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.
106 comments Add your comment
Matt
April 15th, 2009
6:38 pm
Cro 25. How do test scores not affect his school grades. These are the requirements he has to meet per NCAA regulations.
For athletes who receive a scholarship from a Division I university on or after August 1, 2008, their initial eligibility will be evaluated under the 16 core course rule. (2004-2005 ninth grade)
you will need 16 core courses as outlined below:
4 years of English
3 years of mathematics (Algebra I or higher)
2 years of natural/physical science (one must be a lab science)
1 year of additional science, math or English
2 years of social studies
4 years of additional core courses (they can be from any listed above or from nondoctrinal religion or philosophy or foreign language)
I thought everyone had to do these just to graduate. I hope the kid does live up to my standards then he’ll do just fine after Football.
Dawg4Life
April 15th, 2009
6:26 pm
Hey LeSchaun or whatever your name is…If Wayshaun was my son i would look through hell and high water to find your little punk self. Its real easy to talk about an 18 year old kid who has never done a thing to anyone except pick the school of his choice. Real easy to do it from behind a keyboard that is! Your little racist comments and ignorance of a fellow human being should not go unnoticed by the AJC. I hope your comment is deleted and i hope your are reprimanded by the AJC. If you are such a bad man, I would advise you to confront Mr. Ealey and his family with these same comments. I’m sure they are not hard to find living in one of the smallest counties in GA. Go for it. You IGNORANT MORON!
reese mayfield
April 15th, 2009
5:53 pm
ga. fan u need to save ur cry n tear stop cry n about every little thing happen on the football team u need to worry about the last game @ tech that when u need to cry the most tech will make it 2 in a row & mark richt got all that talent is still not winning u need to light a fire under his ass 2 walk n d sideline try to look pretty he is ur problem not king r easley
JohnnyDangerDawg
April 15th, 2009
5:41 pm
Washaun,
Best of luck, Washaun. All the hard work will be worth it when you suit up in the Red and Black.
09 recruiting class - Page 16 - SECTalk Forums
April 15th, 2009
5:39 pm
[...] RB Washaun Ealey making the grades to play for UGA | Inside College Recruiting: Michael Carvell [...]
Brewer
April 15th, 2009
5:02 pm
I wish young Mr. Ealey the best and I hope he becomes a productive (taxpaying) citizen one day. But I have words of caution for the UGA fans: don’t count your Herschel Walkers before they graduate high school. I know folks at ECI and they tell me it’s not likely he’ll make it. They also tell me he was 19 yrs old when he was running over Single-A high school defenses full of 14, 15 and 16 yr old kids. Life will be different playing against SEC defenses… By the way, I couldn’t find his birthday listed anywhere, so I don’t know how old he is. If anybody REALLY knows, correct me.
Cro25
April 15th, 2009
4:42 pm
Who said he was struggling to finish high school? The issue has been his test scores, not his finishing high school. Maybe one day he can live up to your standards.
those damn ques
April 15th, 2009
4:35 pm
Matt has a point!!!!!!
Matt
April 15th, 2009
4:15 pm
Actually Cro25 I have a Masters degree so probably no need to do that but thank you for the suggestion. From your earlier postings I can see you don’t agree with the treatment this young man is already receiving when he hasn’t even stepped onto the Ga football field yet. But I do have to add that when you are struggling to finish High School in a po-dunk town in the middle of nowhere then there’s an issue. Yes, you can say that we are showing our adolescence by saying such mean things but the truth of the matter is it’s sad to see such a talented athlete who can barely speak much less graduate with a below average GPA. 2,0 isn’t average to me. A 2.0 is a lame excuse of a GPA. I know kids who slept in class and got a 2.0. I hope the kid proves me wrong but until then I’ll live blissfully in ignorance.
“It’s amazing what people will say as they hide behind a keyboard!”
dawgmanx
April 15th, 2009
4:05 pm
First of all Ealy is a good kid and I hope everything works out for him. Guys let us not past judgement on Caleb King until he has the whole starting offensive line in front of him. Let us keep in mine that when he had that great G-day last year he had the starting o-line in front of him, but keep in mine without them his avg was 4.0 yds per carry his problem was blocking and his blocking was good saturday ,so please give him time.