Georgia’s Aaron Murray takes SEC offensive player of week honors into Florida game
Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray torched Kentucky for 427 yards and four touchdowns Saturday night in Lexington, Ky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
ATHENS – Georgia’s Aaron Murray got a nice little pat on the back heading into the Bulldogs’ biggest game of the year.
The junior quarterback from Tampa was named the Southeastern Conference offensive player of the week by the league office on Monday. The honor comes on the heels of Murray’s record-setting performance in Georgia’s 29-24 win over Kentucky Saturday night in Lexington. Against the Wildcats, Murray completed 30 passes on 38 attempts, which set a school record for completion percentage (78.95). Murray also recorded a career-high with 427 yards passing yards, which was is fourth-best in school history, and threw for four touchdowns.
Murray’s scoring tosses made him Georgia’s all-time leader in touchdown passes with 75. David Greene had 72 from 2001-04. The 75 TD passes is ninth most in SEC history.
Murray had a pair of 100-yard receivers as senior Tavarres King (188 yards) and sophomore Malcolm Mitchell (103 yards) each had nine catches. Murray is the SEC active leader in five different categories and is third in the NCAA FBS in career pass efficiency rating for active players with a 154.02 clip.
This marks Murray’s first player of the week selection. He was named the SEC Freshman Player of the Week twice in 2010 after his performances versus Tennessee and Vanderbilt.
Of course, all eyes will be on Murray this Saturday and he tries to secure the elusive “signature victory” many believe has eluded him against the No. 2-ranked Florida Gators in Jacksonville. Murray had a good game against the Gators in last year, throwing for 169 two touchdowns in Georgia’s 24-20 win. The No. 10-ranked Bulldogs play Florida Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in a game that will be nationally televised on CBS.
ALSO . . .
- Georgia-Florida week: The latest on availability of Jarvis Jones, Abry Jones
- Richt: ‘It’s great to be able to go on road and get an SEC win’
- Kentucky win sets up Top 10 matchup with Florida in Jacksonville
- Jordan Jenkins wasn’t flashy but got job done for Dogs
Here’s a late-night video chat I had with CineSport after Georgia’s 29-24 win over Kentucky . . .
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
121 comments Add your comment
Bob
October 22nd, 2012
5:37 pm
I have been a UGA fan since Ed Thileneus (sp?) called the games on radio, and I am a 44 year season ticket holder (and a UGA grad). I have also seen a lot of great wins and heart-wrentching defeats. The team that CMR has been putting on the field the past five years is not representative of true Georgia football. Seems like he is more concerned with won/loss statistics than substantial wins and playing with heart. Is it complacency? Probably. Is it time for a change…definitely. I hate to lose, but I despise mediocrity even more. Just my opinion.
UGA Golfer
October 22nd, 2012
5:48 pm
BobDog, that was under a much tougher, more disciplined coach who had a knack of beating Florida. This regime has a much more difficult task of that due to operating as an NFL minor league farm team. Wish it was more about the “G” but it is not. I am much more worried about the fallout should we get blasted which is what most skilled football observers are predicting. South Carolina is facing the same obstacle this weekend facing a very hungry Tennessee (who will throw all over them). Hangovers from humiliating losses are the biggest challenges for teams that have fallen hard after high expectations.
nobody
October 22nd, 2012
5:55 pm
Hope he’s ready…you can bet your last dollar the Gators will even send the kitchen sink after him until he proves he isn’t brittle…good luck Aaron….better still, let’s hope your OLine will look after you and give you the opportunity for that signature win that has eluded you thus far…
Big Crimson 75
October 22nd, 2012
6:13 pm
Amari Cooper got hosed.
Big Crimson 75
October 22nd, 2012
6:21 pm
Sammy — do you live in an Asylum?
Are you under the care of the State of Georgia?
lkmantsk
October 22nd, 2012
7:26 pm
Murray SEC offensive player of the week………OK I give up what’s the punchline……
GB's Hamburgers
October 22nd, 2012
7:27 pm
An offense build on the long pass will get you tons of yards and touchdowns against inferior teams. But it’s the ability to sustain drives with mix of running and passing that wins big games. It’s an approach that is more smash mouth than finesse. Time of possession is important in that it aids the defense … keeps them off the field.. IIt’s a team approach to winning. So Murray’s exploits against poor teams is just about meaningless. Just check the record.
