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
Ted Striker
January 7th, 2013
12:41 am
Yay!
QB
January 7th, 2013
12:46 am
This post shows much football knowledge people have. Unless you have been under a rock LSU basically has lost their entire defense and bama will lose some people after monday. UGA will have at worst a solid defense and with Murray back they will contend for a title. I think new DL coach wilson will help the defense play the run a lot better next year look what he did at MSU and they dont even get the caliber of recruits UGA gets.
Columbus
January 7th, 2013
12:55 am
Their Tech fans. REAL UGA fans would never make the childish, hateful, negative troll-like remarks that are being left on here. Richt is the best coach in UGA history and Bobo NOW has experience that will pay off. We endured Bobo’s growing pains and NOW will reap the reward. If he leaves before we win it all, I will be pissed after the investment in him! BUT back to the point at hand….infantile and ignorant comments on here by boys who must be 11 or 12 or just simply usedto getting EVERYTHING they want their entire and life and dont have a clue about the REAL WORLD…you BETTER be THANKFUL YOU HAVE RICHT #1. You dont know what you got until its gone…..and unless Saban or Gruden were under contract to take his place, you guys are full of crap. UGA was ONE play away from going to the NC THIS year with an AVG defense with NO DEPTH….and you have a problem with coaches?!!! Do you have baby baboon brains in your head?! Or is it just empty? Or are you young and dumb with little time on this planet? Or are you just a hatin Tech fan? I have been watcing UGA football since before you were born. Since 1980. I am not young nor senile. I am in my mid 40’s. Mark Richt WILL get it done. Took Saban 11 years and he is the king right? Took Dooley 17 years. Took the Bear 18 years. I know you are probably too young and dumb to know but the Bear wa Paul Bear Bryant, considered the best coach in college football history. Took him 18 years of being a head coach to win his first NC….he didnt stop there! You idiots would have fired him! And MOST ALL OTHERS BECAUSE MOST TAKE AT LEAST 14-15 YEARS TO WIN THEIR FIRST NC! RICHT HAS ONE OFTHE BEST RECORDS IN HISTORY FOR FIRST 12 YEARS OF COACHING AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL!
HE WILL GET IT DONE AND WHEN HE DOES YOU BETTER NOT STOP HATIN AND CHEER NOR ENJOY IT FOR A SECOND BUT INSTEAD GRAB A LARGE SPOON AND START SHOVELING IN ALL THE CROW YOU GOT COMING! SHAME ON ANY OF YOU HATIN ON UGA COACHES! UGA IS FAR BETTER OFF WITHOUT YOUR CHEERS AND CERTAINLY YOUR JEERS AFTER TAKING A TEAM WITH AN UNDERACHIEVEING ALLSTAR DEFENSE ONE PLAY FROM THE BIGGEST GAME POSSIBLE! NOT COACHES FAULT. ALLSTAR TEAMS NEARLY ALWASY UNDERACHIEVE BECAUSE THEY DONT PLAY AS ONE….LOOK AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES THE LAST 2 YEARS. THE 2011 SUPER BOWL TROPHY WAS GIVEN TO THEM BEFORE THE SEASON EVEN STARTED AFTER ALL THEIR FREE AGENT ADDITIONS TO AN ALREADY GOOD TEAM AND THEY….SUCKED. SEEN IT 100 TIMES THROUGH MY YEARS. SUPPORT UGA AFTER THE SEASON THEY JUST HAD OR JUST SHUTUP AND/OR GO FIND ANOTHER SCHOOL. IF YOU A TECH FAN COMING ON HERE OR SOME OTHER SCHOOL….GET A LIFE OTHER THAN BE A TROLL. PATHETIC
Dawg Patrol
January 7th, 2013
1:22 am
If you come on here badmouthing ANY of the UGA Bulldogs players or coaches you are not a true UGA fan. Hutson Mason will be right there to step in if needed and he’s a pretty good qb. It’s great to have Murray back. He’s just now learning how to play in the big games. With Gurshall and some new receivers who played great in the bowl we’ll make a run at the National Title. Thanks Aaron you’re a damn good Dawg !
Dawgfan
January 7th, 2013
1:39 am
If I’m Hutson Mason and Christian LeMay, I’m outta there!
They are rotting on the bench behind an inferior QB.
j-dawg
January 7th, 2013
2:12 am
I was really hoping he would go pro. Murray just doesn’t have the “it” factor and I will not forgive him for the decision he made at the end of the SEC championship. Hutson has shown promise in his limited playing time and I hoped he would be given the chance for one season. Plus Hutson is 5 inches taller.
