3 players dismissed by Georgia for team rules violations

ATHENS — Three players have been kicked off the Georgia football team for an undisclosed violation of team rules.

UGA coach Mark Richt announced this morning that defensive back Nick Marshall, wide receiver Sanford Seay and  defensive back Chris Sanders have been dismissed from the team. All three are freshmen and were members of Georgia’s 2011 “Dream Team” recruiting class.

The school did not address what precipitated the dismissals.

“It’s a privilege to play college football and to be a part of this team and University,” Richt said in a statement. “Along with that privilege comes certain responsibilities. Mistakes were made, and part of our job is helping them learn from mistakes. Going forward, we are committed to assisting them find opportunities where they can continue their education.”

Marshall’s high school coach,  Mark Ledford, was reached by the AJC this morning.

“I don’t want to comment on what Nick did,” said Ledford, head football coach at Wilcox County High.  “All I’ll say is I’ve been informed he is going to be released from UGA. As far as the details, I’d rather wait and see what Georgia is going to say officially.”

Marshall, a former AJC Super 11 player, was expected to play a significant role in Georgia’s secondary next season. He played sparingly as a cornerback and nickelback and extensively on special teams as a true freshman last season. A four-star prospect as a guard, he was also expected to join the Bulldogs’ basketball team at some point.

“There were going to be a lot of opportunities for him,” Ledford said. “It’s a shame he’s wasting those opportunities at Georgia. He’s going to have to accept the consequences and hopefully learn from them.”

Sanders, an all-state safety at Tucker, played in the first three games for Georgia before being sidelined with an injury the remainder of the season. He was expected to have four years remaining and contribute in the secondary.

Seay, who is from Leesburg, was redshirted last season, while Sanders, who is from Tucker, played in the first three games before missing the remainder of the season because of injury.

1,099 comments Add your comment

I'm Just Saying

February 3rd, 2012
10:06 am

Awbarn better be carful…them dawgs are not fooling around this year..its the Fulmer Cup Championship or nothing.

DawginLex

February 3rd, 2012
10:06 am

Tech recruited Marshall

Explain that GTBob??

UGAY " Nuff Said"

February 3rd, 2012
10:07 am

HAHAHAHHAHAHAHA!!!!!! Funny how Tech Fans always have such intelligent arguments on these blogs, meanwhile, UGAY fans simply get mad and resort to childish remarks such as “nerds” or whatever… This is hilarious….. p.s. Didn’t the “nerds’ get the last laugh on that famous movie from the 80’s?

TDF

February 3rd, 2012
10:07 am

FL Jacket

February 3rd, 2012
10:02 am

Hahahhahaha funny I have been thinking the same thing about you every time you post! Keep trying though, and ill keep pointing out how stupid you are!

kybodawg

February 3rd, 2012
10:08 am

this is tough love. maybe this will open there eyes, and to all who are going to jump on the its richts fault, this just shows that he does have controll of his prigram. it would have been easy to look the other way for a kid like marshall, but this must have been bad because i dont ramember him ghetting in trouble before this

GTBob

February 3rd, 2012
10:08 am

GTBob thinks you can predict whether or not a kid will get into trouble.

These players should be getting pretty thorough evaluations. Sorry, but some kids come from backgrounds, or have personality traits that are related to higher crime rates. SEC schools are willing to take risks on these kids because football is all that matters.

TDF

February 3rd, 2012
10:08 am

where did the money

February 3rd, 2012
10:03 am

Another moron. How about you not assume that all these kids are poor. Some come from money and ya know get money from their parents.

Bama Bill

February 3rd, 2012
10:09 am

These young men just blew a wonderful opportunity – but Auburn still has some openings for full 4 year scholarships – Just give them a call – It worked for Newton !

