
Georgia is fortunate to have gotten safety Marc Deas back into the fold to shore up depth in its depleted secondary. (UGA photo by Perry McIntyre Jr.)
ATHENS – Georgia redshirt sophomore safety Marc Deas has decided to return to the Bulldogs.
Deas told coach Mark Richt he was quitting to seek a transfer on March 31. However, Deas remained enrolled at UGA and apparently has had a change of heart. UGA spokesman Claude Felton confirmed via email early Tuesday afternoon that Deas asked the coaching staff for a chance to return.
“[Deas] has had a change of heart and will be remaining with the Bulldogs,” Felton wrote.
That’s good news for Georgia, which has been decimated in the secondary due to other transfers and disciplinary suspensions. Senior cornerback Sanders Commings is suspended for the first two games of the season as discipline for an offseason arrests. Senior Branden Smith, the other starting corner, is also expected to be suspended after his arrest last mongth for marijuana possession. And the high school coach of senior Bacarri Rambo said the All-American safety will be suspended for the first four games after running afoul of Georgia’s drug policy for the second time in a year. Meanwhile, defensive backs Nick Marshall and Chris Sanders were dismissed in January for violating team rules and Jakar Hamilton and Jordan Love quit the team since the middle of last season.
Deas (6-foot-1, 197 pounds) is a graduate of Osceola High in Kissimmee, Fla. He played in all 14 games last season but mostly on special teams.
I’ll have more on this later.
71 comments Add your comment
Leroy1970
April 10th, 2012
12:54 pm
First!
Vampire Bill
April 10th, 2012
12:55 pm
Good news… GO DAWGS
G-Dawg
April 10th, 2012
1:04 pm
Quitters never Win…and Trolls love UGA!!
DC
April 10th, 2012
1:05 pm
We need all the DBs we have! Glad he had a change of heart.
03 Gunny
April 10th, 2012
1:11 pm
I thought he was a victim of Out of Control Drug use and Roster Management? I just can’t see how he would be welcomed back with open arms?
Big Wally Butts
April 10th, 2012
1:12 pm
Ok to have a change of heart but he missed some opportunities during spring practice. Due to the suspensions and dismissals, he has a better shot at playing time here than most places he could go.
Across the Wide Missouri
April 10th, 2012
1:12 pm
Missouri 42, Georgia 13
Just the first stop on this season’s descent into mediocrity with a third-rate coach and stupid low-class players.
RichieDawg
April 10th, 2012
1:13 pm
Deas is like Geathers, has great Springs, falters in the season. Deas had 4 tackles and a fumble recovery on G-Day last year, but only got 3 assisted tackles in his 14 games he played in during the season.
Big Wally Butts
April 10th, 2012
1:13 pm
@03 Gunny
Leave the kid alone. Haven’t you ever changed your mind?
RichieDawg
April 10th, 2012
1:14 pm
Deas is a solid tackler, but his cover skillz are lacking. He’ll get picked on when he comes in the game.
Big Wally Butts
April 10th, 2012
1:15 pm
And, as we troll Across the Wide Missouri….
Gator
April 10th, 2012
1:19 pm
@across the wide Missouri, I’ll take some of that how much money would you like to lose?.
bucket
April 10th, 2012
1:20 pm
I posted this on the other CT story, but it fits better here: That’s good news about Deas in my opinion. My only criticism about the defensive coaches is that their rotations are a little tight. I know that Grantham and Co are in practice everyday and they have forgotten more about football than I will ever know. Maybe it’s a quality issue, but if we could build more depth by adding players into the rotation that would help the starters in the 4th quarter. NFL coaches are used to dealing with a shorter roster and I wonder if this is an area that Grantham can grow in.
Gator
April 10th, 2012
1:21 pm
Richie, Which game did Geathers falter, Kwame had a very good season last year.
tom
April 10th, 2012
1:23 pm
@Missouri – For a 3rd rate coach, he sure has won a lot of games in what most people consider the best conference outside of the NFC West. And I am with Gator, how much do you want to wager if you are giving me UGA +29?
03 Gunny
April 10th, 2012
1:23 pm
Big Wally…Please note the “?” in my post. I was refering to some of the AJC pieces that alluded to him and others being forced out by Richt. When it appears he in fact left on his own accord, had a change of heart, and has been welcomed back by the coaches and the team.
bigcalidawg
April 10th, 2012
1:27 pm
I would prefer to have a dominant D-line and a weak secondary, than a dominant secondary and weak D-line.
