Caleb King’s loss no big deal for Dogs — it’s Crowell’s show
Washaun Ealey (left) and Caleb King blew their opportunities at Georgia. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
(Last update: 4:50 p.m.)
We saw what Washaun Ealey brought to the table for Georgia. It wasn’t good enough.
We saw what Caleb King brought to the table for Georgia. It wasn’t good enough.
So sorry if I’m not all bent out of shape about the sudden news that King has been declared academically ineligible for the Bulldogs in the fall. Nothing against the young man personally, but in terms of how this impacts the fortunes of the football team, it’s close enough to zero. Fact is, the Dogs were going to rise or fall next season on the strength of freshman Isaiah Crowell, any way.
Coach Mark Richt has certainly let it be known on occasion that Crowell was the only running back he really cared about. How often does a college coach say on national letter of intent day something remotely close to this on a recruit: “ I wouldn’t be shocked to see him running that rock in the Dome against Boise State on the opening play if he does what he’s supposed to do”?
Richt was talking about Crowell. He had pretty much had it with Ealey, who a week later was suspended, eventually was granted his release and transferred to Jacksonville State.
Having King for depth purposes might’ve been nice. But what in the last three seasons — given injuries, a lack of production and his own off-field issues — would lead you to believe he could be counted on?
Scouting services had him as one of the top running backs in the nation and the first overall player in Georgia back in 2006. Either they were wrong or he figured he would just let the resume do the work for him in Athens. He had one great game in three years (166 yards against Georgia Tech in 2009). He was injured too often. He was arrested last year for failing to appear in court for a speeding ticket (which came to be something of an epidemic in Athens).
King is 23 years old and would have been a fifth-year senior. How can a fifth-year senior with everything to play for not stay academically eligible? This was not somebody whom Richt could count on.
Some Georgia fans will belabor the lack of experience behind Crowell. That’s a legitimate concern. But in three seasons over four years, King offered no guarantees.
Richt said in a statement, “We wish him the best in whatever he decides to do. However, we have to move forward and this will provide more opportunities for others to step up.”
Others won’t have to step up too much.
Success next season was always going to hinge on Crowell, and certainly the offensive line in front of him. Caleb King was just a name on the depth chart.
By Jeff Schultz
♦
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627 comments Add your comment
David
July 8th, 2011
3:47 pm
Maybe Richt said he wouldn’t be shocked because he already knew King and Ealey were on the way out.
Football Insider
July 8th, 2011
3:47 pm
Schultz,
Wow, what a spin you are putting on this one. This is a ridiculous article.
Nothing is good about this for UGA. Will Crowell have taken over EVENTUALLY, most likely.
Now, Richt has no option but to make him run right out of the gate. Was King a all world back, no. But he was plenty serviceable. 5 yards per carry, good TD numbers, and most importantly he was the only with full season of experience. And please Carlton Thomas? All 170 pounds of him doens’t know anything about being an every down back in the SEC.
Hell, you don’t even know if Crowell can adequately pass block, I feel sorry for Murray this year. That’s the toughest part of the game for a true freshman running back, passing blocking, because they don’t have to do it much in high school.
Sorry Jeff, you are dead, dead wrong on this one. In the long run you may be right, but Richt doesn’t have a long time to get this thing going.
DC
July 8th, 2011
3:48 pm
Crowell is a fancy runner…he isn’t a power back that will plow over people like Dyer (AU) or some weird RBs that went to Bama…it will take him time to get used to the team…he might do well against boise..but USC will be waiting and scheme scheme scheme…package blitzs etc..Schultz..come on man…
Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it
July 8th, 2011
3:48 pm
So Bama and UGA lose contributing RB’s
Bama = injured in 7 on 7 drill
UGA = didn’t pass remedial math
Do you guys just not see why you will never win a title?
theriddler
July 8th, 2011
3:48 pm
Great job recruiting these clowns.
npgator
July 8th, 2011
3:48 pm
Too bad for King and the Dogs better hope like hell that Crowell doesn’t get hurt or it will be a long season.
