Hutson Mason bides his time as Georgia’s ‘QB-in-waiting’
Hutson Mason hasn't played much during his three seasons in Athens, but the Bulldogs like what they've seen. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
ATHENS — There has been much debate at the end of 2012 about whether or not Aaron Murray will – or should – turn pro after the season concludes. But there has been no debate whatsoever about who will play quarterback for Georgia if and when Murray makes that jump.
Hutson Mason is unchallenged as the Bulldogs’ heir apparent. In fact, so set is the plan for succession, there is no need for the word “apparent.” Better to call him “QB-in-waiting.”
So confident are Georgia’s coaches and players in Mason’s abilities, they speak of him in the same reverent tones as a seasoned starter.
“When he gets the opportunity he’s going to make some plays, I have no doubt about that,” junior tight end Arthur Lynch said of the 6-foot-3, 210-pound quarterback. “I’m positive about that and I think Aaron would be the first to tell you that as well. I think there are a lot of SEC schools that could use him as a starter right now and a lot of other schools elsewhere in the southeast like the ACC. Wait ‘til you see him.”
Murray concurred.
“Hutson’s a great quarterback,” Georgia’s three-year starter said. “He’s worked his tail off. He’s been here three years; he’s learned the playbook, his footwork, his progressions. Obviously he hasn’t been able to get the snaps this year, but . . . Hutson is ready to go, and he’s a very capable quarterback.”
Nevertheless, Mason hasn’t gotten a snap all year. In fact, thanks to Murray’s ability – and durability – Mason has played very little in his first three seasons ((8 games, 356 yards passing, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions). But he has so completely impressed the Bulldogs’ coaches in practices that they literally did not need to see any more of him in games this past season.
Grudgingly at first, Georgia coaches accepted Mason’s request to be redshirted so he could build a year of eligibility between himself and Murray, who’s also a junior. At this stage, it is clear that the record-setting Murray is not going to be unseated and there simply hasn’t been enough snaps left over to waste another season of eligibility for Mason.
But now Mason knows he he’ll have a senior season all to himself regardless of what Murray decides. And it sounds as though the Bulldogs could make a concerted effort to get Mason more work next season even if Murray returns.
“I think Hutson certainly deserves to play,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said. “I mean, he’s earned the right to play. Managing that will be another whole question. But is he ready to play and has he earned the right to play? I’d say yes. To sit here and try to say what all that’s going to look like, I wouldn’t get into that.”
As for Murray’s decision, Richt said he hasn’t had a conversation yet with him but plans to soon.
“Sometimes you’ll have that conversation before the (bowl) game; it just depends on where the guy’s at,” Richt said. “But if Aaron’s decision is to play the game then do all the thinking and soul-searching and all that kind of stuff, we’ll definitely sit down and talk. We’ll just kind of lay it out there as far as the history of the draft and why there would be an advantage to staying and why it would there be a thought to go and all that.”
Georgia’s prospects on offense could be incentive for both quarterbacks to play for the Bulldogs next season. Other than receivers Marlon Brown and Tavarres King, who are graduating, the entire starting unit will be back.
The Bulldogs have been down this road before, most notably from 2003-2005, when the careers of David Greene and D.J. Shockley overlapped. Greene remained the primary starter until he graduated and left as the winningest quarterback in NCAA history (since unseated). Shockley got regular playing time as Greene’s backup, then took over as the undisputed starter as a senior. He led the Bulldogs’ to the 2005 SEC Championship.
“I think it worked out well,” said Shockley, who recently retired from professional football and is living and working in Atlanta. “Once I made the decision to stay, I vowed not to have any regrets. I wasn’t going to backtrack to say, ‘what if.’ I was like, ‘I’ve made this decision. Now I’m going to go with it whether it works out for the best or it doesn’t.’ If I’d have left and gone somewhere, there’s no telling what would’ve happened. So I feel good about the decision.”
Shockley said he was extremely close to transferring to Florida State or Maryland after his sophomore season with the Bulldogs. But he opted to remain in Athens and shared time with Greene in a semi-regular rotation in which he’d play every third series, depending on the flow of a particular game.
It’s no wonder then that Mason, when he was just about at his wit’s end last year and was seriously considering transferring from Georgia, made a call Shockley.
“He called me trying to get some insight,” Shockley said. “Basically I didn’t tell him one way or another, you should stay or you should go. I told him, ‘you’ve got to make the best decision for you and what you feel most comfortable with.’ I told him if you leave, you can never be sure what you’re going to get. Anything can happen because you’ve got a lot of different variables. When you’re at the University of Georgia, you already know what you’ve got.’”
