Morant rethinks decision, returns

By Andy Johnston

For the AJC

ATHENS -- Freshman linebacker Dexter Morant has returned to Georgia and practiced for the first time Saturday.

Coach Mark Richt said Morant called him Friday and asked to come back. Richt conferred with defensive coordinator Todd Grantham and the team’s seniors before allowing Morant to return.

Morant, who is 6 feet 7, 240 pounds, left the Bulldogs on Tuesday and drove home to Manning, S.C.

“Dexter called me the other night and realized that he did make a big mistake and he wanted to come back,” Richt said. “Everybody thinks Dexter should be allowed to be on the team. Nobody wanted him to make a decision like that would really affect the rest of his life in a negative way.

Morant was recruited as a defensive end, but was projected as an outside linebacker in the Bulldogs’ new 3-4 scheme. He had nine sacks as a high school senior.

Morant, who practiced with a helmet Saturday, must go through the mandatory five-day acclimation period before going to full pads. The rest of the team practiced in full pads Saturday.

Richt suspected that Morant might ask to return after talking to a couple of players who said that Morant had sent them text messages.

“[The call was not] shocking, really,” Richt said. “We gave him every chance to stay. We encouraged him to stay. He just wanted to go. After he lived out that decision after a day or so, [he said] ‘Boy, I made a big mistake.’ He had texted a couple of his teammates, so I kind of knew the call was coming.

“We’re glad he’s back. I hope he stays. He’s a good kid.”

In your face

Wide receiver Israel Troupe got a face full of football when he attempted to catch a pass from freshman walk-on quarterback Greg Bingham. The ball went through his hands, glanced off his chest pads and flew upward, knocking his helmet off his head, all in plain view of Richt.

“Hey, that’s why we buckle our chin strap,” Richt yelled, jokingly.

Bingham said he was working on his throwing motion and had taken offensive coordinator Mike Bobo’s advice.

“Coach Bobo said, ‘Stop thinking about it and let it rip,’” Bingham said. “I happened to throw it good. I got a kick out of it. I think everyone else did, too. It was one of those fun moments in football.”

He knows the type

Tight end Arthur Lynch, who is from Dartmouth, Mass., and has the accent that comes with it, sometimes has to answer inquiries as to where he’s from.

“People ask if I’m from Jersey,” Lynch said. “They talk about ‘Jersey Shore’ a lot. It’s funny. I have friends who are into all that. People are like, ‘Those people can’t be real.’ I’m like, ‘They’re out there. I went to school with some.'”

Walking wounded

Receiver Rantavious Wooten was in a green jersey and riding a stationary bike after suffering what Richt called a mild knee sprain. He thinks Wooten will be back before the opener against Louisiana-Lafayette on Sept. 4.

Other players in green included linebackers Akeem Dent (toe) and Jarvis Jones (neck), who is redshirting, offensive tackle Trinton Sturdivant (knees) and cornerback Chad Gloer (hamstring). Richt said he also expects Dent to be able to play in the opener.

Quotable

“You know what, I thought they did really good [Saturday]. I think they fought through the heat and practiced with a lot of energy. When you look at the week in its entirety, it was very, very good. We've been very fortunate on injuries with nothing more than bumps and bruises. There’s a really good feeling surrounding this team. It has a good mental edge to it.” -- Richt