Georgia Football: 10 Things to Know About Quarterback Aaron Murray
If the Georgia Bulldogs are going to rebound from their disappointing 6-7 campaign during the 2010 season, then Aaron Murray is going to have to take yet another step forward in his promising, albeit short career.
Murray, the sophomore quarterback for the Bulldogs, is the unquestioned leader on offense and the hopes of those wearing red and black rest firmly upon his right arm.
After a sensational freshman season, at least statistically, it's time to see what he can do in his second year as the starting signal caller.
So without further ado, read on for 10 things that you should know about No. 11.
No 1. He Put Up Great Numbers Last Season
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Statistics don't always tell the whole story, but they often do a remarkable job of paraphrasing it.
In his first year as the starting quarterback for the Georgia Bulldogs, Aaron Murray posted some of the country's best stats for players at his position.
Murray completed 61.1 percent of his passes (209-for-342) for 3,049 yards. He threw 24 touchdown passes and only turned the ball over eight times through the air. It all added up to a quarterback efficiency rating of 154.48, the 14th best number in the nation.
On the ground, Murray added even more production. He carried the ball 87 times, gaining 167 yards and plunging into the end zone an additional four times.
No. 2: He's Definitely a Dual Threat Quarterback
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Now Aaron Murray may not be able to keep up with the likes of Cam Newton, Taylor Martinez or Denard Robinson, but he's still one of those players that can beat you with either his arm or his legs.
As you saw from the stats on the previous slide, Murray doesn't run too often, but he's generally pretty successful when he does.
The quarterback admitted that he needs to think twice before taking off during his sophomore season, but that improved decision making will only help him in the long run.
What really counts is that Murray can evade those pesky defenders who somehow find their way into the backfield and then beat other opponents down the field with his legs.
No. 3: He's an Intelligent Psychology Major
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An Athletic Director's Honor Roll selection for his academic work during the summer semester of 2010, Aaron Murray is no slouch when it comes to off the field performance.
He's currently a psychology major, a decision that could end up benefiting him ever so slightly on the football field.
I mean, it's got to be a little bit useful to be able to analyze what exactly the other team is thinking, right?
To be honest, this doesn't really affect Murray's performance between the hedges too much, but it's still nice to know because it never hurts to feel a deeper connection to your team's starting quarterback. Knowing public yet personal details like this helps in that department.
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No. 4: He Was the Best Freshman Quarterback in UGA History
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Aaron Murray may not have won as many games as other freshmen quarterbacks in the storied history of the University of Georgia, but not a single one has matched his statistical accomplisments.
Phil Steele, Sporting News, Collegefootballnews.com and Rivals.com all named Murray a Freshman All-American. Additionally, the SEC coaches selected him for the All-SEC Freshman Team.
The Bulldogs' Most Valuable Offensive Player basically rewrote the record books for freshmen quarterbacks. His 3,049 passing yards are the most by any freshman quarterback in the school's history and are actually the second-most in SEC history by a freshman. The same is true for his 3,216 total yards from scrimmage.
His 24 touchdown passes were the second-most of any UGA quarterback ever, and that includes sophomores, juniors and seniors. Additionally, his 28 total touchdowns tied D.J. Shockley's 2005 season for the best ever in that category.
No. 5: His Brother Is on the Team
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Whenever Aaron Murray needs emotional support, it must be nice for him to know that his brother is also on the team and right there for him.
Josh Murray, his older sibling, is a safety for the Bulldogs and participates on the scout team. He may not make it onto the field unless we're talking about baseball, but he does get to interact with his brother.
I am nowhere near good enough to play football for Georgia, but if I was, I'd definitely want my brother there by my side for moral support.
No. 6: He Went to Plant High School with Orson Charles
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Speaking of friends on the team, Orson Charles is another player that Aaron Murray has known for quite some time.
The two played football together at Plant High School and the connection has continued on in Sanford Stadium.
Charles didn't have the greatest season in 2010 though. He only caught 26 passes for 422 yards and two touchdowns, but he showed flashes of potential greatness for this upcoming season.
One such flash was a rather extended one. Against Florida, Charles hauled in six receptions for 108 yards and a score over the course of the game.
We could be seeing lots more box scores like that one in the future.
No. 7: He Wants to Be Better
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Even though he was great as a freshman, this quarterback isn't content yet.
Over the offseason, Aaron Murray broke down the game film for each and every one of his 133 incomplete passes. “I still have a lot to work on. I wasn’t interested in seeing the passes I completed. I wanted to see the ones I didn’t complete, and when you go back and watch every one, you realize how many plays you left on the field."
Continuing to talk to ESPN's Chris Low, Murray also said, "There were a lot of things I could have done better. Just if I would have been a little steadier with my footwork, we would have thrown more touchdowns. When my footwork gets sloppy, it causes me to miss on some throws.”
Work ethic is one of those intangibles that all great players absolutely must possess. All indications point towards Murray having it.
No. 8: He's Put on Some Muscle to Endure the Rigors of the Season
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Towards the end of his freshman season, especially after the Auburn game in which he received constant abuse at the hands of Nick Fairley and the Tigers defense, Aaron Murray admittedly wore down a little bit.
Part of the reason for that was the fact that his weight fluctuated throughout the season, dropping below 200 pounds at one point for the first time since he was a junior in high school. Weighing that little meant that each crushing blow hurt even more than normal.
Now, Murray has added enough muscle to weigh in at 215 pounds. That additional mass should keep him healthier and make a big difference at the end of the year.
No. 9: He Wants to Meet Up with Zach Mettenberger in the Georgia Dome
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Despite the fact that Zach Mettenberger was dismissed from the Georgia squad, he and Aaron Murray have remained friends.
Both came to Athens, Georgia in 2009 and were redshirted. Now, Murray is the unquestioned starter for the Bulldogs and Mettenberger is in the mix for the same position at LSU.
One time they could meet up is at the Georgia Dome to play against each other in the SEC Championship Game.
They promised each other it would happen one day. Could this be the year?
No. 10: He's a Fringe Heisman Candidate
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As great as he was during his freshman season, I fully expect for an improved Aaron Murray to receive a little bit of Heisman buzz throughout the 2011 season.
With the 3-4 defense now in its second year under defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, the Bulldogs are expecting a significantly better record than last year's 6-7 mark.
Murray is going to be one of the biggest reasons for the Bulldogs improvement this upcoming season. With that publicity, the same level of statistics and a higher success rate at winning games, he could very well be a Heisman candidate.
Georgia faithful everywhere are crossing their fingers and hoping that this will be the case.
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.jpg?w=600 "Heisman candidate goes undrafted, accepts camp invite")