Georgia tailback Michael Cooper said he has a 50-50 chance of staying with the Bulldogs beyond the 2003 season.

Cooper, a former Screven County star who was redshirted last season, said he is unsure of what his future role with the Bulldogs will be and is seriously questioning his future in Athens.

"I'll come back this season," Cooper said. "But if the ball isn't rolling right, I'll jet."

Cooper said he met with Bulldogs coach Mark Richt a few days after last month's G-Day game, which saw Cooper carry the ball one time for 3 yards. Cooper expected to play more in the game and told Richt he was thinking of transferring.

"I was able to get a few things off my chest," Cooper said. "He said he knew I was disturbed by the way I carried myself after spring. He suggested for me to wait it out until after this season."

Cooper said Richt had an explanation for his lack of playing time in the G-Day game.

"He said he didn't control the offense in that game, that (offensive coordinator) Neil Callaway did," Cooper said. "He said he really had no say-so."

Cooper said he already has a few teams in mind if he decides to leave Georgia. Georgia Southern is close to his home in Screven County, and its Division I-AA status would enable him to play immediately.

Cooper said he also would consider transferring to Clemson or Louisiana State. NCAA rules would force him to sit out a year if he chose to take the Division I-A route.

Cooper, a 6-foot, 225-pounder who was a prized signee of Georgia's 2002 recruiting class after amassing 5,086 career rushing yards in high school, said he didn't expect to sit out last season. Last summer, Richt predicted Cooper would play in 2002, but eventually he chose to redshirt him.

In late December, when his team was preparing to face Florida State in the Sugar Bowl, Cooper admitted that he entertained thoughts of transferring earlier in the season. But at the beginning of spring drills, he said he planned to stay at Georgia.

That changed before and during the G-Day game. In the locker room afterward, Cooper requested a meeting with Richt.

"It's disappointing," he said at the time. "I was looking forward to getting in there and showcasing myself and doing what I've worked so hard for. I really don't know why I didn't play more."

Cooper said he expects to make a push for the starting job early in the season. Tony Milton and Tyson Browning ended the spring as Georgia's top two tailbacks, but Browning is suspended for the first three games because of an unspecified violation of team rules.

Richt is scheduled to speak at tonight's Bulldog Club meeting.

"The ball is in my court," Cooper said. "I just have to take care of business. I'm going to bust my tail to get that starting job.

"I just feel I've got a lot of talent. I'm not trying to be the star or get 20 carries a game. I just want to get out there and play."

Reach Larry Williams at (706) 823-3645 or larry.williams@augustachronicle.com.