We will get a LOT of sacks this year. I wish those boys were all eligible, but, if I was Buffalo and Mizzou, I would get all my screens, draws, and misdirection plays all lined up right now, cuz the QB’s will not have much time to get the ball off this year on us.
Don’t be surprised to see our best WR become our best DB by week 2. That young man is driven….
Also, we will be running the football…….
Young O-linemen can’t pass block for nothin, but they can run block…….
bardawg
April 10th, 2012
1:28 pm
Across the wide Mo., you’re living in a dellusional realm of existence. The world of MORON !
BG
April 10th, 2012
1:32 pm
Welcome back Deas. GO DAWGS!!
Ed Pilcher
April 10th, 2012
1:33 pm
Across the Wide Missouri…..
I’m surprised you have fingers left to type with due to those inbreeding issues……….
NeoDawg
April 10th, 2012
1:36 pm
@Missouri – count me in on the +29. I am willing to pawn my kidneys to get as much of that action as I can.
RichieDawg
April 10th, 2012
1:46 pm
D-Line didn’t dominate, Grantham’s D chokes in big games.
Against ranked teams in 2011, UGA ranked:
10th in tackles for loss
12th in sacks
12th in fumbles recovered
12th in red zone td %
We gave up 39 points a game last year against ranked teams.
Grantham is not good by that measure.
Bigdsel
April 10th, 2012
1:47 pm
Good to here he wants to come back and compete and help UGA be better
RichieDawg
April 10th, 2012
1:48 pm
Note:
There were only 12 teams in the SEC last year, so ranking 12th in 4 out of 5 measures (defensive scoring too) is just pathetic.
DIT
April 10th, 2012
1:48 pm
I’ll take some of that action! Talk about a sucker bet!
DIT
April 10th, 2012
1:53 pm
Any word on that big OL that was close to signing?
brandon
April 10th, 2012
1:55 pm
Looks like the secondary coach needs to a better job with encouraging these guys on and off the field.
Kerryb
April 10th, 2012
2:12 pm
Across the Wide Missouri
April 10th, 2012
1:12 pm
Missouri 42, Georgia 13
Just the first stop on this season’s descent into mediocrity with a third-rate coach and stupid low-class players.
_____________________________________________________________
Missouri’s defense is not good enough to hold UGA’s offense to 13 points and Missouri’s offense is not good enough to score 42 points on Georgia’s defense. Everyone is putting a lot of stock in an injured QB and a Freshman WR in his second game.
UGA 31
Missouri 17
Kerryb
April 10th, 2012
2:14 pm
Everyone is worrying about the secondary. Teams better worry more about that front seven because it’s going to be pretty good. Hard to abuse a depth problem in a secondary when your getting up off the ground a lot.
Kerryb
April 10th, 2012
2:19 pm
Does anyone have any idea what Missouri ranked in team defense last year? The answer is 61st. Do you really think a team with a 61st ranked defense is going to stop our offense?
DougsMugsCoffee
April 10th, 2012
2:29 pm
I am glad he is staying. Good for him.
Now, go view this video for shock and a chuckle and then anger;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5p70YbRiPw&feature=player_embedded
bulldawg
April 10th, 2012
2:32 pm
Answer: Heck No! not even close and I agree with Kerryb about our front seven! Them boys are ready the QB need time to throw in which he won’t.
AltamahaDawg
April 10th, 2012
2:34 pm
We need the all the bodies we can get on those kick coverage teams.
DostaDawg
April 10th, 2012
2:37 pm
dawgs=11-3 if healthy and no more pee tests. 9-5 otherwise. how can murry thank bout leaving early. 4th rd. pick at best.
Technically Correct
April 10th, 2012
2:45 pm
Isn’t it sad that UGA enrolls players with such tremendous potential, only (and tragically) to have so many of them leave, be dismissed, or get suspended? UGA is not alone in that regard to be sure. Other colleges (including Tech) have their own player behavior issues on occasion, but this story points out just how hard UGA has been hit in recent times. Is that a function of the players’ “star status”, the environment at UGA and/or character flaws, which are overlooked during the recruting process?
Blackberry Cobbler
April 10th, 2012
2:48 pm
I’m sure CMR, being the manly man he is, gave Deas a big hug.
