ATHENS — Rico McGraw, once a ballyhooed recruit and freshman starter for Georgia, will be continuing his football career with his younger brother at an FCS school.
McGraw, who spent his first two seasons at Georgia, will be transferring to Murray State, the school announced. McGraw began classes at the FCS school in Kentucky this month.
McGraw’s younger brother Mareio is a tailback at Murray State, and was the team’s leading rusher last year 571 yards and six touchdowns as a true freshman.
A four-star recruit out of Nashville in 2015, McGraw started five games as a freshman, mostly at nickel back, then was poised for a starting role at nickel back in 2016. But when Maurice Smith transferred in from Alabama, McGraw was moved to second team, and ended up playing in just two games.
In fact, McGraw’s biggest moment last year was not a good one: He was flagged for excessive celebration near the end of the Tennessee game, for running on the field with his helmet off, helping the Volunteers get better field position.
After the regular season ended, head coach Kirby Smart announced that McGraw and two other players, cornerback Juwuan Briscoe and receiver Shaquery Wilson, were transferring. Linebacker Shaun McGee also decided to transfer before the bowl game.
Wilson is transferring to a junior college. Briscoe and McGee’s next schools have not been announced.