Notebook: UGA QB recruit may play in All-American Bowl

Orlando — Georgia-bound quarterback Aaron Murray — the Tampa phenom who returned from a broken leg to lead his high school team to a state championship this month — is in San Antonio, practicing with the East team for Saturday’s U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

Murray said in a telephone interview that he’ll decide later in the week whether to play in the nationally televised game, depending on how comfortable his leg feels.

“If I can play, that’s a bonus,” he said. “But it’s just an experience I wanted to come out and have.”

The game, which features 90 of the nation’s top high school players, will be on NBC at 1 p.m. Saturday.

On Sunday, Murray will fly to Atlanta, where his parents will pick him up and drive him to Athens so that he can enroll at UGA for spring semester.

“I think [early enrollment] is a great way — especially for a quarterback — to get in there and start learning the playbook and schemes, start working out with coaches, start getting to know players,” Murray said. “By the time the season comes, I’ll know how school works.”

He estimated he had only 80 percent mobility while winning the state championship, but said he should be 100 percent by the end of January — “definitely by spring practice.”

Before going to San Antonio, Murray was in Orlando to watch a Georgia practice session for Thursday’s Capital One Bowl vs. Michigan State.

Detroit beckoning?

A Michigan reporter asked Matthew Stafford if he watched “your future employer,” the Detroit Lions, complete an 0-16 season last weekend.

“No, I didn’t watch any NFL games,” Stafford replied. “But that’s truthfully not on my mind at all. I’m here to win a ballgame.

“There are things that go on off the field that can be distracting, but I think our team has done a good of focusing on what’s at hand and trying to end the season with a win.”

The Lions will have the No. 1 pick in the 2009 NFL draft, which Stafford is considering entering.

Reflecting on this 9-3 Georgia season, Stafford said: “We’ve been through a lot, but I think one thing I’ll always remember about this team is just how well we stuck together. We had some tough times. There have been games where defense wins for us and we don’t look very good [on offense], and vice versa. But the locker room hasn’t changed. … It’s been outstanding.”

Etc.

Defensive end Demarcus Dobbs remained on crutches Tuesday with a sprained ankle. He said trainers have told him it’s 50-50 whether he’ll be able to play Thursday. … Despite recurrent rumors that Auburn wants Georgia assistant Rodney Garner as its defensive coordinator, Bulldogs coach Mark Richt said: “I don’t think he’s talking to Auburn at all.” … Asked if Michigan State looks as fast as SEC teams, Irvin said: “No, not really.” … This is the second consecutive season that Michigan State has faced an esteemed NFL quarterback prospect in an Orlando bowl: Boston College’s Matt Ryan in the Champ Sports Bowl last year (a 24-21 BC victory) and now Stafford.