Georgia Bulldogs: Ty Flournoy Smith
Georgia coach Mark Richt confirmed on Wednesday that Ty Flournoy-Smith intends to transfer to another program, although he was not yet sure of the sophomore tight end’s eventual landing spot.
“It will probably be a junior college destination,” Richt said. “He’s talking with [Georgia Military College].”
Richt did not rule out Flournoy-Smith eventually return to Georgia.
“Possibly. That could happen,” he said.
Flournoy-Smith appeared in eight games last fall as a true freshman and seemed to be in the mix for an increased role this season. He was arrested in February for reporting his university-issued schoolbooks as stolen when he had actually sold them back to an Athens-area bookstore, but Richt said at the time that his punishment would be handled internally.
Richt said that he and Flournoy-Smith met this week and that the tight end had reached a decision by the end of their meeting.
“He came to my office and when we were done talking, he thought it was in his best interest to transfer out. That’s kind of where I’m going to leave it right now,” Richt said.
Flournoy-Smith’s departure leaves Georgia with three scholarship tight ends for the 2013 season. Senior Arthur Lynch and sophomore Jay Rome return after splitting the vast majority of the snaps at the position last fall, while signee Jordan Davis will enter the mix this summer.
The Bulldogs seemed set to sign just one tight end for the 2014 class and already have a commitment from ESPN 150 honoree Jeb Blazevich. However, Flournoy-Smith’s departure might alter that plan.
Richt said he is simply not sure whether that will change the coaching staff’s recruiting plan for the position yet.
“You’re going to have a target number at each position,” Richt said. “If you don’t hit a target at a certain position, then you might take that one and give it to this position. So that happens along the way. But we had our target and we basically hit it and now whether that’s changing, I’m just not sure yet.”
Richt said Flournoy-Smith is the only Bulldog that he knows of who is pursuing a transfer.
“It will probably be a junior college destination,” Richt said. “He’s talking with [Georgia Military College].”
Richt did not rule out Flournoy-Smith eventually return to Georgia.
“Possibly. That could happen,” he said.
Flournoy-Smith appeared in eight games last fall as a true freshman and seemed to be in the mix for an increased role this season. He was arrested in February for reporting his university-issued schoolbooks as stolen when he had actually sold them back to an Athens-area bookstore, but Richt said at the time that his punishment would be handled internally.
Richt said that he and Flournoy-Smith met this week and that the tight end had reached a decision by the end of their meeting.
“He came to my office and when we were done talking, he thought it was in his best interest to transfer out. That’s kind of where I’m going to leave it right now,” Richt said.
Flournoy-Smith’s departure leaves Georgia with three scholarship tight ends for the 2013 season. Senior Arthur Lynch and sophomore Jay Rome return after splitting the vast majority of the snaps at the position last fall, while signee Jordan Davis will enter the mix this summer.
The Bulldogs seemed set to sign just one tight end for the 2014 class and already have a commitment from ESPN 150 honoree Jeb Blazevich. However, Flournoy-Smith’s departure might alter that plan.
Richt said he is simply not sure whether that will change the coaching staff’s recruiting plan for the position yet.
“You’re going to have a target number at each position,” Richt said. “If you don’t hit a target at a certain position, then you might take that one and give it to this position. So that happens along the way. But we had our target and we basically hit it and now whether that’s changing, I’m just not sure yet.”
Richt said Flournoy-Smith is the only Bulldog that he knows of who is pursuing a transfer.
ATHENS, Ga. -- Over the last two weeks, we reviewed the competition for playing time at each position on Georgia’s depth chart and identified a player to watch at each position.
A defense that lost 12 significant players will be a focal point well into the fall, and it was in our post-spring recaps. Let’s take a look at the defensive positions first:
A defense that lost 12 significant players will be a focal point well into the fall, and it was in our post-spring recaps. Let’s take a look at the defensive positions first:
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Editor’s note: Over the next two weeks, we’ll take a closer look at each of Georgia’s position groups at the end of spring practice. Today we examine the tight ends:
Returning players/stats: Arthur Lynch, Sr. (12 starts, 24 catches, 431 yards, 3 TDs); Jay Rome, So. (one start, 11-151, 2 TDs); Ty Flournoy-Smith, So. (no catches)
AP Photo/Alex MenendezArthur Lynch became a bigger threat for the Bulldogs in the second half of 2012 and is UGA's second-leading returning receiver.Newcomers: Jordan Davis, Fr. (ESPN No. 15 tight end, expected to enroll this summer)
Key storyline: As with Wednesday’s receiver to watch, Chris Conley, Georgia tight ends Lynch and Rome started to play a much larger role in the passing game in the second half of last season once injuries created opportunities for more balls to come their way. Now established in the passing game, Lynch and Rome could build on last season’s 582 combined receiving yards by getting off to a quicker start as receivers this fall.
