QB Aaron Murray explains his decision to remain at Georgia
ATHENS – Aaron Murray said he knew he wanted to return to Georgia for his senior season “as soon as the clock hit zero” in the SEC Championship game. The rest of the time he spent validating in his head what was already in his heart.
Murray announced via Twitter this past Sunday night that he was indeed going to complete his eligibility with the Bulldogs. On Tuesday he met with reporters at UGA’s Butts-Mehre football complex to explain his decision.
Aaron Murray hoist the MVP trophy after his four-touchdown passing performance in the Capital One Bowl on New Year's Day. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
“I pretty much knew all along deep down inside that I wanted to come back,” Murray said. Obviously I didn’t want to base my decision on emotion. I wanted that SEC game to go by a little bit before I made my decision. After that game, I was like, ‘I’m coming back, I’m coming back.’ So I really needed to let that game go, play another game, clear my head and write down the pros and cons of everything.”
Murray, the first quarterback to throw for more than 3,000 yards in three consecutive seasons, is on track to break SEC records for passing yards, touchdowns and completions. But he said that had little to do with his decision.
The opportunity to return to Georgia and win an SEC championship next season was the strongest incentive.
“I’m excited about our team next year,” he said. “We’ve grown so much over these past two seasons and really put Georgia back on the map. It’s great to be part of that and hopefully we’ll continue to get better. . . . I love Georgia, I love being part of this university, I love being part of this team. I’m just excited to have another year.”
The Bulldogs return 10 starters on offense next season, including the entire offensive line. They will be rebuilding on defense, however.
Murray said previously he received a “second- or third-round grade” from the NFL’s draft advisory board. He said he discussed his situation with former NFL coach Tony Dungy, former NFL quarterback Archie Manning, former UGA quarterbacks David Greene and D.J. Shockley, among others.
“I liked what my grade was,” Murray said. “But obviously I feel like I’ve still got a lot of improvement to make as a quarterback. I’ve got some areas that I need to continue to develop. I’ve talked to Coach (Mike) Bobo and Coach (Mark) Richt about it, too, and they’re really excited about me coming back and continuing to improve. . . . By the end of the year, I will be as complete a quarterback as I can be heading into the NFL.”
Of course, not everybody is thrilled with Murray’s decision. Junior Hutson Mason, Murray’s backup before redshirting this past season, was quoted in the Marietta Daily Journal as saying he was “frustrated” about having to sit behind Murray another year. Reached by the AJC Tuesday, Mason was decidedly more diplomatic.
“It hasn’t worked out the way I planned,” he said, “but I’m not giving up on my dreams.”
Asked if he was definitely going to be back at Georgia next season, Mason said, “That’s the plan as of right now.”
Meanwhile, Murray spoke of several areas in which he’d like to improve as a senior. Most notably, becoming more of a dual-threat quarterback.
“I think when I got here I tried to stress so much about being a pocket passer, staying in the pocket and making my reads and my progressions,” Murray said. “There’s nothing wrong with that; I still have to work on that and trust my line. I just need to work more on when things do break down or maybe see ahead of time plays I can take off on and get out of the pocket and get as many yards as I can get. Work on my speed a little more. I feel like at my age I’ve gotten a little slower. I’ve got to work on that more and just try to create plays when they aren’t there.”
Asked specifically what he could do to improve his NFL stock, Murray joked, “Hopefully somehow I can grow another two inches, that’d be great. I think we’re incorporating some yoga this offseason, so some stretching may help out a little bit.”
Murray is listed at 6-foot-1 and swears it’s legitimate.
Turning serious, he added: “I’m not worried about where I get drafted next season. I think you can play a dangerous game if you think about that. My No. 1 goal right now is to continue to get better as a quarterback and do whatever I can to make sure this team gets some championships, gets some rings next year.”
Murray’s desire to win a championship at Georgia was driven home as he watched Alabama throttle Notre Dame 42-14 Monday night to claim its third national championship in four years. The Bulldogs lost to Alabama 32-28 after time expired with Georgia on the 5-yard line.
“Oh, it was painful to watch. It was,” Murray said. “I’m happy the SEC won, of course. It definitely showed the nation how good we were, to play Alabama the way we did and were four or five yards away from being in that game. It helped us showed that Georgia is back.”
And now Murray is, too.
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341 comments Add your comment
13 fans
January 8th, 2013
7:53 pm
His a candy ass, that is why he did not go.
DAWG82
January 8th, 2013
7:57 pm
GTBOB
U r a damn idiot or punk.
DAWG82
January 8th, 2013
7:57 pm
Punk fits you more.
Punk it is.