AJ
October 22nd, 2012
8:23 pm
Been a season ticket holder since 1910.
Never been more excited than this season.
Beat Florida, beat Bama, and we’re back in the National Championship.
BIGDAWGFAN
October 22nd, 2012
8:24 pm
well i feel a ittle better that #5 notre dame
beat stanford only by 7 and that was in over time
last week and this week beat byu only by 3
so i dont feel too pissed about only winning
by 5 GO DAWGS!
AJ
October 22nd, 2012
8:26 pm
Murray’s win over Florida was his finest moment so far. And he played near perfect this past week, and against #23 Auburn last season. Also had a big win against #24 ranked Ramblin Wreck last year. Let’s add another big win.
Mobile Dawg
October 22nd, 2012
9:17 pm
Murray had a great game and looked very sharp. While Murray looked great what concerns me is lack of a physical running game. Why can’t we match up physically with other teams, even the University of Kentucky? Why is finesse the only thing we do well? That doesn’t cut it, and won’t cut it against the Big Boys….
DawgNole
October 22nd, 2012
9:45 pm
GTBob
October 22nd, 2012
11:57 am
For those of us who didn’t watch the UGA/UK game, can someone explain how Murray can have the best game of his career yet UGA only won by 5 points against one of the worst teams in college football?
________________________
It’s just numbers, GTBob. Just numbers. He needs to do it against quality opposition, and he’ll obviously get that chance Saturday.
By the way, you still unimpressed with fla? That makes you and Thomas Brown, and I sure wouldn’t want to be keeping company with that loon.
UGA safety Shawn Williams rants that Dogs’ defense is ‘too soft, playing wrong players | UGA sports blog
October 22nd, 2012
10:40 pm
[...] QB Aaron Murray will take offensive player of week honors into Florida game [...]
JRW7
October 23rd, 2012
12:11 am
Congratulations to AM, great game!
Jim
October 23rd, 2012
9:15 am
well well well….another glowing performance against a loser team…..wow Aaron….woopie doo…..this week we play a real team and will get our butts kicked. When you can ever beat a team that is ranked in the top 20, maybe my mind will change about you- padding stats against poor teams would embarrass me as a player. but hey- were 6-1 and thats a great place to be. Good thing we dont have better teams on the schedule- you would not be saying that. The 6 teams have losing records by the way……..Congrats Aaron!!!!!! woooooo hoooooooo. I AM impressed
WDE
October 23rd, 2012
9:56 am
Jim Jim I assure you the Bull Dog Nation doesn’t give a rats ass if your impressed or not.
Alabama Dog
October 23rd, 2012
10:31 am
This is all fine & good. NOW put your “Big Boy” jock on and do it against the Gators!!!!
mike quinn
October 23rd, 2012
10:56 am
WOW MURRAY HAD A GOOD GAME AGAINST THE WORSE TEAM IN THE SEC AND GETS OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK. WHAT A JOKE. THERE WAS MORE PLAYERS THAT DESERVE IT.
Jim
October 23rd, 2012
4:36 pm
I bleed Red and Black but after watching UGA play South Carolina and Kentucky I would trade Mark Richt for Lane Kiffin and even thrown a little to boot. The mitely Dawg Defense would be running a mile for every 100 yards total Offense they give up every day until the next game. Yes we are 6-1 against cupcakes that scored at will against us.
UPDATED: UGA starting DE Abry Jones out for rest of regular season after ankle surgery | UGA sports blog
October 24th, 2012
3:33 pm
[...] QB Aaron Murray will take offensive player of week honors into Florida game [...]
Georgia gets yet another shot at Top 10 opponent; that it’s Florida is just a bonus | UGA sports blog
October 27th, 2012
12:22 am
[...] QB Aaron Murray will take offensive player of week honors into Florida game [...]