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
The Factor
January 15th, 2012
1:10 am
@Brainiac
Don’t give GTBob any credit. He is a troll……..
UGA is relevant in the NCAA, Tech isn’t and they can’t stand it. We have nothing to apologize about next years schedule. It is still harder than most Big Ten, ACC, Pac 10 or Big 12 schedule even in a slow year. Many a NC’s are won with a favorable schedule. Just ask SCal in that miserable conference a few years ago and UF when UGA, Bama and LSU were down and Ark/SC weren’t even a factor.
Aaron Murray 0-9 vs top 25
January 15th, 2012
4:22 am
NC with our puny QB ?
For his Career : 11 losses in 27 Starts 41 % lost, holds ball too long, steals 7 carries a game from RB with 1 yard a carry average and 21 Fumbles, 22 Interceptions, 56 Sacks, 0-9 vs teams end up Top 25
January 15th, 2012
5:07 am
Jborodawg January 14, 2012 11:48am
Sir, Aaron Murray is NO Drew Brees.
He is also no :
Case Keenum
Kellen Moore
Robert Griffin III
Conner Shaw
Colt McCoy
Russell Wilson
Drew Brees
You could not possibly have compiled such a list as these, to attempt to project their careers onto Aaron Murray’s career here, for whom he so poorly compares, if you tried.
Sir.
Jborodawg
SI
January 15th, 2012
7:38 am
Let’s see…UGA lost 42-10 to LSU in the SEC Champ game (not to mention they lost to Michigan State) and they want to come back for something special. LSU is bring back a better team next year and if it ain’t LSU from the West it’s some team that just won the NC. Easy schedule and another down year for Florida = SEC Champ game again. And again UGA will find out how far they have to go after they get smashed…the offseason has so many possibilities…keep dreaming!
flafalcon
January 15th, 2012
8:26 am
Guess we are going to be stuck with Bobo for another year.
East Repeat
January 15th, 2012
9:40 am
Before UGA wins East, you must ask, “Who will beat SC”? Certainly not the Dawgs, not FL, not TN. Dawgs take a step back next year, lose a few they shouldn’t (Mizzou?) and definetly Murray will not be headed to NFL early (or at all for that matter).
mountain man
January 15th, 2012
9:52 am
This all sounds great players who will return. Kids who have signed but we still have a 800 pound Gorilla in the house. called BOBO. I hate to say it but unless we get a new OC it will be the same old same old.
GADAWG92
January 15th, 2012
10:53 am
How does redshirting help Mason? I understand this puts a year between him and Murray. But it locks him in with LeMay. Glad to see the kid stick around but he still has a battle on his hands to start.
GT powerless house
January 15th, 2012
1:14 pm
Gt bob: do you get out much?
Smells weird down there
January 15th, 2012
1:19 pm
Gt recruiting is going freaking awful. KEEP IT UP GUYS, good job!
UGA Dawg 97
January 15th, 2012
2:04 pm
Murray to the NFL????
I’m sure those NFL scouts are salivating for a 6′0 marginally accurate QB.
aw
January 15th, 2012
2:18 pm
Mason will be playing at UT Chattanooga in 2 years
BIGDAWG
January 15th, 2012
2:25 pm
Great to see everybody coming back i think murray steps up his game this year but as long as bobo is calling plays we will never win
BIGDAWG
January 15th, 2012
2:30 pm
Maby our D can pitch shutouts every game thats what it will take with bobo calling plays you know when he even gets a 7 point lead he shuts it down and sits on it he’s gotta to learn to go for the kill
NCDAWG
January 15th, 2012
3:32 pm
@GTBob wanna hear a joke ? Georgia Tech’s football program
Jockich Smelley, I
January 15th, 2012
4:24 pm
HEY DAWG FANS….why do you have to go outside the state of GA to get a QB when you could go to the Atl Burbs and get Cam (Newton)….TJ (Yates)…
superDawg
January 15th, 2012
4:56 pm
What can I say but we suck!! We will never compete as long as Mark Richt is our coach. We had a better chance with Donnan as head coach to win a Championship. I probably will never live long enough to see us win anything. Tech fans are right, we haven’t won anything in 30 years.
