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.
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169 comments Add your comment
Big Dawg
July 22nd, 2011
8:20 am
JayD— 4.5 is fast when the guy can run a 4.5 in full pads and making cuts etc. But when he only runs a 5.0 or over in full pads and cuts then 4.5 would not be that impressive. It is on the field playing speed that kills i.e. Deion Sanders now there is a guy with real speed.
It is good to hear that Mr. Mitchell has on field blazing speed for that has been missing, it is also impressive that he has come in with the attitude that he is going to take over a WR position by learning the play book, routes etc. We haven’t had too many of those lately, it is also interesting to note that Conley has that kind of on the field blazing speed as well, hopefully he is the same kind of hard worker who will accept the challenge of learning the playbook, routes etc and compete thus making all of them better. Go Dawgs
Jimmy Crack
July 22nd, 2011
8:22 am
“Legitimate vertical threat”. Music to my ears. After losing A.J. we need this desparately. Speed changes defenses. I see opposing safeties staying on their heels watching that vertical threat out of the corners of their eyes. Anything to help our young RBs get some advantage. Woof!!
RedandBlackDAWG
July 22nd, 2011
8:23 am
FLA DAWG,
The uniform change for the opener is a way that UGA gets a little bit of change from Nike. That is all it is. It has nothing to do with CMR trying to inspire his young team. They will be ready to play, no mattwer what uniform they have on. It is a one game thing for a nationally televised game. Nike will get a lot of publicity doing this.
RedandBlackDAWG
July 22nd, 2011
8:48 am
I am wondering if this quote applioes to anybody posting on this blog?
If you don’t know what the term means, “troll” refers to an online personality that uses his/her anonymity to “bait” users or turn valid discussions into full-blown arguments.
Don’t take the bait, UGA supporters.
Dostahawk
July 22nd, 2011
9:04 am
Malcolm Mitchell is one of the best players to ever come out of Valdosta. His explosiveness and ability to make big time plays cannot be measured by some speed gun. Georgia would be well served to get him the ball and let him do his thing. Show ‘em “Tampa”!
AltamahaDawg
July 22nd, 2011
9:20 am
FLA DAWG, college football is pretty thick with gimmics. The entire concept of the game IS a gimmic. But in this particular case, as the article specifically stated, this is pretty much a mandate for getting to play in this game. (the game that is pretty much a gimmic itself).
The unis had nothing to do with Alabama being stronger and executing better than Georgia that day. And had the Dawgs kicked thier butts, the unis would not have been a factor in that either. Uniforms are just that. Colors are just decorations. If you remove “gimmic” from them, then every game is solid white VS solid greys.
Big Dirty Dawg
July 22nd, 2011
9:23 am
LOL Clark Central hasnt been relevant since the late 80s, early 90s!!
ATL Sports Fan
July 22nd, 2011
9:27 am
People just do not understand what Nike does for UGA. They pump millions upon millions of dollars into the athletic department. Not only the money, they also give out equipment and appreal. Last but not least, UGA signed a contract with Nike. If they signed a contract with Under Armour, Adidas, or another company they would still have to rock their gear and would be under their terms of the contract.
ATL Sports Fan
July 22nd, 2011
9:28 am
To the poster on the previous page who was talking about Drew, Crowell and some others skipping morning workouts. Your wrong by the way! Hate to tell you but your source is wrong, and I doubt it was Jay Rome’s father.
@low country
July 22nd, 2011
9:32 am
Have you been living under a rock since 1960?
McDawg
July 22nd, 2011
9:47 am
liked CMR attitude at the press conference-his disgust for the ex-players was more than apparent
WDE
July 22nd, 2011
9:49 am
@No thanks, Nike and the other fools that carp that this is CMR’s idea…do you ever read before you open your pie holes???
The Broncos also will be sporting Nike’s new-fangled line of Pro Combat football gear.
It’s a one-time-only promotion that the Bulldogs and Boise State and seven other teams are doing for Nike this year. They’ll wear them only in this one game, just as LSU will be wearing a similar version against Auburn later this season.
wheresmycrackpipe?
July 22nd, 2011
10:18 am
Im sure Bobo and Richt will bench him because he cant block….just like with RB’s….sheeeezzz
rock steady freddy
July 22nd, 2011
10:32 am
MALCOME IS JUST ROCKIN STEADY, JUST LIKE OL’ FREDDY! AaROOF!
FLA DAWG
July 22nd, 2011
10:40 am
Thanks for the correction guys on the Nike thing.
But you have to admit Richt’s making a big deal of it ups the ante for UGA.
It will make a loss hurt even more.
With the level of talent on the field for The Dawgs this should be a two TD win for us. Vegas has UGA by 6 or 7 I believe.
I am looking forward to this game. It will tell us all what we need to know. Bottomline, if Richt cannot beat these guys solidly then he is unable to coach in The SEC. If the season record is only a 7 or 8 game win he should go.
Alabama | MrSEC.com
July 22nd, 2011
10:46 am
[...] gone from a question mark last year to the strength of UGA’s team this year.3. Murray is excited about freshman receiver Malcolm Mitchell.4. The Bulldogs aren’t worry about pressure.5. Kentucky’s players plan to give [...]
plowboy
July 22nd, 2011
11:07 am
he’s not marlon brown….he played against GREAT competition in high school…not in private school! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0JrzR92dhw
RedandBlackDAWG
July 23rd, 2011
9:07 am
I think that CMR is just tired of hearing about all the negativity about UGA, and is just trying to deflect some of it, and talk about something else. The university is paid to promote these uniforms as part of the deal, and the players seem excited about wearing them for the one game they will. Considering how much money UGA gets out of the deal, and how much equipemnt that Nike provides the football team, it seems like a small sacrifice to me.
dawgs01
July 23rd, 2011
6:58 pm
we got a special recruiting class last yr. Malcolm will start and Moore will play he is the type of kid you cant keep off the field he wil at least make all the special teams. All the kids that come out of Griffin High end up making it to the NFL the problem is most of them do not have the grades to go to big time programs most go to small schools then make it to the pros like toby jackson central florida snag him he was a five star they got him bc they took his brother too who is an undersized linbacker but can run like a cornerback