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Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray ‘definitely going to think about’ NFL draft

4:18 pm December 12, 2012, by Chip Towers

Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray said Tuesday he is still "haunted" by thoughts of what could have been at the end of the SEC Championship game against Alabama. But he insists he's not spending much time thining about the NFL draft. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)

Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray said Tuesday he is still "haunted" by thoughts of what could have been at the end of the SEC Championship game against Alabama. But he insists he's not spending much time thining about the NFL draft. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)

ATHENS — Georgia’s Aaron Murray refuses to get into a detailed discussion about his plans after this season. “All I’m thinking about right now is Nebraska and the Capital One Bowl,” he says in various different ways. But the Bulldogs’ record-setting quarterback did allow that the prospect of entering the NFL draft after this, his redshirt junior, season is a very real and serious consideration for him.

“I’m definitely going to think about it and pray about it and sit down with my family (to discuss it),” Murray said during Georgia’s Capital One Bowl Media Day Wednesday afternoon at the Bulldogs’ football complex.  “But that’s not going to be probably until after the bowl game. I’ll sit down with my family then and really think about it. I have yet to write down anything. I like to write things down and to the pro-con thing and talk to my parents about it. I don’t want to do that until the bowl game. I just want to focus on Nebraska until that’s over. Then we can sit back and relax and discuss.”

There are many out there who will scoff at the notion. They’ll say Murray — listed at 6 foot-1 — isn’t tall enough to excel in the pro game. They’ll say he won’t get selected early enough in the 2013 NFL draft to make it worth his while. They’ll say he’ll want to come back and finish off the few career passing records he doesn’t already own.

But then there are others who vehemently believe Murray not only will make it as a pro but even project him as a “franchise player.” That was the determination of former Super Bowl coach and current NFL television analyst Tony Dungy, who recently sung Murray’s praises to a national audience on the Dan Patrick Show.

“I think if Aaron comes out, he’s a franchise quarterback,” Dungy said when Patrick pinned him down on the subject. “You get a chance to draft a guy and put him in place. And the Chiefs have some play-makers. . . .”

Patrick interrupted Dungy mid-sentence to have him clarify that he thought Murray is “a franchise quarterback.”

“I do,” he said, “because I know him.”

Dungy’s son, Eric Dungy, played with Murray and Plant High in Tampa. Eric Dungy now is a sophomore wide receiver at Oregon.

“So I know the type of worker he is,” Dungy said. “He’d pick my son up in the mornings and go throw, really early Saturday or Sunday mornings. He’s been that way his whole life, just like Peyton.”

Again, Patrick pressed Dungy.

“So you’d take him over Matt Barkley?”

“I’d take Aaron Murray,” Dungy said.

“Geno Smith?”

“I’d take Aaron Murray,” Dungy reiterated.

So who would he take if he had the No. 1 overall pick, Patrick finally asked.

“I would take Aaron Murray,” Dungy said without hesitation.

All of which is NOT to say Murray will be taken anywhere that high. Likely not. But, as they say, it takes the infatuation of only one team to make it happen.

And besides, for Murray, it’s not all about draft position.

He has already had a tremendously productive career at Georgia. A three-year starter, Murray is the SEC’s leading active player in total offensive yards (9,618, 10th in SEC history), completions (660), TD responsibility (99, fifth in SEC history), TD passes (89, which is tied for second SEC history) and passing yards (9,399). Currently, Murray leads the nation in pass efficiency at 177.2 and he was named honorable Mention All-SEC this past week.

But he has also nearly exhausted his options academically. At the end of spring semester he will be well on his way to completing requirements for a masters degree in industrial psychology. He could pursue a doctorate, perhaps, or just piddle around with his final thesis. And, of course, Georgia will be loaded on offense, so championship and record pursuits could be enticing.

Murray, again, doesn’t want to speculate too deeply at this point.

“I’m waiting to break down the pros and cons,” he said. “It’s a tough decision and I need my parents and to write everything down. That’s just the type of person I am. I don’t want to just think of things on the top of my head. I want to write things down and think about it and go from there.”

For what it’s worth, Chris Conley and some of Murray’s other teammates think he’s coming back. But Murray promises to keep them in the dark for as long as possible as well.

“Maybe I can milk a couple of dinners out of this,” Murray quipped. “They know I’m not going to talk about it or make any decisions, so they’re not going to bother me about it. But I think the whole dinner thing may work in my favor. I’m going to have to tell the offensive line, ‘Hey, it’s your turn to take me out for ice cream.”

But when talk turns to things like his much debated height — “I AM 6-1,” he insists — or draft analysts such as ESPN’s Mel Kiper say he should “go back,” Murray’s competitive nature kicks in.

