Dogs’ defenders pass on draft; QB Mason will stay, redshirt
ATHENS — At one point, Georgia football coach Mark Richt conceded Friday, he feared losing as many as a half-dozen underclassmen to this year’s NFL draft.
“It’s kind of scary to think you might lose two, three, four, five, six great players,” Richt said. “If you looked at the worst-case scenario for who might leave, there was certainly going to be a youth movement around here.”
As it turned out, though, all of Georgia’s draft-eligible juniors except tight end Orson Charles decided to return for their senior seasons.
Among those who seriously considered entering the draft but decided to stay in school: outside linebacker Cornelius Washington, defensive end Abry Jones and defensive backs Bacarri Rambo, Sanders Commings, Shawn Williams and Branden Smith.
“We had options, and we chose to stay,” Washington said. “That just shows everybody we really want to do something big next season.”
Charles announced his departure several days ago, and Georgia so welcomed the other players’ decisions to stay that it held a news conference Friday to spread the word.
Friday also brought word that sophomore backup quarterback Hutson Mason, who had been considering transferring, has decided to remain at UGA, where the plan will be to redshirt him next season to ensure that his eligibility extends beyond starting quarterback Aaron Murray’s.
Without the redshirt, Mason’s eligibility would expire after the 2013 season, the same as Murray’s. But with the redshirt, Mason is ensured of having at least one season after Murray vacates the quarterback position -– or two seasons if Murray decides to leave for the NFL a year from now.
“Coach Richt and Coach [Mike] Bobo offering me a redshirt was a huge pivotal point and my deciding factor,” Mason said. “I was almost 100 percent leaving until I went and talked to them and they said they were interested in me redshirting.”
Mason and Richt acknowledged the possibility that the redshirt plan could be scratched if Murray gets injured, particularly early in the season. But otherwise, the plan will be to go into the season with Christian LeMay as Murray’s backup. LeMay was redshirted as a freshman last season.
Mason said that if he had left, he would have sought to transfer to another FBS school, meaning he would have had to sit out next season. So it made sense to him to take the redshirt at Georgia rather than elsewhere.
“My heart’s here,” said Mason, who is from Marietta. “I want to win a championship here.”
“He’s outstanding in our system, and it fits him extremely well in my opinion,” Richt said. “I think he made a great decision.”
Murray was noncommittal on whether next season will be his last in college before entering the NFL draft.
“I can’t predict what’s going to happen,” Murray said. “We’ll see how next season goes.”
Georgia’s prospects for the season were bolstered by the unanimous decisions of the defense’s draft-eligible underclassmen to forgo the draft. Several said they were advised by the NFL’s underclassmen advisory committee that they could have been selected as high as the third round.
Richt said the Bulldogs had more players than usual consider the draft, “and for good reason because they’re going to end up in the NFL one day.”
Outside linebacker Jarvis Jones made it clear all season that he would be back, and Rambo announced his return several days ago. Rambo told Richt at one point that he would enter the draft, but subsequently changed his mind. Jones and Rambo were named first-team All-Americans by the Associated Press.
Several other defensive players had not revealed their stay-or-go choices until Friday, and some said the decision was agonizing.
“I was still undecided until today,” Smith said. “I felt like I was back in high school being recruited again, just trying to make a decision. I know I made the right decision, sticking with the team one more year.”
“Just the thought of [the NFL], you might get excited about it,” Abry Jones said. “But I thought about the year we could have, and I thought, ‘Might as well give it one more shot and have some more fun in college.’”
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294 comments Add your comment
Mark
January 13th, 2012
5:40 pm
dawgster,
Thank you brother it means a lot to know ppl actually appreciate our service. Yes I remember #34. He is the reason I became a Dawg fan, for both of my grandparents graduated from Tech. I am the minority in the family. I also know what you mean about being impossible to be around after a Dawg loss. My wife stated for the first time she was happy I was deployed. She did not wanna deal with my bad mood after those losses. Remember the last second loss to Auburn in ‘05? My neighbors couldn’t even stand to be around me the week after that loss. I’m getting riled up now on how the hell do you allow a post pattern on 4th and long go for a damn TD??? Anyways brother look forward to being home next season and chattin gwith ya after a game here on ajc. Take care
BG
January 13th, 2012
5:41 pm
Awesome news!!! GO DAWGS
Randall "Pink" Floyd
January 13th, 2012
5:43 pm
He’ll have 2 seasons after Murray but both will be spent on the bench.