UGA Insider
July 8th, 2011
3:49 pm
This is terrible news for all UGA fans. We just lost a family member who worked his butt off for the past 5 years and in the end will get nothing. No shot at the NFL or more importantly a college degree. I don’t think the kid can even transfer to Valdosta State. I hate this for him and I wish him the best. As far as the team it is bad news as well. We are so thin there is no way CMR is going to let this team scrimmage which will hurt us late in games. Do fans realize that rb’s always seem to get hurt during summer practice? We are bound to lose somebody. Who is next?
TruthSeeker
July 8th, 2011
3:49 pm
Couldn’t agree more with Schultz. Other than Georgia Tech game in 2009, when did Caleb ever show that he was anything close to an impact back?
It would have been interesting to see what kind of player he couldn’t be if he wasn’t riddled with injuries and didn’t play behind what’s been a very a soft offensive line, but it’s been obvious to me for quite some time that he was never going to be the running back we hoped he could be. He joins the likes of Jasper Sanks and Kregg Lumpkin – serviceable backs who just couldn’t live up to the enormous expectations, for various reasons.
Let NONE in
July 8th, 2011
3:50 pm
Come on now…Josh Nebitt was the biggest Heisman bust of all.
need to recruit some brighter kids
July 8th, 2011
3:50 pm
If his text messaging (quoted in other article) is any indication of his grasp of the English language, it’s not suprising that he couldn’t survive a tough major like Housing.
Spanky
July 8th, 2011
3:50 pm
Right again, Schultzy! About the only thing that made King first on the depth chart, was knowing his blocking assignments. From what I hear, Malcome and Barton are doing very well! What some of these folks don’t realize, is that the RB position is one where we’re always loaded!..Always!
Harry from da Burn
July 8th, 2011
3:50 pm
This is the same guy who couldn’t pass the GATEWAY. This is the same guy who left a AAAAA high school powerhouse to go to a AAA private school JUST because he can graduate without passing the GATEWAY. This is the SAME person UGA recruited.
Sam Robards, Dawg Fan
July 8th, 2011
3:51 pm
I don’t say this often, but well said, Mr. Schultz!
King would’ve been nice to have around, if only to teach Crowell the intricacies of pass-blocking, but he wasn’t gonna be the man this year. We all knew that.
I also have a good feeling about the combo of Malcome and Crowell. Thomas can still work his way into the rotation as well, but only if Bobo uses him correctly (tosses, sweeps, and zone reads would all be good uses: NOT up-the-gut-running!).
Again, it sucks for King that he couldn’t keep his act together, but UGA’ll carry on. Go Dawgs!
Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it
July 8th, 2011
3:51 pm
Chances of:
UGA National Champions = King for Heisman
Reebok
July 8th, 2011
3:52 pm
No big deal? I respectfully disagree. Crowell may indeed be a great running back, but can he really be ready for Boise State (national TV, primetime)and South Carolina (crucial SEC East game) in his first 2 weeks? And what if the kid takes a helmet to the knee, mild consussion, tweaks a hammy? Wouldn’t it be sort of nice to have another guy who’s played tailback at the college level before?
As a Georgia Tech fan, I know better than most how a lack of depth can wreck a season (see also: Nesbitt, Joshua). Anyway…my 2 cents’…all you Dog fans have a nice afternoon and a great weekend.
Chi Town
July 8th, 2011
3:52 pm
Wasnt it this time last year we were laughing at Damon Evans and the white girls panties?
Hahahahahahahaha. Gotta love the offseason got THUGA football.
404
July 8th, 2011
3:52 pm
Well, well, well.
Since January, I have posted on 15 separate occassions that that one or both,
Caleb King and Wash-out Ealy, wold be gone by September 1st.
Frankly, I didnt think that either would make it out of Spring practice.
Rumor also has it that there coud be MORE players soon to be ruled academically ineligible.
