Offensive lineman A.J. Harmon leaving UGA for “personal reasons”
Rising junior A.J. Harmon is leaving the Georgia football team for “personal reasons,” according to UGA’s sports communication office.
Harmon
Harmon, who projected as a potential starter at right tackle for the Bulldogs, intends to “transfer to another institution,” according to a very brief new release distributed Tuesday. No other information was immediately available. However, Harmon’s departure coincides with the completion of UGA’s spring semester. Harmon had to sit out the Liberty Bowl last December due to an academic-related suspension.
Neither Harmon nor head coach Mark Richt could be reached for comment.
J.B. Arnold, Harmon’s coach at Jefferson County High School, also has not talked to Harmon but desperately wants to.
“He called me one day last week and said he was leaving Georgia and that’s all I know,” Arnold said Tuesday. “I told him that we needed to sit down and talk before he did anything, but I haven’t heard from him since.”
Harmon signed with Georgia as a defensive lineman in 2008. He was moved to offensive line that fall and redshirted. He played in three games as a redshirt freshman in 2009 and four as a backup offensive lineman last year.
This spring he was battling with Justin Anderson for the starting job at right tackle. Either way he was expected to see significant playing time both there and as a backup at left tackle.
Harmon is the second major offensive contributor to leave the team prematurely this spring. Running back Washaun Ealey was granted a release to seek a transfer earlier this month.
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
192 comments Add your comment
The Ghost of Wally Butts
May 17th, 2011
4:41 pm
“Academic related suspension”???
Looks like another Rodney Garner recruiting success story to me!
When our recruits ain’t stealing stuff in the locker room, they are flunking out of class.
And, the beat goes on and on…
Tdawg
May 17th, 2011
4:41 pm
Wow another ship just opened up. We’ll have the full allotment before the season even begins.
Tobias Funke
May 17th, 2011
4:41 pm
Bob
I think its pathetic that you claim to be a Bulldog fan.
ealey must've known
May 17th, 2011
4:42 pm
looks like he got out before he got himself killed!
The General Feeling
May 17th, 2011
4:42 pm
Well, at least those jumping ship are doing it one at a time so as to not worry the mutt faithful.
bulldogmaniac
May 17th, 2011
4:43 pm
This is the NEW Bulldog nation forming right in front of our eyes.
Richt has seen the light! Any player making bone headed mistakes (run in with the law, not trying in class or giving their all on the field) is out of here!
I like it! Give me quality over quantity any day.
Worm
May 17th, 2011
4:43 pm
Lynch or Dexter Morrant to tackle.
51WTGW50
May 17th, 2011
4:44 pm
Tdawg
A SHIP just Opened?
There are always open spaces on SINKING Ships. Sometimes for good and bad reasons.
Bob
May 17th, 2011
4:45 pm
Well Toby, you’re certainly entitled to your opinion, and you’re entitled to settle for mediocrity, too. I’ve been a loyal fan for probably longer than you’ve been around, and I’m tired of paying for second class performance. And that’s my opinion!
Dave Cutler
May 17th, 2011
4:45 pm
It gets real old hearing Georgia fans talk about academic issues. Look, you are not fooling anyone UGA fans. Your school is just like most of the other SEC schools. The only reason you have higher entrance requirements is because of HOPE. Every idiot in the state could get in with a 3.0 so they had to raise the standards that is all. Most UGA fans who talk academics didn’t even attend the school. And even if they did, who cares, it is an SEC school. They are all about the same. Your degree from UGA, FL, AUB, ALABAMA, OLE MISS, whatever, they are all pretty equal. So, lets take the academic snobbery out of the equation. What you really should be asking yourself is does Richt really have the team mentally. I would say the past two years would indicate no. No locker room chemistry on this team people. UGA will go 8-4 next year and that is only because the schedule is nice with no games against LSU BAMA or ARK.
AltamahaDawg
May 17th, 2011
4:45 pm
SC has some depth and experience issues on the D-line don’t they? Front 7 really.
UGA Hypocrites
May 17th, 2011
4:45 pm
Yeah if this were to happen at Bama we know what all you tools would be saying.
Hmmm..gotta make room right Richt? Come on Dawgs spin this one…you’re really good at it!
51WTGW50
May 17th, 2011
4:46 pm
bulldogmaniac
Please just keep telling yourself that enough times and maybe you will make it come true.
a.p. dawg
May 17th, 2011
4:48 pm
Saban, losing a 24 pt. lead at home is not the same as losing a 14 pt. lead at their place, is it? Also, in 2008 we were preseason #1 and went 10-3. We were viewed as a huge failure by all the experts. Last year Bammer was preseason #1, went 10-3 and all the experts talk about how great saban is. I just don’t understand and it’s a beautiful day.
bamaguy
May 17th, 2011
4:51 pm
I don’t understand why fans of other schools comment on something that is “solely Georgia.” Now if he goes the Junior College route then transfers to Tennessee to play for Dooley, THEN we will have something to talk about!