AndOne
April 10th, 2012
2:53 pm
Let’s see here, our offense scored 21 on Boise, 10 on LSU, 27 on Ole Miss, 24 on Miss St, 20 on Tenn, and 24 on Florida. So, pretty good chance we won’t score more than 21, real good chance we won’t score more than 27.
AndOne
April 10th, 2012
2:54 pm
Only starters are doing special teams this year, going with the best guys, so Deas won’t play on Special Teams either.
DawginLex
April 10th, 2012
3:00 pm
How many did we score on auburn?
Notice you left that one out
P_The_Ricker
April 10th, 2012
3:03 pm
AndOne,
you’re wrong. sailors is definitely starting on ST, but has no chance of starting on defense.
more starters are going to get in on ST….but it’s not exclusive
P_The_Ricker
April 10th, 2012
3:04 pm
glad to have deas back.
if he was a distraction or had character issues…richt wouldn’t have welcomed him back
Dynomite
April 10th, 2012
3:10 pm
Yeah a Missouri Troll anti Georgia fan posting on a blog. What a really cool life you must have…dork!
Jimmy Crack
April 10th, 2012
3:32 pm
Welcome back, Marc.
bulldogmaniac
April 10th, 2012
3:34 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! I love it! Mizzo trolls….your team has not yet played a single game as a member of the SEC and you are talking smack! All I can say is hold on to your hats because it is going to be a very, very long season for your team. Georgia by 24 (at least) Your official “welcome” to the SEC will be total domination by the dogs! Sucks to be a Mizzo fan!
Moobs Johnson
April 10th, 2012
3:34 pm
Young O-linemen can’t pass block for nothin, but they can run block…….
What happened last year when the O-line with three seniors couldn’t do either, run or pass block?
bulldogmaniac
April 10th, 2012
3:40 pm
Hey Mizzo fan>>>>>
so far, for the 2013 class you guys have 6 whole commitments (none over a 3 star)
UGA had more than that in the past week!
UGA – 14 (6 of which are 4 stars or more)
Loran, Whatayagot
April 10th, 2012
3:44 pm
ACROSS THE WIDE MISSOURI: How does it feel to be a b__tard unwanted child in the S.E.C. ? You bring nothing to the conference except a history of mediocrity and lack of a storied past which every conference member has (except South Carolina, another mistake). You’ll be another guaranteed win for most of the conference which we can count as an S.E.C. win, instead of having to schedule Redneck State Teachers College for a sure win.
Hollywould
April 10th, 2012
3:44 pm
Hell Lex, everybody did it to AU and I am an AU man.
flo-ri-duh
April 10th, 2012
3:54 pm
Deas is back to the special teams….will have to improve a lot if he wants to play.
BigTimeTechFan
April 10th, 2012
4:01 pm
Kerry, to Mizzu’s defense they did have to play some high powered offenses, Oklahoma ( Landry Jones), Baylor (RG 3), Oklahoma State (Brandon Weeden) TA&M (Ryan Tannehill)
UGA only play one team wknow for being high scoring offense, Boise St and gave up 35.
Fla – Offensive struggles all year
Auburn – Never found replacement for Cam
Tenn – Brey got hurt in game
GT – UGA best Defensive game by have to say TW’s picks really helped UGA D look good, one UGA made nice play the other TW throw right to UGA play who was not even covering anyone
BigTimeTechFan
April 10th, 2012
4:05 pm
UGA did play nice D against LSU in 1st half, but LSU offense was not good at all, Alabama shut them down two games very easy.
No way LSU would have gone undefeated against schedule of Oklahoma, Baylor, TA&M, OK State, Texas, Kan St that’s harder schedule then anyone in SEC played.
Maconbulldog
April 10th, 2012
4:07 pm
WHO IS THIS GUY THAT JUST POSTED THIS ABOVE ME?!?!? really guy ??
7576DAWG
April 10th, 2012
4:29 pm
Deas found out real fast that a lot of the top 1-AA teams really didn’t need him. He was not good enough to start on defense for Georgia last year because he can’t cover anybody , so what he needs to concentrate on is improving or become the best special teams player in the league just to get a try at the next level or he needs to concentrate on getting a degree and accept the fact he wasn’t good enough to play first team at Georgia and therefore how do you expect to play at the next level. Good luck to him but he isn’t starting out very well by figuring a way to miss spring practice. That tells a lot about his character and he should have thought real hard before he left the team. Now he won’t get any real practice until the summer. If I was Grantham because he did not show any leadership or care for the team by sticking it out this spring he would have to play way over his head just to get back on the field.