Too bad for King. He chose……….POORLY.
As for UGAG……….ROTFLMAO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Atticus
July 8th, 2011
3:53 pm
If the defense doesn’t respond and make a huge improvement it really won’t matter.
John Galt
July 8th, 2011
3:53 pm
I was hoping King would turn it around but I’m not sure I ever believed it. At least the uncertainty has been eliminated. We know who must carry the load for us.
King has lost a lot more than Bulldawg Nation. He had a chance to prove himself to NFL coaches and he blew it. I don’t believe that academically ineligible players can move to a lower division and play this fall. King has “royally” screwed up.
Sometimes bad character is a bigger minus that the ability is a plus. We had better hope that this is true of King and Ealey.
Spanky
July 8th, 2011
3:54 pm
UGA Insider,…are you nuts?! King will probably play for an Arena League team, and can always transfer to a JUCO to get the grades up!…Read my previous post! RB’s are like guitarists..everybody wants to be that kind of star..dime a dozen, bro!
Let NONE in
July 8th, 2011
3:54 pm
Not sure how Au can get away in paying players and dam sure Cam Fig Newton didn’t go to class…how?
St. Richt
July 8th, 2011
3:55 pm
Geez, Schultz, being around all of these overly optimistic and delusional Dawg fans really must be rubbing off on you. Need I remind you that IC has not yet played a down in the SEC. I don’t care how good you are in high school, its a whole different ballgame at the next level. Its amazing that you and these other delusional Dawg fans are optimistic in light of losing AJ, CD, CK, WE, along with the best players on the defensive side of the ball.
Georgia continues to have the most delusional fanbase on the planet. It could be a janitor or student trainer backing up IC, and people on this blog would still be predicting an SEC and NC run.
Big Ten Champs Nebraska
July 8th, 2011
3:55 pm
@ BFS
Go to Nebraska. They lead the nation in academic all americans.
Football Insider
July 8th, 2011
3:56 pm
Oh boy Schultz you are dumb and a handful of others on here are dumb as well.
No way losing your most experienced back PLUS the fact that the top two behind him have ZERO game experience! ZERO! In the SEC no less.
No way no how this a good thing. Crowell hasn’t even got to practice pass blocking in the UGA system yet.
What a loser mentality Schultzy.
404
July 8th, 2011
3:57 pm
You have to be ONE SERIOUS D-A…to flunk out UGA’g Remedial Education program.
Kind of confirms ALL the rumors about King “graduating” from
High School without being able to read.
Let NONE in
July 8th, 2011
3:57 pm
DAWG fans relax. One thing is a given. We beat the Nerds of Gtu not that it matters.
Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it
July 8th, 2011
3:57 pm
St. Richt,
I couldn’t agree more
St. Richt
July 8th, 2011
3:58 pm
Any word on who the next player is that will be ruled ineligible? There is a lot of noise out there about others…
Harry from da Burn
July 8th, 2011
3:58 pm
BTW most of us passed the Gateway by 9th grade (10th for Dawg fans)…Not only did Mark recruit a retard, he recruited a quitter.
UA
July 8th, 2011
3:59 pm
No King? No Ealy? Who is going to show Crowell around the Clarke County juvenile detention center? It’s just one next great back after another. All the leghumpers are so excited and foaming at the mouth on National Signing Day about how great they are, and then the next year they sign the next great gansta and are ready to get rid of the old bums that areworthless and then we repeat the process all over again. And St Richt just sits there with that holier than thou smirk on his face and runs off to Hondurus with the AJC tagging behind hanging on every photo op. UGA and the AJC fishwrap, you deserve each other.
the dude
July 8th, 2011
4:00 pm
HE SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN ON THE DAWGS IN THE FIRST PLACE. HE WAS A LOSER AS WAS EALEY. BRING ON MALONE AND THE MAN FROM COLUMBUS GA. LETS GOOOO DAWGGGS.