AltamahaDawg
May 17th, 2011
4:52 pm
You do understand that the “oversigning” accusation only come into play if the team is OVER it’s allotment for scholarships, right? Pretty silly to make room when they didn’t need it, don’t ya think?
PeePants the hobo clown
May 17th, 2011
4:52 pm
Can I just mention here that NO ONE KNOWS exactly what the story is, everyone is going off of what it “probably” is.This is getting like a game of telephone because people are speaking as if its been CONFIRMED already. TK is correct.Back off…in the meantime refer to your Bible and consider your words here and if it sits right with the big man.
PeePants the hobo clown
May 17th, 2011
4:52 pm
Can I just mention here that NO ONE KNOWS exactly what the story is, everyone is going off of what it “probably” is.This is getting like a game of telephone because people are speaking as if its been CONFIRMED already. TK is correct.Back off…in the meantime refer to your Bible and consider your words here and if it sits right with the big man.
Fulmer Cup Champs
May 17th, 2011
4:53 pm
“all the experts talk about how great saban is.”
The “experts” all predicted that Oregon would win the national title because of their colorful uniforms, too.
MD
May 17th, 2011
4:53 pm
It’s not that big of a loss. UT started several freshman on their line last year and had the same record we did. If he was worth all of the fuss, he would have won the job hands down. I do agree w/ you Bob to a point, we have had some good ones, but it seems the ones that disappoint out weigh the guys that shine.
bucket
May 17th, 2011
4:55 pm
If the young man doesn’t want to do what it takes to stay academically eligible, then this is no major loss. I don’t hate AJ and wish him nothing but the best in life, but the facts are the facts. He was academically ineligible for the bowl game and he knew that Sturdivant was going to be out, so all he had to do was work hard in the classroom, weight room, and practice field and he could have been a starting tackle in the SEC. I am sure his high school coach would have told him that if he would have called him back before making his decision.
Dave Cutler
May 17th, 2011
4:55 pm
Saban, losing a 24 pt. lead at home is not the same as losing a 14 pt. lead at their place, is it? Also, in 2008 we were preseason #1 and went 10-3. We were viewed as a huge failure by all the experts. Last year Bammer was preseason #1, went 10-3 and all the experts talk about how great saban is. I just don’t understand and it’s a beautiful day.
————————————————————————
It’s because UGA never looks tough. And no one fears UGA. Your coach is a pushover and doesn’t have the edge to win it all. UGA never looks dominating. And you have a serious and very troublesome head case with Florida. I mean you want respect but you have lost 18 of the last 21 to the Gators. Sorry, but no one is going to admire a program like that. You also have been a whipping boy to all the power SEC teams. Maybe you should look and see you have a losing head to head record against ALABAMA, AUB, LSU, and TENN, and if things keep going this way, FL will catch you too and erase the dominance you once had. Congratulations, UGA is in 6th place.
jbts30228
May 17th, 2011
4:55 pm
not to mention the 21-7 lead we had was not a halftime score. It was tied at halftime.
dawgster
May 17th, 2011
4:55 pm
the other dawgster that feels like its ok to use a name that has been used for a long time on here is not this dawgster…I have no knoledge of whether King passed or not….Don’t know if it was intentional, but using someone else’s blog name that has been established on here seems wrong, but I guess there’s no rule against it, and perhaps it wasn’t intentional…anyway, go dawgs
UGA UBA Hypocrite
May 17th, 2011
4:55 pm
Looks like Richt had to kick another player off the team to make room for someone else. Pretty soon you will own the Fulmer and the Oversigning Cups in back to back years, bravo hypocrites. If this were Saban you morons would be standing on your heads complaining about how he’s just making room for players. So which is it hypocrites? Is he kicking them of the team “weeding out the bad guys” or is he making room for new players? You can’t point the finger at someone and then turn your heads when it happens at UGA. Oh, nevermind I forgot which fanbase that I was talking about. UGA = HypocriteU
ADMan
May 17th, 2011
4:56 pm
Bama fans quit fooling yourself….your athletes have to be some of the biggest dumbasses I’ve ever heard speak…..half of them can’t even put gramatically correct sentences together. Have you ever heard Julio Jones speak?…or….Mark Ingram?…..Please if they couldn’t play football no one would hire them…their dumbasses.
Fulmer Cup Champs
May 17th, 2011
4:57 pm
How many schools does UGA have an all-time losing record against?
Auburn has two: LSU and Bama. We’re catching up to Bama.
Dbalcer
May 17th, 2011
4:57 pm
I hope he continues his education and can play somewhere else. I hate to see a young man waste his potential.
