RB Washaun Ealey making the grades to play for UGA
ALSO: Ex-UGA LB recruit to visit Tennessee
UGA signed one RB last year -- Washaun Ealey, who is "almost there" with meeting college entrance requirements (AJC)
Washaun Ealey, who some say is the state’s most accomplished tailback since Herschel Walker, has to clear one final hurdle before making it to Georgia.
The record-breaking senior from Emanuel County Institute told the AJC that he is close to meeting college entrance requirements.
“I’m almost there. By the time graduation comes around, I should be fine,” Ealey said Tuesday night. “I’m doing good in all my classes. I’ve got the test scores. If I keep my grades where they are now, then my test scores are good enough for me [to be academically qualified]. It’s really looking good now.”
Ealey’s sprint toward graduation is a major storyline over the next two months for UGA. The Bulldogs lost Knowshon Moreno to the NFL, and only signed one running back in this year’s recruiting class, Ealey. Georgia coach Mark Richt, who rarely talks about recruits before they arrive on campus, has often mentioned Ealey this spring as a strong candidate for the tailback rotation next season. Ealey’s name will appear on the depth chart the day he reports.
“Georgia fans don’t need to worry, I’m good … I’m going to make it,” Ealey said. As a backup plan, Ealey said UGA coaches have told him that Hargrave (Va.) Military Prep or Georgia Military Junior College are emergency plans. “But we really don’t discuss those options, because we’re all confident I’ll be at Georgia.”
Last weekend, Ealey attended G-Day, his first visit to Georgia’s campus since January. “It was great. I got to meet a lot of the recruits I didn’t know.”
The 5-foot-11, 205-pound Ealey said he is at nearly 100-percent after being hindered with back and ankle injuries during football season. “I’m a lot better. I’m playing baseball.” Ealey plays outfield for Emanuel County Institute and bats leadoff. He has been clocked in the 40-yard dash at 4.4 seconds and is a constant threat on the basepaths, stealing as many as four bases in a baseball game.
During his prolific high school career at the Class A football powerhouse, Ealey rushed for nearly 8,000 yards and set state records for career and single-season touchdowns. He is ranked as the country’s No. 11 running back by Rivals.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
106 comments Add your comment
beanuga
April 18th, 2009
1:59 pm
The OL will be better this year. The RB that can block will get the starting job. The QB has to be protected. I don’t see a Knowshon in any of these RBs. All of these running backs can get the job done. Welcome to UGA Ealey. The OL will be stronger in two more years. When is the last time UGA has seen a veteran OL. wow.go dawgs.
JustMyOpinion
April 18th, 2009
10:22 am
Since no one else has the balls/nuts to say it, I will……… Richard Samuel sucks!!!!!!!
Sudheer
April 17th, 2009
9:59 pm
He was particularly bad during the Under Armour All American Game. He just didn’t have the vision to be a great back when he was matched up with the best. Every time I saw him run, he took the hand-off and ran straight into the D Tackle. Probably doesn’t have a quick enough mind to make decisions at the college level. Class A football usually produces recruits worthy of FCS teams only. This guy will probably be a bust at the college football level. He just can’t compete with the SEC defenses.
Guy
April 17th, 2009
3:25 pm
Making the grades? Kid must be a dumbass, I didn’t think UGA had academic standards.
Today's athletes
April 17th, 2009
11:18 am
It frustrates me every time I read or hear about the ‘attitude’ problems so prevalent with young athletes these days. Gone are the days when athletes respected their elders (i.e. coaches), and showed a little humility when it came to their athletic abilities & performances. Yes, there are still some who do/did – Calvin Johnson, David Greene, Peyton Manning, Matt Ryan, etc.). However, so often the sports media shows the attitudes/behaviors of the Allen Iverson’s, Milton Bradley’s, Terrell Owens’, DeAngelo Hall’s, Stephon Marbury’s, Mitch Mustane’s, etc, etc, as if it’s just part of the ‘game’. Sad, sad, sad I say.
Hope this kid adjusts his attitude if in fact there truly are issues.
You'reAggravated?!
April 17th, 2009
11:07 am
*Actually Cro25 I have a Masters degree so probably no need to do that but thank you for the suggestion.*
Matt, where did you get your “Masters degree”? Deepstep University? Wherever you got yours, that institution must not have had an English department. FYI, it’s “master’s degree”. Also, have you ever heard of commas, question marks, and apostrophes? You have the audacity to berate a child, but your own grammar could stand a little proofreading. Please post where you received your post-graduate degree, so I can know where not to go for my doctorate.
Mike
April 17th, 2009
10:11 am
Great player-will do good things at Georgia. 40 time is a stretch though, as it is most of the time. I remember hearing 4.4 about Moreno and the same about Darius walker a few years ago. Turns out they both ran 4.6 at the combine.Having seen all of them play in person, Ealey is closer to 4.6 than 4.4.
Wardalucci
April 16th, 2009
9:22 pm
UGA man – shut your mouth. I played D1 football. So don’t try to tell me about God given talents and how I should use mine. The point is that academics don’t mean squat to UGA fans. I thought we were taliking about college athletics. In Athens it’s just athletics, forget the college. Good luck with your talents. Sounds like you are gonna need it.
Kendawg
April 16th, 2009
3:42 pm
It’s not fair to compare any young running back to Herschel. There’ll never be another Herschel. The National Championship in his freshman year? And almost another in his junior year. Given that, I saw Ealey play as a junior and he was sensational, easily the best back I saw that year. He was injured as a senior, and that impacted his game tremendously. Who knows if he’ll fully recover, but if he does, I’m glad he’s going to be a Dawg. I don’t know his birthdate, but I’m willing to wait and see how he does on the field before I judge him. Is that too much to ask of other fans?
The Red and Black
April 16th, 2009
2:38 pm
[...] Michael Carvell does a good job covering recruiting for the AJC, here’s a link to one of his stories — RB Washaun Ealey says he will be academically eligible. [...]