ATHENS - If anything ever happened to Georgia's first-string punter, Collin Barber, or his walk-on backups, or the numerous place-kickers ... then never fear, Aaron Murray is here.

Georgia's starting quarterback proudly pointed out this week that when he punted in high school, he averaged 39 yards per attempt.

"Third in the county," Murray added.

Murray's soccer-playing ability is well-chronicled: He sprained his ankle before spring practice in 2011 while playing the sport. And roommate Arthur Lynch, Georgia's starting tight end, said Murray is very competetive when it comes to playing the FIFA 2012 video game.

"I mess around here and there in practice," Murray said of punting. "I kicked in pee-wee. I toe-kicked it. Pretty successful in that."

Still, Murray's punting abilities were apparently a secret to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mike Bobo.

"Punting? Oh he can't punt, he's a terrible athlete, he can just throw the ball, that's about it," Bobo said, joking, then asked seriously: "No, does he think he can punt?"

In fact, Murray grants that it wouldn't be a good idea.

"I think they would pretty much bring the house every time if I was back there punting the ball," he said. "They wouldn't mind that 15-yard penalty for running into the kicker, that's for sure."

But what about trying a quick-kick on third down every time? Murray said he'd have to ask Bobo about that one. Then he also tamped down that 39-yard average from high school.

"I was only good because I would be so frustrated about not getting a first down I would try to kick it as hard as I could," he said.