Georgia QB Aaron Murray gushes about WR Malcolm Mitchell
Turns out this might have been a pretty significant day when Valdosta athlete Malcolm Mitchell chose Georgia over Alabama. (AJC photo by C. Towers)
Georgia coach Mark Richt hinted that he’d been hearing some good things about at least one of the young wide receivers from some of the veteran players but was hesitant to go into much detail. The coaches, after all, aren’t able to spend any time coaching or watching summer workouts and, in fact, aren’t even allowed to get reports from the strength and conditioning coaches.
But it didn’t take very long for quarterback Aaron Murray to reveal which player was creating all the buzz. That player is Valdosta High graduate Malcolm Mitchell, who actually was recruited to Georgia as a cornerback.
I’ll just let Murray do the talking:
“I haven’t seen speed and quickness like that for a while,” he said. “The other day he ran a post pattern and split our starting safety and one of our starting corners. Shawn Williams came up to me afterward and he’s like, ‘Aaron, I’ve never seen somebody with that kind of speed before.’ You ask any of the DBs, Boykin or any of those guys, Malcolm has unbelievable speed, unbelievable quickness.
“The thing I like about him most is he works harder than anyone. I would say he knows already 70 to 80 percent of the playbook. He’s been studying every day. Every day after pass drills he’ll get with me and we’ll work on routes a half-hour or 45 minutes. That’s every day. Three times a week he’ll call me and say, ‘let’s go work on routes; let’s go do this and that.’”
Murray was asked if he thought Mitchell could be a factor on offense early in the season.
“He’s ready to go. He knows the playbook, he knows the routes. I’m sure Coach [Tony] Ball will tweak a few things here and there by the time we go to camp. But, for the most part, we’re pretty excited about his knowledge of the game and what he’s going to be able to do.”
If Murray’s assessment is true, that’s very good news for the Bulldogs. Georgia lost its top two receivers to NFL draft in No. 4 pick A.J. Green and third-rounder Kris Durham. Together they accounted for 1,507 yards and 12 receiving touchdowns.
The Bulldogs have a solid top two to start the season in Tavarres King and Marlon Brown. But they’ve been looking for another “defense stretcher” that can be a legitimate vertical threat.
Sounds like they may have identified one.
MORE STORIES FROM MEDIA DAYS:
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- SEC notebook: Spurrier defends handling of QB Garcia
- ‘Boo’ Malcome ready to show what he can do at TB
- Gamecocks in rare position as SEC East favorites
- Investigations likely to be discussed at Media Days
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169 comments Add your comment
bobby
July 21st, 2011
8:02 pm
malcom mitchell will be a factor this year i mean he’s a true 6, 6-1 200 pounds with blazing speed but the guy that has to have a big year for them is marlon brown. he’s freaking 6-5 220 pounds with 4.5 speed i mean if he plays up to his talent level uga’s receiving core will really take off.
AltamahaDawg
July 21st, 2011
8:10 pm
I expect he IS that fast trubert. That’s why I was making fun of the comment (from the other guy who said that) .
shankit
July 21st, 2011
8:15 pm
Georgia’s new receivers are team players. Don’t think Malcomn
nor Rome would dare come back to Valdosta with a diamond
ear ring in their ear. They would be the laughing stock of our community.
Plus, their Daddys and Mommas would beat their arse.
GtDawg
July 21st, 2011
8:18 pm
since ya’ll question malcom mitchell’s speed in pads, check out this highlight in tha Under Armour AA game against the top corner and safety in the country.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClZB6F_tPPc
shankit
July 21st, 2011
8:25 pm
GDawg – Thanks for the youtube. Been watching Malcomn do this
for two years, even before the moon and the stars at Scout.com knew
about him. Like I said, his timed speed at 4.4 is without anyone chasing
him. He can turn it up. Has great hands. Need to line him up in the backfield
like Hines, he is going to warp some coach’s minds in coverage. AJ WHO???
mgdawg
July 21st, 2011
8:26 pm
Marlon Brown is solid? So far I would characterize him a bust.
Dosta Dawg
July 21st, 2011
8:28 pm
Agree with shankit. I have watched Malcolm and Jay for years. They are both the real deal.