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
January 15th, 2012
7:13 pm
@Super Dawg:
In 11 years CMR has won 2 SEC Championships an 6 SEC East Championships and is in the TOP 10 Active Won/Loss percentage in THE NATION.>Something no other SEC Coach can claim. How did Donnan do? You probably won’t live long enough to see us win anything???? I distinctly remember winning an SEC East title a few weeks ago. Wish you could have been there.You probably won’t live long enough to see CMR leave the UGA HC job. No SEC Coach has a winning record against CMR but hey, there are over 100 other teams out there. PICK One and move on DUNCE.
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
January 15th, 2012
7:20 pm
@The Factor:
I don’t disagree with any of your post. I just hate “Piling On”.
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
January 15th, 2012
7:28 pm
@NFL:
I could have sworn I saw Colt McCoy in some NFL games but I guess not. Suely as brilliant as you THINK you are you couldn’t possibly have missed that and certainly the NFL guys who are paid the BIG BUCKS couldn;t possibly know more than YOU. Idiot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
January 15th, 2012
7:32 pm
@SI:
I guess you missed the part where Rambo was named a FIRST TEAM All American but I for one am not surprised. I bet that isn’t all your Pea Sized Brain missed.
crossdawg
January 15th, 2012
7:36 pm
Add Mason to the list of DGDs. I’m really proud of the defensive Dawgs who decided to decided to stay. Too bad Charles decided that he’d gotten his goals but those goals didn’t include an SEC Championship. G A T A
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
January 15th, 2012
7:41 pm
@Bettye:
It appears you are quite the authority on incest and sucking. I bet yo mama be proud.
WestOfAthens
January 15th, 2012
8:13 pm
Good news, thanks for the work you put into the story Chip.
Although i seen progress from the flagship University of this great State of Georgia, there is room for improvement. Can’t wait for September!
HBTD
WestOfAthens
January 15th, 2012
8:16 pm
Tim Tucker, yes, good story
I errrrred on the side of caution
this dawg want hunt!!
January 15th, 2012
8:19 pm
UGA will never have to worry about oversigning as long as Richt is in charge of program. Hell they will be lucky to get 20 committments this year after all the top recruits from the state go to Bama, Auburn, Florida, and now even S.C. Richt and his staff are lazy as hell, and they are always the last program to offer top in state talent. If this coach and his staff had to actually answer to someone for their pathetic recruiting tactics or for their pitiful game day coaching ability, poor Richt wouldn’t have a job and neither would his assistants. But thanks to McGarity who is nothing but an Adams yes man, UGA will be stuck with Richt and his puppet Bobo, and one of the worst offensive staffs in the entire country, not the SEC. It is a shame that a school that has the resources that UGA has, continues to support these mediocre coaches and this clown of an A.D. UGA will continue to fall farther and farther behind the other rivals in the SEC. My God, UGA can’t even get a Vandy commitment from the state to flip, that says all you need to know about this staff and it’s ability to recruit. If you don’t believe me, look at the O.C. Florida just hired, he is the O.C. from Boise St. Does that ring a bell to any of you cool-aid drinkers that love RIcht and Bobo. This guy would coach cirlces around Richt& Bobo, and now he will beat them like a drum. At least Will the little thrill who cant coach, can at least recruit players and assistants. Richt cant do either. UGA will be pathetic after next year when all the defense is gone and UGA has to actually count on the offense to save them. OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
UGA so close, yet so far away
January 15th, 2012
10:18 pm
First, I don’t blame Charles and good luck to him. In the MSU game, we had a NFL TE and he wasn’t included in the offensive game plan. Nice job Bobo.
Second, I respect the other returning juniors who are returning. At least the players want greatness along with CTG and the D.
Third is the problem. I appreciate what Bobo did as a player and asst coach for UGA, but it is time to get a CTG equivalent hire for the O. I won’t bash Bobo and think he should be retained, but in the best football league next to the NFL (the SEC) UGA fans and players deserve an experienced OC that can out-coach DC’s in the SEC and put together a real game plan. Bobo simply doesn’t have that ability. Walsh is not to blame for the MSU game, the offensive calling was. MSU used up their timeouts at the end and UGA was first and 10. A first down and the game is over. We get 3 runs in the middle and hand it over to the D. The O should have put the game away in the first half, and still had that chance at the end. The offensive conservancy cost us the game, period.
