Leading up to February 2009, the Georgia Bulldogs were quite the gamblers. Mark Richt decided to cast his lot with Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger, moreorless letting Tom Savage sign with Rutgers. One of the northeast’s top signal-callers, Savage had visited Athens and had the Dawgs in his top two before pulling the trigger on a pledge to Rutgers. Many believe it was because he knew that Murray, one of the top Florida high school QBs was about to commit to Georgia, which he did.
Interestingly enough though Murray AND Mettenberger, who were both among the top prep QBs in the country their senior seasons, redshirted while Savage came off the bench for Rutgers in the season-opener and helped lead the Scarlet Knights to a 9-4 record. He earned Freshman All-America honors after throwing 2211 yards and 14 TDs and being named the starter entering game two. In the bowl game, he capped his season and sent many Rutgers fans wondering how high he’d take the program by shredding the competition to the tune of 14-27, 294 yards and two TDs.
Georgia fans had to read Savage’s stats every Sunday while watching the Georgia coaches refuse to pull Murray’s redshirt despite Joe Cox’s struggles. Then there was the rumor floating that Murray’s arm-strength was weak at the moment due to injury.
The spring game also did Georgia no favors as Murray didn’t look as good as Mettenberger, whom had already been told he would be suspended for at least the opener due to an arrest over spring break. Fans were clamoring for Mettenberger right until he was kicked off the team permanently for off-the-field transgressions. He ended up at Butler CC in Kansas.
Then the 2010 season started and seemingly everything worked out for Georgia. Aaron Murray showed that he just could be the kind of QB to lead Georgia back to respectability, as he ran and threw for score after score. He enters the 2011 season as perhaps the best returning quarterback in the SEC and the odds-on favorite for first-team All-SEC.
Savage meanwhile suffered an injury and played in just six games, throwing more interceptions that touchdowns and completing just 51.8% of his passes. He was also replaced by a freshman quarterback and is sitting out this year after transferring to Arizona.
Murray’s main competition for All-SEC though may come from his former teammate Mettenberger. The Oconee County (GA) product threw for 2700 yards and 32 touchdowns in the juco ranks and is now backing up Jordan Jefferson at LSU. Many feel though it is only a matter of time before Mettenberger wins the job in Baton Rouge.
Georgia fans have to feel like the coaching staff made the right call in sticking with Murray as he has so far beaten out Mettenberger and Savage. Of course we’ll have to see how the next two years play out, but Georgia fans should be happy with what they have, not wishing they could have had someone else.
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