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
sheepdawg
July 8th, 2011
4:14 pm
another day in thugaville, keep signing the thugs- entertaining to watch all the grown men without a real life fret over teenage criminals
Pitbull
July 8th, 2011
4:14 pm
The Dogs are better off without the baggage that Ealey and King brought to the team. Ealey couldn’t control himself and King ran like a wuss from the start.
I still remember R Samuel banging into and over Gamecocks a couple of years ago and he could still carry the rock if they need a brutal runner.
Crowell will be fine and that kid from SWD is a punishing type of back.
Carlton Thomas is 170 and has the speed to make a difference if he just gets 10- 15 carries a game.
Hope CMR does a better job at recruiting for character as well as ability henceforth. We don’t need any more Ealey’s and King’s. Bad apples can spoil the whole barrel.
Go Dogs! GATA!!!!
Busted Trojan
July 8th, 2011
4:16 pm
Hey Trojan – Another ignorant post from an uninformed poster who listens to much to BSPN. You have no idea what you are speaking about and are an idiot!
You defend your coach by bringing up 2 accusations from another school (not Tennessee with cheating scandal, or FSU either). With all the negativity from UGAY with CMR you try to justify by looking at another school. Also, how about some more red panties!
Look at your own schools mess and leave your whiny justifications out of it!
National Champions and you can’t stand it!
ATL Sports Fan
July 8th, 2011
4:16 pm
Murray County, so what? Heck Marcus Lattimore had a game his senior year of high school where he only rushed for 72 yards…What? He only rushed for 72 yards one game, you can’t be serious…
Jim Harrick, Jr.
July 8th, 2011
4:16 pm
Do you know how hard it is to flunk out of UGA?
King Maker
July 8th, 2011
4:17 pm
Caleb King drops the ball, again!
Bob in SF
July 8th, 2011
4:17 pm
King was Crowell when he first came to UGA. The fact of the matter it really doesn’t matter who totes the rock for the Dawgs because Richt and Bobo want to air it out and leave the power running game in the playbook too often. Sometimes I feel that if Herschel had played in Richt’s offense he would have been just another back.
David Granger
July 8th, 2011
4:18 pm
Can’t blame Mark Richt for this. It’s not like he was off on mission trips all summer, instead of monitoring academic progress like he’s paid to do…oh, wait.
Not sure it’s good for Crowell to come in believing the position is his. Be better for him if he thought he had an older player ahead of him on the charts. (After all, Herschel Walker wasn’t the starter in his first college game…) Sorry to see Caleb wasn’t willing to put out the effort. He would have had a lot of playing time this year, I think.
Reno
July 8th, 2011
4:18 pm
Everyone chill out.. dogs will be fine. Still a ten win season in the making.. East is weak if we can get past south carolina which shouldnt be too tough in the home opener. Best quarterback in the sec has won the sec the past 4 years and guess who has that this year? UGA
ATL Sports Fan
July 8th, 2011
4:18 pm
Here’s another one for you. Trent Richardson only rushed for 84 yards in a game his senior year of high school against a AAA team from Alabama.
Carlton Thomas
July 8th, 2011
4:20 pm
Bob in SF,
Coach Bobo told me we are going with the power running game this year.
I can’t wait.
ATL Sports Fan
July 8th, 2011
4:21 pm
Granger, I can tell you’ve never been around major college athletics. You honestly think this is Richt’s fault because he was on a mission trip and not monitioring King’s academic progress? Wow just wow!
Pike Alum
July 8th, 2011
4:21 pm
Couldn’t have said it better myself. Crowell was going to be the starter with or without Ealey and King on the roster. Now he can focus on getting ready to beat Boise as the starter. Full time reps with number one offense instead of splitting time. Works for me!
hotdawg
July 8th, 2011
4:21 pm
King knew it was just a matter of time until he lost his starting job anyway. Crowell and Malcome are the new and improved Ealey and King. Hopefully they will fair better in their grades and off the field actions. The Bowman kid coming in as DB is also one heck of a running back.
Paul N Destin
July 8th, 2011
4:22 pm
At some point the Rodney Garner needs to be asked to find other work otherwise the new AD will need to start the evaluations of potential players himself. Richt isn’t smart enough to determine who he should sign and the record is more than clear. UGA …the best football team in America from March to August.
PTC DAWG
July 8th, 2011
4:22 pm
Agreed, time to move on.
collegeballfan
July 8th, 2011
4:22 pm
” 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.”
That may be the answer but it is also the problem. Samuel, 5 star RB recruit, King, 4 star RB recruit and Ealey, 4 star RB recruit were all guilty of not doing “what he’s supposed to do.”
And this is not unique to UGA. Can you say Ohio State Buckeyes with a now 0 – 12 record in 2010?
How do you get a youngster who has only one focus in life, the NFL, to focus on the Dawgs, or the Jackets, or the Buckeyes?
UGA should have a wondeful running game if they can keep the top 7 OL types healthy. If a team can block, it can run the football. Who the RB is becomes secondary. Just be sure it is someone who does not drop “that rock” on the ground.
Pensacola Dawg
July 8th, 2011
4:22 pm
It is very disturbing that these kids don’t pan out. Don’t we have academic advisors to keep this kids working. Basicaly all the big time winning prorams are filled with this crap…talented ungrateful kids. Don’t think CMR is cut out for this, probably take the money and run after this year. Go full time into ministry. You need cut throat slims like Saban, Miles and Spurrier to keep on top in this type enviornment.