In closing, I think some QB competition would be great for the program. What has Murray really ever done? I think Hutson Mason has been looked over and not given a fair shot.
Same old...
January 15th, 2012
10:33 pm
I feel so bad for these guys staying for one more year. They’re delusional thinking these coaches can lead them to a championship.
major
January 16th, 2012
3:00 am
Fact:
Someone at QB is going to get left out. Someone at RB is going to get left out. More than likely you will see multiple players transfer out after spring practice and the picture will flush out more clearly. But in the final picture you will see a great skill position, good defense, and a very very average offensive line who will not be able to protect the QB and force a running game.
Word on the street is a couple of these young recruits are having a difficult time making the proper scores to get into any NCAA SEC school.
Beno Dawg
January 16th, 2012
3:10 am
Ogre still said it best. NERDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
18-28 vs teams finishing AP Poll Top 25 Mark Richt all 11 years, 3-13 vs teams finishing AP Poll Top 10 all 11 years Mark Richt, with 16 Losses teams who wouldn't end up top 25 without beating him.
January 16th, 2012
4:06 am
1.AL 0 or 1 loss vs SEC 3 times since we did last
2.AU 0 or 1 loss vs SEC 3 times since we did last
3.FL 0 or 1 loss vs SEC 3 times since we did last
4.LSU 0 or 1 loss vs SEC 2 times since we did last
5.11 SEC teams had 0 or 1 loss since we did last.
11 SEC teams have had 0 or 1 SEC loss, since we last had 1 SEC loss in a season, and that season was a Down Season 2002 for The SEC with only just 1 other team who ended the season in the Coaches’ Poll Top 25, a 4-loss Auburn.
11 SEC teams who had 0 or 1 SEC loss on the season, since we last had a season in which we lost 1 SEC game.
We don’t compete. We have not competed. We continue to not compete for 10 solid years of 11 different SEC teams going 0 or 1 loss on the season since we last did. Consistently, we are satisfied with mediocrity saying how good we were in 2011 with a 10-win season, like 27 other 10-win season teams 2011 alone – and, us with no win over any of the 27 teams with 10-win seasons, no win over any team finishing in the top 10 since 2006 when we beat # 9 Auburn 7 seasons ago now, and no win over any team finishing in the top 25 since we beat highly suspect # 13 Georgia tek in 2009.
10 Consecutive Seasons not 0 or 1 SEC loss
10 Consecutive Seasons of 11 teams 0 or 1 SEC loss
7 Consecutive Losses vs teams finishing top 10
9 Consecutive Losses vs teams finishing top 25
Mark Richt # 20 Winning Percentage of 1-A FBS College Football Coaches, not # 4 and not top 10, try again.
January 16th, 2012
6:13 am
FBS 1-A Head Coach Win %
01. .9241 Chris Petersen currently at Boise State
02. .8500 Chip Kelly currently at Oregon
03. .8462 David Shaw currently at Stanford
04. .8362 Pete Carroll
05. .8281 Jim Tressel
06. .8189 Urb an Me yer currently at Ohio State
07. .8065 Les Miles at LSU
08. .8041 Bob Stoops currently at Oklahoma
09. .8028 Mack Brown currently at Texas
10. .8000 Larry Coker currently at Miami
11. .7983 Nick Saban currently at Alabama
12. .7899 Gary Patterson currently at TCU
13. .7857 Dave Doeren currently at Northern Illinois
14. .7692 Dana Holgorsen currently at West Virginia
15. .7692 Hugh Freeze currently at Ole Miss
16. .7595 Bret Bielema currently at Wisconsin
17. .7491 Joe Paterno
18. .7483 Frank Beamer currently at Virginia Tech
19. .7426 Bobby Petrino currently at Arkansas
20. .7361 Mark Richt currently at Georgia
Rodster
January 16th, 2012
8:30 am
Those guys are righteous in my book. Good luck with next season and I hope you are richly rewarded.
