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DANIEL SHIREY I The Red * Blau
▲ Second-string quarterback Logan Gray has been promised at least one full series in Saturday’s homecoming game against Tennessee Tech.
Backup QB looking to make most of opportunity
By FLETCHER PAGE
The Red & Black
Logan Gray has been chasing approval
since his first day in Athens.
The sophomore backup quarterback
has heard all the naysayers discarding
him because of size and passing skills.
He’s ready to prove he’s an SEC quar
terback. Coach Mark Richt is ready to
give him more time on the field to prove
it.
“Right now you can count on at least a
series with Logan, more than just a situa
tion like red zone or something like that,”
Richt said. “We want to give him a chance
to play at least one series.”
Gray’s been labeled a mobile quarter
back, which can read also as non-passer.
But Gray says he’s excited to prove he’s a
complete player, not just a change-of
pace, or running specialist.
“I want to prove that I’m capable of
making plays and getting in there in situ
ations for more than just one play, putting
together a drive or whatever it may be. I
think also being kind of a running quar-
Wooten stepping up in Green’s absence
By FLETCHER PAGE
The Red & Black
And so life begins with
out Adriel Jeremiah Green
- at least for this weekend.
Georgia’s biggest play
maker is sidelined with a
bruised lung, replaced by
freshman Rantavious
Wooten.
Wooten has four catches
for 91 yards this season.
Those are ordinary one
game statistics for Green.
“It’s a concern and it
will be a little bit different,”
said offensive coordinator
Mike Bobo. “We’re losing
our No. 1 playmaker for
this week and it’s a con
cern. But it’s also an oppor
tunity for other guys to
step up.”
Wooten has impressed
coaches with his route run
ning and catching ability.
His 5-foot-8, 158-pound
frame make tyooten a
unique, shifty individual.
He’s just unfortunately
behind the SEC’s leading
receiver on the depth chart.
But with Green out, Wooten
will see extensive playing
time Saturday.
“His opportunities have
been a little bit limited
because he’s playing the
same position as A.J.,”
Bobo said. “It’s been a
struggle for him to grasp
everything in the playbook
ich Spetiais $5 ]
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terback, a lot of people, especially with
throwing the ball, feel like I’ve always
been talking about proving myself and
stuff.”
With criticism of starter Joe Cox sim
mering, many fans want to see a different
quarterback play in preparation of next
season. Some have skipped over Gray,
pegging freshman Aaron Murray as the
man for next year - just another case
where Gray has been doubted.
“I think Aaron is going to be a real
good player and the coaches are going to
do what’s best for the team,” he said. “I
think we’re just trying to do what’s best
right now. I can only worry about myself,
not who’s behind me. I’m just focused on
me and I don’t even pay attention to all
the other stuff. I’m just paying attention
to what I can control and focus on that.”
Richt says Cox is the starter. Murray
will be redshirted this season. That leaves
Gray in the middle.
Gray had over 20 offers to play football
in college. Oklahoma and Florida were
among those Georgia beat out.
But since arriving, Gray has been a
and it’s not really fair to
move him around. In our
base offense he plays the
same position. We feel he
knows that well and he’ll
play a significant amount
of time this week.”
Sitting behind Green
has kept Wooten’s role lim
ited. But there are advan
tages to watching a player
who practices and studies
like Green does. '
“Every day in practice
I’m watching A.J and the
things he does,” Wooten
said. “I just try to imitate
what he does. I feel like it
carries over. Coaches see
that.”
Wooten came to Georgia
from Glades Central High
School in Florida, with a
football program Georgia
coach Mark Richt has
praised. Richt says players
who come from Glades are
more physically and men
tally prepared for the col
lege game than most.
“Even in the summer, we
don’t get to watch, but you
get reports from the veter
an guys about the fresh
men,” Richt said to report
ers this week.
“They just loved Wooten
from the get go for his
quickness and ability to
change direction and how
quickly he picked up the
route running and good
hands.”
Though Wooten came to
Athens polished as a receiv
er, he still had to learn the
playbook. Given Wooten’s
playmaking skills, coaches
wanted to use him in a
variety of ways, mixing his
position and even inserting
him in the backfield for
plays. Wooten’s not
described just as a receiver,
but a football player.
Learning all the added
intricacies was a challenge.
“Things were a little bit
been slow,” he said. “I had
to learn the formations and
get up to speed on the
plays. My confidence has
risen though.”
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FIRST & GOAL
question mark behind center, not because
of poor play, but a lack of opportunity. His
athleticism got him on the field to return
punts and cover kicks. But the time spent
working on special teams took away from
quarterback meetings.
In preseason practice, coaches talked
about using Gray to confuse defense. He’s
mobility could give a different look, anoth
er option.
Gray’s not ashamed of his running abil
ity. But that’s the only skill the coaches
have taken advantage of this season. He’s
been inserted in games still close only to
run the ball and not very often.
In mop-up duty Gray has thrown only
seven passes, completing one. Against
Florida he threw an interception returned
for a touchdown.
“I talked to him after the game and
said. ‘Look, I’m not going to hold that
against you, put in a bad situation, backed
up against a very good defense,’” offensive
coordinator Mike Bobo said. “I said it was
something to learn from and to take
advantage of for future opportunities
because he might have some in the near
Wooten didn’t play in
the season opener, but has
been used in various capac
ities since. Aside from his
four catches, Wooten has
four carries. Though the
statistics aren’t overwhelm
ing, Wooten’s potential to
consistently make plays is
on the rise.
“Wooten playing a posi
tion behind A.J. certainly
hasn’t given him a lot of
opportunities,” Richt said.
“He’s taken advantage of
the opportunities he’s had
to this point. This [week
end] will be the biggest
opportunity to this point. I
think he’s up for it.”
First Church of (hriv, Sciestiy. Aihms
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Transportation? fall Krislin
at 706-206-1445
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fhristus Vktor Lutheran Churth
and Student Center
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Sunday Student (Xlowship 6:10 pm
Wednevlay Bikle Study 7pm
1010 South Unnpkin Street
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Sunday Worship: oam and Ham
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The Red & hi., uk | Friday, November 6, 2009
future.”
Tennessee Tech will be his first oppor
tunity to play a full series with the game
still competitive. Despite the lesser oppo
nent, Gray’s guaranteed drive is another
chance to prove, to find an identity.
“I feel like if he gets the chance he’ll
take advantage," said receiver Rantavious
Wooten. “Anything can happen.”
He knows he’ll be in for more than one
play. He knows he won’t just run the ball
and come back to the sideline. He’ll have
to manage the game, read the defense
and make calls.
“It will probably be in the first half,”
Bobo said. “We haven’t nailed down pre
cisely what series it’s going to be, but we’ll
get him in there, change up some things
and get him some work.”
Gray says he’s not trying to do too
much. He can’t prove everything in one
series. But he can show he is ready to
command, take charge and lead. And a
few completed passes would help quiet
the naysayers.
“I definitely want to make the most of
it,” he said.
DANIEL SHIREY | Thi Red * Buck
▲ With superstar A.J. Green out this week,
Georgia freshman Rantavious Wooten will step
into his starting role at flanker.
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