Notebook: Bulldogs’ Kwame Geathers says don’t count him gone just yet
ATHENS – Because most of his brothers, uncles and cousins left college early to play pro football, most assume Georgia’s Kwame Geathers will follow a similar path.
Not necessarily, Geathers said Friday.
“It’s not right to assume at all,” said Geathers, a 6-foot-6, 355-pound junior from Georgetown, S.C. “They let me make my own decisions, so it’s up to me. Sometimes I feel like, ‘all right, break the tradition.’ They were all in college for three years. I’ve been here for four years already, so I feel like I’m already breaking it a little bit.”
The Bulldogs would definitely appreciate Geathers sticking around. They’re already going to lose John Jenkins and Abry Jones off the line. Junior linebackers Jarvis Jones and Alec Ogletree are expected to turn pro and a total of nine senior starters will be graduating off Georgia’s defense.
That will certainly leave a leadership void for next season.
I’d like to have that leadership role, to be a guy for the younger guys to look up to. . . . I’d love to have that role.
Meanwhile, Geathers is an extremely productive and versatile defensive lineman. In the second half of the season, he hardly came off the field as he rotated snaps between noseguard and defensive end. He had six tackles in the SEC Championship game against Alabama and finished the regular season with 58, plus eight quarterback pressures, a sack and 15 tackles for loss.
Geathers said he has consulted with his brothers, current NFL players Clifton and Robert Geathers, who advised him to fill out the evaluation paperwork for the NFL’s draft advisory process.
“I’m not sure what’s going to be on it, really,” Geathers said. “When I get it back I’ll see what’s on it and then we’ll go from there.”
Jarvis Jones not ready to declare
Meanwhile, it’s a foregone conclusion that junior outside linebacker Jarvis Jones will be among the first few players chosen in the 2013 draft. But Jones wasn’t ready to make any declarations on Friday.
“Man, that’s a big question,” he said when asked directly if he was ready to declare. “I try not to think about it, but it’s coming. I haven’t even talked to Coach (Todd) Grantham about it or none of my people about it, so I’m not giving any answers yet.”
On Friday, Jones was named an All-American by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA). That makes him a consensus first-team All-American for the second year in a row.
Meanwhile, last week he was on a whirlwind U.S. tour attending banquets for national awards for which he was a finalist, including the Lombardi, Butkus, Bednarik and Nagurski trophies. But he contends there is still much he wants to do in Athens.
“I want to graduate,” said Jones, who couldn’t do that until next summer. “I’d have to come back another year to do that. I want to continue to play football here. At the same time, I want to go to the next level. So I’m just weighing my options, you know, and see how that works out. I haven’t made a decision yet.”
Etc. . . .
Junior right guard Chris Burnette was inadvertently left off Georgia’s list of football players who walked in graduation ceremonies on Friday. . . . Georgia practiced for 90 minutes in shorts and shoulder pads Friday. It was the third of 15 practices before the Jan. 1 Capital One Bowl against Nebraska. “The guys had very good energy and got after each other a little bit,” Richt said. “It got heated up a little bit and that energized the day. Afterward, we ran them hard and they all ran their times. It was a pretty good day.”
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84 comments Add your comment
Taco
December 15th, 2012
10:50 am
I hope every UGA player on the team goes pro and they leave the cupboard bare. I am sure next year’s schedule is still as weak as a lettuce fart. Why would any of these thugs want to stay another year and risk getting busted for smaoking dope again or wrecking a scoote?
Taco
December 15th, 2012
10:52 am
I am so sorry I was wrong, none of these guys would every smoke that stuff.
Taco
December 15th, 2012
10:53 am
Wow I can’t type for crap. S-C-O-O-T-E-R,
Festus
December 15th, 2012
11:17 am
Look at what happened to the South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore. Would have been a first round draft choice but has had two serious knee injuries. Get the money before you get an injury. Take the money and run.
Put in Timeout by Ken Sugiura,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned once by Bill King & Chip Towers but only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 15th, 2012
11:31 am
Barkley at USC is lucky he is a QB and didn’t lose his career in the NFL by coming back and getting injured.
Paddy
December 15th, 2012
11:37 am
mgdawg….KG did outplay Jenkins this year in most games. He could very well go in the 2nd to4th rounds of the draft. Its a tough call but I hope he comes back for next year and does get his degree.
