Everybody knew that Kolton Houston wanted a sixth year at Georgia and would likely get it, given his history with the NCAA.
But the offensive tackle from Buford still couldn’t be sure if and when he might hear something and whether it’d be be positive or negative. So he went through Senior Day in the final home game against Georgia Tech on Nov. 29 and did not renew his apartment lease, which expires at the end of this year.
“I was sitting on the coach Friday after and I got a call from (Jim Booz of UGA compliance) and he told me they gave it to me,” Houston said after the Bulldogs practice on Thursday. “I’m sure there has to be some kind of paperwork or something but nothing I have to deal with. He had said it was going to be (this week) so when I got the call I was expecting bad news. But it all worked out.”
That’s a big deal for the Bulldogs. With confirmation of Houston’s return, the Bulldogs will welcome back four of their five offensive linemen next season. Senior center David Andrews — a Rimington Award finalist who was recently elected permanent team captain — is the only loss.
Junior Hunter Long and freshman Isaiah Wynn are the primary candidates to succeed Andrews. But Houston did get some work at center his first three seasons.
“I’m sure I’ll take a rep there in spring,” Houston said. “I have gotten some reps there. We’ll just see. I’m gonna do what’s best for team. If they want me to go down, I’ll go down there.”
In the meantime, Houston’s just happy to know that he’ll continue to play football for at least another year. He said he would have likely hung up his cleats had the NCAA not come through for him.
“I was going to go to the corporate world,” he said. “Football’s been good to me, but I didn’t think I was ready to make the next step into the league. But I’m glad I can come back here and I have one more year of football. And if I get a lot better and have a great year, maybe (the NFL) will be a valid option.”
