Murray bypasses NFL draft to stay at UGA (updated w/ Richt reaction)
Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray ended the speculation Sunday night about whether he’s staying in school or going to the NFL. He’s staying, Murray announced via Twitter.
“Blessed to be the QB for the Dawgs, not ready to leave just yet,” Murray tweeted to his 64,000-plus followers. “Time to get back to work & help lead this team to a championship.”
Murray could not be immediately reached for further comment, and UGA made no official announcement of his decision. (UPDATE: Georgia coach Mark Richt reacted to Murray’s decision in a statement Monday morning: “I’m certainly pleased that after weighing his options Aaron has decided to remain at Georgia for his senior year. His leadership and productivity have been tremendous during what has been an outstanding career. This is great for Aaron and great for Georgia.”)
A three-year starter for the Bulldogs, Murray had been weighing whether to return for his final season of college eligibility or to enter the 2013 NFL draft.
He said previously that the NFL’s underclassmen advisory committee informed him he likely would be a second or third-round pick if he entered the draft.
Murray graduated from UGA last spring with a degree in psychology, and he enrolled in a graduate program in industrial-organizational psychology in the fall.
He is the first quarterback in SEC history to pass for more than 3,000 yards in three consecutive seasons. This past season, he passed for 3,893 yards and 36 touchdowns. In Georgia’s Capital One Bowl victory over Nebraska, he passed for 427 yards and five touchdowns. He leads the nation in pass efficiency rating for the 2012 season, just ahead of Alabama’s AJ McCarron, who plays in the BCS title game Monday night.
Murray has led Georgia to back-to-back SEC Eastern Division titles, although the Bulldogs lost in the SEC Championship game both times.
Murray’s return is a boon for the 2013 Georgia team, which expects to return all but two starters – receivers Tavarres King and Marlon Brown – from an offense that averaged 37.8 points per game.
– Tim Tucker, AJC
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513 comments Add your comment
Big K.
January 6th, 2013
9:16 pm
“HOPED Aaron Murray would leave UGA Sooner than Later!!!!” OTHER QBs Should transfer!!!
Aaron Murray is the most “Overrated and Over-hyped” Quarterback in College Football history. He is NOT NFL READY..WAS NEVER NFL READY…AN NEVER WILL BE NFL READY…Simply put, Aaron Murray is a 3rd string QB in the Pros! Ladies and Gentlemen, Aaron Murray is a SCRUB, who will be carrying a clipboard his whole NFL career, if there is one!!!
I am a die hard UGA fan…Clearly this guy has CHOKED in every Bowl game he has ever played
in!!!
There are “2″ Quarterbacks sitting behind “Scrub Murray” who are clearly more talented and deserve playing time.
As a UGA fan since 1975, I was PRAYING that his SCRUB BUTT went into the NFL Draft!!!!!!
daddo
January 6th, 2013
9:17 pm
National championship game? Georgia will be the sixth place team in the SEC next year. And u won’t be able to back into the division title either, like the last two years.
Billy Mumphries
January 6th, 2013
9:17 pm
Smart kid. Nice to see.
DAWG82
January 6th, 2013
9:18 pm
Our D will play just as good as it did this year. Maybe the guys who start this fall will start the whole year.
ugab
January 6th, 2013
9:18 pm
Our Defense made some of the best plays of the year. Our defense just could not get that one stop. We blitz Nebraska at the end of the game and sack their qb. It just seems Gratham is to scared to be aggressive durring the game. We blitz Florida and it worked. Bring it!!!
DAWG82
January 6th, 2013
9:19 pm
Big K, maybe you can get in the fantasy football fan draft. You sound like one.
RoJo
January 6th, 2013
9:20 pm
I got a plan.
Let Murray start against UNRANKED teams, where he wins so many games.
Let Mason start against the RANKED teams, since Murray loses 82% of those games.
Mason could win at least 2 of those 4 games against RANKED teams, where murray can’t win more than 1 with his 18% win %.
trueblueeagle
January 6th, 2013
9:20 pm
Here is NC kool aid drinking again by UGA Fans!
Glory Between the Hedges
January 6th, 2013
9:22 pm
Comments like daddo above show the stupidity of some college football fans.It doesn’t deserve a response.
GaterHater
January 6th, 2013
9:23 pm
This is good news. Why do you guys feel bad for HM. If he was better he would be playing. I the defense can learn to consistently stuff the run I think Mr Murray will get 1 if not 2 championships.
Big K.
January 6th, 2013
9:23 pm
A VERY SAD DAY IN ATHENS GEORGIA…MORE CHOKING IN BIG GAMES!!!!!!
GO DAWGS!!!! WE MUST PERSEVERE IN SPITE OF DR. CHOKE!!!
ugab
January 6th, 2013
9:24 pm
Our D got pushed around. Jenkins and Geathers did not impress me. I would rather play a 4-3 defense with 4 physical DL to stop the run.