“You know, he’s not the one drafting,” Murray said of Kiper’s assessment. “But I don’t really listen to all that stuff. That’s something way down the line that I’ll think about.”

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203 comments Add your comment

JB

December 13th, 2012
7:48 am

Everyone has an opinion. Bill Cowher and Dungy….both very successful super bowl winner coach’s. Dungy said he’s first round material…..Cowher say’s I wouldn’t touch him, disappears in big games…
So there ya go.

appling

December 13th, 2012
8:01 am

With the incoming recruiting class UGA (without Murray) could be great – but who would be QB, they will lose to to TIDE, GATORS, GAMECOCKS an d A&M if they play all of them.The problm is

Is the dawgs starting lineup still in the Athens jail?

December 13th, 2012
8:02 am

Another uga qb going to the nfl? Just like stafford, he will fit right in with the mediocre middle.

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December 13th, 2012
8:36 am

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dc

December 13th, 2012
8:37 am

SOUR GRAPES. THERE IS A THOUSAND “WHAT IFS” IN THIS GAME. WHAT IF BAMA HAD CALLED A TIMEOUT RIGHT BEFORE HALF INSTEAD OF POOR CLOCK MANAGEMENT? WOULD GEORGIA KEPT THEM OUT OF END ZONE? DOUBT IT! WHAT IF THE PIC HAD NOT BEEN OVERTURNED? WHAT IF THE PASS INTERFERENCE THAT WASN’T BECAUSE BALL WAS TIPPED? WHICH IT OBVIOUSLY WASNT? WHAT IF BAMA HAD JUST HANDED THE TROPHY TO GEORGIA AFTER THE GAME? MY ADVICE TO THIS YOUNG MAN IS “MOVE ON” UNDERSTANDING THAT BAMA MADE JUST A FEW MORE PLAYS THAN GEORGIA AND NOT FOCUS ON THAT ONE PLAY. AND BY THE WAY, MILLINER IS AN ALL AMERICAN CORNER. HE ALWAYS GETS HIS HEAD AROUND JUST IN TIME AND NO ONE THROWS A FADE ON HIM. DUMB STRATEGY.

clay

December 13th, 2012
9:12 am

COME BACK MURRAY. You are the man. I really think you guys could get it done next year. At least when the SEC.

clay

December 13th, 2012
9:12 am

*win

LogicalUS

December 13th, 2012
9:30 am

“Our D underperformed this year and maybe could be even better next year”

And the Easter Bunny may deliver us all golden eggs for the holidays!

I would not bet the farm on either though…

As to Murray, he needs to take the cash while he can get it if the supposedly huge love affair by NFL teams is actually true and not a concoction of the homers at the AJC because more failures vs quality teams are only going to lower his shaky good ratings.

Mathew Stafford

December 13th, 2012
9:31 am

Why would he want to come back? Its obvious with the MUCH tougher schedule and THIS coaching staff that he would be back at some lower tier bowl game again next year. Should he risk injury for NOTHING? Doubt it.

LogicalUS

December 13th, 2012
9:35 am

“Didn’t South Carolina lose to Clemson and Florida”

No. SC lost at LSU and at UF in back to back games in October after beating UGA by 35.

Quinton Dial

December 13th, 2012
9:36 am

I hope he stays!

The Central Scrutinizer

December 13th, 2012
9:41 am

What can you say…yeah, he hasn’t won the big ones, but this is a TEAM game. Dawgs have been in position to win a lot of the “big” games we lost: USC in 2011, MSU in last years bowl game, hell, even that disaster against Central Fla. with Richt not going for it on the goal line…And this year, that pass isn’t tipped and it’s either a TD or incomplete and we get another play. Murray is a gamer, no two ways about it…like to have him back for sure, but if he decides to go, good luck to him!

My-Guy

December 13th, 2012
10:03 am

Our schedule is waaaaay too tough for letting Hutson Mason take over, we need Aaron Murray to return badly! Mason would never take us to a SEC championship, we hasn’t had enough play time & he could be another Joe Cox, you never know, keeping Aaron Murray would give us one last shot. 3 out of the 4 first games next year Aaron Murray can play like he played against Alabama’s defense & win those games easily. Trying to switch out quarterbacks and find a starter would be a disaster if Aaron Murray goes to the NFL!

JH

December 13th, 2012
10:20 am

If Mel Kiper was in the know he’d be working for an NFL team and keeping his thoughts internal. He gets paid very little compared to the pros doing this type of analysis. #11 can do what he wants.

ugab

December 13th, 2012
10:25 am

I believe AM would do good in the pros. He is still lacking a few things. One more year of experience would do him good. He still needs to get better at a few things.