Don
July 8th, 2011
4:00 pm
Crowell missed how many high school games last year due to injury? And Jeff Schultz thinks UGA will be OK with a little scatback and a walk-on as the backups? Given Caleb King’s off the field history, if Mark Richt didn’t think he was needed on the field this year it seems likely he would have run him off after his last suspension.
big john 360 lbs
July 8th, 2011
4:00 pm
I’ve also heard Bean Anderson is out too. Can’t imagine losing another lineman.
St. Richt
July 8th, 2011
4:01 pm
Boy, this Crowell kid must be something. Looks like his legend continues to grow daily, all before taking his first snap at Georgia. No pressure kid.
Don
July 8th, 2011
4:02 pm
Jeff, to a point somebody else raised earlier, what’s Plan B if Crowell has a hard time picking up pass protection schemes as most freshman RBs do? Leave him in there and let Murray get knocked out I guess.
St. Richt
July 8th, 2011
4:04 pm
From “we run this state” to “we’ve run out of options.”
big john 360 lbs
July 8th, 2011
4:04 pm
UA-
At least our boys go to a juvenille detention center for speeding tickets.
Your sorry UA boys are in the state prison for ARMED ROBBERY. They do have prisons in Alabama don’t they?
Let NONE in
July 8th, 2011
4:04 pm
I still think we win the SEC.
Birrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrd Man
July 8th, 2011
4:05 pm
Will Samuels have to move back to RB for depth?
Running back Caleb King done at Georgia after being ruled ineligible – USA Today | Acessando Net
July 8th, 2011
4:05 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
chickenman
July 8th, 2011
4:06 pm
ya i know it hurts for like pass protection but i dont know a single dawg fan that cares about caleb king.. Crowell is the man on campus and it was known on signing day this was coming “toat the rock in the dome” Come on … king was a bust injury prone and never lived up to the hype… boo malcome is ready to compete with thomas and Crowell as the 3 headed attack it should not make a difference… we would of lived or died on crowell anyways… and lets not forget we got 1st team SEC ALL AMERICAN ARRON MURRAY at the reins
Big Ten Champs Nebraska
July 8th, 2011
4:07 pm
Will UGA win 4 games this year?
Carlton Thomas
July 8th, 2011
4:07 pm
Coach Bobo just called me with the good news.
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
July 8th, 2011
4:09 pm
Caleb left me a note. Russ, I love ya man. Don’t think of me as a looser. I just couldn’t catch a brake.
Chi Town
July 8th, 2011
4:10 pm
Great post, UA.
ATL Sports Fan
July 8th, 2011
4:10 pm
I think everyone misses the point. Ken Malcome will be the starter against Boise. The kid has the skills to be a very good running back in the SEC. To the poster who mentioned UGA has only scat backs. Must have not seen Ken Malcome. He is about 235 lbs. Hey 404 Caleb King chose poorly, you are aware that Tech, Auburn, Alabama, Tennessee, amongst many others were hot after Caleb King. I included those four since your a bandwagon fan.
murray county mystic
July 8th, 2011
4:10 pm
94 vs Calhoun..i’m just sayin…what would Herschel have done vs Calhoun??? But, could Walker’s efforts be thwarted if Dooley was the Calhoun coach that night? Maybe…who’s to say…just 94??
Carlton Thomas
July 8th, 2011
4:12 pm
Malcome is slower than even Munzenmaier.
ATL Sports Fan
July 8th, 2011
4:13 pm
UA your hilarious. Your just mad because Crowell didn’t sign with umm. You post under UA so you could be either a Alabama or Auburn fan but in all actualality your probably a bandwagon fan of both. Auburn and Alabama were all over this who you call gangst/thug Crowell.
Joey
July 8th, 2011
4:13 pm
It IS a big deal to lose King, Jeff. No 1st year RB makes an impact here. Even Knowshon got redshirted, then only began starting about mid-season in his second season. And he was only the #10 overall NFL pick after his junior season.
I wish Crowell the best, but I will be shocked if he makes a big splash this season.