Now if we can get Josh Clemons from Lowndes.
Tideman
July 21st, 2011
8:31 pm
Malcolm is the real deal. Wish Bama had got him but living in Valdosta and being a Cat fan, I wish him the best. You got a good one Dawg Fans. Enjoy.
Beast from the East
July 21st, 2011
8:38 pm
Some Richt comments on Muschamp, the Dream Team and the o-line. See Dawg Nation, the Florida papers cover the Dawgs from time to time.
http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20110721/ARTICLES/110729871?tc=cr
shankit
July 21st, 2011
8:41 pm
Finally got some some real no stars from South Georgia.
Return to 1980, Belue (Valdosta) to Lindsey (Jesup)
John A. Lastinger (Valdosta) Garbage quarterback scoring
the winning touchdown against No. 2 Texas in the Cotton Bowl.
Never lost to the Gaters.
SEC watch out, the South (Georgia) has rose again.
BirdDog
July 21st, 2011
8:41 pm
Gotta love the kid’s will to want to learn. That along with his pure talent will get him on the field sooner rather than later.
BG
July 21st, 2011
8:48 pm
MM will be a star in the SEC in a very short time. Every team in the SEC wanted Malcom very bad and Bama wanted him REAL bad. UGA is very lucky they were the one to sign him.
SEC Fan
July 21st, 2011
8:53 pm
Wonder if Murray will be gushing about the offensive line after the first two games? He better hope he has time to throw.
K. Conley
July 21st, 2011
8:58 pm
Malcolm Mitchell was the difference maker in last year’s recruiting class and the big surprise the night he chose UGA. Coach Richt mentioned that when he and Jay Rome both chose the Dawgs, it really made the Dream Team a reality. I know everyone wants to give Ray Drew all the credit, and he deserves some, but the night MM chose UGA happily shocked me and all UGA fans. I know Kirby Smart was disgusted with Mitchell’s decision, because he knows what a player this kid is. Have a big year Malcolm, I will be watching.
Brown Dog
July 21st, 2011
9:01 pm
I don’t begrudge y’all any of the Dream Team except MM. We had come to count on him signing with Alabama, and it still smarts that he changed his mind at the end. Best of luck. Good to hear that he’s a sound kid from a solid family.
shankit
July 21st, 2011
9:03 pm
Malcomn’s favorite song is Linda Rondstatt’s Blue Bayou,
of course, he spells it “Blew by You”.
All Aaron needs to do, is what Johnny U. and hate to say
Spurrier and Wuerfell knew, don’t look for your receiver,
take the snap and throw it to a specified point, leave it up
to the receiver to run the route to get to the point at a specified
time. Takes pressure off the offensive line. Might need to
adlib at the line of scrimmage after casing out the coverage.
JB
July 21st, 2011
9:11 pm
These Georgia players hear the talk. Read the papers. I’m looking for a different Georgia team this year. Really only three games that we should not be favored, Boise,SC, and Florida…and I say we win one of those….That’s 10-2 folks.
FLA DAWG
July 21st, 2011
9:12 pm
New Uniforms – Oh Great!
Another Gimmick.
Remember the last time The Dawgs used a uniform gimmick?
Yep, Bama lit up the board.
Richt has just upped the ante.
Now he HAS TO WIN or he will be run out of town the night of Sept 3.
JB
July 21st, 2011
9:12 pm
Look for Orson Charles to catch 50 -60 balls this year and 10-12 TD’s.
JB
July 21st, 2011
9:14 pm
The biggest difference this year will be if Richt and Grantham came to an understanding…And Richt stays out of his way….
shankit
July 21st, 2011
9:16 pm
I love the Boise team and their coaching staff. Kellen Moore is the
real deal. But, I don’t think they, nor the sports media realize what
they are coming against. Peterson’s beating Oklahoma, coming from
behind and winning in overtime is probably the greatest game I have
ever seen (on TV), I think the new defense of Georgia and Aaron and
his new talent will separate the men from the boys. This could be the
classic matchup of the season, and good luck to the Boise team for the
rest of the season. Maybe you can get a matchup against the Dawgs
for the national championship, like Florida got lucky and got Florida State
after they whupped the Gaters in regular season.
shankit
July 21st, 2011
9:29 pm
JB – Orson will be a real threat in the offense,
especially after the defense realizes they have
to double coverage Malcomn Mitchell. Could be
the greatest receiver group in Georgia’s history.