GTBob
January 13th, 2012
5:44 pm
GTBob, Do you know the difference between “then” and “than”?
No, and I don’t give two craps about internet grammar.
Spanky
January 13th, 2012
5:44 pm
Jerome, you are the king of Just-too-Muchery!! Hilarious! Go Dawgs!!
Ed
January 13th, 2012
5:45 pm
If our coaches can put together a decent offensive line and find a solid punter and placekicker, watch out for the Dawgs in 2012! There really shouldn’t be any other areas of concern.
Spanky
January 13th, 2012
5:46 pm
Yeah Mark, thank you for your service, bro!! Where’s my “shake your hand” app? LOL
Butch Davis
January 13th, 2012
5:47 pm
Got to love when your whole defense decides to stay in school. Call me if you need any consulting help!
Mark
January 13th, 2012
5:49 pm
Spanky,
I got it. thanks for the props brother, sister??? Sorry not sure… Should post pics next to our names..lol
Jerome
January 13th, 2012
5:50 pm
We need some DBs. Some corners that are around 6′0 or 6′1. I don’t like corners taller than that because they usually aren’t very good at turning their hips.
NEEDED RECRUITS:
1. O-linemen
2. Defensive backs
3. Linebackers
Tybee Island
January 13th, 2012
5:50 pm
Great news for UGA
for more info on tybee islands vacations: http://www.sandysbytheshore.com
OkieDawg
January 13th, 2012
5:51 pm
GTBob – Italicize this…
Raildog
January 13th, 2012
5:51 pm
I will always bleed red and black, but, i fear we will never contend for #1 unless changes are made at the offensive play calling position.
Jerome
January 13th, 2012
5:52 pm
Two things you can never have enough of….O-linemen and running backs. Or linebackers.
We need DEPTH DEPTH DEPTH! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! That’s half the reason we lost to LSU and MSU. No depth and we couldn’t keep up because we were tired. Need some DEPTH.
Mark
January 13th, 2012
5:52 pm
Spanky,
I felt the hand shake all the way over here bro. Thanks for supporting the troops.
Mark
January 13th, 2012
5:53 pm
Now it posted after I revised it and posted another…lol
Jerome
January 13th, 2012
5:54 pm
One thing this does tell me about this group of guys is their leadership and willingness to put personal goals behind the team and work for helping Georgia win championships. No doubt that’s big. Had all those guys been selfish and left, we’d be looking at a 7-8 win season AT BEST. So glad those guys decided to come back and give it one more shot. You gotta think this is Jarvis Jones’ last year with us as well. Surely he won’t come back again! Hope he would but I would understand if he left after 2012. Orson Charles, not so much. He shoulda came back.
Beast from the East
January 13th, 2012
5:54 pm
The Dawgs season will be determined by the o-line play, in my opinion. The defense should be solid. If they can protect Murray then they should be tough to stop on offense. If not, then I don’t see much improvement over this year. Murray has proven he’s not very good under pressue and nakes poor decisions. When he has time, he’s possibly the best in the conference. Ya’ll should have a healthy stable of solid running backs, too.
GTBob
January 13th, 2012
5:58 pm
GTBob – Italicize this…
As requested.
mike addington
January 13th, 2012
6:05 pm
Being backup QB at UGA is 2 B N a Black Hole. Better transfer Mason if U ever want to have a chance at the next level. O. Charles was never used as much as he should have been, much like Leonard Pope a few years ago. C. Washington is a beast whose play dropped off after suspension–it seemed. great player. UGA looks like a top NFL team 2 me with all of the great players. Maybe Richt will wake up one day, but I frankly doubt it. Too bad cause he’s a nice guy.
VCGA
January 13th, 2012
6:06 pm
Face it Murray is the QB, Richt doesn’t want to lose a “potential” QB and LeMay is on the bench with Mason. No real QB competition, never has been after the initial decision is made like a couple of years ago with Murray and that really wasn’t a competition after the other QB in contention with Murray left after assaulting some girl. Remember Shockley? Never any real competition there either, Shockley got lots of promises but nothing delivered for what 4 years.
