Rambo staying, Charles going as UGA players wrestle with NFL decisions
Orson Charles, Georgia’s All-SEC tight end, will skip his senior season to enter the NFL draft.
Charles revealed the unsurprising decision Wednesday, saying “it’s time to open a new chapter in my life.”
A few hours later, another UGA underclassman who had been seriously considering the draft — safety Bacarri Rambo — made the opposite decision, announcing through the school that he will return for his senior season.
Charles said he consulted with several NFL players and a former NFL coach, Tony Dungy, about his stay-or-go choice. The NFL’s underclassmen advisory committee told Charles that he could be drafted as high as the second round.
The decision wasn’t stressful, Charles said, because “either way I wouldn’t be wrong.” He added: “As I continued to pray about it, I just felt ready.”
The deadline to declare for the draft is Sunday. Charles and Rambo appeared to have the highest draft stock among Georgia players considering early entry, although several others also have said they are weighing decisions.
Rambo’s return is a boon for the Georgia defense. He led the SEC with eight interceptions this past season and was named an Associated Press first-team All-American.
Charles’ departure, combined with the expiration of senior Aron White’s eligibility, means Georgia will head toward the 2012 season without its top two tight ends from last season.
The Bulldogs’ top returners at the position will be junior Arthur Lynch, who has two career catches, and Jay Rome, a highly touted recruit who was redshirted as a freshman last season. Also, Colquitt County tight end Ty Smith has committed to sign with the Bulldogs next month.
“They have a lot of people who can fill the hole at tight end,” Charles said.
Charles was one of two prized recruits, along with quarterback Aaron Murray, who signed with Georgia out of Tampa’s Plant High in 2009. Murray, who unlike Charles was redshirted in his first season at UGA, has two years of eligibility remaining and wished his long-time teammate well.
“The No. 1 thing he said was, ‘Just don’t forget about me,’” Charles said.
“To play [in college] with my high school quarterback was definitely a blessing,” Charles added.
Charles started 29 games for Georgia. He caught 94 passes for 1,370 yards, which set a UGA career yardage record for tight ends, and 10 touchdowns, which tied the school record for the position.
After catching 45 passes for 574 yards and five touchdowns in the 2011 season, he was voted first-team All-SEC by both the coaches and the media. He was chosen first-team All-America by the American Football Coaches Association.
In what proved to be his final college game –-a triple-overtime loss to Michigan State in the Outback Bowl –- Charles had one catch for two yards. He said that game did not affect his decision to depart.
“I met the majority of all my goals I came here with,” Charles said Wednesday. “I feel like I’ve grown spiritually. . . . I feel like I’ve grown as a player.
“I was going back and remembering some of the goals I came in [with], and today I was checking them all off, like, ‘Yeah, I accomplished this.’ The past three years have just been a blessing. They’ve been awesome.”
The 6-foot-3, 241-pound Charles is ranked as the third best tight end in this year’s draft by nfldraftscout.com, behind Clemson’s Dwayne Allen and Stanford’s Coby Fleener.
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347 comments Add your comment
RHall55
January 11th, 2012
2:36 pm
The end result of the Mike Bobo’s offensive genius!! CMB really utilized OCharles in the Bowl Game; why do we put up w/ his incompetience!! Pitiful!!
KB
January 11th, 2012
2:36 pm
UGA insider , If you were inside anything you would know there were Zero expectations in BBall this year. But I’m pretty sure they chalk up a win or two.
Dbalcer
January 11th, 2012
2:37 pm
Good luck Orson wish you were staying. Go DAWGS ready to see the next player step up. 2012 should be a good season for the DAWGS.
dogbone
January 11th, 2012
2:37 pm
Who could blame him……..With Bobo’s lack-luster offense play calling, I would jump too!!!!!!!
LawDawg
January 11th, 2012
2:37 pm
Meh. He has all the talent in the world, but he has been mediocre and is way too prone to make huge mistakes or go to the T-Rex arms in important situations. I am looking forward to the transition to Jay Rome. I actually think Aron White is a bigger loss, due to his leadership.
RxDawg
January 11th, 2012
2:37 pm
Awe man, well I sincerely wish you the best of luck OC. You were a DGD. You carried yourself on and off the field exactly how a Dawg should. I’m sure you’ll have a great career in the NFL.
LawDawg
January 11th, 2012
2:39 pm
By the way, everyone realizes that the AJC does not verify user names. right? Just because someone SAYS they are a UGA Insider means less than nothing. That could easily be a 15 year old Florida fan.
layinlow
January 11th, 2012
2:39 pm
Don’t blame him for leaving. This guy was an exceptional down the field weapon at the tight end position who was never correctly utilized by Richt and company. Another super talented Georgia player who never reached his full potential because of an inept coaching regime. The mediocrity continues in athens even though we have one of the greatest high school footbal talent bases ever seen by mankind to pull from. Unreal.
LawDawg
January 11th, 2012
2:40 pm
dogbone: Jesus Christ and Bill Walsh could be working together to call plays and he still would have left. I know that this is basically a Pavlovian response with Bobo at this point among some UGA fans, but let’s keep at least some perspective.