All Saints
December 15th, 2012
1:52 pm
In tribute to our beloved martyred Saint Jan Kemp, let’s all bow our heads for a few moments of silent prayer. Thirty years ago, this courageous young lady risked everything to expose the corruption and academic fraud instigated by Vince Dooley, sleazy practices that continue to this day under douchebag coach Mark Richt. Gone but never forgotten, Saint Jan lives on in our hearts and minds as a guiding inspiration and as a symbol of resistance to the malevolent evil and corruption that dwell in Athens.
And now, let us all pray for Saint Jan…
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Thank you, you may now resume your normal activities.
NCDawg
December 15th, 2012
3:39 pm
I believe these guys when they say they don’t really know if they will come out early yet or not. It is a big decision and sometimes the big bucks aren’t the only factor. Geathers might actually stand to gain from staying. That is if his level of play rises. He could be a 3rd or 4th round pick depending on how his combine workouts go. However, he might nudge his way up if comes back and becomes an anchor for a rebuilding defense. The question is what do the scouts think he needs to improve on and do they think it is something more playing time will help with.
Jesus loves Bama
December 15th, 2012
4:37 pm
Amen
Dawg
December 15th, 2012
5:37 pm
No one is talking about Nebraska. All I hear from people is who will or will not be back next year. I smell trouble in Orlando. This season could end with a thud.
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
December 15th, 2012
6:38 pm
@ Yesterday:
You are a real comedian A$$HOLE!!!!!!
I’d like to see you say that to J Jenkins face to face!!!!!!!!!!
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
December 15th, 2012
6:44 pm
@ All Saints:
All Saints = Inbred = Homosexual = Jerry Sandusky’s showering partner = Weekly Conjugal visitor to Sandusky!!!!!!!!
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
December 15th, 2012
7:02 pm
@ Indy Dawg:
Since the Bowl Game is a continuation of the 2012 season and is NOT a part of the 2013 season HM would lose a year same as if he had played a lot in the 2012 season.
There could be a chance of an appeal but I believe he would lose a year of eligibility!!!!!!!!!!!
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
December 15th, 2012
7:24 pm
@ TIME OUT(10:45 PM POST)
Another really nice and sensible post!!!!!!!!!!
I believe you are really an old softy at heart but just put on a different front to irritate REAL DAWG FANS!!!!!!!!!!
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
December 15th, 2012
7:29 pm
@ don’t forget:
Don’t forget who won the SECe AGAIN this year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
December 15th, 2012
7:33 pm
@ Neutral(8:55 pm post)
NO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
December 15th, 2012
7:37 pm
Game Changer is questionable about whether or not he/it belongs to the human race!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
December 15th, 2012
7:39 pm
Taco’s sister is also his mother!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
December 15th, 2012
7:42 pm
@ Red dawg 77(9:32 Post)
Excellent contribution Red!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
just sayin
December 16th, 2012
9:54 am
I can’t believe Jarvis is even having second thoughts about staying? If Jarvis and Tree decided to come back next year that would be awesome but don’t think it’s going to happen. $ talks.
Stay for your brothers
December 16th, 2012
9:54 am
The NFL is only about money. College is about playing with the brothers you’ve suffered with for several years. You’ll never get the chance to play with a group of guys like this again. Stay and finish the drill: be the Best In The World at something in 2013-14. Watch the Herschel documentary and see how much he regretted getting on that plane with Donald Trump to sign with the NJ Generals. Get your degree (or graduate degree) so you don’t end up like Vince Young.
Game Changer
December 16th, 2012
10:33 am
Ogletree is gone and will definitely be a top pick, anywhere from 10 to 20 as a strong safety.
J Jenkings gained way to much weight and became sloppy, under the guidance of nfl programs and if he can dedicate himself to do right, should be a force in the NFL, has yet to show self control to reach high level of play.
J Jones, outstanding athlete but lacks the ability to stop action directly at him, this is bad for him considering how the nfl plays defensive. Hope he can improve this part of his game
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
December 16th, 2012
12:04 pm
@ Just sayin:
Take one snap in the Bowl Game and HM loses a year of eligibilty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SEC Headlines 12/15/2012 – Arkansas – Razorbacks News
December 16th, 2012
6:52 pm
[...] 14. Will Georgia defensive lineman Kwame Gathers make an early jump for the NFL? Not necessarily. [...]