TDawg
January 13th, 2012
6:10 pm
Excited about the running backs. A good running game lets you control the ball in the 2nd half and these guys give us a lot of big play ability. Lot of good pieces in place next year. Go Dawgs. GtBob does not sleep with his mother. Chess Team got ribs on that
1970 Dawg
January 13th, 2012
6:18 pm
GTBob
January 13th, 2012
4:34 pm
no wonder the trolls are howling so loudly fear will do that to them!
Do you want to make your National Champions prediction now?
Don’t know about the NC but I will predict another State Championship, Bob
Frank Lane
January 13th, 2012
6:28 pm
Watched Faton Bauta’s reel. He is great quarterback, running back and line backer. Vicious hitter on defense. He is real.
Jerome
January 13th, 2012
6:31 pm
Good thing about having a lot of running backs is nobody gets tired. If Bobo and Richt actually utilize these guys and not hold them back due to “pass protection” then we should be fine. When you run 3-4 different running backs throughout a game, it wears a defense OUT. Completely out. They get tired of trying to tackle fresh legs especially when the back weighs over 200 pounds. When the RB is constantly running hard and trying to gain those yards, the defense is tired from tackling the other backs. When that back gets tired, stick another one in. See?
I’d let Crowell start…when he turns into his usual self and wants out after a play or two, in comes Marshall or Gurley or Malcome. It’s just fresh legs. That’s all it is.
Destin Dawg
January 13th, 2012
6:31 pm
Next couple years will be fun for the Dawgnation… can’t wait !!
Destin Dawg
January 13th, 2012
6:35 pm
Crowell will have a sprained ankle.. weak back bone.. tell him points are scored crossing the goal line NOT the side line.. run north/south NOT east/west.. new RB’s will get playing time for sure !! Go dawgs !!
zbulldawg
January 13th, 2012
6:37 pm
Smart move Juniors ! Charles don’t let the door hit you in the A_ _ !!! You’ll be missing out on something special !! Dumb A_ _ !! KEYS for 2012 ALL you doubters Kiss our A_ _ !!!!!!! GO DAWGS
Jerome
January 13th, 2012
6:40 pm
I think Ken Malcome is the most physical back we have. Well other than Samuel but I just don’t see Samuel as a RB. He’s a FB or LB. But Samuel is a DGD. The way he ran through the Gators on that final drive proved something to me. He got hurt on the final play of the game and that told me he’d hurt himself to put the team on his back. DGD!!!!! GO SAMUEL! But he’s not elusive nor quick. He’s straight ahead which would make him a great FB.
GTBob
January 13th, 2012
6:41 pm
Don’t know about the NC but I will predict another State Championship, Bob
State championships are for high schoolers. Time to grow up.
gbal
January 13th, 2012
6:41 pm
Like everything except Mason red shirt. I want him competing for the starting job. This announcement only tells AM and the rest of the team that AM is the starter and will run the show next year and I dont think this makes the team better. My info from inside is that the team does not rally around or feel AM can take the team to the W in big games and that HM is viewed as a better leader. Bad news
Snoop dawg
January 13th, 2012
6:43 pm
folks, the dawgs are just oozing with talent next year. But we are loaded almost every year. Weren’t we loaded in 2009 with Stafford and Knowshon? Well how did that go? Listen, no hating here, but the conversation should be about our problem areas. And that is coaching.
We will never get there until both Bobo AND Richt are gone.
No koolaid, just the facts…
Jerome
January 13th, 2012
6:47 pm
I agree gbal…would have loved to have open competition at QB and the better man plays. Isn’t that how it’s supposed to go. The better guy plays? Oh well guess not for Richt. Murray now knows he’s the starter basically regardless. No matter how many picks or fumbles he has. That’s not good. Competition breeds success. The harder you compete, you better you become and it translates onto the field.
Rangerdawg
January 13th, 2012
6:49 pm
Don’t worry, every 4 and 5 star recruits that UGA gets will be coached down to a 2 or 3 star. No competition at QB guarantees Murry will lose at least 2 games through fumbles and pick 6’s.