Tallydawg

February 3rd, 2012
10:09 am

I like it GA Truth. Don’t release them from their scholarships and make them ride the bench for a season or more. Releasing them only sets them free to play against UGA on Saturday. And we seem to have plenty of unused scholarships laying around anyway.

coughsalot

February 3rd, 2012
10:10 am

Shocking! Nick Marshall in trouble? I would never have guessed. After watching him play football and basketball at Wilcox County, and the wonderfull attitude, disipline and leadership skills he displayed, I’m in total disbelief. I’m kidding! I saw this coming a mile away. I’m surprised he lasted this long at Georgia. I figured he’d get kicked off the team within the first few days of practice last summer.

GTBob

February 3rd, 2012
10:10 am

Tech recruited Marshall

Explain that GTBob??

I already explained it. We dodged a bullet. Though I think our coaches and atmosphere would have done more to avoid it.

William Smith

February 3rd, 2012
10:10 am

What difference does it matter what team they were on. If you steal you steal. Next time someone grabs your wifes purse at a mall check out the team logo on the jacket before you press charges. College football is a Wall Street business where money is the only thing to be considered. The coaches that are heroes in our eyes make more money in a year than most people writing make in a lifetime. As Mitt Romney would say I’m not concerned about the very poor. What do you think is the economic status of most of these kids no matter what team.

Mike S

February 3rd, 2012
10:10 am

TDF, your boss is calling. Says there is oil change in Bay 3. Step it up and get off the Jiffylube computer.

TDF

February 3rd, 2012
10:11 am

FL Jacket

February 3rd, 2012
10:06 am

hahahah good for you. Jealous that I actually know someone who played for tech??? Dont act like you dont care about the human torpedo.

And like I said no one credits you with the 1990 SPLIT title. Sorry but Colorado was the champ in 1990 not GT.

Oops!

February 3rd, 2012
10:11 am

The rumor is it involved thievery….

Beast from the East

February 3rd, 2012
10:11 am

“SEC schools are willing to take risks on these kids because football is all that matters.”

GTBob,
I call BS. The ACC doesn’t recruit the same players? How about the U, FSU, Clemson, UNC, VT? Keep it real or keep it shut.

TDF

February 3rd, 2012
10:11 am

I’m Just Saying

February 3rd, 2012
10:06 am

No arrests no points. How dumb are you?

Orlando Dawg.

February 3rd, 2012
10:11 am

Word is that they were stealing.I have no problem with them being punished but I do have a problem with them being kicked off the team when others get second chances.Richt kicked no one off the team when they were caught smoking pot.Pot was not legal by law and Crowell and other running backs got off with a suspension.

TDF

February 3rd, 2012
10:12 am

GTBob

February 3rd, 2012
10:08 am

hahahaha lame arguement. Doesnt work sorry cant tell what a kid will do when he gets to college. Keep trying though fun to see you squirm and get owned by everyone!

the money part

February 3rd, 2012
10:13 am

will be covered up, No problem about “where it came from” it’s still to close to xmas. dawgs escape that big question this time.

TDF

February 3rd, 2012
10:13 am

GTBob

February 3rd, 2012
10:10 am

No they wouldnt have you clown.

Big Crimson 75

February 3rd, 2012
10:15 am

Jimmy Johns, Brandon Fanney, Darrington Sentimore, Keiwon Malone & Robbie Green.
All players suspended/kicked off Alabama’s team by Saban for violating team rules.
All 4 star recruits or better.
Johns, Fanney & Green were ALL PROJECTED starters before their suspension.
Have some clue of what you are posting before you write it.

Buzz Belle

February 3rd, 2012
10:15 am

Jacket fan here. But I actually view this as good news for UGA. It shows someone on your staff is beginning to understand football is a game and college should be taken seriously for the educational benefits. Hopefully this is a lesson these young men will take to heart and grow from it. UGA has enough depth to overcome these guys not being on the team but the rest of the team will understand they have to live by the rules or get out of town. A lesson the parents should have instilled in them long before college days. Best of luck to both fo these boys and lets hope they have learned to follow the rules.