RedandBlackDAWG
July 21st, 2011
9:32 pm
He might be a tad slower with pads, but that is inversely proportional as well for the Cb’s trying to cover him. I would think then that they both negate each other, and he is still one fast kid. If he already knows 80% of the play book, and is chomping at the bit to get on the field, UGA just might have themselves one good player then.
Let the games begin.
shankit
July 21st, 2011
9:32 pm
Defensive Coordinator’s Nightmare. OK, Malcomn is on the
field, will he line up at wide receiver, Wildcat, or will he take
the direct snap as quarterback. Hines Ward, you were the
greatest, we now have your protege.
Joey
July 21st, 2011
9:37 pm
UGA 26 (4 FGs from our FG loving coach)
Boise 21
shankit
July 21st, 2011
9:40 pm
Malcomn probably already knew most of the play book,
he was coached by Ryan Gillespie at Valdosta High,
who played at Georgia, and is probably the best high
school coach we have had at Dosta since Bazemore.
Hope we can keep him here, but he would make someone
a great offensive coordinator or head coach at Div. 1 levle.
Joey
July 21st, 2011
9:40 pm
Come on Tampa Gator, you’re retired.
You can do this. Round off to the highest minute.
shankit
July 21st, 2011
9:46 pm
Tide Roll – Should have seen the look on Kirby Smart’s face
when Malcomn put on the Dawg cap here in Dosta. Sorry,
you will get to see him soon in the Dome.
RawDawg
July 21st, 2011
9:52 pm
we could use some speed for real. i hope the coaching staff uses him often. i remember when marlon brown came in as a big recruit and the coaching staff wasted his freshman year by only playing him a few plays a game if even that. we need help now at WR and i hope that richt uses mitchell, conley, and Justin Scott-Wesley a lot this year. richt does not have the luxury to wait one more year and hope that these players develop, he needs to use trial by fire and get them into the game. of course this goes for crowell too.
Mobile Dawg
July 21st, 2011
10:13 pm
Keys to success this year, Ben Jones becoming a leader and playing to his potential. If the Oline can gell this will be a tough group to handle. I think Samuel will blossom into one of the best backs in the league, “if” given the chance. Sounds like the receivers are ready to do their part. Imagine, a solid running game to set up Richt’s love, a “high octane” passing game. Just hope we will commit to establish a solid run game.
Snoop Dawg
July 21st, 2011
10:14 pm
Dawgnation,
I’ve been watching some Boise State-UGA youtubes, and I’ve determined that we are in imminent danger with the Boise State game. We’re a lot bigger then they are, but they are much, much better coached. Our coaching has sunk our ship on a regular basis the past few years. Remember a couple of years ago at Oklahoma State? Coaching blew that game for us, and it poisoned the season. What about last year? Losing to Colorado? What about losing a bowl game to Central Florida University? See what I mean? Boise State has never had such an opportunity to establish itself. A win in the Georgia Dome will likely take them to an undefeated season and the NC since they have such a patsy schedule. Only one thing will save us: our players and their spirit. They have to reach back to our days of Glory when the Dawgs were junkyard mean and they played smash-mouth power football, not that FSU fancy schmancy pass throwing all the time. If the players all get together and decide that the Georgia Dome’s gonna be a killing field for the broncos, then we will win. If they buy into that Nike gimmick stuff that Richt is pushing, it’s all over…
shankit
July 21st, 2011
10:25 pm
Snoop Dawg – Have a lot of respect for Boise, their coaching staff, and
Kellen Moore. Probably my second most favorite team to watch on TV.
However, they did lose last yea to Nevada. Do you really think Nevada
has a better defense than what Georgia is putting together this year?
I think Kellen will be under extreme pressure from our 3-4 defense, our
new nose guard, and the defensive ends and linebackers whom I hope will
be blitzing on every play, and putting Kellen on his arse evey play. Even
Kellen will get a little tippy toes early in this game. Sorry Boise, I love you,
but I don’t think you realize what you are getting into. This year’s Dawgs
will not resemble last year’s, they have new leadership, and are hungry, (I hope).