My-Guy

December 13th, 2012
10:34 am

@ugab Exactly, Aaron Murray finally did well against an elite defense against Alabama, even tough we didn’t win that game, he still played very well, if he comes back one more year, he can prove everybody that he can handle the tough defenses. One more year of expierence would get him ready for the NFL.

Yogi

December 13th, 2012
10:54 am

LogicalUS

December 13th, 2012
9:35 am
“Didn’t South Carolina lose to Clemson and Florida”

No. SC lost at LSU and at UF in back to back games in October after beating UGA by 35.

So South Carolina lost twice??? How many times did UGA lose? Oh ok I just looked it up, do you need the answer too?

RiffRaff

December 13th, 2012
11:00 am

His size is an issue. He had a number of balls tipped this season ( final play against Bama ). So that will not change if he goes Pro. Would rather he sticks around, let Mason get a lot of good reps, and use a two QB rotation. But that won’t happen since it would confuse Bobo too much – he’s still trying to figure out how to tell time (clock management).

We (did) Run The East

December 13th, 2012
11:09 am

Thanks, LogicalUs for setting record straight. Hey, Yogi, when you get blown out, hang your head, don’t compete, and basically just give up, it counts as 2 or 3 losses.
HISTORIC beat down by SC over UGA this year. Probably the worst beat down in the SEC this year between the top 3 teams in each division. UGA will never live that game down- I won’t let it happen!

We (did) Run The East

December 13th, 2012
11:11 am

Moment of clarity- AM will not go Pro this year. Will be with Dawgs next year. Not enough to gain. This is definite.

wally

December 13th, 2012
11:20 am

What is wrong for him to go to the NFL and holding the clip board and not getting beat up. i would do that for a few million. I hope he does best for what ever is right for hi.

schmeckdawg

December 13th, 2012
11:23 am

Chip get your facts straight. He’s got 90 TD’s!!!!!!!!!

sflanagan21

December 13th, 2012
11:45 am

I wish the young man the best! He is a DGD and I would love to see him come back and put us in contention for a NC. But he has to do what he thinks is right for himself first and foremost. Good luck either way AM!

HM will NOT fill AM’s shoes in 13′ and that is a FACT! Thank God we have Gurley and Marshall… Ramsey without a doubt is going to be a GREAT leader and a phenomenal QB when he is ready!

Also it takes a team to win the “Big Games” so stop putting those loses on AM. Maybe if the O line would have blocked for him and the D would have showed up then we could have beaten SC. Pretty sure AM held his own and played well against Bama even though our D gave up a zillion rushing yards. GO DAWGS!

dinoDown

December 13th, 2012
11:52 am

aaron’s too short for the nfl—he needs to come back to Ga for another year to win the SEC. Ga should dominate next year.

Manup

December 13th, 2012
12:30 pm

He’d better find a way to sleep first…poor ewin.

smlarsen

December 13th, 2012
12:35 pm

“Aj McCarron to come back for senior year” Oh good because he is awesome. With his huge 112 yards 0 td 1 int in the sec championship until his miracle bomb for a td. Yea i dont really think i would be happy about him coming back. He’s weak and most of the reason why AL loses the national championship and the 7 year reighn of the sec. I hate to say it but i think it will happen.

Win. P.

December 13th, 2012
12:57 pm

Murray should find out what he is worth to the NFL. Staying another year… he is probably better than anything UGA has on the bench. New quarterbacks seem to doing well in the SEC. LSU has QB position has improved. SC & Tenn new QBs looked good to me.

raincntry

December 13th, 2012
1:32 pm

Well, hopefully Murray has a long, successful career losing big games in the NFL now.

RiffRaff

December 13th, 2012
1:37 pm

raincntry – I had to laugh at that!

Matt

December 13th, 2012
1:44 pm

Whether he comes back or not the Dawgs won’t be competing for the East again while Gurley and Marshall are there. They won’t be relevant again for another 3-5 years.

Matt

December 13th, 2012
1:47 pm

smlarsen- you are a moron. He is Bama’s version of David Greene. Smart and efficient. With their D, OL and running game they don’t need him to throw for 300 and 3 TDs. It’s not like he got lucky on that bomb either, they’d been picking on Swann the whole game and he got burnt, again. In that situation you CANNOT

Matt

December 13th, 2012
1:48 pm

let the receiver get passed you. Give up the FG and go down 1. Ga marches down the field, spikes the ball, kicks the game winning FG. Done. We play in the NC. Not Swann’s fault we didn’t win. No one play makes or breaks a game.

smlarsen

December 13th, 2012
2:02 pm

Aj McCarron
Season GP–GS Comp–Att Pct. Yards TD INT Long Avg/G
2009 Redshirt
2010[5] 13–0 30–48 62.5 389 3 0 47 29.9
2011[6] 13–13 219–328 66.8 2,634 16 5 69 202.6
2012[6] 13–13 191–286 66.8 2,669 26 3 85 205.3
Totals 39–26 440–662 66.5 5,692 45 8 85 145.