TDF

February 3rd, 2012
10:15 am

Mike S

February 3rd, 2012
10:10 am

That all you got??? hahahahahha come back to me when you have something clever.

Thats like me saying hows the unemployed engineers line you moron

DawginLex

February 3rd, 2012
10:15 am

GTBob

your coaches and atmosphere would have done nothing more or less than UGA coaches and atmosphere

Quit making stuff up to support your idiot agenda.

Tech recruited the kid. He probably would have stolen more at Tech since all of you are so rich right?

TDF is a massive D-Bag

February 3rd, 2012
10:15 am

Notice he laughs like a little schoolgirl at everything anybody says. And he feels the need to share that laughter in his posts for some reason: hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

My God, a freshman!

February 3rd, 2012
10:15 am

Will Smith,
So what are you saying? I was following until you mentioned money and Mitt Romney.

Big Bull Dawg

February 3rd, 2012
10:16 am

Just met Nick Marshall’s relative in Hampton, GA. last week and we talked about the great future Nick had…Dang it…UGA is in a bigger media market than Bama and LSU, Florida, TN., so we cannot hush up this stuff like other programs do…I don’t ever see UGA oversigning like Bama, LSU, those West teams are up for a reason, and part of it is flush these kids anytime you need room for a 4-5 star stud! That’s the Saban way…we all know it…I just can’t see CMR ever doing that, and it is troubling to some degree….

RJ

February 3rd, 2012
10:16 am

CMR took the right path by releasing them from the team beyond that there isn’t much else that can be done. This happens to all programs but some programs and we have seen it happen many times would trivialize and keep the players on the team. Yes they will go to other programs and hopefully learn from their mistakes but poor character doesn’t easily change.

TDF

February 3rd, 2012
10:16 am

Orlando Dawg.

February 3rd, 2012
10:11 am

Stealing is way worse than pot sorry. No even in the same category. Stealing hurts others not just yourself.

TDF

February 3rd, 2012
10:17 am

the money part

February 3rd, 2012
10:13 am

Or actually it means nothing bc its prob money from a players parents.

SI

February 3rd, 2012
10:17 am

None of us have the all the facts, so let’s stop making assumptions. Since they were kicked off the team, I’m sure CMR can justify his actions. Only had a couple days to enjoy UGA successful recruiting day…now UGA is back to showing its true colors.

go42

February 3rd, 2012
10:17 am

So many kids today have their heads up their butts. Just really sad to see.

GTBob

February 3rd, 2012
10:17 am

GTBob,
I call BS. The ACC doesn’t recruit the same players? How about the U, FSU, Clemson, UNC, VT? Keep it real or keep it shut.

You can call BS all you want. In the all time Fulmer cup standings 7 of the top 11 teams are SEC teams. You think that is just bad luck?

TOO TOUGH44

February 3rd, 2012
10:18 am

I surely hope these two fellas take this mistake they have made and let it make their life more meaningful and learning there really are consequences for making poor choices.
YOU ARE THE DRIVER OF YOUR BUS! YOU DRIVE IT WHERE YOU WANT IT TO TAKE YOU!

GTJohn

February 3rd, 2012
10:18 am

Like I said yesterday – UGA can have all the Super 11 prima-donnas and then they can deal with all the problems that go with them. CPJ, just get the kids who want to learn and see football as a way to pay for it. They are much better in the long run and will put forth a lot more effort on the field and in the classroom.

And the obsession continues

February 3rd, 2012
10:18 am

One day in the future there will be a UGA blog where NO ONE will try and blame their problems on Alabama. Well…one can dream anyway.

TDF

February 3rd, 2012
10:18 am

Big Crimson 75

February 3rd, 2012
10:15 am

Dont care who Satan kicks off his team. Most of those were prob to make room for other recruits. Satan would never kick a kid off unless it was to give another his spot. Sorry but good try.