Viking fan
July 21st, 2011
10:26 pm
I saw malcome play in high school. I might not be AJ put this kid can fly and has great hands. All kinds of ball skills.
A greater sense of excitement
July 21st, 2011
10:34 pm
I bet Malcolm Mitchell is better than A.J. Green and will prove it by having 1,000 yards recieving this year.
* (something A.J. Green failed to do)
shankit
July 21st, 2011
10:40 pm
Won’t have to worry about Malcomn or Rome selling their jerseys.
Not so much worried about the NCAA or Coach Richt, but their
Mommas and Poppas in Dosta would whip their arse, and they know it.
shankit
July 21st, 2011
10:42 pm
Sorry, they would be worried about Coach Richt.
They love him.
Puppy Dog
July 21st, 2011
10:45 pm
After last year’s losing season, Richt and UGA players need to shut up and focus.
" Hot " seat
July 21st, 2011
11:15 pm
….. gotta beat boise state in the GEORGIA dome …..
Jordan
July 21st, 2011
11:17 pm
http://isportsweb.com/2011/07/21/mark-richt-speaks-at-sec-media-days/
hot diggidy damn
July 22nd, 2011
12:42 am
@Shankit….i never said Mitchell. Go back and look. the word is alot of the other dream team is acting that way. The valdosta boys are doing like they are suppose too.
Reality
July 22nd, 2011
12:50 am
It’s all hype every year…you people talk about fast & this recruit & that…the question is will A.M. have time to get the ball off to a receiver with our soft offensive line? We’ll hear it in a couple weeks about how all the #1’s are so great, but who are they whippin’ up on?….the scout team. An SEC program with a revolving door coaching staff, I wouldn’t be suprised of another 6-7 season.
UCF 10 UGA 6…which team had AJ GREEN?
VHSUGA
July 22nd, 2011
1:03 am
i watched malcom his whole senior year. I will say the same thing i said then. “this kid is special”
jp
July 22nd, 2011
1:09 am
” richt sucks” you suck you blithering idiot go watch golf or tennis bc you know nothing about football and probably never played a down. Richt is the 4th on the list of acting winningist coaches .go pull for boise or tech or just pull you fool.
HiramDawg
July 22nd, 2011
5:06 am
Same elusive unexpected speed that AJ had except he has breakaway speed that I think makes him potentially a better player. Im not big on congratulating until a player proves himself on the field but this kid seems to be a good addition to a speedy recieving corp. It’ll be nice to see how they all develop especially with our QB situation with Murray, Lemay, and even Ramsey coming in a couple years….
FLA DAWG
July 22nd, 2011
7:08 am
The biggest concerns for UGA on Sept 3 are Coaching – no improvement last season, Offensive Line – no improvement since last season. Defense – little improvement over last season. (Consider the performance of the team in last season’s first game and compare it to their performance in the bowl game – I saw zero improvement except a bit on D)
With less talent but firing on all cylinders Boise State will be no Hawaii. They knocked off Va Tech in the season opener last year I believe and had a stellar record.
If Richt is resorting to new uniforms as a way of inspiring his team then we are in real trouble – but I think we all knew that already.
This is all just my opinion of course and I hope I’m wrong.
fedup_11
July 22nd, 2011
7:22 am
When did Marlon Brown become “solid”? Has underacvieved each year. Did something significant occur in the past few months to change all of this?
Johnny DangerDawg
July 22nd, 2011
7:49 am
Love to hear about a guy with a good work ethic.
JROLL1
July 22nd, 2011
7:57 am
CAN’T COACH SPEED!
7576DAWG
July 22nd, 2011
8:13 am
FLA DAWG
I don’t think the uniform change is a gimmick this year. I think it is something that Nike wanted and we were willing to accommodate.
When we tried uniform changes at Florida and a few years ago with Auburn or Alabama and still got beat that was all because we were out played and out coached , it never has anything to do with the uniform.
7576DAWG
July 22nd, 2011
8:14 am
Sorry wrong blog.