The REAL Phil
January 7th, 2013
3:08 am
Columbus dawg it is not baby baboon brains that fill the morons brains. It has to be adult baboon brains. Baby baboon brains wouldn’t have time to get that dumb yet. Case in point, the two above me.
Murray has just thrown for 3000 yards three years in a row, something no one named Manning ever did. Yet he is inferior, in this guys opinion to a QB who seems like he might make a good player but has never won a game against ANYONE and another QB who can’t even read the hand signals from the sideline. Anyone ever notice that EVERY play the LeMay runs has to be whispered n his ear on the sidelines? The walk on Welch goes in before LeMay because he does better on the test every week than LeMay. And these are superior QB’s to Murray?? REALLY???
The the brain scientist above me says Murray “just doesn’t have the ‘it’ factor.” But someone who has “shown promise” does? REALLY????
I’d have to say without a doubt it’s gotta be adult baboon brains.
Left Coast Dawg
January 7th, 2013
3:16 am
I still wanna know who in the hell is BO?
Buzz Me
January 7th, 2013
4:48 am
I’d stay too if I was projected to be a late third round to fourth round draft choice and couldn’t win a big game!
D.J Shockley
January 7th, 2013
5:15 am
Didn’t Hutson Mason not learn from my mistake? Should’ve transferred
Glsjunior@yahoo.com
January 7th, 2013
5:18 am
Mr. Lemay, come on down to GSU where you can play for the o coordinator who developed Matt Ryan.
fayncdawg
January 7th, 2013
5:32 am
BO is Rambo, I guess.
fayncdawg
January 7th, 2013
5:42 am
Is news of a C.LeMay transfer and a U.LeMay decommit in the works? Like the Nkemdiches, I believe the LeMays want to PLAY together, not pull mop up duty together. And C.LeMay will only get mop up duty at the most next season. And U.Lemay won’t even get that much PT!
fayncdawg
January 7th, 2013
5:50 am
Buzzme
Projected to be round 3 or 4? Never win a big game? That sounds like the reason why there’s NEVER any mention of a Tech player who has the talent to leave early. Correction! Projected to be an UFA! Barely won half of all the game he played! THAT SHO’NUFF SOUNDS LIKE A TECH PLAYER, ESP ONE CURRENTLY ON THEIR ROSTER!
RedandBlackDAWG
January 7th, 2013
6:27 am
That solves our offensive make up for next year now. Time for the coaches to get the young pups on defense ready to go for 2013.
A. Murray, is one classy dude and no matter where his life path takes him, he is going to be successful.
The usual idiot trolls on this and other blogs constantly making fools of themselves, only wish the had half as much going for them, as young Mr. Murray does. By the end of 2013, he will own every SEC passing record of significance and will be in the UGA hall of fame, when he finally leaves this school. And lest we forget, he will also have at least a Masters degree. Considering most of the trolls on here think 5th grade is graduate school, it is easy to see why they are jealous of A. Murray.
tenn.DAWG
January 7th, 2013
6:37 am
AM has the highest Passer Rating in the country. Against air that is good,but against SEC and the best past defense (Nebraska) in the nation that’s great.I welcome him back with open arms.
Buckeye who lives aming
January 7th, 2013
7:04 am
Yea!
Another year of Murray being Murray in big games Murray.
Go Twiddlebutt!
dap01
January 7th, 2013
7:31 am
Our offense is set and our defense has potential. Go Dawgs.
Aaron Murray is a great dawg and a BETTER QB than any team that the trollers are representing.
He will really be an asset as a senior QB and he will own all SEC passing records next season.
ugacolumbusgafan2012
January 7th, 2013
7:31 am
YAH!!!!! IM HAPPY THAT YOU ARE STAYING FOR 2013 SEASON… TRUE UGA PLAYER…. GO DAWGS….
Beads
January 7th, 2013
7:35 am
Great News! We are so proud to have you as our quarterback! Not just a great football player but a fine young man. Your parents and your coaches have every right to proud of your accomplishments. We are all looking forward to next season. It really is great to be a Georgia Bulldog!!!!!
LOVE, THOSE DAWGS.
January 7th, 2013
7:35 am
Thank you,Aaron, for staying, for Senior season. NO DOUBT, you will be one of the leading canidates, for the Heisman Trophy. GEORGIA BULLDOGS, will ROCK and ROLL, to an SEC and NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP’S.
Happy Dawg
January 7th, 2013
7:38 am
Aaron Murray is a class act. His continued leadership skills will add great fuel to the team. He is a classic example of leading by example. We are blessed as fans to have him as our QB.
