2014 NFL Draft Prospect Profile: Aaron Murray, QB, Georgia Bulldogs

Dec 1, 2012; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Aaron Murray (11) call signals at the line of scrimmage against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the third quarter in the 2012 SEC Championship game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Height:  6’1″ 

Weight:  212 pounds

Drafted By:

40 Yard Dash:  N/A

Bench Press:  N/A

Vertical Jump:  N/A

Broad Jump:  N/A

Scouting Report/Player Notes

Elite level production and four year starter at Georgia who has gotten better and better over the course of his four years. Doesn’t have ideal size compared to some pocket passers, but there are more and more under 6’2″ quarterbacks having success in the NFL. Had an extremely efficient year as a junior, completing nearly 65 percent of his passes with a 36-10 TD/INT ratio. Really improved placement on his throws and does a great job of leading receivers to spots. Great footwork in the pocket and escape ability. Owns one of the strongest arms in the draft, and has a lightning quick release. I think Murray will be a perfect fit for an offense that likes to take a lot of shots, and while I don’t view him as a scrambling quarterback, I definitely think he has plus athletic ability. The biggest knock on Murray is whether or not he can step up and win his team a big game. That’s probably the most glaring weakness scouts see right now is that he has not been able to lift Georgia to a BCS title game. Of course, he is not at fault for losing those games, but there is a general feeling that he needs to take the next step somehow. Will excel running an up-tempo offense. Can absolutely light up a scoreboard and stat sheet, but will make some questionable decisions at critical moments of a game. Has to be bigger than the moment, and I think he has great potential in the NFL. I see him as a potential first round pick who likely won’t make it past the top of the 2nd round.

Career Stats

2012: Appeared in 14 games making 14 starts and finished with 3,893 yards passing, 36 TD passes, completing 249-of-388, and finished second in the country with a 174.82 rating, which is the highest single season rating in school history.Career Highlights (via Georgia athletics site)

*Set the single-season passing yardage record with 3,893 yards, single-season total offense record with 3,825 yards, single season TD passing record with 36, and the single season school touchdown responsibility record with 39.
*Recipient of the Vince Dooley Most Valuable Player of the Year Award, the Leon Farmer Award for dedication to the strength and conditioningprogram, named team’s Most Valuable Offensive Player, and recipient of Coaches’ Leadership Award.
*Elected as one of the team’s offensive captains.
*Named to Phil Steele All-SEC Third Team.
*Finished 18-for-33 for 427 yards and a school record-tying 5 TD passes vs. No. 16 Nebraska in the Capital One Bowl. The 5 TDs and 427 yards plus 87-yard TD pass were all Georgia bowl records.The 427 yards was the fourth most in a game in school history. Also threw an 87-yard touchdown pass to Chris Conley, which is the longest in UGA bowl history.
*Went 18-for-33 for 265 yards and a touchdown vs. No. 2 Alabama.
*Completed 14-of-17 passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns vs. Georgia Tech, becoming the first QB in SEC history to have 3,000 passing yards in three straight seasons.

2011: All-SEC First Team by ESPN.com and Phil Steele and Second Team All-SEC byAssociated Press and SEC Coaches.
*Recipient of the team’s Most Valuable Offensive Player Award and named one of team’s Coaches Leadership Award winners for offense.
*Named to SEC Academic Honor Roll for fall semester.
*Started all 14 games completing 223-of-403 passes for 3,149 yards and a single-season school record 35 TDs.
*Also rushed 87 times for 111 yards and two TDs to set single-season school record for TD responsibility at 37.
*In SEC, ranked second in passing (224.9 yards per game), second total offense (232.9) and fifth in passing efficiency (146.4).
*Named to CoSIDA Academic All-District Team.

2010: Freshman All-America by Sporting News, CollegeFootballNews.com and Rivals.com and selected to Phil Steele’s All-Freshman First Team.
*Selected to SEC Coaches All-SEC Freshman Team.
*Named to SEC Academic Honor Roll.
*Earned team awards as Most Valuable Offensive Player and Newcomer of the Year Award for offense.
*Started all 13 games completing 209-of-342 passes for a UGA freshman record 3,049 yards (second in SEC history by a freshman) and 24 TDs with eight INTs; Also rushed 87 times for 167 yards and four TDs.
*Ranked 1st in UGA history for a freshman with 3,216 total offensive yards, which also ranked second in SEC history.
*Ranked tied 1st in UGA history for TD responsibility (D.J. Shockley, 2005) in a season with 28 (24 passing, 4 rushing); 24 TD passes ranked tied 2nd in UGA history for a single season.
*Passing efficiency of 154.48 ranked 14th nationally and fourth in the SEC; also held SEC rankings of third in passing avg. per game (234.5), and fourth in total offense (247.4).

2009: Member of the scout team as redshirt freshman.
*Named to SEC Academic Honor Roll and fall 2009 Athletic Director’s Honor Roll.
*Completed 3-of-5 passes for 62 yards in G-Day game.
*Named to Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for summer semester.
*Enrolled at UGA in January after graduating high school early.
*Recipient of Dr. & Mrs. Howard Williams, III, Football Scholarship.

Video Highlights (via YouTube)