DAWG82
January 6th, 2013
9:24 pm
Daddo
maybe you will have better luck with your girls soccer team next year and not be as negative.
good luck with them.
7576DAWG
January 6th, 2013
9:24 pm
I don’t understand how anyone can complain about Murray this year. With him coming back we will lose no more than 2 games at worst and has a chance at taking it all the way . Without him Georgia would be lucky to only lose 3 or 4 times. Murray will be a Heisman candidate along with Gurley.
Big K.
January 6th, 2013
9:25 pm
RoJo
January 6th, 2013
9:20 pm
DITTO!!!!!!
Murray is a DEAR in HEADLIGHTS in BIG Games and Bowl Games….MURRAY flat out STINKS when you need him most!!!!
Spivedog
January 6th, 2013
9:26 pm
Rojo, stop already. You are obviously not very much of a Dawg fan if you think Mason could be a better job. Rojo, can you name any coach in the country that develops QBs better than Mark Richt? Look at all the guys he’s developed from FSU and UGA, and name one coach better than Richt. Yet, you don’t trust him to make the best QB personnel decision?
mgdawg
January 6th, 2013
9:27 pm
I’m really glad to see this, I think murray really improved this year and can’t wait to see this offense. I do have my doubts about mason ever being a starting UGA quarterback now. Do you really want to have a new starter who is a fifth year senior? If he is clearly better then the other qb’s then let him play, but if it is close let one of the younger guys play and start getting experience.
Glory Between the Hedges
January 6th, 2013
9:27 pm
I think it is funny that people forget how much better Murray was with Michael Bennett playing.
RoJo
January 6th, 2013
9:29 pm
Steve Spurrier is the coach most excited about Aaron Murray’s return.
DAWG82
January 6th, 2013
9:29 pm
How many backups were starting and playing against the number 1 secondary against the pass in FBS.
He had a bunch of backups out there playing and lit them up for almost 400 yards?
JDAWG
January 6th, 2013
9:29 pm
Good to have Murray back. The back up quarterback is usually the most popular guy on the team, but none of you have any idea if Mason is better than Murray or not. I’ll take a three year starter, the guy that finished his degree early and is working on his masters, and the guy that has led us to back to back SEC Championship Games over an unknown every day, and especially when we travel to Death Valley, SC week one next season.
Big K.
January 6th, 2013
9:30 pm
AARON MURRAY IS THE ABSOLUTE WORSE UGA QUARTERBACK OF ALL TIME!!!!!!
The NFL Scouts were being generous when they said he would be a 3rd or 4th round pick….Aaron Murray will go undrafted..PERIOD!!!
Boise st QB..Kellen Moore…far Superior to Aaron Murray was drafted in the 6th ROUND people.
No way scrub Murray goes higher than Kellen Moore.
CHANGE YOUR MIND AGAIN AARON AND PLEASE GO PRO!!!
ugab
January 6th, 2013
9:32 pm
AM did is not the problem. Our D cost us the NC. The defense could not stop the run all year. Defense wins ball games. Bobo abandoned the run against SC. That was a big mistake against that pass rush. Clowney was not accounted for. We was up on Alabama and could not get ONE stop to put the darn game away. We got to some stops on defense. Our schedule just got harder. Gratham needs to dial it up.
Lancedawg
January 6th, 2013
9:33 pm
With Murray I think we are are a realistic 9 or 10 win team. Without Murray I think we would have been a 7 or 8 win team. We have to many holes on D to fill and not enough players with real experience to just slot in. That is what happens when you end the season with 68 on scholarship and not 80-85. This is a huge boost for us. We may have to win a bunch of shoot outs but with 10 starters back on a VERY high octane offense, worrying about a new QB is one less big concern. Go Dawgs. GATA!
DAWG82
January 6th, 2013
9:33 pm
Steve Spurrier was the biggest choke job in the East this year. Big time underachieved with that team.
He beat the dawgs and were blown out by LSU and UF.
Choked.
ugab
January 6th, 2013
9:34 pm
J Dawg I agree! Big K your an idiot. Go dawgs.
RoJo
January 6th, 2013
9:35 pm
Anyone happy to have a QB back with an 82% LOSS record against teams that finish top 25, 0-2 record in conference championships, 1-2 record in Bowl games, can’t be a Georgia fan.
Yes, Murray can beat teams like Florida International.
Big whoop.
ugab
January 6th, 2013
9:36 pm
k
JDAWG
January 6th, 2013
9:36 pm
Big K.
You are an idiot. It’s one thing criticize Murray’s play in big games, but the worst quarterback in Georgia history? Please go buy some Tech gear, and start talking about B-backs. Idiot.
I think your mom is calling down stairs and telling you to go to bed.
