In a Tampa, Florida high school football game last night, UGA's future took a huge blow. QB Aaron Murray, a UGA-bound high school senior broke his leg as he was piling up huge numbers. He had one rushing TD and three passing TDs before the injury and his high school career is over. He WON'T get to attend (as a player at least) the High school all-star games and the Elite 11 QB camp MVP will now not likely come to UGA early and get a jump on the competition. Which could not matter all that much because if Stafford comes back next season, Murray would have been riding the pine. But if Stafford had left early (and how do you turn down 30M+ just for signing your name and 70+ overall?) I believe Murray could have beaten out Joe Cox and Logan Gray (and fellow future frosh Zach Mettenberger) and taken the QB job.
This will also hurt because he was recruiting for UGA too. Hey, did you like that ball I threw you fellow Under Armor all star and 5-star recruit? Come to UGA and we can do that for the next 4 years!
But things will be OK. At least that is what I am telling myself. Interestingly enough, Sportsbyfletch recruiting expert Paul Mac and I had a conversation about Aaron Murray yesterday. Here are the highlights....
Me: as far as option QBs at UGA....I know you are kidding, but it wouldn't surprise me if Aaron Murray aka Tebow-lite is used in spread-option packages next season, and watch out if he wins the job outright his sophomore year (assuming Stafford leaves after this year, oh COURSE Murray will play right away. If Stafford stays, Murray sits), over Gray, I wouldn't be surprised to see UGA build its offense to include zone read option packages. That is his strength. Just like Shockley's his senior year. There was A LOT of shutgun work done that year, if you will recall. It frustrated me when they had Danny Ware back there, but UGA doesn't have a big Danny Ware-type back. All of the backs on the roster RIGHT NOW are all kind of scat backs. Don't be surprised to see Charlton Thomas and Murray become best buds ala Pat White/Steve Slaton.
Paul Mac responded: It's really scary how good they could be under richt with a guy who can both throw well and get outside. He teaches great fakes, and personally I think Bobo generally calls a good game. Stafford can move, but had Van Gorder not left and Shock not been hurt, I think you might have seen an even more impressive team that year. If they can just avoid injuries and click.... they've got to get it working in the next 3 weeks. If they can win these 3... I think they win out... they are justnot to that point yet where everything clicks. (happened in the FLA game
last year.)
Bottom line, the QB position at UGA looks promising, but we NEED Aaron Murray to come back FULL-Strength from this broken leg. If he comes back and isn't the same, then UGA is in trouble. Also, do we think that Jon Richt might transfer out of Clemson to UGA? I doubt it. I am not calling for him. I think UGA has the position well-stocked for the future, but he DID go to Clemson to play for TBowden and now Tommy isn't there anymore. Interesting...........
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