Mason agreed and decided to stay, but under the pretense of being redshirted. The Bulldogs agreed, but with the understanding it might have to be lifted in the event Murray was injured.
Only once did that seem a possibility. Murray got knocked out in the first half of the Auburn game and walkon Parker Welch came into to relieve him. As it turned out, Murray merely had the breath knocked out of him and returned after one play (throwing a touchdown pass to Tavarres King, no less).
Mason was also the backup plan for the SEC Championship game against Alabama and would have been for a BCS title shot, had it come. But now, as the Bulldogs prepare for a relatively meaningless bowl game against Nebraska, there is no scenario that would alter Mason’s redshirt plans. As a result, coaches scratched him from all media interview requests since he’ll have no part in the bowl game.
But others are happy to speak Mason’s behalf.
“Hutson’s kind of a gunslinger, but not in a way where he throws it carelessly,” Lynch said. “He just has a very quick release and he has a stronger arm than people gave him credit for coming out of high school. He stands in the pocket and he knows how to make plays. There’s a little bit of a swagger about him that makes him kind of special.”
Said Richt: “Guys at all positions get to a certain point where you feel like as a coach they can perform and do well. Hutson has reached that point in his career.”
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
169 comments Add your comment
bitter "spoiled recruit"
December 24th, 2012
8:29 am
LETS SEE————————–TEE BOW——OR—— SANCHEZ
———————-OR ————MURRAY
slobodan
December 24th, 2012
8:41 am
I’m no expert, but comments on here stating Mason will be another Cox or Tereshinski have got me perplexed. Mason has been ready to play at UGA as long as Murray has. Mason has been doing the exact things in practice that Murray has (more accurately). The dog coaches have stated every year that Mason is ready; but they have to play Murray to justify his lofty recruiting status and recruiting battle to get him to Georgia. Future high rated qbs need to see that UGA gives them the benefit of the doubt over someone who might not be as highly sought after.
Again, I’m no expert and its just my opinion. After both Murray and Mason get their shot at the NFL, Mason will be the one to win the playing time somewhere.
Carl Spackler
December 24th, 2012
9:01 am
slobodan…let’s take it one step at a time…college ball is wayyyyyyyyyy harder, faster, and complicated than HS ball…no doubt Mason should work out, but to put him on even ground with a three year starter, doesn’t fly… as far as Mason and the NFL, well let’s take it one step at a time and see if he can handle the pace of college ball…
Dynomite
December 24th, 2012
9:05 am
The coaches said the same high praise things about Joe Cox and Joe T. If you care to remember both were seniors who watched some great Georgia quarterbacks play in front of them. Everyone raved how the offenses would be great and never miss a beat and we all watched the debacles that followed. Anybody trying to say Mason is better than Murray is baffeling themselves with bull____.
WDE
December 24th, 2012
9:11 am
Carl Spackler good post agreed Mason has to actually play some at game speed to see what he can or can’t produce.
DDAWG
December 24th, 2012
9:26 am
Brett Favre – Aaron Rodgers…. I for one am not in the least bit afraid of Mason.
Joey
December 24th, 2012
9:26 am
WDE, Mason doesn’t have time to play, what with all the whining Carl says he does. I suppose when a reporter sticks a mic in his face and asks a question about PT, he should answer, “oh, I don’t care if I ever get on the field.”
I do agree with your comment on tipped passes, Carl. Sorry to say, I sat on my bottom and watched the NFL all day yesterday, and saw tipped passes by Brady (6′5″), Big Ben (6′5″) and Eli Manning (6′4″), but none by Brees and Russell Wilson, both under 6′.
It just doesn’t matter as much as you would think.
SouthGA Dawg
December 24th, 2012
9:29 am
Merry Christmas to all football fans.
slobodan
December 24th, 2012
9:31 am
Again, we’re just talking and I’m no expert. I think you guys miss what I’m referring to. Two years ago, coach Bobo was filled with angst about Mason, saying he deserved to play according to what he was seeing in practice, Mason has been told every year exept his first that he is SEC ready; but Murray being there at the same time is just unfortunate timing for him; not because he can’t perform as well as Murray; it is because Murray’s status as a recruit was and the battle to sign him (he had offers from a lot of school). Mason has not been beat out of a job from Spring and Summer practice performances; he has been beat out as a result coaching decisions based on perceived status of recruiting. In my opinion, this is why Murray has been given the opportunity and Mason not..