Fulmer Cup Champs
May 17th, 2011
4:57 pm
“your athletes have to be some of the biggest dumbasses I’ve ever heard speak”
Guess you’ve never heard of Herschell “I can’t read” Walker. Go make some coupons, ADman.
Reggie Balls
May 17th, 2011
4:58 pm
Another One Bites The Dust,Hey Hey.Another One Bites The Dust
Ricky Grooms
May 17th, 2011
4:58 pm
We’re still #1, we can send out a group of junior high linemen and still be #1. No one can beat us, no one, can’t you hear me? I said no one can beat us. We will always be #1. UGA will not be beat in 2011, no matter what happens, we will be #1. NOT
beebee
May 17th, 2011
4:59 pm
dazed and confused: at least we know what it’s like to win a BCS National Championship!
You’uns NEVER WILL!
UGA UBA Hypocrite
May 17th, 2011
5:00 pm
ADMan 4:56 post. ” ‘their’ dumbasses.”
I know somebody that’s a dumbass. These are the hypocrites that make up the UGA nation. Congrats losers, who’s the next to get the boot at UGA to make room for talented recruits that will be coached down for the time that they spend in college.
Bob
May 17th, 2011
5:01 pm
Re: Caleb King…from what I have heard, he didn’t pass; however, he is appealing to try to become academically eligible in Summer session. My question (if this is true) does his athletic scholarship cover Summer session in this case?
Vince
May 17th, 2011
5:01 pm
Before Jan Kemp caught me, we didnt have to worry about bad grades, or for that matter, going to class.
Old School
May 17th, 2011
5:01 pm
Looks like Messiah Richt can’t work miracles in a dumb as a boat load of rocks football play-er…….
Fulmer Cup Champs
May 17th, 2011
5:01 pm
The last person to bring UGA a national title was an Auburn grad.
dog nutt
May 17th, 2011
5:01 pm
cmr mb and tg
ROLLTIDE22
May 17th, 2011
5:02 pm
Yes Bama went 10-3 last year, and yes Bama has won 36 GAMES the last 3 YRS. NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE IN SEC. NEVER, 22 SEC Titles, how many does Ga have????? Bama only school with at least one title every decade since SEC formed in 1933. FACT FACT FACT. Bama only SEC SCHOOL that has an alltime winning recorde against ALL SEC MEMBER SCHOOLS. FACT FACT
Ben Dover
May 17th, 2011
5:02 pm
Hey ADman, did you go to school at Bama? I doubt you have much room to call anyone a dumbass, you dumbass.
Old Dawg Fan
May 17th, 2011
5:03 pm
Big Woop!!! Rather see them leave now than waste anymore time on them.
Maybe CMR is cleaning house the “right way”.
dog nutt
May 17th, 2011
5:03 pm
cmr,tg, and mb will have this team ready.quit being so negative and get behind this team instead of in their way.
AltamahaDawg
May 17th, 2011
5:04 pm
Dumb ol Richt! Kicking guys off to make room when he already had available scholarships. oops.
Old School
May 17th, 2011
5:04 pm
Maybe CMR just needs to go ahead and pack his bags…..this will be his last Fall go round at UGA…
Dave Cutler
May 17th, 2011
5:05 pm
Yes Bama went 10-3 last year, and yes Bama has won 36 GAMES the last 3 YRS. NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE IN SEC. NEVER, 22 SEC Titles, how many does Ga have????? Bama only school with at least one title every decade since SEC formed in 1933. FACT FACT FACT. Bama only SEC SCHOOL that has an alltime winning recorde against ALL SEC MEMBER SCHOOLS. FACT FACT
——————————-
Yes, those are true. But Bama is also the only team to embarrass themselves by adding 5 national titles overnight in the 80’s and start printing 12 t shirts.
Dawg Tired
May 17th, 2011
5:06 pm
?? Don’t know about this year, but know we didn’t have one last year.
Dawg Tired
May 17th, 2011
5:07 pm
Roll Tide 22 – And you handle it with such grace.
dawgster
May 17th, 2011
5:07 pm
@JAWJeRDawg…the previous “dawgster” who commented on King’s passing is not associated with me…I have no knowledge of his grades, as well that I shouldn’t…If I remember, I sent you an email regarding some other blog forums…so if it’s you then you know me as dawgster…go dawgs
Dave Cutler
May 17th, 2011
5:08 pm
DawgTired….go easy on him. He and HArvey Updyke have some Miller High Life to pound in Dadeville, AL.
Blackberry Cobbler
May 17th, 2011
5:08 pm
@ JAWJeRDAWG, 4:15pm
Nope. Just speaking the truth. A student-athlete that can’t make it with the help they have available either isn’t studying hard enough or just ain’t “college material”. I’m sorry but it’s just that plain and simple.