Jerome
January 13th, 2012
6:50 pm
We lost that game to MSU because of Murray. He threw 2 picks, one was a pick 6 and he had a fumble. I’ll be damned. Murray also had a critical fumble against LSU. In big games, he’s a turnover machine. I want my QB to have no nervousness going into a big time game. Murray does and it shows. By the time he settles down, games over.
Chris
January 13th, 2012
6:51 pm
from all the interviews i have heard from the players it sounds like a team that believes they can when a championship. It should be fun to watch.
I’m glad to have him, but I think Lemay will be a better player than mason and take the job. But its good to have a compettion for the spot once murray graduates.
Also with all these young running backs we have we will be like lsu with 4 or 5 guys who could start on other teams. It will be nice to have a ton of depth.
Finally I heard an interview from Orson Charles. They asked him about Isaiah and he was like he is a great teammate and he was just hurt all year long. He bragged about him and was very impressed. It didn’t sound fake, but from the heart. I think great things will come from isaiah
Chris
January 13th, 2012
6:52 pm
Jerome
Which qb doesn’t feel nerves before any game??? I’m an 8th grade qb and I get nervous before games i know we will win
Jerome
January 13th, 2012
6:54 pm
@ Chris, your not a big time QB. Murray is. But he doesn’t play like it.
Delbert D.
January 13th, 2012
6:57 pm
Time to lighten up. Scout (and ESPN) have 4 offensive tackles projected to go in the 1st round (3 in the top 10 selections). Kalil (USC), Reiff (Iowa), Martin (Stanford) and Sanders (FSU). They weigh 295, 300, 305 and 295, respectively.
Jerome
January 13th, 2012
6:58 pm
A guy to watch out for on our defense next season….CB Sanders Commings. Big time corner. Has shutdown written all over him. Could be our Morris Claiborne, our Patrick Peterson. He’s 6′2, 217 lbs so he’s a big boy and can cover any receiver. Remember, he had at least 6 picks he dropped this season and most of them for touchdowns. There were so many times had he just caught the ball, he could walk into the endzone for a pick 6. Watch out for SANDERS COMMINGS!
gbal
January 13th, 2012
7:00 pm
Telling ya… this is a bad decision on HM especially announcing now. Should have let them compete until opening day for the starter spot and promised Mason that if he didnt win the starting job, they would RS. that announcemnet should have waited. just a dumb coaching decision. it also tells LeMay that HM is the leader once Am leaves. Dumb a$$ move/announcement
Beast from the East
January 13th, 2012
7:01 pm
Delbert,
Just goes to show you that bigger is not always better. Taller with good good footwork seems to be the trend.
Beast from the East
January 13th, 2012
7:03 pm
gbal,
What other QB’s will ya’ll have competing in the spring?
Chris
January 13th, 2012
7:05 pm
Why would Brandon Smith even consider???? He’s not that good. What a delusional moron. And Murray? Leave after next year? He’s too short for the NFL, and too inconsistent as a starter. I hope he does leave though. I would like our chances with Lemay anyways.
kb
January 13th, 2012
7:06 pm
Snoop if Stafford and Moreno would’ve stayed for 2009 Georgia would’ve been loaded, But they left in 2008.
THE Dixie Redcoat Band
January 13th, 2012
7:11 pm
Oh boy, here we go again…..great expectations..another pre-season # top five.
kb
January 13th, 2012
7:11 pm
Gbal, Mason seems happy with it, It was a mutual decision, How the hell is that a bad coaching decision?Lemay not going anywhere and I doubt Mason ever plays in front of him.Wouldn’t be surprised if Lemay is used like Shockley with a couple of series a game.
dean
January 13th, 2012
7:14 pm
@Megan earlier today…. Whenever I hear a lady say,”That excites me tremendously.”, in reference to football, I have to be honest, that excites me tremendously! (That’s a compliment.)
Delbert D.
January 13th, 2012
7:15 pm
Some of those running backs need to redshirt. Also, 10 percent of the scholarships shouldn’t go to running backs.
dean
January 13th, 2012
7:19 pm
Im sorry, but 8th graders dont belong here. They should but they dont.