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
January 8th, 2013
7:58 pm
Knowing that Mason is a really capable QB means 2 things in my opinion.
1) Let AM run whenevr he wants to because if AM is injured Mason will step in and carry on in good fashion!!!!
2) Mason should get liberal playing time in all games unless conditions dictate that AM stay in the game
Dawgdad (The Original)
January 8th, 2013
8:00 pm
Elevator shoes for AM. Sorry, that Mason has never been given an opportunity to show what he can do.
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
January 8th, 2013
8:01 pm
@ 13 fans:
Suck it up King of the Inbred Dumba$$es. AM will play in the NFL. Now go brush that tooth!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tide/Dawg
January 8th, 2013
8:01 pm
I hope they don’t turn Murray loose to run the ball. RGIII is a running Q-Back in the pros. Look what happened to him, torn LCL & ACL, Running is what made him so good but running Q’Backs don’t last long in the NFL. A pocket passer with a good O’Line is the answer. Ga. should have that O’Line next season. Manziel may not last the full season.
kybodawg
January 8th, 2013
8:12 pm
after this season and watching the bowls, i realize here are three football leagues, the nfl, sec, and the rest of the ncaa.
Thank God for Reggie Ball
January 8th, 2013
8:18 pm
@DAWG82
You don’t have to tell him anything but 42-10. If that doesn’t work, say 31-17. If that doesn’t work say 42-34. If that doesn’t work say 30-24. If that doesn’t work say 63-39-5. If that doesn’t work say Middle Tennessee State. It really requires very little effort, much like beating the Georgia tech football team.
VCGA
January 8th, 2013
8:19 pm
Why would Murray want to run? UGA runs a “PRO OFFENSE” not the High School Offense many of you bloggers put down so often. He sounds like he wants to be a more versatile QB…could it be that the NFL seems to be leaning more to multi option QB’s….RGIII, Wilson etc
tom
January 8th, 2013
8:24 pm
“always wanted to come to ruin another season for Georgia.”
Thank God for Reggie Ball
January 8th, 2013
8:25 pm
@DUMB
First of all LSU was a screen pass away, as well as an offensive embarrasment in Gainesville and don’t even get me started with their pathetic excuse for a performance in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl.
Second, the only QB who even rivals Murray is McCarron. Tyler Wilson, Kiehl Frazier, Jeff ‘don’t make me pass’ Driskel, Zach Mettenberger, Tyler Russell, Bo Wallace, Connor Shaw, and Zach Rogers are not in a stratosphere with Murray.
Thank God for Reggie Ball
January 8th, 2013
8:26 pm
@tom
Yeah, setting the All-Time SEC record for passing TDs, yards and completions really drags you down.
Thank God for Reggie Ball
January 8th, 2013
8:30 pm
LSU had their home game against the oher elite in their division and lost a close game. UGA had a neutral site game against the other elite in their division and won a close game.
sflanagan21
January 8th, 2013
8:32 pm
Yea AM isn’t looking to “run” first that’s for sure. The kid is very intelligent on and off the field and he knows what will make him a better prospect for the NFL scouts. For you fools that don’t think AM will make it in the NFL then lets put some $ on it!!! I will say this, he will have to be in the right system to be able to make it, point being that if he goes to say the Chiefs and fails then it will look like it’s his fault and the media will say he’s too short and next thing ya know he will be holding a clip board and out of the league. But you put him in the right system with a good running game and some good receivers then he will make it and will shock some people. The kid has the tools and if you can’t see that then you have no business commenting on his skills!!! I was a HS QB and I’ve been coaching HS QB’s for going on 10 years and AM is a really good QB…
GO DAWGS
Clickty Clack
January 8th, 2013
8:37 pm
The opportunity to return to Georgia and win an SEC championship next season was the strongest incentive
————————————————————-
Remove the words “Georgia” insert USC( Southern Cal) and replace SEC with BCS championship and you have Matt Barkley last January.
Jarvis Jones gives Muschamp nightmares
January 8th, 2013
8:45 pm
“Oh no, I was hoping Murray would leave! Now we’re going to get ripped apart by Murray and Georgia again!”