smlarsen

December 13th, 2012
2:06 pm

Aaron Murray
YEAR CMP ATT CMP% YDS TD INT
2009 Redshirt
2010 209 342 61.1 3049 24 8
2011 238 403 59.1 3149 35 14
2012 213 320 66.6 3201 30 7
NUFF SAID

Under The Bleachers

December 13th, 2012
2:29 pm

Smarlson

You stats do one thing. They show how dumb you are for using stats from a 50/50 team to a 65/35 team over the course of 3 years.

Murray is good, but your stats are flawed.

Built Ford Tough

December 13th, 2012
2:41 pm

Yep, Murray has been a superstar against patsy competition. His record against the big boys ain’t much to talk about.

smlarsen

December 13th, 2012
2:49 pm

How are they flawed thats what they are.

RiffRaff

December 13th, 2012
2:54 pm

Murray doesn’t need to worry about Bama players taking cheap shots at him….all he has to do is come on one of these blogs….

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8741551/georgia-bulldogs-aaron-murray-sleep-loss-alabama-crimson-tide

Tide/Dawg

December 13th, 2012
3:13 pm

All of this conversation about who is the best quarterback is just that…conversation! High school, college, or pros the quarterback has been assigned one job….carry out the game plan. Physical skills are required to do that. Both McCarron and Murray have those skills. Both QBs got their teams to the SEC Championship. They took some shots along the way but both never quit and played hurt. The stronger arm goes to Murray, the most disciplined and calmest goes to McCarron. I’m not going to knock Richt but if the QBs switched teams, Alabama would still be going to Miami. I like both of these young men. Courage, character, discipline and a good supporting cast of players make winners out of QBs.

Snoop Dawg

December 13th, 2012
5:16 pm

Snoop is hoping that the Cleveland Browns appreciate everything about Bobo and hire him as head coach. Then Murray da Midget can be his QB!
Yo…

MIKE QUINN

December 13th, 2012
5:20 pm

HE MIGHT AS WELL GO TO THE NFL AND CHOKE THERE JUST LIKE HE DOES IN ALL BIG GAMES. ONLY RASON HE WAS STILL IN THE GAME AGAINST BAMA IS FROM 2 MESSED UP CALLS. TOUCHDOWN THAT WASN’T CALLED FOR BAMA AND THE NON TIPPED PASS THAT WAS CALLED A TIP. THE REASON HE CAN’T SLEEP NOW IS FROM THE GREAT HIT DIAL PUT ON HIM.

Der Blau Engel

December 13th, 2012
7:12 pm

Cornhuskers 38, Leghumpers 17

Fidlin1

December 13th, 2012
7:39 pm

One more year.

sflanagan21

December 13th, 2012
8:15 pm

Mike Quinn, if they play that game 5 more times and your O line isn’t allowed to hold on every single snap then ya know y’all chumps lose all 5 games right! Get off your high horse… If ya listen to Bama fans then you would think the score was 48-0 and they were playing there 3rd & 4th string.

Crimson Tide

December 14th, 2012
12:19 am

Murray needs to go pro. He will never win anything by staying at Georgia.

smlarsen

December 14th, 2012
10:03 am

It kills me how all of you Crimson blind losers look at the Sec championship. Are yall Serious? You won by 4 points….. Once again 4 points. Not to mention how tight all yalls butt holes were when we drove down to your 5. Did we score? NO. We did not. But the fact of the matter was we could have. So you rotting elephants can talk all the Sh** you want. The fact of the matter was is that it was a great game between two evenly ranked teams. Murray could be representing the SEC in that game just as easily as McCarron. However, by comparison of SEC CG stats, I would rather have Murray in the McCarron. Prediction= McCarron Chokes loses NCG and ends SEC reign of 7 years.

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Tarryuga

December 15th, 2012
9:36 am

Whether he stays or leaves, it doesn’t matter…GO DAWGS!
We’ll have another guy to plug in, I like the guy but everyone screamed and hollered when Stafford left…it’ll happen again.

On another note, I bet Texas is crying after not signing Johnny Manziel when they had the chance, that is where he wanted to go! They don’t make’em bigger in Texas, they make’em dumber!
(couldn’t resist.)

zbulldawg

December 16th, 2012
8:51 am

LET THE BIG DAWG EAT

William G. Little

December 16th, 2012
10:07 am

I’ve seen Georgia’s 2013 schedule, and I say he will go.

It’s not formidable, but neither is it the cream-puff schedule of the previous two years.

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