Contractor

February 3rd, 2012
10:18 am

Orlando Dawg,

You have a valid point there. I believe this was the correct action, as stealing is against the law, and depending on the amount depends on the severity. I guess when you are willing to take an action like that against your fellow players or student body, it’s much more of a problem that smoking a joint that affects only yourself. That is the only way I can see them looking at it, but I definitely agree with your logic, and wrong is wrong no matter the crime.

Red Pants

February 3rd, 2012
10:19 am

They just can’t get out of their own way over at Butts-Mehre. Positive week then this happens. Sanders Commings goes Wayne Brady on his girlfriend, then Nick Marshall and Sanford Seay become the sticky bandits and all of a sudden we’re super thin at corner.

Hopefully Grantham can figure something out because that could be a fatal flaw in the defense.

Shambles.

DawgsinTN

February 3rd, 2012
10:19 am

Seriously geeks and gaytors can come on here all they want and talk trash btu in the end this action by Coach Richt goes to show the fact that he’s not accepting crap from anyone. the decision to release these two young men was not done easily I am sure. As for the comment by
Fl Jacket – you obviously have no clue, the NCAA sid it was a minor infraction….are you that big of a nimrod? Richt gave money to individuals assisting his coaching staff when the school would not. last time I checked that’s not even remotely close to the same thing as giving a player a job or his parents a job…stick to yor own message board troll.

Flying Tigers

February 3rd, 2012
10:19 am

The beat goes on in Athens. Recruiting high character kids is something Richt does not do because he like all SEC schools sell their souls for another win. It seems very hypocritical to continually talk about what a great man he is when he has more low character kids than anyone in that league. Why does he not give scholarships to some more deserving kids? Oh, they do not run a 4.3. Richt is just another coach that well sale his soul to win, nothing more nothing less, and when he plays a REAL team or schedule he never beats anyone any good. So all you dogs be happy and hang your hats on beating the bugs…that is all you have beaten the past 5 years…LMAO

TDF

February 3rd, 2012
10:19 am

TDF is a massive D-Bag

February 3rd, 2012
10:15 am

I can luagh how I want thanks though. At least im not on here LOLing like a little school girl.

FYI if you dont post something stupid you wont get laughed at and mocked. Give it a try

what of it?

February 3rd, 2012
10:19 am

Richt’s solution is motivated by discipline, but the cause is lack thereof. If he’d solve the latter, there would be no need for the former, but it’s a step in the right direction.

GTBob

February 3rd, 2012
10:20 am

your coaches and atmosphere would have done nothing more or less than UGA coaches and atmosphere

If we recruit the same players and the environment is the same then why are players so much more of a problem at UGA? It has to be something.

Wally was here

February 3rd, 2012
10:20 am

I’m recall Coach Butts kicking a couple of guys off the team for drinking beer. Times have changed.

Mr. Tide

February 3rd, 2012
10:20 am

richt needs to call Nick Saban and get some advice on recruiting high character kids so he doesn’t have to keep kicking players off the team for weed, theft, assault, etc.

TDF

February 3rd, 2012
10:21 am

GTJohn

February 3rd, 2012
10:18 am

AJC super 11 is worth as much a single ply toilet paper. Whoever decides on them is a moron. Half of them this year should never have been considered top 11. DT is a prime example, should have never sniffed “super 11″

Beast from the East

February 3rd, 2012
10:23 am

GTBob,
No, I don’t think it’s just bad luck, but you act like the ACC is some holier than thou conference. They ALL recruit the same kids. You implying otherwise is just BS and you know it.

TDF

February 3rd, 2012
10:24 am

Flying Tigers

February 3rd, 2012
10:19 am

Wow thanks for showing your stupidity. Almost every word of your post is retarded and untrue. But keep thinking that Richt would do any of that. Sell his soul????? Really??? You clearly know nothing about him or the program. Run along little loser boy.