Durango
January 7th, 2013
7:38 am
Murray’s career:
2 years on NFL team sitting on bench
1 year on NFL team practice squad
2 years in retirement until the money runs out
40 years saying “You want fries with that?”
dap01
January 7th, 2013
7:39 am
Durango: Your career:
2 years at McDonalds
1 year at Burger King
3 years as a “lawn specialist”
40 years living in your mothers house.
Guido Dawg
January 7th, 2013
7:44 am
Commendably selfless but should have taken the money … This ain’t James Bond. You only live once.
GAPecan
January 7th, 2013
7:45 am
Ummm what else was he going to do. I don’t think any teams from the NFL was knocking on his door….. Overrated just like that darn David Greene, and how many snaps did he take in the NFL?
mambo
January 7th, 2013
7:53 am
This should pose a great battle for the starting QB job in the Spring. Stay tuned.
Flowery Branch Dawg
January 7th, 2013
7:58 am
Glad to have Murray back! The offense should be awesome. Let’s hope our new defensive guys catch on fast and play great.
Rip Van Winkle
January 7th, 2013
7:59 am
I almost got woke up this year during the SEC Championship Game; the question is will I wake up after my 33 year nap? Brice Ramsey has dropped all the way down to the #94 player in the country after his poor performance in the UnderArmour Game; good thing Murray is coming back.
Rip Van Winkle
January 7th, 2013
8:00 am
mambo there will be NO competition in the Spring. CMR promised the starting job with no competition and either Mason or LeMay will transfer.
Johnny Football
January 7th, 2013
8:02 am
No problem pups, instead of Bama, he will lose to A&M in the SECCG.
Athens
January 7th, 2013
8:04 am
@Big K.
Thanks for your in sight as an alum of Hounds Grove Elementary………….what a tool
Rational 1
January 7th, 2013
8:15 am
Pretty uneducated move by Murray. He will be losing many on his OL and the UGA defense. That leaves him little room for error. UGA’s season will be over before October next year.
If Murray would have left, he would have been a top QB in this draft. There are very few good QBs in this draft, and several top pick teams need a QB. He lost millions with this decision. Que the Matt Barkley “We have unfinished business” speech………..
RoJo
January 7th, 2013
8:18 am
Here’s the way MOST EVERY UGA fan sees it.
With Murray OR HUTSON MASON, you’ll beat the bad teams with losing records and get 8 wins per year.
But when you play ranked teams, Murray willl lose 80%+, and if you make it to the SEC Championship, Murray’s 0-2, and in Bowl games, Murray is 1-2.
Against teams that finish top 25, Murray has one of the worst records over 3 seasons in the nation at 2-11.
With Hutson Mason as starter, can Mason really go ANY WORSE than
2-11 losing 82% vs. teams that end up top 25
WINLESS 0-2 in SEC Championships
AND 1-2 in Bowl games?
Doubtful, that’s VERY hard to do to LOSE 82% OF THE GAMES against good teams like Murray does. You have to ALMOST EVERYTHING WRONG to LOSE 82% of your starts against teams that finish top 25.
Really ANY QB, EXCEPT AARON MURRAY, WOULD DO BETTER THAN AN 18% win % AGAINST TEAMS THAT FINISH TOP 25, Mason, Lemay, Bauta, Ramsey, ALL would be BETTER than an 18% win %.
MURRAY GIVES YOU THE BEST CHANCE TO LOSE, in BIG GAMES, than ANY QB on the UGA ROSTER.
That’s a fact. As in the 18% career win %.
JWinATL
January 7th, 2013
8:20 am
So relieved to hear he will return. We got so close and played with such heart, and it was largely because of this man. Great decision!
RoJo
January 7th, 2013
8:23 am
In Murray’s most RECENT GAME, as a 3RD YEAR STARTER, Murray threw 2 interceptions in the first quarter, one for a returned touchdown vs. Nebraska.
Against Alabama, Murray failed to spike the ball at the end of the game and threw a pass to the wrong guy as time expeired.
Against Florida, Murray had 3 turnovers.
Against South Carolina, Murray’s offense only generated 7 points in the game.
That’s all THIS PAST SEASON with 3 years experience.
Anyone calling that good, doesn’t know much about football.
Buzz-off
January 7th, 2013
8:28 am
Tojo,
Yes, he threw 2 interceptions against Nebraska…..the #1 passing defense in the Nation. BUT, somehow you conveniently failed to mention that he then set a bowl record for passing yardage, TDs and was named MVP. You are a total MORON and struggling waaaaaaay too hard to make a fruitless point!!!!