Returning players/stats: Arthur Lynch, Sr. (12 starts, 24 catches, 431 yards, 3 TDs); Jay Rome, So. (one start, 11-151, 2 TDs); Ty Flournoy-Smith, So. (no catches)
AP Photo/Alex MenendezArthur Lynch became a bigger threat for the Bulldogs in the second half of 2012 and is UGA's second-leading returning receiver.Key storyline: As with Wednesday’s receiver to watch, Chris Conley, Georgia tight ends Lynch and Rome started to play a much larger role in the passing game in the second half of last season once injuries created opportunities for more balls to come their way. Now established in the passing game, Lynch and Rome could build on last season’s 582 combined receiving yards by getting off to a quicker start as receivers this fall.
ATHENS, Ga. -- At the midway point of last season, many Georgia fans were asking why the Bulldogs’ tight ends -- and Jay Rome in particular -- weren’t playing a bigger role in the offense.
Rome caught only two passes in the first eight games last fall as a redshirt freshman, playing almost exclusively in a blocking role. That was not what anyone expected from the player whom ESPN rated as the nation’s top tight end prospect when he signed with the Bulldogs in 2011.
Rome caught only two passes in the first eight games last fall as a redshirt freshman, playing almost exclusively in a blocking role. That was not what anyone expected from the player whom ESPN rated as the nation’s top tight end prospect when he signed with the Bulldogs in 2011.
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ATHENS, Ga. -- Tight end Ty Flournoy-Smith and fullback Zander Ogletree created some of the only headlines in an otherwise quiet week for Georgia’s football program.
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TE Smith charged with filing false report
February, 23, 2013
Feb 23
11:06
AM ET
By
David Ching | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- Georgia tight end Ty Flournoy-Smith was arrested late Friday night and accused of falsely reporting textbooks as stolen, only to have actually sold them back to a local bookstore, according to police.
“He filed a police report stating his books had been stolen to the police department,” UGA police chief Jimmy Williamson said. “The police department started investigating this crime to see if we could find his books or find the responsible party, and we did. We found out that he was the one that sold his books to a local book-buy store and he had filed a report with us falsely.”
Smith was booked into Athens-Clarke County jail at 10:56 p.m. on Friday and charged with false report of a crime. He was released at 12:41 a.m. on $1,000 bond.
Williamson said Flournoy-Smith filed the report earlier this week and his detectives visited a number of area bookstores in order to track them down. Once they located the books, Williamson said, their interviews with the store clerk and with Flournoy-Smith led them to believe he had been the one to sell back the books.
They sought and were granted a warrant and will attempt to prosecute because of the waste of resources involved in the investigation, Williamson said.
“This situation here, it appeared that he needed money and he sold the books back,” Williamson said. “The books are issued to him, I guess athletics can say more about it, through the program. When there’s a loss, he has to make them aware. And to cover up what he’d done, he had to file a police report.
“If somebody files a report with us and we have someone assigned to investigate it and we do everything we can to find it, that’s credible and real. There’s a lot of resources spent on it and all it was was one lie to cover another lie, so we prosecuted. When we figure out someone knowingly falsifies a police report, then we prosecute.”
The rising sophomore appeared in eight games last season, but did not register a catch while playing behind junior Arthur Lynch and redshirt freshman Jay Rome.
“He filed a police report stating his books had been stolen to the police department,” UGA police chief Jimmy Williamson said. “The police department started investigating this crime to see if we could find his books or find the responsible party, and we did. We found out that he was the one that sold his books to a local book-buy store and he had filed a report with us falsely.”
Smith was booked into Athens-Clarke County jail at 10:56 p.m. on Friday and charged with false report of a crime. He was released at 12:41 a.m. on $1,000 bond.
Williamson said Flournoy-Smith filed the report earlier this week and his detectives visited a number of area bookstores in order to track them down. Once they located the books, Williamson said, their interviews with the store clerk and with Flournoy-Smith led them to believe he had been the one to sell back the books.
They sought and were granted a warrant and will attempt to prosecute because of the waste of resources involved in the investigation, Williamson said.
“This situation here, it appeared that he needed money and he sold the books back,” Williamson said. “The books are issued to him, I guess athletics can say more about it, through the program. When there’s a loss, he has to make them aware. And to cover up what he’d done, he had to file a police report.
“If somebody files a report with us and we have someone assigned to investigate it and we do everything we can to find it, that’s credible and real. There’s a lot of resources spent on it and all it was was one lie to cover another lie, so we prosecuted. When we figure out someone knowingly falsifies a police report, then we prosecute.”
