Who backs up Murray this year?

Fifteen minutes could mean like a good neighbor, you’re in good hands. A backup quarterback is crucial insurance for any football team and Mark Richt appears to have some this year. The University of Georgia quarterback situation is a bit more settled entering the 2011 season as Aaron Murray is entrenched as a starter after impressing during his redshirt freshman season. Last year question marks surrounded the QB position in Athens as Murray was taking over with exactly zero snaps under center and a true freshman, Hutson Mason, was his backup, also having taken zero snaps in his collegiate career. The only players on the Bulldogs roster that had taken a snap from the QB spot were a converted wide receiver (Logan Gray) and a cornerback (Branden Smith).

But Murray eased everyone’s concerns for the next three seasons and Mason threw a touchdown pass on his first ever attempt. Now those two each have on-field experience and true freshman Christian LeMay is already on campus, learning the playbook. LeMay came to Athens with as much fanfare as Murray did, arriving as one of the top three quarterbacks in the recruiting cycle. Throw in a record-setting Mason, who shattered Georgia high school passing records his senior season, and Georgia went from a lousy situation entering 2010 to being lousy with quarterback options.

So who will win the backup job? While some of the Bulldog Nation don’t believe that person will ever step on the field over the next three seasons, Murray’s recent injury scare should stress the importance of having a capable backup ready to step up for the Red & Black. Mason certainly has experience of being in Athens for an entire year, but LeMay took his senior season off simply to prepare for his time in Athens. He also joined the team early and will have an entire winter, spring and summer before football starts Labor Day weekend. Matthew Stafford came in early and was ready for meaningful snaps after a very similar early-enrollment path. LeMay has physical tools that Mason does not and with the extra time, the true freshman could overtake the sophomore. LeMay also seems to have a rapport with new wide receiver Chris Conley, who also enrolled early, and Mason doesn’t have the typical advantage of knowing many returning starters as two of the main weapons departed Athens in AJ Green and Kris Durham.

It won’t matter if Murray stays healthy. He was the best freshman QB in the conference last season and he’ll be the best starter returning in 2011. But the backup spot is a surer thing this year than it was last season and that can only be a good thing....just in case. Who is the crowd’s favorite player on any football team? The backup quarterback. Georgia coaches hope that the fan favorite sits on the bench as Murray leads the team to the SEC Championship game.