Georgia redshirt junior quarterback Hutson Mason will make his first career start this Saturday when the Bulldogs visit Georgia Tech.Georgia quarterback Hutson Mason is taking all the snaps in practice this week, but that’s not the biggest difference for the redshirt junior as he prepares for his first career start Saturday at Georgia Tech.
“I’m taking the same approach, and my preparation steps are the same,” Mason told reporters Tuesday in Athens. “You just get a few more text messages and a few more phone calls. That’s what has changed the most for me.”
Quarterback D.J. Shockley and defensive end David Pollack are among the former Bulldogs players who have sent best wishes to Mason, who became the new starter after Aaron Murray tore a knee ligament in the second quarter of Saturday night’s 59-17 win over Kentucky. Murray visited with Mason on Monday night and underwent ACL surgery Tuesday.
Bulldogs coach Mark Richt said at his weekly news conference that Mason has worked hard for this opportunity.
“In the spring, he’s with the second-team offensive line and the second-team offense versus the No. 1 defense,” Richt said, “and you’ve got to try and have some success in that situation. That’s not always easy to do, but he’s been able to do that. He’s been able to make plays and get drives going when maybe other people would have folded up.”