The rising sophomore appeared in eight games last season, but did not register a catch while playing behind junior Arthur Lynch and redshirt freshman Jay Rome.
To gear up for 2013 national signing day, DawgNation's Radi Nabulsi is breaking down every commitment in the Bulldogs' 2013 recruiting class.
Vitals: Tight end Jordan Davis, Thomson, Ga./Thomson | 6-foot-4, 225 pounds
Committed: July 29, 2012
Vitals: Tight end Jordan Davis, Thomson, Ga./Thomson | 6-foot-4, 225 pounds
Committed: July 29, 2012
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Editor’s note: Georgia’s football season is halfway over and the Bulldogs will take this weekend off before resuming SEC play next Saturday at Kentucky. We’ll take a look at a different position group each day this week and evaluate how it performed in the first half of the season in our DawgNation midseason report cards.
ATHENS, Ga. -- One of the highlights of Georgia’s first five games was the production the Bulldogs were getting out of so many different players in the passing game. They enter the second half of the season in a slightly less certain position.
After the Tennessee game, Michael Bennett, Tavarres King and Marlon Brown all ranked among the SEC’s receiving leaders, plus tight end Arthur Lynch had enjoyed big games here and there. However, Bennett -- who was leading the team in catches, receiving yards and touchdown catches at the time -- suffered a season-ending knee injury last week, altering the dynamic within the group.
ATHENS, Ga. -- One of the highlights of Georgia’s first five games was the production the Bulldogs were getting out of so many different players in the passing game. They enter the second half of the season in a slightly less certain position.
After the Tennessee game, Michael Bennett, Tavarres King and Marlon Brown all ranked among the SEC’s receiving leaders, plus tight end Arthur Lynch had enjoyed big games here and there. However, Bennett -- who was leading the team in catches, receiving yards and touchdown catches at the time -- suffered a season-ending knee injury last week, altering the dynamic within the group.
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Upon Further Review: UGA 56, FAU 20 
September, 17, 2012
9/17/12
4:02
PM ET
By
David Ching | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- After rewatching Georgia’s 56-20 win against Florida Atlantic on ESPN3 today, I can’t say that I learned much that wasn’t apparent from watching the game live.
The Bulldogs’ first-team offense was as good as I’ve seen it, there was an ugly first half for Georgia’s defense and the game eventually turned into a bludgeoning. But let’s jump into some of the finer points of the Bulldogs’ win in this week’s “Upon Further Review.”
• This is one of those situations where you ask if someone wants the good news or the bad news first. I prefer the bad news first in such a scenario, and that would be that Georgia’s defense had a truly awful first half against another opponent which had no business moving the ball so effectively.
The Bulldogs’ first-team offense was as good as I’ve seen it, there was an ugly first half for Georgia’s defense and the game eventually turned into a bludgeoning. But let’s jump into some of the finer points of the Bulldogs’ win in this week’s “Upon Further Review.”
• This is one of those situations where you ask if someone wants the good news or the bad news first. I prefer the bad news first in such a scenario, and that would be that Georgia’s defense had a truly awful first half against another opponent which had no business moving the ball so effectively.
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ATHENS, Ga. -- Keith Marshall didn't take long to get any freshman jitters out of his system.
The former five-star tailback prospect was on the field for the very first play of Georgia's season-opening win against Buffalo as a member of the Bulldogs' kickoff coverage team.
"It felt good. It was nerve racking because I was excited," Marshall said. "It was good to get the first hit out of the way."
The former five-star tailback prospect was on the field for the very first play of Georgia's season-opening win against Buffalo as a member of the Bulldogs' kickoff coverage team.
"It felt good. It was nerve racking because I was excited," Marshall said. "It was good to get the first hit out of the way."
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Notebook: Richt plays coy on suspensions
August, 28, 2012
8/28/12
9:56
PM ET
By
David Ching | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- Georgia coach Mark Richt played it coy when asked about safety Bacarri Rambo and linebacker Alec Ogletree being listed atop the depth chart for the Bulldogs’ game against Buffalo on Saturday.
“We’ll just have to wait and see. Time will tell,” Richt said about what to expect from the two players Saturday, provoking uncomfortable laughter from the media members gathered in the room. “I’m glad we can laugh about that.”
Although Richt has never acknowledged a punishment for either player, suspension rumors have surrounded Rambo and Ogletree since the spring, when both players reportedly failed drug tests.
“We’ll just have to wait and see. Time will tell,” Richt said about what to expect from the two players Saturday, provoking uncomfortable laughter from the media members gathered in the room. “I’m glad we can laugh about that.”
Although Richt has never acknowledged a punishment for either player, suspension rumors have surrounded Rambo and Ogletree since the spring, when both players reportedly failed drug tests.