Yak up a dry bone
December 16th, 2012
10:03 pm
UGA fans are really putting a great deal of hope into a bunch of 20 years olds to give up millions of dollars to stay at UGA where they WILL get booed, get their houses egged and rolled after Clemson, USC, LSU and Florida will lay the wood to a bunch of new defensive players, probably a new Defensive Coordinator, and an offense with a new quarterback who many many UGA fans think is better than Murray while everyone else knows he is not.
The Players at UGA have already proven they are selfish from their actions this past spring and summer.
Yak up a dry bone
December 16th, 2012
10:07 pm
How many 6′ 6″ 355 Nose Tackles are available to play in the NFL who are athletes, with family members already in the NFL?
Be Truthful with your answer.
GatorinGa
December 17th, 2012
5:54 am
The real question is when the dogs go 7-5 next year, do they fire Richt?
Columbus Dawg
December 17th, 2012
10:10 am
Dawg, nobody is talking about Nebraska because nobody gives a rat’s tail about Nebraska. This bowl game is a lose lose for UGA. If they do not score at least seventy on them then they are a failure, even if they DID score seventy, then it would be, “Well Wisconsin did that, so….”. Personally, I could care less about a win in Orlando. If, and that is a big if, Georgia is really serious about winning a championship in football, it should do what it needs to do to compete. I have struggled with this ever since the Bama game, and I hate to agree with the crowd that says Mark Richt can not and will not get it done, but I am pretty much convinced that he won’t. The biggest problem I have with Richt, is that it takes him so long to build a competitive team, he builds up pretty good, but just can’t get over the top. Then all of his players bolt, and he is back to square one. I know all the Richt apologists are coming, and all I can say is have at it. I am trying to figure out why Aaron Murray or Geathers are even considering the jump. All Geathers has going at this minute is his size, and he can’t give Murray any of his height. Does Murray not know that the NFL scouts know that his pass was tipped,(again!), and it lost the game? As far as I’m concerned, the bar has not been lowered for Richt just because he has many underclassmen leaving his program once again, leaving his cupboard bare. This is also Richt’s shortcomings, as he will not put priority on recruiting down linemen. It is sad to say, but most if not all of UGA’s football failures recently are the fault of it’s head coach.
LawDawg
December 17th, 2012
10:19 am
I would absolutely love to see Jarvis back next year for selfish reasons, but he has to go pro. If he forgoes a top-5 payday and reinjures his back and is never able to get the NFL money, that would be an absolute tragedy.
Life in LEG H U M P E R Land
December 17th, 2012
12:42 pm
Doggie fans have a short memory of how it felt to have Bama ram it down Phat Choking Grantham’s face. How does the 900k he gets paid sound to you now fellers?
Ed
December 17th, 2012
1:27 pm
It’s funny how many of the people who complain about Georgia’s creampuff schedule include fans of the teams we beat on that schedule. Teams like Tennessee, Auburn and yes, even Tech, are not “creampuffs” – they are traditional rivals who are not having their best years. That’s not UGA’s fault.
That being said, there is a problem with creampuffs on EVERYONE’S schedule, meaning non BCS and lower division teams. 3 creampuffs a season, now? Come on ADs, the fans deserve better than this garbage. We gave up teams like Clemson for a bunch of scout team scrimmages. The alums and fans who finance this program deserve better.
mgdawg
December 17th, 2012
2:49 pm
paddy, I don’t know what games you watched. I don’t think jon jenkins was great, I never understood why the media tried to compare him to fairly or cody, but he did eat up blocks and occasionally make a play in the backfield. If Geathers was so much better, why wasn’t he starting over jenkins? I think at best Jenkins is a 2nd rounder and that will be based purely on his size, truthfully more of a 3rd rounder. If Geathers was to come out, he may go in the third but that would be based purely on his size. Really I see him as more of a 4th to 5th. Why would you leave early for that, when you could stay, have a good chance to start, and if you do good easily increase your stock.
Mike Shula
December 17th, 2012
8:30 pm
Life in Leg humper land…You forgot my years!!! UGA has a great program and on par with Bama so get over yourself!!! especially since you had nothing personally to do with any of it!!
Sowega Dawg
December 18th, 2012
4:51 pm
Geathers Stay why settle for 2nd round? too you UGA guys kill me yall critique the D-line but if you knew anything about football the 3-4 the NG is the most important position on the field because he has to take 2. I love Ga defense and the coordinator and really should be in the 3-5-3 it allows a team to utilize their ath’s which Ga has alot of on the team as well through the state