UGA Insider
January 16th, 2012
10:11 am
The fact that Caleb King is on an NFL roster is the reason every kid at UGA thinks he can play in the NFL. Hell, they may be right. Caleb King is making league minimum right now… $850,000/yr. Nice.
SeanB
January 16th, 2012
10:38 am
“Jeff” I was of the same thinking as you but yesterday I went back and watched thru a couple UGA games I was about to delete from TiVo and most of the times Bobo is making the best play call. When you know the result and you take the emotion out of it……because you can when it is a “game tape” you will notice that the players aren’t executing! It isn’t the play call! Sort of like the Falcons…..we need 1 yard go get it!
duronimo
January 16th, 2012
10:52 am
I don’t look forward to another season with Murray. This year’s numbers are skewed by two factors: #1 toward poor defensive teams and #2 A well above average reciever corps which not only got wide open but adjusted to poor throws.Against good teams and the expected pressure, and better coverage, he simply self-destructed. He doesn’t make little mistakes either …. his makes game changing mistakes.
I think red shirting Mason is fine since no matter what, Murray is going to play very down in 1012.
Mark Richt # 20 Winning Percentage of 1-A FBS College Football Coaches, not # 4 and not top 10, try again.
January 16th, 2012
11:18 am
Caleb King is on the 53-man active roster of the Minnesota Vikings. He has 0 carries. He doesn’t get the rookie money for the year, though. He barely made the 53-man roster, near the end of the year. And, if he gets hurt, he has no guaranteed contract. That is for the stars. He gets paid every 2 weeks. Minimum salary of rookie for that 2-week period. Then, 2 weeks later another check for another 2 weeks. He has just a couple of those checks.
Mark Richt # 20 Winning Percentage of 1-A FBS College Football Coaches, not # 4 and not top 10, try again.
January 16th, 2012
11:30 am
Yes, he is going to get every snap every game all this up-coming season at QB. He is the favorite. If he gets yanked, as he has been, it will only be once the game cannot possibly any longer be saved.
But, you should look forward to the season though. At most he has only 1 such team he will have to play of all 12 of the regular season games. It’s the ending season games, in which you should not look forward to. He will be way over his head playing this schedule. We had the easiest schedule of all The SEC teams this past 2011 season, and next season is way easier. Way easier. We have a Boise State schedule 2012.
KB
January 16th, 2012
12:46 pm
@mark richt #20, new day new handle how can you keep up? bending facts and stats to fit whatever your twisted agenda is. Larry coker still in coaching? , Are Murray and richt having an affair with your girlfriend?.Please show a Boise schedule with anything close to mizzou, Fla, Auburn, Tenn, S Carolina, Auburn on it. A bad SEC team is a good team in other conferences.
Steve Spurrier
January 16th, 2012
4:58 pm
When was the last time UGA beat anyone? Players don’t matter under Richt’s tutelage. That’s just the way it is.
dawgfacedboy
January 17th, 2012
9:29 am
I’m as hopeful as any fan. WIth our schedule and our roster we SHOULD contend for it all next year. That being said, based on what I saw from Bama and LSU this season…UGA has a loooooooooooong way to go. Those teams play smart, outstanding, agressive, in all facets of the game (special teams). THeir coaches play to beat the living crap out of you; not to try and get any sort of lead and then run, run, run, to drain the clock. They kick away from AA returns such as Mathieu. They throw wrinkles in the playbook. They lose key players and don’t skip a beat. THeir coaches go ballistic when they commit their first penalty of the game late in the 4th quarter even when the penalty didn’t have an effect on the outcome of the play. They step up in big games.
MountainDawg
January 17th, 2012
12:36 pm
Aaron has solid athletic ability and potential, but he best polish up his pocket savvy & decision making if he wants a shot at the NFL. His height & high number of turnovers may well hamper his NFL hopes.
Maria
January 18th, 2012
4:41 pm
It is going to be pretty wild!!
Webmaster of Clarisonic Cleaning Skin
willis
January 19th, 2012
10:41 am
its time for Mark Richt to call the plays, remember the potent offense when he was calling plays for FSU? I just dont think BOBO, although a great qb coach, has proven he can call big games…