1eyedJack
January 11th, 2012
2:40 pm
Well, that’s that. Jay Rome and Artie Lynch next year! Probably not a big drop off as they too will be required to help a young offensive line block. This is why they offered Sean Price yesterday. They also need to call up Ricky Parks.
McDawg
January 11th, 2012
2:40 pm
hopefully Rambo and S. Williams stay
Buckeye
January 11th, 2012
2:40 pm
Guess the dogs have now dropped from # 1 in the Jan/Feb polls.
nyx
January 11th, 2012
2:40 pm
Sadly he wont be missed because he is quite possibly the most underutilized weapon we have had the past 3 years. Just yet another phenomenal talent we have had that we never saw fit to use.
KB
January 11th, 2012
2:41 pm
Who would’ve ever thought that Michigan state would try and take away Georgias best receiver? Never been done before in all of football.
cwm in the branch
January 11th, 2012
2:41 pm
i am a dawg fan see all their games …….. you guys are funny hating on these players if they were your sons a two yard pass completion would be great ….. orson gave everything for the dawgs .. you think he wants to lose .. his record and catches help draft status ……. be appreciative for what he has done … AND THANK THE YOUNG MAN…
In my opinion
January 11th, 2012
2:41 pm
I DONT BLAME HIM, YOU’D THINK BOBO FORGOT HE WAS ON THE TEAM AS LITTLE AS HE WAS UTILIZED.
Frank Lane
January 11th, 2012
2:41 pm
Three years is all you can expect out of a great player. Good Luck Orson
Boca Baby
January 11th, 2012
2:41 pm
Charles was an undersized TE in the UGA tradition. Not a great blocker.
1eyedJack
January 11th, 2012
2:43 pm
He’ll make a great H-back though.
UGA Insider
January 11th, 2012
2:44 pm
UGA didn’t use Orson vs. MSU on purpose folks….. He had already informed the staff he was going pro and didn’t want many calls because he didn’t want to risk injury. He also whiffed on many blocks but the Dawgs had no other choice but to play him. They just didn’t throw to him because he didn’t want any throws.
nyx
January 11th, 2012
2:44 pm
Buckeye –
Just wait until the headcase Meyer starts losing to the only 3 other decent programs in the Little 11 and flakes out again and disgustingly uses his family as an excuse again as to why he cannot handle failure like a normal adult.
DawginLex
January 11th, 2012
2:46 pm
Insider
I call BS to that
He was blocking on the plays that I saw and on the pass routes, Murray went another way or got sacked.
82Dawg
January 11th, 2012
2:46 pm
@UGA Insider….you need to get a new insider. Your inside info is always wrong….
Tater Tot
January 11th, 2012
2:46 pm
UGA Insider
January 11th, 2012
2:44 pm
UGA didn’t use Orson vs. MSU on purpose folks….. He had already informed the staff he was going pro and didn’t want many calls because he didn’t want to risk injury. He also whiffed on many blocks but the Dawgs had no other choice but to play him. They just didn’t throw to him because he didn’t want any throws.
___________________________________________________
If that is the case then he needs to go as he is only thinking about himself and not the team as a whole. Go Dawgs !!
reebok
January 11th, 2012
2:47 pm
Very fine player, but under-utilized in Bobo’s offense. as a Tech fan I can’t say I’m sorry to see him go…we couldn’t do a thing with him.
ChattaDawg
January 11th, 2012
2:47 pm
Charles will be fine in the NFL…Will play in slot (like Hines Ward) and will be asked to catch the ball, block corners and safeties. He will make more $$$ than most of us.
Good Luck Orson…
Go Dawgs
layinlow
January 11th, 2012
2:48 pm
Insider, not believing that one. I am an admitted huge critic of richt but even i don’t believe that he would allowed that kind of bs to go on.
7576DAWG
January 11th, 2012
2:48 pm
The NFL demand’s that their Tight End’s be able to block. That make Charles invaluable. Georgia didn’t have good depth on the offensive line and Charles was used frequently as a blocker to keep our opponent’s Defensive end in check and when we didn’t need him to block was a very good TE.
Unlike a lot of our opponent’s CMR has always encouraged player’s to leave early if they were ready.The one thing I like the most about CMR is he put’s the player’s interest first and let’s them make the decision without pressure whether to leave early. Charles will go in the first round or the first half of the second round.
DirtyBirds88
January 11th, 2012
2:48 pm
Orson was under utilized at UGA. He should have had 70 rec 900 yds and 8 tds ..at least. With Tony Gonzalez* gone into retirement most likely.. Orson would be a nice fit in a Falcons uni. He is gonna be a late first rounder to second rounder most likely, and if his stock falls..will go no farther than the first round. Typically TE’s dont get drafted til the mid to late twenties ( in the draft) few years ago Pettigrew to Detriot. Step up Jay Rome! I believe Malcom Mitchell and Rome went to school together in Valdosta! id rather have Orson leave, w Jay in the wings as opposed to John Jenkins or Jarvis Jones. If Baccara declares..would be horrible. Go Dawgs!