Buzz-off
January 7th, 2013
8:30 am
Tojo, Rojo, Bozo….or whatever your name is,
P.S. He set that bowl record in passing without his top 3 receivers, but who’s counting.
RoJo
January 7th, 2013
8:31 am
Murray’s accuracy vs. the 4 best teams he faced in 2012
South Carolina 35%
Florida 50%
Alabama 54%
Nebraska 54%
Murray’s passing efficiency ratings against those 4 teams, as a 3rd year starter
South Carolina 58
Florida 91
Alabama 125
Nebraska 201
Murray wasn’t named MVP of the South Carolina, Florida or Alabama game, that’s for sure.
My-Guy
January 7th, 2013
8:33 am
So our 2013 season is set now, the #1 question is, how will our defense respond next year!
My-Guy
January 7th, 2013
8:33 am
Hopefully the 2013 season won’t be another 2008 again!
DawgFan
January 7th, 2013
8:37 am
Come back to win a championship?
Cmon Man…..youve been there 4 years already and couldnt do it.
Move on! Youve had your chances
Time for Mason, Lemay and the others.
What a selfish dude.
My-Guy
January 7th, 2013
8:38 am
5 YEAR PERIODS FOR UGA!
2001-2006-2011 have been the improving & rebuilding years for Georgia, and we improve & grow as a team and set goals for next season!
2002-2007-2012 have been the best years for Georgia as long CMR has been the coach, and one loss that takes us out of the NC game!
2003-2008-possibly 2013 are the years that we still have talent left on the team, however,our defense and/or offense slacks off and our shoulda woulda coulda season turns into a nightmare, but I believe 2013 season will be a blessed year for the dawgs though! The 5 years trend stops here!
RoJo
January 7th, 2013
8:39 am
You don’t have to look far in the SEC to find QB’s better than Murray, against teams that finish top 25.
Connor Shaw, AJ McCarron, Zach Mettenberger, Johnny Manziel
All 4 had AT LEAST 2 wins against teams that finished in the top 25 in their 1ST YEAR AS A STARTER, while Murray only had 2 wins vs teams that finish top 25, in 3 YEARS!
Murray is the 5th best SEC Qb against teams that finish in the top 25.
HutsonMasonAdvisor
January 7th, 2013
8:40 am
Dear Mr. Mason:
Time to leave.
You are wasting away on the UGA bench while you are clearly the superior talent.
Do not buy the lies and promises again.
Find a program that recognizes your talent, ability, and potential.
Regards,
Your Advisor
PS: You may forward this to Mr. Lemay also.
Buzz-off
January 7th, 2013
8:40 am
The trolls are out in full force. I think they may be GT fans trying to act like Dawwg fans. By the way, true Dawg fans are elated that AM is returning. You bozos like Todo….I mean Rojo are struggling to tear down a great QB. Yes indeed he has had some bad games, but how did the LSU QB do against Clemson? The Bama QB last year only scored 2 FGs against LSU in the first 6 quarters of play + 1 OT. How did the FL QB do the last 2 years against the DAWGS? I don’t remember the SC QB having a great game against LSU and FL. See my friends, statistics are for LOSERS…..and you trolls are losers, thus your hollow attacks on AM. Truth be known, you are pissed-off that your team has to face him again next season.
Dawg4Life
January 7th, 2013
8:42 am
OHH Well,
I was hoping for some type of change to get Georgia started on getting over the hump, as for as, going to a Nat’l Championship and possibly winning a Nat’l Championship. A couple things I know for sure are that, one won Murray will always choke in big games; two you can’t coach confidence, either you have it or you don’t; three we will be a mediocre bowl team next year.
RoJo
January 7th, 2013
8:43 am
Against ranked teams, in the SEC, Murray ranks among SEC Qb’s:
14th in accuracy
7th in passing efficiency
14th in interceptions
In other words, he’s the worst QB in the SEC against ranked teams.
joe
January 7th, 2013
8:45 am
bring them on out. Start Matson next year cause Murray is a loser. Fire Bobo and well fire everybody. All UGA coaches are losers and they can not recruit.
FIRE, FIRE, FIRE ALL.
Also, just in Florida Athletic Board has declared that 1-02-2013 did not exist and their bloggers declare UF finished 13-1 and number 1 in the country—contrary to their record.
Neutral
January 7th, 2013
8:46 am
I agree with Buzz-off, you trolls are idiots and afraid to face AM. Example: Rojo @8:31, dude I think your stats are off and you failed to mention that all4 teams are ranked in the top 5 in total defense. Also, AM beat 2 of those teams including FL when they were ranked #2 in the nation.