-Tech and Auburn fans
Thank God for Reggie Ball
January 8th, 2013
8:45 pm
@Clickty Clack
yes but I don’t think these WRs and RBs have the ‘fat cat’ syndrome like USCs did. I don’t blame USCs failures on Barkley, I think he had an awful OL and like I said ‘fat cat’ skill players. Also not having a competant defense when you need to beat Oregon to win the conference can’t help
dewnsav
January 8th, 2013
8:48 pm
Thrilled with Murray decision…smart, loyal and talented young man…UGA better with him than without him…all you NFL insiders who spout off about draft position, height, etc. are HILARIOUS…I am liking D next year, loads of talent…go dogs
Thank God for Reggie Ball
January 8th, 2013
8:50 pm
@DUMB
No I remember quite well, but I believe you said 4th best. If you have three QBs you can say are better than the man who will be the best statistical QB in SEC history, I’m all ears
Thank God for Reggie Ball
January 8th, 2013
8:55 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
You did NOT just call ZACH METTENBERGER and CONNOR SHAW better than Aaron Murray! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!! OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!
That’s great man, I needed a nice laugh today. That was good.
hehe…..
Clickty Clack
January 8th, 2013
8:56 pm
dewnsav
January 8th, 2013
8:48 pm
Thrilled with Murray decision…smart, loyal and talented young man…UGA better with him than without him…all you NFL insiders who spout off about draft position, height, etc. are HILARIOUS…I am liking D next year, loads of talent…go dogs
________________________________________________
Loyal? Yes, Smart? No….
As for the D line- more hope on your part than actual skill or experience, may be tough for a while until some of those so called young guys get with the program, but we all know that a couple of standout players with attitudes can always make a difference in a team’s mental make up.
Moist Dawg
January 8th, 2013
8:57 pm
Who cares if Murray is any good in the nfl? All I care about is him winning now and making bama fans cry in their corn pone. AMurraygency will make his nfl monies in do time but for now all you haters can burn because he is coming back and he will lead us to the promised land.
GAME OVER
tjg
January 8th, 2013
8:57 pm
Aaron – please learn how to throw the touch pass, that little flair where you hit the halfback in stride, maybe a rainbow over the D-end, and the screen (how to set it up and execute it), and the the little drop off pass over the middle to the tight end. You have got a huge arm, are an excellent student of the game, throw a great long ball but sometimes you throw it too hard, need to learn to sometimes float it a little more. Welcome home!
Thank God for Reggie Ball
January 8th, 2013
8:57 pm
I shouldn’t be mean to poor zachary, those 12 touchdowns were mighty impressive lololololololol
Clickty Clack
January 8th, 2013
8:57 pm
Willing to say now on this Birthday of the King( Elvis Presley) that McCarron will have a big career in the NFL and Murray will do just as well.
TossSweep
January 8th, 2013
8:58 pm
DEFENSE MUST IMPROVE! Imagine if the defense actually played the way the did last year, Georgia probably be undefeated this year and playing for the NC. If Georgia can just have a year where both the offense and defense are dominating and not alternating years.
NFL Draft Advisory Committee
January 8th, 2013
8:58 pm
“We did tell the young man from Georgia 2nd or 3rd round. As long as there were no other quarterbacks that entered the draft, he’d go in the 2nd or 3rd round. If other quarterbacks… any quarterbacks… enter the draft, then he’ll obviously move down.”
“He then asked us about 2014, we said that’s the draft with AJ McCarron. Most efficient quarterback in college, about five inches taller. Enough said.”
tjg
January 8th, 2013
8:59 pm
Murray > McCarron … The QB from AL benefits from a much better team and esp O-Line
Clickty Clack
January 8th, 2013
9:00 pm
Moist Dawg
January 8th, 2013
8:57 pm
Who cares if Murray is any good in the nfl? All I care about is him winning now and making bama fans cry in their corn pone. AMurraygency will make his nfl monies in do time but for now all you haters can burn because he is coming back and he will lead us to the promised land.
GAME OVER
____________________________
Mr Retard is back ( Moist Lost Dawg) and you will have a easier time trying to get Steve Spurrier to not trash talk than you are trying to make a Bama Fan Cry after losing to UGA( which is not happening for a long long time)
Thank God for Reggie Ball
January 8th, 2013
9:03 pm
The sad thing is that most NFL draft ‘experts’ are about as intelligent as our *cough* NFL Draft Advisory Committee
NFL Draft Advisory Committee
January 8th, 2013
9:06 pm
Best QBs in 2013 in the SEC
1. AJ McCarron (won like 2 national championships)
2. Johnny Manziel (won the Heisman, beat Bama at Bama at night in front of the world)
3. Conner Shaw (wins most of his big games)
4. A Murray (nearly beat Alabama after Alabama had spent to much time celebrating a game winning interception)
Now you can say, but Murray is so much better! Yeah, statistically he’s better than Johnny Football… but how did that translate on the national scene? Here’s the Heisman voting results, I don’t see Murray. Probably because the nation recognized junk yards against bad teams when it sees it.
1. Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M; 2,029 (474 first-place votes)
2. Manti Te’o, Notre Dame; 1,706 (321 first-place votes)
3. Collin Klein, Kansas St.; 894 (60 first-place votes)
4. Marqise Lee, Southern California; 207 (19 first-place votes)
5. Braxton Miller, Ohio St.; 144 (3 first-place votes)
6. Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina; 61 (4 first-place votes)
7. Jordan Lynch, N. Illinois; 52 (3 first-place votes)
8. Tavon Austin, West Virginia; 47 (6 first-place votes)
9. Kenjon Barner, Oregon; 42 (1 first-place vote)
10. Jarvis Jones, Georgia; 41 (1 first-place vote)
………
Jarvis Jones gives Muschamp nightmares
January 8th, 2013
9:09 pm
2013 season
1.Manziel
2.McCarren
3. Mettenberger
4. Murray or Shaw (Shaw better leader, Murray better vs lesser opponents)
Mettenberger is better than Aaron Murray?? What planet do you live on? Mett has had one good game his entire career! Did you even watch the bowl games this year? Murray played very well overall throwing for 427 yards and 5 scores and Mettenberger threw for about 110 yards and blew two chances in a row to pick up the first down, including overthrowing a wide open receiver. With even a decent quarterback, LSU would have won that game.
Jarvis Jones gives Muschamp nightmares
January 8th, 2013
9:13 pm
Murray has another chance to improve his legacy at Georgia with some more big wins this year. His games against a swarming Bama defense and a good Nebraska secondary were a good way to end the 2012 season. Since both teams have good secondaries, you can’t say he put up those numbers against Tech, Auburn or a team like that.
tjg
January 8th, 2013
9:14 pm
Johnny M
Murray
McC
the others
Sometimes the least good QB still gets the W b/c he is on the better team, this does not mean he is a better player, duh
Jarvis Jones gives Muschamp nightmares
January 8th, 2013
9:15 pm
Where the heck is that idiot “Bip” who was talking about how Murray was going to have a horrible game and Georgia would have no chance against Nebraska’s pass defense? He’s probably changed his screen name to something new because he’s embarassed.
Thank God for Reggie Ball
January 8th, 2013
9:19 pm
@NFL Draft Advisory Committee
So we get to ignore Johnny Manziel’s struggles against Florida and LSU, but highlight his good performances against Alabama and Oklahoma
But we have to highlight Aaron Murray’s struggles against Florida and South Carolina and ingore his great performances against Alabama and Nebraska (No. 1 pass D in the nation)
hypocrisy reigns supreme.
As I said, about as smart as an NFL draft ‘expert’ *cough*
Thank God for Reggie Ball
January 8th, 2013
9:21 pm
plug Aaron Murray into LSU, and LSU would have won the Chick-Fil-A Bowl, beaten Florida and been in the Sugar Bowl or had another rematch with Bama in the National Championship game.
Tide Rising-3 BCS TITLES IN 4 YEARS=DYNASTY
January 8th, 2013
9:21 pm
Does he really want to come back and lose to Bama again? I doubt they get any more gift 10 pt swings on blocked field goals turned into tds to turn a statistical blowout into a seemingly close game. If we meet them again in 2013 it will be a beatdown on the scoreboard that more closely resembles the beatdown that took place on the field in 2012.
Tide Rising-3 BCS TITLES IN 4 YEARS=DYNASTY
January 8th, 2013
9:23 pm
Someone please tell Jarvis Jones he can get up off his back now. No need for him to be terrified anymore. The Bama O-line left the building long ago.
sflanagan21
January 8th, 2013
9:25 pm
NFL DAC,
You do realize that the Heisman has become a popularity contest right? Obviously the nation didn’t recognize junk tackles made by Te’o… Not taking anything away from Manziel as he deserved the Heisman, but because AM didn’t receive any votes has nothing to do with his play on the field! The media hypes up what players and what teams they want to because of politics and money in most
cases and sheeple buy into it, Te’o 321 votes and Clowney 4 and JJ 1 hahahaha, now that’s just stupid!
GO DAWGS
NFL Draft Advisory Committee
January 8th, 2013
9:26 pm
I don’t think AJ has the weapons Aaron has. And yet he does better.
I think there are a lot of college players who come out early ignoring the advice of the NFL and end up not drafted. Murray was smart to listen, but he can’t improve much on what he’s done this year which evidently wasn’t enough to impress the NFL.
Keep in mind, this is expected to be a very bad QB draft. It’s nothing like last years. And Murray still didn’t impress. It’s the height and inability to win big games, other than this year where they beat Vandy, an embarrassing UF team and a Nebraska team that let Wisconsin put up 70 points on them.