I think Mason, given the opportunity, would be as good or better than Murray (and I’m not basing it on high school play spackler).
Tide Roll
December 24th, 2012
9:39 am
Could Richt use some of his salary to hire the Viking’s kicking coach? Damn, Walsh has hit NINE field goals OVER 50 yards, including a 57 yarder yesterday! And get this, the kid wasn’t even invited to the Combine. It’s crazy. This rivals Ray Goof determining that Terrell Davis was “Goldbricking”, and limiting his playing time at UGA, thus Davis, an NFL MVP, being selected in the 6th Round!! Even UGA fans have to get a “Kick” out of this. There’s not another football program in America so comical!
Joey
December 24th, 2012
9:49 am
slobodan, the redshirt insured that Hutson Mason will get his day, whether it’s ‘13 or ‘14, and he will prove to the doubters what he has already proved to his teammates.
Bobo and Richt both said two summers ago that they “had to get Mason some playing time – he had earned it.” Murray has been good, and unusually durable, though, so it hasn’t happened.
Really interested to see what Murray decides about next season . . .
slobodan
December 24th, 2012
9:52 am
tide roll; there are some things that have occurred in UGA football over the years that make you scratch your head and wonder. Who was the coach/defensive coordinator that determined Randall Godfrey be relegated to special teams and mop up duty? Will Witherspoon (still playing NFL now)? Current HC enduring 2 seasons of putrid defensive play before making changes? HC reducing administrative duties for studying “cutting edge football”? HC encouraging penalties for “motivation”? (referees still remember that).etc..
slobodan
December 24th, 2012
9:59 am
Joey; I think someday, we’ll see Mason as a bona fide pro. The boy can play qb and some pro team probably already recognizes it..He has a quick delivery not too much unlike Aaron Rodgers.
slobodan
December 24th, 2012
10:10 am
I’ve seen comparisons on these pages of Murray to Drew Brees. Heck, Brees has been making big plays with 3rd and 4th option receivers since his days at Purdue. Murray shows no inclincation of that kind of ability; his game is staring his 1st option only. The footwork is not even comparable between the two.
Joey
December 24th, 2012
10:35 am
I agree sloboan, he is prototype – accuracy, arm strength, size, smarts. I saw him in the playoffs his senior season, yes in high school, but that level of high school in this state is as good or better than any other state.
He had already committed to UGA, so I was there to see him play, and he put on a show. He is still the best natural passer I’ve ever seen in HS.
And Mason is accurate throwing from the pocket or on the run, and CAN make all the throws. And look who’s he’s practiced against – a bunch of guys headed to, or already in the NFL. Justin Houstin, Jarvis Jones, Rambo, Jenkins, ‘Tree, on and on.
And, you will never hear Richt refer to Hutson Mason as a “good game manager.”
I anticipate him having a Shockley-like season when he gets his shot.
72&75DoubleDawg
December 24th, 2012
10:56 am
Murray should go…his early season comments about being afraid of South Carolina defensive linemen were inexcusable for a third year UGA qb. Hello NFL linemen. His decision making at the end of the SEC championship ( yes he helped get us there) was not worthy of his experience. Bring on the heir apparent!
Alphare
December 24th, 2012
11:02 am
Falcons should dump Matt Ryan and get Murray instead, or it’s no justice to Murray. At least Murray beat a ranked SEC team in 3 years, what has Ryan beaten? tell me, UGA fans.
7576DAWG
December 24th, 2012
11:19 am
If Mason was better than Murray he would be playing. So if Murray decides to come back then Bobo and Richt let Murray make the decision whether to go Pro or not. They didn’t push him out or encourage him to leave because they knew he is better than Mason and that Georgia is better off with him than without.
As much as Bobo has improved on play calling and Murray improved on audibles and just running the Offense , If he decide to come back for one more year , Georgia’s Offensive Stats. will be in the top 5 Nationally in 2013. Georgia will be around or over 500 yards every game including South Carolina and L.S.U.
slobodan
December 24th, 2012
11:20 am
To me, Aaron Murray is comparable to Rex Grossman; except Murray may be a little tougher than Rex. They’re both comparable in size and arm strength. They both have trouble finding options when 1st receiver is covered. Their strength is throwing nice medium to long passes when they have time in the pocket.
