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Georgia cornerback Brandon BoykinGeorgia turned the page from its 2011 football season to 2012 with a team meeting Sunday night.
The Bulldogs won 10 straight games and their first Southeastern Conference East Division title since 2005 after losing early to Boise State and South Carolina, but they were blasted by LSU in the SEC title game and lost the Outback Bowl to Michigan State in triple overtime. Georgia could have 18 of 22 starters back from the bowl, but several juniors are debating whether to leave early for the NFL.
"The goals aren't going to change," Richt said Monday afternoon. "We want to win the East, and if you win the East and then you win the SEC, you've got a shot at the next one."
Sunday's meeting was delayed because coaches and players were interested in the overtime finish between the Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers. Richt said everything from academics to the offseason program was discussed once it started, as well as the annual pairing of younger players with older players.
"It got the most serious at the end," he said, "and when we started talking about the future, I thought everybody responded pretty good."
Tight end Orson Charles, outside linebacker Cornelius Washington, cornerbacks Branden Smith and Sanders Commings, and safeties Bacarri Rambo and Shawn Williams are among the juniors who have decisions to make. Richt said they attended the meeting but that doesn't guarantee any will stay.
Also attending were three early enrollees: quarterback Faton Bauta, offensive lineman Mark Beard and running back Keith Marshall. All three began classes Monday.
Marshall, the top-rated tailback nationally according to Scout.com, had his playbook at the meeting.
"He was looking over assignments, and it gave me a moment to grin, just to see how excited he was about being at Georgia," he said.
Three areas Richt said need to improve in 2012 are special teams, a more consistent running game and a defense that is strong at the finish.
Boykin honored
Senior cornerback and return specialist Brandon Boykin was named Monday as the 2011 Paul Hornung Award winner as the nation's most versatile player, topping Joe Adams of Arkansas and LaMichael James of Oregon, and he will be honored Feb. 2 in Louisville. In the Outback Bowl alone, Boykin tallied a safety, a 92-yard punt return for a touchdown and a 13-yard scoring reception.
Boykin amassed 55 tackles and three interceptions on defense, earning All-SEC honors, and had 850 yards in kickoff returns and 180 yards in punt returns. On offense, he had 103 yards rushing and 70 yards receiving.
"I wish I had three of him, because he would start on offense, he would start on defense, and he would probably start on every special teams we've got," Richt said.
Odds and ends
Richt said he has spoken to Hutson Mason a couple of times but isn't sure the backup quarterback is certain whether he wants to transfer. ... Asked if he expected all his assistant coaches to return, Richt said, "I certainly hope so, and I haven't heard any indication otherwise." ... Tackle Trinton Sturdivant, who suffered three ACL tears and has a sixth year of eligibility, is not expected to return.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.