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
ADMan
May 17th, 2011
5:09 pm
Hey Fulmer Cup…Herschell has made more money outside of football than in it…..he graduated with a 3.5 average….a dumbass he’s not . You should be so smart.The replys from the Bama fans since I made my post say’s it all…Bama uneducated dumbasses all.
Red and Black
May 17th, 2011
5:09 pm
Whatever the reason for leaving the Dawgs, I wish Mr. Harmon the best. I’m sure he has a good reason to transfer or leave. It is a shame human beings can be so publicly cruel to a person making this choice. Remember this young man’s family and friends have access to every cruel word you type. UGA football will be fine regardless of the decision this young man is making. Good luck to Mr. Harmon and the Dawgs.
Fulmer Cup Champs
May 17th, 2011
5:11 pm
“Herschell has made more money outside of football than in it”
With a crappy career in the NFL I’m sure he had to.
“he graduated with a 3.5 average”
With a degree in pottery making.
“The replys from the Bama fans since I made my post say’s it all…Bama uneducated dumbasses all.”
I’m not a Bama fan, Gump.
Beast from the East
May 17th, 2011
5:13 pm
Fulmer Cup Champs,
Be careful with that handle. If you are who I think you are then your squad has a lock on taking that coveted title this year.
reebok
May 17th, 2011
5:14 pm
although I am a Tech fan, I am sorry to see the young man wash out, apparently for academic reasons…I hope he catches on somewhere and completes his degree.
dog nutt
May 17th, 2011
5:14 pm
dave somebody hit a nerve. you came out both barrels blazing.
Bogdan
May 17th, 2011
5:15 pm
It is the lack of a good OL at UGa that wii be the reason Keith Marshall will go to UNC where they are going to have an outstanding OL.
Dawgy Style
May 17th, 2011
5:16 pm
There is always next year.
McDawg
May 17th, 2011
5:17 pm
Harmon was not going to make it-C. King is on appeal
this is the 4th or 5th year in a row we have issues on the o-line
Paddy
May 17th, 2011
5:18 pm
59bulldawg…..we had some big mean o-linemen the last 2 years. The only problem was they could not play football in the SEC.
trupert
May 17th, 2011
5:19 pm
I hope the best for Harman but if he wasn’t willing to do the work in the classroom then he probabily would’t have worked hard enough on the field. Just more addition by subtraction.
Means more reps for a player who is willing to work for it. Go Dawgs!!!
McDawg
May 17th, 2011
5:20 pm
i guess “Roll Tide” has a couple valid points
dawggone
May 17th, 2011
5:22 pm
Caleb King has left the team, just reported. another one bites the dust.
Fulmer Cup Champs
May 17th, 2011
5:24 pm
“Be careful with that handle. If you are who I think you are then your squad has a lock on taking that coveted title this year.”
There’s still plenty of time for UGA to show up.
Skint
May 17th, 2011
5:26 pm
Matt Sorrells, Josh Kerr, Bronson Sweat, etc. etc. Our recruiting OL has been terrible for 20 yrs. We need Garner to evaluate OL talent. I think Searles and Calloway set this program back years. They failed to recruit athletic linemen and wanted someone to ” pick up the system”. Just knock the hell out of the guy in front of you. Bean will be solid this year. Next year will be tough unless we get some JUCO guys. Go back and look at all of OL misses over the past 10 yrs.
Charlie Hayes
May 17th, 2011
5:28 pm
Just remember that Trinton Sturdivant was a Freshman All-American First Team as a true frosh. No one expected him to be able to walk-in and play left tackle with dominance the way he did. Also, remember Kenarious Gates whom last year shinned for UGA at left guard as a true frosh. I expect Watts Dantzler or Zach DeBall to step-up in June and take over the right tackle position. This will allow Justin Anderson and Chris Burnette to rotate at right guard until we fit a good run zone block package and pass protection package for the entire OL. You have also got Kolton Houston, Brent Benedict, Austin Long and Dallas Lee in the mix as backups. Tthe left side seems solid and should be fun to watch them grind the pavement (i.e. Glenn, Gates and Jones). The right side will be a revolving door until someone steps up and takes the starting position this summer.
I agree that the 2012 class will need some big’uns in it to replenish the OL. I have a feeling you will see John Theus, Joe Harris, Vandal Alexander and Patrick Destefano all commit to the Dawgs in 2012 as LT, LG, RT and RG, respectively.
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
May 17th, 2011
5:30 pm
“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.”
A Bulldog player getting transferred to another institution could be on his way to jail. Let’s hope not. I may have to tutor some of these ballplayers that can’t make their grades and remain eligible to play ball. I am a pretty smart little dog. I can probably have 4 or 5 UGA degrees before I am out of here.
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
May 17th, 2011
5:33 pm
Do you suppose he’s going to transfer to the Institute on North Avenue?
dawg from a distance
May 17th, 2011
5:41 pm
Most disappointing for Harmon and the Dawgs both. Hope AJ gets his act together and I hope the Dawgs OL holds up. Can’t afford to loose any more now. Go DAWGS!
Gsoutherngrad
May 17th, 2011
5:42 pm
Are the wheels coming off in Bulldog country? No line, no running back, no wins
Yellow Fuzz
May 17th, 2011
5:44 pm
Good luck to the guy but yet “another” university of georgia bound, high school blue chipper underachievement story.
Yellow Fuzz
May 17th, 2011
5:46 pm
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
May 17th, 2011
5:33 pm
Do you suppose he’s going to transfer to the Institute on North Avenue?