AndOne
April 10th, 2012
4:59 pm
Special teams? Not this year. Coach Richt is only playing starters, Deas has absolutely no chance to play on Special teams, only the starters will play. Has a better chance of getting in the game during suspensions for starters in the secondary. He knows the 3-4 system, and he’s there as merely a back u in case more guys get suspended, injured, or transfer.
Bulldawgman46
April 10th, 2012
5:15 pm
Well I see the Mizz fans are chimming in LOL. 42-13 Our front 5 will take of business QB can’t throw from is back . on another note , Pertrino is just a joke scumb bucket.
Bob
April 10th, 2012
5:35 pm
While we’re a pretty good judge of talent, we’re a poor judge of character. And we do do less with more (talent) than any school in the country. Past time for Richt to go. Just my opinion.
evil empire
April 10th, 2012
5:42 pm
hard to believe the kid made the same mistake twice….wake up…..
evil empire
April 10th, 2012
5:46 pm
you uga-holics are under selling mizzou and over pricing your beloved dawgs…mizzou wins a close one….no shame in that, they are better than you think….and you are not close to what you think….you are a mid-tier program boys….
LakeDawg
April 10th, 2012
6:01 pm
Welcome back.
Tdawg
April 10th, 2012
6:12 pm
evil empire, Missour could kick your teams arse also, so why all the hot air? I have no problem in believing that if Georgia takes Missouri lightly, Missouri may just leave Athens with a W. They do play in Athens, don’t they? Georgia should be able to play with any team in the nation next season, but they also cannot over look anyone and I mean anyone. Missouri was not a bad team last season and I don’t look for them to be a bad team this season either. Still, the dawgs should take this one.
T-Town Dawg
April 10th, 2012
6:14 pm
And what are the Gamechickens Evil Empire? They have NEVER won anything that mattered very much. I would say mid tier or less…. at best.
baddog
April 10th, 2012
6:34 pm
Welcome back Deas! Now work hard and don’t change your mind again! Also don’t be stupid, don’t drive drunk, don’t beat your girlfriend, don’t steal anything, don’t eat any brownies or smoke any pot and earn a starting spot!
Neutral
April 10th, 2012
7:20 pm
@Missouri fan at 1:12
Surely you are talking about your team and not the Dawgs. Only mistake is you should have said a 4th rate coach and very, very slimy players. Otherwise you were very close in your description of the lions, or are you the tigers?
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
April 10th, 2012
7:26 pm
glad he’s back…great to have some depth back in the secondary. maybe he can prove himself over the next several months. he’s know the system and will be an asset come mizzou & vandy.
icedawg
April 10th, 2012
7:51 pm
It just goes to show that anything can happen. A player may be one injury or toke away from a starting position.
Dawg Haus
April 10th, 2012
11:04 pm
Welcome back, Marc!
SEC Football Daily: April 11th | Saturday Down South
April 11th, 2012
5:34 am
[...] Sophomore safety Marc Deas recently announced his transfer from Georgia. However, upon further evaluation and a change of heart, Deas returns to the Bulldogs’ team. Safety is a position of attrition right now for Georgia because several defensive backs will be suspended for the first couple of games. Deas played in 14 games last season but mostly on special teams. [AJC] [...]
funny....
April 11th, 2012
8:13 am
@ BigTimeTechFan:
Here I’ll sum up his post —– “me fail English? that’s unpossible.”
AltamahaDawg
April 11th, 2012
8:54 am
And One, I think the more accurate term would be “regulars”. You aren’t going to be seeing a “All Starter” coverage team sprinting down the field 7-10 times a game, every game. He certainly will be seeing some special teams assignments at some point during the season.
I-DOG
April 11th, 2012
8:59 am
UGA played “nice” D against LSU in the first half? NICE?? In the history of SEC football, no other team had been held without a first down for a half. LSU had like 18 yards of total offense. While it was only a half, it was the best half of defensive football EVER played in a Southeastern Conference game. Yeah, it was “nice”. Typical tech fan command of the English language.
SEC Football Morning Coffee: Bobby Petrino’s Bad Week | SEC Football
April 11th, 2012
6:14 pm
[...] got some depth in the secondary back when safety Marc Deas announced that he was returning to the program, writes Chip Towers of the Atlanta [...]