He’s Rex Grossman II… but without the quality wins.
sflanagan21
January 8th, 2013
9:33 pm
Tide Rising,
How long were you Dawgs fan before ya jumped ship chick? And trust me when I say this, UGA is not one f-ing bit worried about Low Tide in 13′! You won’t even make it to Atl next year chump! A&M is going to punish your crying QB and Manziel is gonna rush for 3 TD’S and throw for 4! Enjoy it while ya can cause things are about to change and none of you traders are ever welcomed back! I see more freaking morons with Bama flags flying on their cars in Ga than I do in Ala!
Thank God for Reggie Ball
January 8th, 2013
9:33 pm
@NFL Draft Advisory Committee
I guess AJ McCarron didn’t go 25+ minutes in Baton Rouge without completing a forward pass. By the way that Nebraska defense was ranked #1 in the country against the pass.
“My neighbor has more credentials than NFL Draft Advisory Committee and my neighbor’s a postman…”
sflanagan21
January 8th, 2013
9:34 pm
GO DAWGS!
NFL Draft Advisory Committee
January 8th, 2013
9:38 pm
In 2010, UGA beat 0 teams that finished the season ranked including a bowl loss to UCF.
In 2011, UGA repeated that feat and didn’t beat a single team that finished the season ranked.
In 2012, UGA beat 3 teams that finished the season ranked. Vanderbilt, Florida and Nebraska. Vanderbilt did well given where they’ve always been and they’re improving. But Murray’s best game against the 3 teams was against Vandy. Florida finished in spectacular fashion, the nation watched and laughed. Florida also turned the ball over six times against UGA, which helped UGA win considering Murray turned it over 3 times as well. Then there was Nebraska, who lost 70-31 to Wisconsin who went on to lose to Stanford. Note, 70-31. UGA was still tied in the 4th quarter.
In big games Murray does not win. Look no further than the biggest game of the regular season was South Carolina, and he went 11/31, 0 TDs and 1 INT.
The reality is the NFL does not like short QBs because they don’t work. They usually work in college because they’re scramblers, see Johnny Football. Murray is not one of those.
The NFL didn’t want him. Tough pill to swallow. They’d like to see if he can put up Drew Brees numbers but Drew Brees was always good, Murray hasn’t been. So much so there were a lot of Dog fans that wanted him benched mid season and blamed him for all of the problems.
If they thought Murray was the second coming of Drew Brees, they’d put him higher in a weak QB draft. They did not.
Thank God for Reggie Ball
January 8th, 2013
9:47 pm
A. the biggest game of the regular season was Florida not South Carolina
B. I’ll repeat it again, slowly and with more detail. Yes Nebraska’s D gave up 70 in one game (ONE) to Wisconsin, however it was all on the GROUND and last I checked we were talking about the QUARTERBACK. RUSH defense has little to do when evaluating QUARTERBACK play. The Nebraska defense was ranked Number 1. Numero Uno in pass defense. Murray proceeded to have his best statistical game of the season. If you can’t understand that I have given up hope on you.
C. In the same comment you said “UGA beat 3 teams that finished the season ranked” then said “In big games Murray does not win.” tsk tsk tsk….
D. You still have not acknowledged the AWFUL games Johnny Manziel had against LSU and Florida, yet you still want to kill Murray for having bad games against Florida and South Carolina.
“my neighbor has more credentials…”
NFL Draft Advisory Committee
January 8th, 2013
9:48 pm
In its last two games, Nebraska’s defense gave up over 1,220 yards and 115 points or an average of over 600 yards and 57 points per game.
In it’s prime time AT HOME game against Texas A&M, Alabama was only able to rush for 122 yards. Against Georgia, Alabama ran for 350 yards. Interestingly, Johnny Football against Bama ON THE ROAD went 24/31, 253 yards, 2 TDs and added 92 yards rushing. Murray went 18/33, 265, 1 TD and 1 INT.
Both QBs are the same size. But Manziel, like the even shorter Russel Wilson, runs. Makes a difference. The NFL can accept a short QB, but only in the bottom half of the draft.
So Murray is not going to truly improve his NFL standing by staying another year. Not with a worse defense and tougher schedule. What he’s doing is trying to get drafted in 2014, he might not have in 2013.
Thank God for Reggie Ball
January 8th, 2013
9:48 pm
Haters gonna hate but Murray’s still great.
Go Dawgs
Thank God for Reggie Ball
January 8th, 2013
9:52 pm
So Murray can’t run? I beg to differ…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSx5yf9USFg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J182g4yAOw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_kO-WE58QY