Sturdivant says he’ll pass on NFL draft, return for senior season
Georgia junior offensive tackle Trinton Sturdivant, who had been considering early entry into the NFL draft, announced Friday that he will remain in school for his senior season.
Sturdivant was a freshman All-American in 2007, then missed almost all of the 2008 and 2009 seasons because of knee injuries before returning to action in 2010. He started seven games during the Bulldogs’ disappointing 6-7 season.
“This last season is not how I wanted to end my career,” Sturdivant said in a statement. “I want to be part of a team that gets us back on track and plays for a championship. I also think I can improve my draft status and continue to work on finishing my degree.”
Coach Mark Richt said “we’re obviously excited” by Sturdivant’s decision. “He’ll be an important part of our team.”
– 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
153 comments Add your comment
tide roll
January 7th, 2011
10:51 pm
Why do you keep deleting my opinion
drbasic1
January 7th, 2011
11:16 pm
because you say the same thing every time you are on here….duh
Observer
January 7th, 2011
11:20 pm
Good Grief. This guy actually said that he wants to come back and help Georgia get back on track and compete for championships? Seriously? The dawgs don’t have a snowballs chance of winning a championship. What kinda koolaid is this dude drinking?
Lakedawg
January 7th, 2011
11:24 pm
Fran Tarkenton can take his opinion and stick it where the sun does not shine. He has done nothing to support the program in 10-12 years and then has to mouth off on radio.
Glad to see you back Trinton, 2011 is going to be a good one.
drbasic1
January 7th, 2011
11:33 pm
like it or not lakedawg…..Fran spoke the whole truth and said what needs to be said.
Brainiac(Dawg for life)
January 7th, 2011
11:33 pm
Ealy can’t leave for the NFL. He is a true sophomore.
Rob
January 7th, 2011
11:50 pm
Great news!
superDawg
January 8th, 2011
12:11 am
Trinton you are a Damn good Dawg!,and rank right up there with the best.My hats off to you and good luck.
superDawg
January 8th, 2011
12:18 am
UGA gave you guys a chance to play in the NFL for once Give UGA a chaance to be competative in the world.Who knows you may win a National Championship and be a permanant hero in the BULLDAWG NATION!NUFF SAID.
superDawg
January 8th, 2011
12:21 am
AND THATS NOT TO BAD.
Dirty Dawg
January 8th, 2011
4:09 am
I think this was the only decision young Mr. Sturdivant could make. Watching him try to move around on what’s left of his knees is painful and raises doubts if he’ll even be walking without new ones by the time he’s 30, much less playing pro ball. Have a great senior season and get that degree…you’ll never regret it.
As for Tarkenton’s comments/rants, I heard some of it replayed on the radio today and while it had a familiar ring to it – much like what you read around here – coming from a guy that should know better, it was crap. Here’s a guy that has had nothing whatsoever to do with the Georgia program since he left in 1960 and thinks that ‘going off’ on Richt matters to anybody but him. In fact, the 680 guys that were playing it said as much when they commented that Tarkenton needed to make these kind of comments from time to time in order to appear relevant. For those that have had any personal or business dealings with the guy over the years, you know him to be a jerk of the highest order – basically an a$$-hole that you never wish to encounter again. Don’t know what he’s doing with himself these days – other than running down Richt and probably hanging out with Don Leeburn (they’re peas in a pod when it comes to lizard-brained, entitlement personalities), but I for one would just as soon he leave the scene. I mean if he were of capable of having had a positive impact on the Georgia football program over the years, you’d think that Vince would have welcomed him with open arms – guess what? He never did…why?…Vince didn’t suffer fools lightly.
Jim
January 8th, 2011
5:57 am
Old Fran is just trying to get publicity so he can sell more POTS@PANS.
Stinger
January 8th, 2011
7:45 am
He’s returning because he is not good enough to go pro. He wouldn’t even get drafted. He couldn’t start for most Divn 1 schools, especially @ Tech.
gomdawg
January 8th, 2011
7:48 am
Let’s stop all this bad mouthing my Dawgs , if you don’t like what’s happening find another team . Because trust me Georgia will be back. You take the good with the bad we have had the bad the good is coming beware.THE DAWGS WILL BE BACK GOOD LUCK CMR
Stinger
January 8th, 2011
7:52 am
I just read a post here that stated AJ Green could be better than Calvin Johnson. Can I have some of that that you are smoking?