Spivedog
January 6th, 2013
9:36 pm
@ mgdawg, Mason has been told by the staff that he is the starter when Murray leaves. No QB on campus (including Brice Ramsey who is enrolled now) is anywhere close to Mason. Lemay is nowhere near being ready and Ramsey will need a couple years to get acclemated to a pro style offense. Ramsey will be the 2015 starter, barring someone coming in in the next couple of years and taking the job.
dewnsav
January 6th, 2013
9:37 pm
glad he’s staying…what people don’t realize, or understand, (or in most cases do realize and understand, just wanna talk chit) is in the big games, Murray is usually running for his life…our O-Line play has been improving, but less that stellar, (and SUCKED last year)…Johnny Football couldn’t have done anything in Columbia this year…go dogs
RoJo
January 6th, 2013
9:37 pm
Somewhere, Zach Mettenberger is laughing right now….
Brewmaster
January 6th, 2013
9:39 pm
Maybe Big K and Moist Turd can get together and have a spelling party. They are among the biggest fools on this blog.
Vampire Bill
January 6th, 2013
9:40 pm
I wonder if Richt would truly give Hutson a chance to compete for the starting job? I don’t think so….
daddo
January 6th, 2013
9:40 pm
Murray tweeting from home while Alabama plays for the national championship. And it will be the same thing in 2014, Murray will be home and Alabama will be waiting to play. Georgia will be the sixth best team in the SEC next year, and won’t back into the division title like it did the last two years. Stat boy forever who never wins the big one.
Geez, wonder if Alabama will be able to run on your new defense? HAHAHAHA…Lacey just got another ten yards.
Fidlin1
January 6th, 2013
9:41 pm
Another year of ‘Airing it’ Murray, It’s good to be a Dog.
Rex Hermakeup
January 6th, 2013
9:41 pm
Translation: Nobody wants me as an NFL Quarterback.
Joey M
January 6th, 2013
9:42 pm
Is this a situation where they can’t put anything on the internet that isn’t true? If so, I’m a French model. BONJOUR!
RoJo
January 6th, 2013
9:43 pm
Murray’s accuracy vs ranked teams gets worse each year:
57% in 2010
54% in 2011
48% in 2012
Will he drop by 3% points like 2011, or 6% points like 2012?
2013 looking at either 45% or 42% accuracy against teams like Clemson, South Carolina, LSU, and Florida.
DAWG82
January 6th, 2013
9:43 pm
Mettenberger laughing at the way he played all year. He belongs at LSU. He would be #4 on the depth chart. Good thing for him he was kicked off. He was awful in the lsu choke job in atlanta.
Rojo
past your bed time.
RoJo
January 6th, 2013
9:45 pm
Murray gets worse vs ranked teams in passer ranking each year:
132 in 2010
128 in 2011
122 in 2012
Spivedog
January 6th, 2013
9:46 pm
@ Vampire Bill, Mason knew the deal when he signed with UGA. We (UGA) weren’t planning on even taking a QB the year Mason signed (2010 recruiting class) until we realized that Logan Gray was not going to be an option, so from a depth stand point we needed to sign one. A late offer was made to Mason, and he knew his playing time was going to be limited.
Big K.
January 6th, 2013
9:46 pm
JDAWG
January 6th, 2013
9:36 pm
JDAWG AKA “LORD OF THE IDIOTS” and anyone happy to see Aaron “SCRUB” Murray return to UGAs football team, are ABSOLUTELY, MYOPIC MIDGET MONKEY BRAINS…MURRAY STINKS TO HIGH HEAVEN WHEN IT COUNTS LADIES….
Only Reason Scrub Murray is returning, NFL DOES NOT WANT HIM!!!!!
RoJo
January 6th, 2013
9:47 pm
Murray averages 2.66 turrovers in his 3 post season Bowl games.
Has to be a UGA record.
UGA Season Ticket Holder since 1986
January 6th, 2013
9:48 pm
This is GREAT news. All you haters, please give up your season tickets in protest so we can make them available to someone who will appreciate the opportunity to buy them. Oh, I forgot, you didn’t go to UGA and you don’t have season tickets.
Welcome back Aaron.
People who like to see Georgia win are very, very, very happy to have you back!
Go Dawgs!
dewnsav
January 6th, 2013
9:52 pm
Special K…Mel Kiper is quaking in his boots…surprised I haven’t seen you on ESPN…you sound like a college/pro football guru…I am very impressed with your sports acumen…go dogs
Big K.
January 6th, 2013
9:53 pm
“MYOPIC MIDGET MONKEY BRAINS”
That’s for ANYONE excited about the return of this “heartless” Clown!!! He needs to take a trip to see the wizard for “heart and courage”.
Pulpwud Smiff
January 6th, 2013
9:53 pm
Murray knows that he has no future in the NFL. He’s not nearly good enough to play on Sundays.
macrotech
January 6th, 2013
9:53 pm
Damn!
I know this is welcomed news to all Dawg fans…I’ll ALWAYS respect a player that keeps their commitment!
GA Sandlapper
January 6th, 2013
9:55 pm
Should be a great game when SC comes to town!