to go to the next level due to the fact he did not hold up his end of the deal accepting the scholarship…( an injury, is a different aspect, no prob. with that,) The ncaa and the NFL need to get on the same page and Not Allow an undergraduate that has violated the rules as these boys did, and not allow them to be able to play in the NFL the following yr. They could be drafted but ineligible to play the next season….something has got to be done to stop all of this and the doulbe standards the ncaa put out there….they are a joke regarding the ohio and newton incidents…ncaa you are a joke, once respected by me…not anylonger….sad….
Einsteindawg
December 29th, 2010
3:46 pm
Sturdivant will be better served by returning and showing the pros that his knees are ready. If he leaves early, I think he would probably be signed as a free agent, but cut before the NFL season begins. Then, he’d forgo school and become a night manager at a fast food place with a bunch of Tech grads working for him. Just my opinion.
Einsteindawg
December 29th, 2010
3:48 pm
TTOUGH44, you’re right and I agree; however, college ball is the NFL’s farm league and it’s FREE! It’s all about the money.
11 Arrests 6 Wins
December 29th, 2010
3:53 pm
GTrek Season In Review
1. Arrest
2. Arrest
3. Arrest
4. Arrest
5. Arrest
6. Arrest
7. Arrest
8. Arrest
9. Arrest
10. Arrest
11. Arrest
Magnolia, Tx Dawg
December 29th, 2010
4:02 pm
Bruce Mac, I may be a moron, your opinion, but with all these great recruits, where is a NC.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
December 29th, 2010
4:08 pm
11 wins,
Yes it has failed, 2 out of 3 times you played UGA. Wins and losses are not kept in the total yardage stat line. If so the 1989 Houston Cougars would have won the National Title.
willdawg
December 29th, 2010
4:11 pm
11 arrests you are 1 jack@$$!!
9 of 10 now bugger off!!
Season in Review you sir get an epic win for pointing out tech’s FAIL!!!
11 Arrests 6 Wins
December 29th, 2010
4:15 pm
Lowcountry Bulldawg
Try reading “comprehension”…your buddy was calling it “unstoppable”(sic)….is 512 yards allowed “stopping”??? Typical.
11 Arrests 6 Wins
December 29th, 2010
4:18 pm
willdawg
December 29th, 2010
4:11 pm
11 arrests you are 1 jack@$$!!
LOL!!! Hey! I don’t have an arrest on my record! hahahaha!!!
How’s that whippin boy for FLA going? LOL!!
1966 Gator
December 29th, 2010
4:40 pm
Only a handfull of college athletes make it in the pros. What is their backup plan if things don’t work out?
Without the college degree, you’ll end up being someone’s ball boy.
STAY IN SCHOOL AND GET YOUR DEGREE !
Kyle
December 29th, 2010
4:49 pm
Hey Nerd Central……LMAO…like you should be telling ANYONE about how their program looks……hahahahahahahhahahhahahahahhahahah….at least you’re right on the name…NERD!!!
SecGuy
December 29th, 2010
4:56 pm
Tech did rush for over 400 yards on Georgia, but keep in mind he only had two weeks to prepare.
Jaykyl
December 29th, 2010
5:03 pm
It doesn’t matter what Sturdivant decides to do. It’s extremely unlikely that any NFL team would draft him with his injury history. In any case, he’s not remotely good enough to play on Sundays, and he certainly hasn’t been coached up at UGA.
still@the bar
December 29th, 2010
5:17 pm
Sturdivant better go if he thinks he can get some NFL money. If he is not projected descent in the DRAFT he better be working hard on his Degree in a USEFUL field of study. His body will not last for a NFL career. If his knees were so bad in college how can he stand-up to NFL size linemen? He Can’t. Sturdivant be smart 4th round or better GO if not get your degree and look fo a J.O.B besides Football.