3d
December 24th, 2012
11:25 am
Buzz2011, stop acting like an idiot
slobodan
December 24th, 2012
11:40 am
7576DAWG. I think Murray works hard, tries hard and is a devoted dog..I don’t agree that the best players on a team always get selected to play. I think Georgia is especially guilty of this at times when some players get absolutely no game playing time (meaningful). The coaching decision in Murray’s favor for playing time the last 3 years is very debatable given the fact of their own statements regarding Mason as deserving to play based on what they see against their own defense in scrimmaging. Murray graded better while in the recruiting process and at passing camps (which Mason never attended); not so much in the dogs own spring and summer scrimmages.
Again, I’m no expert and everything from me is current opinion from observing the dogs performances. I think Mason should have had opportunity to improve on some of Murray’s bad performances earlier. In my opinion, he would have been as good or better.
puppykilla
December 24th, 2012
11:43 am
and once again, the puppies are #1 for NEXT year……………..
Delbert D.
December 24th, 2012
12:35 pm
“Matt Barkley, Landry Jones, Tyler Wilson, Colin Klein, Geno Smith, Tyler Bray”
So, who in that group is more NFL-ready than Aaron Murray? Tyler Bray has the big arm, but he has character issues. If anyone thinks Murray has big game issues, check the records of Barkley, Jones and Smith.
Delbert D.
December 24th, 2012
12:47 pm
Murray would have to be 5-9 to be shorter than Russell Wilson.
slobodan
December 24th, 2012
12:52 pm
Hey wonka – good one!
you haven’t got too much going on in the cranial area, do you?
Delbert D.
December 24th, 2012
12:54 pm
If Murray isn’t going to make it in the NFL, he should just go ahead and get a job right now, or go to Georgetown law school or something.
Whiznot
December 24th, 2012
1:06 pm
Murray should go pro and play in a league where coaches know when to spike the ball.
ARdawg
December 24th, 2012
1:10 pm
Delbert
Bray I understand is returning for another year. Tyler Wilson is the only other one I would take over Murray if I were an NFL team. Barkley has been IMO all hat and no cattle. He is actually what Murray has been accused of, unable to perform when it mattered. Landry and Geno has an arm but, nothing overwhelming
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 24th, 2012
1:24 pm
Bray has said he is Going to get a Draft Eval but no matter He is pretty sure he is going. He is losing too many weapons and now a New coach. Bray has Talent so go before he gets in trouble again.
Down, Set, Hutson!
December 24th, 2012
1:41 pm
Aaron should stay for his final year, sharing snaps with Mason. The cure for our young D is to pile up all the points we can to give our young D a cushion. No doubt they’ll need it with this schedule.
I heard Hutson bides his time playing SPACE BACON BULLDOG on his iPhone. He loves shooting jorts-wearing gators and nerdy yellowjackets with bacon!
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/space-bacon-bulldog-mini/id581465795
dap01
December 24th, 2012
1:56 pm
Slobandon- You have an agenda with your less than informed opinions. Murray throws to more different recievers than anyone you can name. He throws to more recievers than your mama does.
Colorado Dawg
December 24th, 2012
2:11 pm
I have a feeling AM will declare for the draft. He may have a career in NFL but only as a back-up though. We will be ok on O either way with Gurshell coming back for at least two more seasons – as long as we don’t have any off-season shenanigans or injuries.
Dewayne
December 24th, 2012
2:22 pm
IF Mason was better than Murray, he would be the starter. Everyone talks about how good he, Mason, is, but he hasn’t played enough to show anything. Not sure where some people get their facts.
hornblower
December 24th, 2012
3:20 pm
Hutson Mason is still the best quarterback on the Georgia team. It will be a shame if regular political Georgia sports decisions keep our team from having its best qb in position again next year.
ghost
December 24th, 2012
3:31 pm
Tide Roll, It amazes me how one person can write such ignorant comments on a daily basis.
Mark
December 24th, 2012
3:36 pm
With Georgia’s schedule and the patsies they have played for the last 3 years, it’s a crime that Mason has not played a single down. Richt has no one to blame but himself for not getting this young man into some games, instead of letting Murray build his stats. Any outstanding young player out there should watch this very carefully if they want to sit on the sidelines knowing they could start anywhere else – they won’t even play against the SEC doormats at UGA.
DawgFan
December 24th, 2012
3:41 pm
I feel bad for Mason. He’s wasting away, never getting a shot. I hope like heck Murray leaves, as the Dawgs will never win a real championship with him…….but if it doesn’t, Id be getting the heck out of there if I was Mason. He’s too good to be sitting on anyone’s bench.
