Georgia RB says he can't transfer to Miami or Florida
Georgia running back A.J. Turman wants to transfer. He can transfer to whatever school he wants in Florida, as long as it's not one of two schools located in Florida.
Turman said new Georgia coach Kirby Smart is preventing him from transferring to Florida, Georgia's biggest rival, and Miami, the new place of employment for former Georgia coach Mark Richt.
“I guess that’s just how he does that, and I understand that,” Turman told DawgNation of Smart's policy. “He has to put his foot down coming to a new school because he doesn’t want everyone trying to get a release. So we’re just not used to it like the kids that didn’t get recruited by him. Because we always were told if we don’t feel at home at the University of Georgia we could leave. And I thought it was still like that. Then coach Kirby … I understand, and I’m glad that I guess I got my release.”
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Teams preventing players from transferring to schools is nothing new, though Richt didn't have one of those policies. So it's a departure for Georgia, even if it's an accepted, if not completely ethical, practice throughout college football. Turman has appealed Smart's restrictions to the NCAA.
Smart, Alabama's former defensive coordinator, was hired after the school parted ways with Richt. Smart is a Georgia alum.
A native of Orlando, Turman was a four-star recruit in the class of 2013 and the No. 19 running back in the class according to Rivals. However he didn't record an official carry in his two years at the school and, per DawgNation, would like to transfer closer to home.
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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