ATHENS, Ga. -- Georgia tight end Hugh Williams grew up playing offensive line in a run-heavy triple-option offense where even the receivers caught only a few passes.
So what has been the most difficult part of his offseason transition to a position that might require him to catch a pass here and there?
“The catching,” Williams said with a laugh.
So what has been the most difficult part of his offseason transition to a position that might require him to catch a pass here and there?
“The catching,” Williams said with a laugh.
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Notebook: Beard, Long adjust to changes
August, 20, 2012
8/20/12
11:25
PM ET
By
David Ching | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- Mark Beard has never played offensive guard before. Neither has Austin Long.
But both Georgia offensive linemen have given it a try this month after flip-flopping roles in the last two practices.
Junior college transfer Beard played offensive tackle at every level before getting a taste of guard during spring practice. He practiced behind Dallas Lee throughout the preseason before replacing Long as the backup left tackle on Saturday, with Long moving to right guard.
But both Georgia offensive linemen have given it a try this month after flip-flopping roles in the last two practices.
Junior college transfer Beard played offensive tackle at every level before getting a taste of guard during spring practice. He practiced behind Dallas Lee throughout the preseason before replacing Long as the backup left tackle on Saturday, with Long moving to right guard.
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Flournoy-Smith a Colquitt Co. 'tough kid'
August, 18, 2012
8/18/12
10:09
AM ET
By
David Ching | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- Entering college always comes with its share of culture shock for a true freshman, but luckily for Georgia tight end Ty Flournoy-Smith, he gets by with a little help from some friends.
The Moultrie, Ga., native was preceded at Georgia last year by a Colquitt County High School teammate, Xzavier Ward, and arrived in Athens this summer alongside another former Packer, walk-on offensive lineman Preston Mobley.
“It’s great to have people up here you know,” Flournoy-Smith said. “That way you’re not a strange face. You’re just, whenever you need help, you can go to X.”
The Moultrie, Ga., native was preceded at Georgia last year by a Colquitt County High School teammate, Xzavier Ward, and arrived in Athens this summer alongside another former Packer, walk-on offensive lineman Preston Mobley.
“It’s great to have people up here you know,” Flournoy-Smith said. “That way you’re not a strange face. You’re just, whenever you need help, you can go to X.”
Around the Hedges in 80 Days: Ty F.-Smith
August, 18, 2012
8/18/12
8:15
AM ET
By
David Ching | ESPN.com
Fourteen days remain until Georgia kicks off its season opener against Buffalo on Sept. 1. In the days counting down to the opener, DawgNation will profile, with our “Around the Hedges in 80 Days” series, a Bulldogs player we expect to make an impact. We will review each player’s career thus far and project his long-term potential as we progress through our alphabetical list, from center David Andrews to receiver Rantavious Wooten.
14. Ty Flournoy-Smith
Fall forecast: Like most freshmen who are about three weeks into their college careers, Flournoy-Smith is still catching onto all of his responsibilities. But the Bulldogs have almost no choice but to play him this season. With only Arthur Lynch and Jay Rome on the roster as scholarship tight ends, Georgia will make use of Flournoy-Smith’s receiving skills this season and hope he continues to improve as a blocker. He said recently that is the area that he must work on most as he was a bit undersized when he arrived on campus in June.
14. Ty Flournoy-Smith
Freshman, Tight end
6-foot-3, 237 pounds
Fall forecast: Like most freshmen who are about three weeks into their college careers, Flournoy-Smith is still catching onto all of his responsibilities. But the Bulldogs have almost no choice but to play him this season. With only Arthur Lynch and Jay Rome on the roster as scholarship tight ends, Georgia will make use of Flournoy-Smith’s receiving skills this season and hope he continues to improve as a blocker. He said recently that is the area that he must work on most as he was a bit undersized when he arrived on campus in June.
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
David Ching
David Ching came to ESPN.com in 2011 after six years covering UGA for the Columbus (Ga.) Ledger-Enquirer and Athens (Ga.) Banner-Herald. He lives in Athens. Email him at davidchingespn@gmail.com.
Radi Nabulsi
Radi Nabulsi joined ESPN.com in 2011 after covering the University of Georgia for Rivals.com for four years and for the UGA Athletic Association since 1993. Nabulsi is a graduate of the University of Georgia's Grady College of Journalism and lives in Athens. He can be reached at radinabulsiespn@gmail.com.
Kipp Adams
Kipp Adams joined ESPN.com in 2011 after covering University of Georgia football and basketball recruiting for five years at Rivals.com. He lives in Sandy Springs, Ga., and enjoys spending time with his two sons. He can be reached at kippadamsespn@gmail.com.