DawgFan
December 24th, 2012
3:42 pm
Just leave already Murray! No National Championship, No SEC, no Bowl Win. What else you need to know?
kral
December 24th, 2012
4:28 pm
BE CAREFUL what you ask SANTY to bring you dawgfan…do not know..but hope it ain’t a bag full of switches
slobodan
December 24th, 2012
6:29 pm
dap01: Very clever; good one..! I think. (more receivers than my momma?) Momma never fumbled, had passes batted at the line of scrimmage, attempted 40 yard passes on third down and two and knew when to call a spiked ball when needed. Momma also read defenses and audibled like a three year starter. The reason Momma was so good is that she had 1 or 2 good players competing for her position and knew she would come out if she sucked.
Murray does hit a lot of receivers: if they are the first option on whatever play is called.
Delbert D.
December 24th, 2012
9:52 pm
One final comment to close out this blog. Barkley stayed when he should have declared last year. Same for Jones, in my opinion. Had to prove in one case that he was over the injury, and in the other, got injured at the end of this season. You never can tell. Murray needs more advice than from Mel Kiper, who is a media guy hustling for a story.
Shadow of T Brown and Put In
December 25th, 2012
12:58 am
ill be last Delbert…regardless of QB Coach Ricgt and Bobo will have the next QB very prepared ….plus with stud Gurshell behind him.
Kenny Powers
December 25th, 2012
7:14 am
DawgFan
December 24th, 2012
3:42 pm
Just leave already Murray! No National Championship, No SEC, no Bowl Win. What else you need to know?
**************************
Yea Murray leave…by all means get out…the DAWGS always wins SEC East back to back….they always have back to back double digit win seasons…they always beat UF back to back…they always beat UF, AU, UT, GT the same season back to back…the DAWGS don’t need a QB who has thrown for over 9,000 yards and 90 TD’s…
yea get outta’ here because you, by yourself, have lost every close game…watta’ no talent BUM you are…we want Hutson, we want Hutson, we want Hutson…gooooooo Hutson
Joey
December 25th, 2012
7:24 am
Kenny, there aren’t more than a couple of fans who advocate “replacing” Murray. Most are just commenting on the article by Chip Towers about Mason, and his prospects of succeeding if and when Murray leaves.
Everybody knows there will be no QB change unless Aaron Murray decides there will be.
Game Changer
December 25th, 2012
10:04 am
5′11″, slow, average arm strength, yet to make a difference in any big football game,
NFL, you have got to be kidding — will never make it past preseason games
Please leave so a potential QB with necessary skills to win big games gets his opportunity — Hutson Mason
Murray not a top 10 QB for 2013 draft / will he back out of promise to leave after this 2012 season, most likely at this point
WindyDog
December 25th, 2012
10:35 am
UGA under Mark Richt has a track record of starting QB’s with lesser skills:
Joe T started over Matt Stafford
David Greene started over DJ Shockley
Joe Cox starting over Zach Mettenberger
Aaron Murray starting over the state of Georgia’s td and passing yards record holder Hutson Mason.
Dynomite
December 25th, 2012
11:57 am
“But I watched him in high school”, or the “he’s been great in the G game”, and “in practice he’s beat future NFL guys”, just look at what you guys are saying…G GAME, PRACTICE, HIGH SCHOOL. If he was the better QB he’d be playing. Richt learned his lesson with Joe Cox and Joe T about letting a senior play just because he’s a senior.
Dawg_Central
December 25th, 2012
4:19 pm
zbulldawg……………..Hutson Mason did not shatter any records in the State of Georgia at QB…….smdh……why do people not know the facts before they speak……Hutson mason will be Joe Cox……….no better……..Lemay or Bauta will push the heck outta him….they better athletes for sure…..but no…..dont say shatter, cause he didnt.
DonDog
December 25th, 2012
6:00 pm
Mason is an INCREDIBLE QB.
In 2009, kid threw for 6 td’s in one game, 6 td’s in a 2nd game, and threw for 7 td’s IN A PLAYOFF GAME!
Also, Hutson Mason has the state record for td’s and yards in a season.
Mason threw for over 500 yards 2x in 2009, and over 450 in a 3rd game.
Mason also completed 77% of his passes in 2009!!!!!
Game Changer
December 25th, 2012
9:37 pm
Good bye Murray
Yea and hello Mason — regardless of what the outcome, I am tired and over the Murray