HAHAHA. TO SLOW ON THE FIELD AND IN THE CLASSROOM I’M AFRAID.
Now I know why Searels left
May 17th, 2011
5:48 pm
hahahaha
Sven Ottke
May 17th, 2011
5:49 pm
King won’t make it. JUCO Nose Tackle won’t get in. Now hearing issues about Crowell. Looking rough for Richt.
Crimedog
May 17th, 2011
5:53 pm
Richt has never “weeded” anyone out unless they are 4th string. Montez was in jail for sexual assault, and really couldn’t attend class. Adams and Evans “weeded” out Mettenburger after Richt named him starting QB. Ealey left because he was no longer “special” with all of the attention and drama given Crowell, and Harmon flunked out. because he finally had to go to class. Richt even brought cookies to Randy Moss at FSU, but 90 days in jail was too much even for Big Daddy Bowden.
Brucerugby79
May 17th, 2011
5:54 pm
Good on ya TK we don’t know details-and these players need to know we support them-good luck AJ wish you the best!
Coach Ritch
May 17th, 2011
5:55 pm
He never wanted to go to UGA, his high school coach was paid off for him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sven Ottke
May 17th, 2011
6:04 pm
And before you start in on me about Jenkins, I read the article and I know what he said. However what was he supposed to say “I’m in some trouble with academics”? Wake up and face reality. It’s not as cozy and a done deal as he said in the paper.
Big Bad Bob
May 17th, 2011
6:06 pm
A.J. was know for his potential, not what he did on the football field. Let him go to a school where he can play and not give 100%. He couldn’t cut it at UGA.
glsjunior
May 17th, 2011
6:08 pm
We got a spot for you at State. Come play in the Dome!
tim scott
May 17th, 2011
6:11 pm
As a parent and college football fan (UF) I hate to hear about a young person leaving school, I am glad however that he does intend to continue his education. Football does not last for ever but your education does. I have no doubt that UGA will be fine we too have had some young people leave the program recently so I feel your pain. Its only May you will be fine.
Jadeveon Clowney
May 17th, 2011
6:13 pm
That bites. I don’t think there will be anyone left to block Carolina’s Jadaveon Clowney. I hope Murray doesn’t get hurt. Bwah ha ha.
Boobie Bowden
May 17th, 2011
6:15 pm
Richt checking to see if Bobo has any eligibility left? Never mind, he is academically ineligible.
RxDawg
May 17th, 2011
6:20 pm
Well I think we all know what this is about… it is college.
Hamilton
May 17th, 2011
6:25 pm
Looks like another guy who didn’t like being benched in a Bowl game for what he felt like were stupid reasons.
Dowtin transfered for the same reason.
Richt ain’t popular with players anymore and clearly has lost his lockeroom.
Joe
May 17th, 2011
6:26 pm
Students transfer or drop out of college every day. Good luck wherever you go A.J. It’s highly unlikely you will be playing on Sunday so work hard on your academics. You can do it!
Richard
May 17th, 2011
6:29 pm
I heard Hutson Mason is next to make a MAJOR announcment. And it’s NOT good news for UGA.
Jiggy Smaha
May 17th, 2011
6:34 pm
Good riddance,…..If he’s too stupid to pass we don’t need him.
It Ain't Rocket Science
May 17th, 2011
6:35 pm
Seems, he might have had academic problems after all. Wish you luck young man. Not everybody is made for college, but I hope you do finish your education and maybe get a chance at the NFL.
Reality check
May 17th, 2011
6:35 pm
Adman-Herschel was actually very smart- But he never graduated from Ga.
McDawg
May 17th, 2011
6:36 pm
Bama has players leaving all the time when Saban boots them after oversigning
UGAgrad71
May 17th, 2011
6:51 pm
Reality check, get your facts straight. Herschel did graduate, albeit years later.
DodgerDawg
May 17th, 2011
6:53 pm
Good Luck AJ. Now let me introduce Watts Dantzler, 6′7″, 325, freshman tackle…
Warned You!
May 17th, 2011
7:00 pm
Someone tried to tell us on Saturday or Sunday that bad news was coming. Whoever it was has delved us several nuggets over the past 6 months and apparently he is on the inside of the program.
From good resources this was not academic related as some may think.
Warned You!
May 17th, 2011
7:03 pm
Here was one of his or her cryptic post!
Trouble is Brewing in Athens
May 15th, 2011
5:55 pm
There seems to be a very reliable source big news is going to come out of Athens this week, and according to some reliable sources it is not good news.
Warned You!
May 17th, 2011
7:05 pm
Can Auburn be overtaken in The Fulmer Cup for the year? Doubtful. They had another player arrested. However unlike the AJC, the Birmingham Media does not report anything negative about Auburn as they are run by an Auburn Graduate, Here is the only link to the arrest of Your Starting Tailback: http://capstonereport.com/2011/05/17/onterio-mccalebb-arrested/11967/
Blue Chip Recruit
May 17th, 2011
7:08 pm
#1 Offensive guard in the country as a recruit to backup offensive tackle to transfer. Why do I bother following recruiting?
tide roll
May 17th, 2011
7:17 pm
Auburn lost their entire defensive line. It would have been nice if Richt and Co. had signed some JUCO offensive lineman to build depth and take advantage of Auburn’s lack of experience. Instead the Dawgs bring in the 9th rated offensive line class in the conference (per Rivals).
Billy Bob Mohammed
May 17th, 2011
7:21 pm
ADMan – the last thing I heard about Alabama and the mutts was that sass whipping they laid on them fleabags.
tide roll
May 17th, 2011
7:21 pm
It’s crazy up there.