Dawg Fud
January 11th, 2012
2:50 pm
Goin’ to miss you, Orson! Thanks for being a loyal Dawg!
beebee
January 11th, 2012
2:51 pm
They leave, DC Dawg, because there is NOTHING worth staying for.
No national title aspirations (at least no legitimate hope of winning one).
No coach under whose tutelage is even WORTH staying another year for.
And let’s not even talk about the Rebel flag hoisting houses/frat or otherwise, that pepper the campus.
1eyedJack
January 11th, 2012
2:52 pm
“UGA didn’t use Orson vs. MSU on purpose folks….. He had already informed the staff he was going pro and didn’t want many calls because he didn’t want to risk injury.”
Wrong. He said in his interview that he didn’t inform the coaches until yesterday.
DirtyBirds88
January 11th, 2012
2:52 pm
only problem is falcons need to concentrate on defense and possible oline with the lack of pics remaining. and w/ no first or third ..i believe, to get a TE..would not be gettin the most out of your pick. And we’ve seen Thomas D. put all his fruits in one basket before ( im a big fan of Julio Jone, amazing player) but look at who Cleveland got w our picks..jimmy smith at cb ( we could have used him) Greg little is no julio ..( but we could have used him) and a FB and than our first and third this year. and like it is widely known Help wanted w our secondary..Hello anyhome home..Dunta, and our OLINE.
Buck Blew
January 11th, 2012
2:53 pm
you can blame mike bozo for this one.
Run Lindsay!!
DirtyBirds88
January 11th, 2012
2:54 pm
JAY ROME
G-Dawg
January 11th, 2012
2:54 pm
Baccari needs another solid season and he’ll be potential first rounder. I’m guessing he’s a late second or third round pick at this point. Alotta moolah being left on table by leaving early.
Buck Blew
January 11th, 2012
2:55 pm
Rambo and Williams are next along with Crowell transferring.
the rats are jumping ship once again.
Run Lindsay!!
layinlow
January 11th, 2012
2:56 pm
reebok, it’s not Bobo’s offense, it’s Richt’s offense. Why are people so blind to the fact that Bobo was just a lowly assistant when he started under Richt. Richt trained Bobo so his style is Richt’s style! At crucial points in big games Richt has the head set on and hears what bobo’s calling and so forth. If Richt wanted Bobo to change he would push him to do so! Why do you think Richt defends Bobo with such ferocity? Because from a personal standpoint he knows that criticism of Bobo is really a knock on him. Think about that.
extrapoint
January 11th, 2012
2:57 pm
Good news for the Florida Gators. They’ve hired Boise States’s OC. At least we have Bobo.
RxDawg
January 11th, 2012
2:57 pm
“UGA didn’t use Orson vs. MSU on purpose folks….. He had already informed the staff he was going pro and didn’t want many calls ”
lol that is just plain dumb. The bowl game would be his last audition to move up the draft. There are some pretty good TE’s coming out in this class and OC is not a lock to be the best one.
Yep, I’m convinced your one of the best trolls to grace this site. Your very subtle there insider.
cleveland ave. dawg
January 11th, 2012
3:00 pm
OC, best wishes!!! One of the top TE in the nation!!! But hey, guess who out another job??? Willie Martienez. Yesssss!!! Bless his heart! Couldn’t hold it down in Norman!!! Now CMR, has to do something has hard for him like Stoops did. Let Go!!!! Get rid of this just plane average OC
JB
January 11th, 2012
3:00 pm
Orson was a great Dawg. He will be missed……………..Anybody other than me notice that Bama’s offense is clumsy,dull, uneventful etc…………but just works……
G
January 11th, 2012
3:03 pm
Grantham and UGA need to squash this one real quickly
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 11th, 2012
3:05 pm
Charles will be missed
To bad he wasnt used like he should have been
but thats par for the course with our top notch coaching staff
PR
January 11th, 2012
3:06 pm
I guess people will believe anything they read. Grantham isn’t going anywhere folks…
KB
January 11th, 2012
3:06 pm
Yep Orson was so underutilized he was 1st team all SEC.
Bronc62
January 11th, 2012
3:06 pm
Good luck OC..probably only a 4th or 5th rounder..could have been 1st if you stayed…better do excellent at combine..
RedandBlackDAWG
January 11th, 2012
3:08 pm
We are going to miss his experience but I think Rome can step up and we do have a couple of others as well.
UGA76
January 11th, 2012
3:08 pm
I wish Orson Charles the best of luck in the NFL. I don’t blame him for leaving because Bobo didn’t utilize him properly. Case in point is the game against Michigan State. Bobo was so outcoached that Orson became an extra blocker almost the entire game and only caught one pass for 4 yards. If Bobo stays, Orson made the right decision. In spite of Bobo, I still think Orson isn’t NFL ready because he’s a “tweener” tight end. He’s too small to block in the NFL and too slow to be a split out as a wide receiver. He needs another year to increase his strength and size to take on blitzing linebackers.
Buck Blew
January 11th, 2012
3:11 pm
Grantham will be the defensive coordinator of the Jaguars by the end of this week.
CMR better get on the phone and get Kirby Smart back to Athens ASAP.
Run Lindsay !!