Coach Mike Smith is good.
January 8th, 2011
8:46 am
Only three games to go.
Spike
January 8th, 2011
9:00 am
Atta Boy, Trinton!! That is the kind of attitude we need!! You have some tough luck, but maybe it will work out in the end. Be a leader next season and GATA!
ugab
January 8th, 2011
9:01 am
Thanks for staying. MR is not good getting kids to stay.
Dumbo
January 8th, 2011
9:21 am
Uh….UGA having cancer doesn’t forebode well for the football team does it. And for all those listeners of Fran Tarkenton rants, remember he hasn’t had anything to do with UGA Athletics since he left in 1960, so take anything he says with a grain of salt.
Joey
January 8th, 2011
9:41 am
Great QB. Great motivational speaker. Great businessman.
I wish Fran was our head coach.
Glenn
January 8th, 2011
10:06 am
Thanks Triton for your loyalty and after next year you will find that it has helped you tremendously.
dougmo2 you are an idiot
simplythetruth
January 8th, 2011
10:33 am
It is difficult to imagine that any UGA fan could be happy with CMR and where this program is headed. After listening to Tarkenton’s remarks, forget his motivations, ask yourself this simple question, “Was there any truth in what he had to say?”.
Old Delta traveler here
January 8th, 2011
10:54 am
I used to travel all of the time on business to DFW, O’Hare and NYC, etc. I ran into more than one NFL or pro baseball player like Johnny Bench or Terry Bradshaw, Hershal Walker and Roger The Dodger Stauback and tons of others, like in a coffee shop or some hotel. Most all would stop and hear my ” gee, what a pleasure it is to meet you and I remember the so and so game”. They all seemed happy to stop and chat briefly.
Fran the Man Tarkenton was a real jerk …….. twice when I bumped into him. Mentioned the Vikes as a favorite team of mine back in the 60s, he just acted like a jerk. One other time maybe 15 years later in Newark Airport, I mentioned his sales motivational business to him and again, what a jerk.
Who cares about Tark?? Terry Bradshaw actually sat down next to me in Dallas one time as we waited for thunder storms to blow by. He, unlike Trakenton WON the Super Bowl ………….like three times !!! He and I are the same age, so my reference points were consistent with his. Walker?? Bumbed into him in Miami International in 1990 and he too was very nice and in fact introduced me and my wife to his family. We played our UGA alumni card. Both DOGS my wife and I are. He talked about his UGA days and his NJ days with Trump. Cool that was.
Draftee
January 8th, 2011
11:21 am
Sturdivant would be drafted so low that it wouldn’t be worth going out for the draft this year. He’s not good enough for the NFL, and that won’t change with another year at UGA.
Jborodawg
January 8th, 2011
11:38 am
Great career choice, Trent! Welcome back … and be a leader!
glacialspeed
January 8th, 2011
12:59 pm
Who?
Dixie Redcoat Band
January 8th, 2011
1:36 pm
Actually, it’s pretty hard to be a bigger jerk than Pete Rose, I saw him in action at CVG.
Dawg Tired
January 8th, 2011
1:55 pm
Is his OL coach coming back? If so, what difference does it make?
Bo in North Carolina
January 8th, 2011
3:29 pm
Bad Dog, thanks for the link. Whether you like Fran or not he laid it on the line and he has a right to his opinion. Unless things change, we are only fooling ourselves if we think things will be turned around next season
Frans a fool
January 8th, 2011
3:30 pm
He also ranted at the beginning of the season that Murray was going to be a bust.Fran likes to hear himself talk.
Joey
January 8th, 2011
4:15 pm
Great news. Need the O-Line to dominate, need Ealey or Crowell to run like crazy.
Chick
January 8th, 2011
4:37 pm
Of course Sturdivant is staying, he barely played at UGA due to injury and when he did play it wasn’t all that good. This really shouldn’t even be a story. It is like Caleb King saying he is coming back. DUH.
