Mason settles into long-awaited role at UGA

2011; 4/0; 18; 30; 254; 2

2012; Redshirted

2013; 5/2; 67; 110; 968; 5

Hutson Mason is looking forward to playing in his last G-Day game and, beyond that, to opening his first and final season as Georgia’s starting quarterback.

All of a sudden, everything is happening fast for the guy who waited his turn for almost four seasons.

“I realize it’s going to go by quick,” Mason said. “And I really just passionately want to make the most of it.”

From his arrival at UGA in the summer of 2010 until Aaron Murray’s knee injury in the 11th game of last season, Mason deferred his longtime dream of being Georgia’s starting quarterback. Murray’s injury thrust Mason into action for the final 2 1/2 games last season, and he will enter the G-Day spring intrasquad game Saturday at Sanford Stadium as the Bulldogs’ undisputed No. 1 quarterback.

On the Georgia practice field earlier this week, Murray — back in town preparing for his Pro Day workouts for NFL scouts — watched from the sidelines as Mason threw passes to the same receivers who used to catch Murray’s throws. “Seeing him there, it was definitely a little funky,” Mason said. The scene underscored Georgia’s transition from the SEC career passing leader to the longtime backup.

The wait, Mason said, was worth it.

“No doubt,” he said, “after being here for four years and going through what I’ve gone through and for that dream to kind of be in the present now.”

About the only thing that has surprised him this spring is how unaffected he feels by assuming the role he has long coveted.

“Growing up such a huge SEC fan, you see Shock (D.J. Shockley) and you see David (Greene) and guys like that, and you think, ‘Man, that’s a dream come true,’” said Mason, who is from Marietta. “And now that I’m in that (role) … I know people look at me like, ‘He’s the UGA quarterback,’ but for me it doesn’t really feel any different.

“Sometimes I feel like I need to sit back and take it in more because sometimes I feel, man, I should feel special to some extent.”

As cruelly timed as Murray’s injury was, coming late in the first half of Georgia’s Senior Night game against Kentucky after he started 52 consecutive games, the unexpected two-game headstart on the starting job for Mason may pay off for the Bulldogs’ offense this year.

“It’s unfortunate how it happened,” Mason said, “but I think it helped me out a lot.”

Mason finished the Kentucky game, an easy Georgia victory, by completing 13 of 19 passes for 189 yards. The next week, in the regular-season finale at Georgia Tech, he completed 22 of 36 passes for 299 yards as the Bulldogs overcame a 20-0 deficit for a 41-34 double-overtime win. In a Gator Bowl loss to Nebraska, he completed 21 of 39 passes for 320 yards.

If not for those late-season numbers, Georgia fans presumably would be a lot more nervous about the quarterback position right now, particularly with Clemson and South Carolina as next season’s first two opponents.

“If I was coming in this year with no experience, really, at all, I’m sure everybody would be concerned (about) me not having any big-time reps,” Mason said. “But I feel like I learned a lot (in those games). I feel like I faced adversity and success in both games.”

Mason’s teammates say the quarterback transition continues to go smoothly this spring.

“It’s different, but at the end of the day we’re still running the same plays,” center David Andrews said. “Hutson stepped right up into that head role and took control, and that’s what you need out of your quarterback.”

Wide receiver Chris Conley said the offense’s message to Mason this spring has been: “We trust you, and we’re behind you. Lead.”

“He’s a leader,” Conley said. “I think he’s still feeling out having complete control, and he’s doing a good job at it. As days go on, he’s going to get better.”

With just one practice remaining before his fourth G-Day game and less than five months remaining before the season opener, Mason seems determined to maximize each moment.

“I realize this is a great opportunity,” he said.