Former Bulldogs find new opportunities with new homes

While Chauncey Rivers and Chad Clay were dismissed from the Georgia football program, junior running back A.J. Turman requested a release in hopes of finding more playing time elsewhere. Now, all of them have found places to land.

Highly-talented players find new homes on a yearly basis for many reasons.  Whether the move is forced or voluntary, if a player is good enough then he will likely find a new team before all is said and done.

Unfortunately, two former Bulldogs weren’t given much of a choice on relocating if they wanted to continue athletic careers.  Chauncey Rivers, a defensive lineman with one year of experience, and incoming freshman Chad Clay have reportedly both found new homes with junior colleges.  They were both dismissed from the team earlier this year.

Junior running back A.J. Turman has also found a new home with Florida Atlantic after requesting a release from the Dawgs. It is still yet to be seen if all three of these players will continue to play football throughout their collegiate careers.

Of all three of the players who have moved on from Georgia, Turman spent the most time in Athens.  After redshirting his freshman season, Turman scored four touchdowns in two G-Day games throughout his career.  Unfortunately, this was the biggest role he would be able to play on an always running back-heavy Georgia offense.

Turman opted to leave Georgia after it became clear the team would not be able to provide him with regular playing time.  He saw zero carries in his career with Georgia and will continue playing at Florida Atlantic University.  It is important to note that new coach Kirby Smart granted Turman his release on the conditions that he could not transfer to Miami, Georgia Tech, or any other SEC school.

Chauncey Rivers saw limited playing time his freshman year with the Dawgs and has found a new home at East Mississippi Community College in Scooba, Mississippi.  Rivers was the no. 74 nationally-ranked player  entering his first year in Athens.  He was dismissed from the team after being arrested for a third time in a seven-month period following a marijuana possession arrest.

Rivers registered just four tackles in four games with Georgia during the 2015 season.  Despite an underwhelming freshman campaign, Rivers still shows a wealth of potential, however East Mississippi Community College has yet to add him to their 2016 football roster.

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Incoming freshman Chad Clay was dismissed from UGA after two arrests in a four-month period. Clay is transferring to Butler Community College, located in El Dorado, Kansas.  Clay’s arrests stemmed from cases of stealing headphones on UGA’s campus and shooting a BB gun inside of a dorm room.

This is unfortunate due to the fact that Clay was one of six early enrollees of Georgia’s 2016 recruiting class.  Coming out of high school, Clay was ranked as a four-star recruit by ESPN.com.  Coincidentally, Clay’s new home is the same school  that former UGA and LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger transferred to following his 2010 dismissal from Georgia.

Starring on a single NCAA football field for four years is something that many high school athletes dream of when choosing their dream school.  Unfortunately, this dream can’t always be made a reality.  Luckily, talent speaks for itself in the world of college sports.

Just because these three young men won’t be starring in Athens doesn’t mean we won’t continue seeing their names for the next few years.