Razor Ramone
January 8th, 2011
5:18 pm
Fran was a great UGA player and Hall Of Famer pro QB with the Vikings. i think what he says has merit & weight. What you guys say on here means zilch. Only about 40 people will read what you say here and 1,000,000 people heard Fran on 680 The Fan radio show. Fran is right. Richt sucks.
Razor Ramone
January 8th, 2011
5:20 pm
Yo. Chico, wassup ?
Chico
January 8th, 2011
5:21 pm
No mucho hombre. Etu ? Yo soy muy punta & muy caliente !
Razor Ramone
January 8th, 2011
5:23 pm
Gracias Chico. Tu eres muy intelligente & suave muy guapa sombrero.
Terry Funk
January 8th, 2011
5:25 pm
Remember the Alamo, Ramone !
south georgia dawg
January 8th, 2011
5:46 pm
yes !!!! go dawgs and get will uga viii !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
south georgia dawg
January 8th, 2011
5:46 pm
shoulda said well in above.
still@the bar
January 8th, 2011
7:07 pm
IMPROVE his draft status? Don’t you mean get a degree because He will not get DRAFTED. His body is not NFL Tough. He will fall apart against the BIG NFL Linemen. Dude I hope your degree is something you can really use to get a JOB. He gets signed as a free agent and sits on a practice squad for 3-4 yrs maybe.
Snoop Dawg
January 8th, 2011
9:35 pm
Maybe we could entice Mark Richt to leave with a little money.
If Sturdivant truly wants to be part of a winner, he will provide some leadership to the undisciplined gangsta thugs.
No NFL team is interested in Sturdivant until they know that his knees are sturdy enough for big league duty and that he can actually follow blocking instructions.
Snoop Dawg
January 8th, 2011
9:43 pm
Here’s to all you fools who continue to defend Richt and are now slamming an All Ameican football player in both college and the NFL, who has forgotten more than all of you will ever know about football and just about everything else, you stupid rednecks.
Fran Tarkenton knows what he is talk about it. You can’t handle the truth.
You are an enemy to the true Bulldog Nation.
For you knuckleheads who keep saying if you don’t like it find another team, I say stick your heads where the sun don’t shine. You are true fools.
The true blue Bulldog Nation will not stand for such an unworthy coach or players who are not committed to winning champiionships. This is the free market. This is Georgia USA, not Georgia USSR, you ignorant comrades.
Face the truth. Demand change or perish.
OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!
still@the bar
January 8th, 2011
10:20 pm
Sturdivant guess what? Nobody cares. Why don’t you tell us if you are leaving other wise you are doing what you are supposed to be doing.
Strudivant I am going to work Monday like I am supposed to are you glad I told you that?
KEN
January 9th, 2011
8:54 am
Georgia needs to see about getting Michael Vick as their football coach after Mark leaves. I know he will put some “fight” in the dogs.
draft day
January 9th, 2011
9:35 am
he’s coming back because he would not be drafted that high. Hopefully, he picks it up big next year with better play.
Timmy Dog
January 9th, 2011
10:14 am
After the 2 knees thsi kid had no shot at the pros anyway. What a joke of an announcement. Now, can Searles do anything with him? We suck!
Snoop Dawg
January 9th, 2011
10:19 am
If you don’t believe Fran Tarkenton, would you believe Herschel Walker? Exactly who would you believe other than that charismatic hypnotizer Mark Preacha Man Richt who has you under his spell longing for that Koolaid?
Dawg Daze
January 9th, 2011
11:46 am
Tarkenton is a jerk. Always has been. It’s easy to jump all over Richt and the program now. Where was Tarkenton before? His “rant” was totally rehearsed too. He’s just another band wagoner.
Dire Straits
January 9th, 2011
11:53 am
I went to UGA in the 80’s and never heard or saw a thing from Tarkenton for years and years. Tarkenton is out for one thing only – self promotion. Who cares what Fran Tarkenton has to say?
Orange10
January 9th, 2011
11:59 am
Good for him! If he stays healthy his NFL draft status will greatly improve and UGA doesn’t have to look for a replacement for another year.