Bj fussell
July 8th, 2011
4:23 pm
How in the heck can u be ruled academically ineligible!! For the love of God Fred Gibson played at Georgia
Carlton Thomas
July 8th, 2011
4:23 pm
Full time practice reps with the number one offense does not do you much good at Georgia because we never face the number one defense.
Believe me. I know.
Abnerish
July 8th, 2011
4:25 pm
IT’s called depth, Jeff, and now all the sudden we don’t have it at the RB position. Having King back there was an insurance policy in case Crowell struggles or is hurt. Now we are forced to rely on a true freshman and hope he doesn’t get hurt. Crowell better be good…
Uuugh
July 8th, 2011
4:25 pm
My question is…with no RB’s with any Game experience and a couple of inexperienced FB’s, what DC will we face that won’t blitz every single down? Add the fact that all of our TE’s want to play WR to our super thin O-line and we are in some real trouble! Hell it would be worth it to blitz a different person every down until they find the weakest link in our series of weak links!
Joey
July 8th, 2011
4:26 pm
I bet Aaron Murray is stocking up on Tylenol.
Extra strength.
Red Stick (formerly Jumbeauxtiger)
July 8th, 2011
4:26 pm
I don’t agree at all Jeff. I think Crowell would eventually be the starter later in the season but I don’t see him being ready for big-time football immediately.
King had his issues off the field but he was a good back. This is not good for the Dawgs.
smoke 14
July 8th, 2011
4:27 pm
hey murray county mystic what part of the county u from im there to
ATL Sports Fan
July 8th, 2011
4:27 pm
Hey Paul didn’t your beloved Tide just have some players have some academic issues? Please explain those???
ugakev
July 8th, 2011
4:27 pm
I think at this time you have got to bring richard samuel back over to running back. He was only 17 when he carried the rock last time. I believe its worth a shot and will not be surprised if he is taking reps at rb when practice starts. Richard Samuels had alot of potential to me, the main problem was he was so young at the time. If crowell wins the job then thats great and samuels can go back to linebacker. We have got to have a plan B though cause this season is too important to throw all your chips in on a true freshman who has not even had a practice with the team yet. I think Malcolm could be solid too if he can just stay healthy. But whatever happens I will stay behind my Dawgs. Once a dawg, always a dawg, how sweet it is
PerimeterCenterJacket
July 8th, 2011
4:28 pm
So I guess year 2 of the 3-4 defense had better be a heck of a lift for BOTH of teams in this state, huh?
Alabama Jack
July 8th, 2011
4:28 pm
UGA 0 for 2011
PerimeterCenterJacket
July 8th, 2011
4:30 pm
listen to me…”both of teams”…guess I’ve been reading too many quotes from Georgia players today…my brain is shutting off
ATL Sports Fan
July 8th, 2011
4:30 pm
UGAKEV, are you aware that UGA was the only school was willing to let Richard Samuel play running back? Samuel was a 5 star runningback/linebacker combo. He is better suited as a linebacker in a 3-4 system.
big john 360 lbs
July 8th, 2011
4:31 pm
Enter Branden Smith…most explosive player on the roster.
gt45
July 8th, 2011
4:31 pm
What if he gets hurt?
Grantland Rice
July 8th, 2011
4:32 pm
Inexperienced OL, Inexperienced RBs, Mike Bobo ….. I’m starting my drinking early today!
ATL Sports Fan
July 8th, 2011
4:34 pm
I do not see any problem with loosing King. You just tweak the offense a little. They were going to run more of a spread offense this year anyway. If you are not already aware of this then you do not know much about football. The now have the ability to run a one back set cause they have speed in the backfield. You will see Marlon Brown split out to one side, T-King on the other OC7 in one slot with Bennett/Wooten in the other. You will see a lot of different sets this year.
ATL Sports Fan
July 8th, 2011
4:35 pm
Start drinking Grantland, cause we all know your not even a Dawg fan in the first place.
Big Ten Champs Nebraska
July 8th, 2011
4:35 pm
Dogs will NOT win any more than 4 games this year. Richt gets fires and ends up working for ESPN.
Charles Grant
July 8th, 2011
4:36 pm
I am rested and ready to step in again, Coach.
I have finally decided to come back for my senior year.
moleman
July 8th, 2011
4:36 pm
why doesn’t CMR talk to the women’s softball coach about bringing some of those heifers over to play the o-line??
trackside
July 8th, 2011
4:37 pm
ugainsider “we lost a family member” in king R U SERIOUS !!!!! Did you adopt him, worried @ his future please. if you,re so concerned @ this go to honduras and dig well – oh, wait thats already been done. If our prgram is a family we,re @ as dysfunctional as the anthony family. If Richt were REAL leader , booted king last fall.
NoleRick
July 8th, 2011
4:38 pm
I remember being chastised on this blog years ago, when I suggested King would be a bust, after everyone declared him the next Hershel Walker…
Dawgman89
July 8th, 2011
4:38 pm
Don’t count out Samuel. He has experience which is more than 2 of the 3 alternatives do. UGA is going to have to pound the ball early in the season because you can’t expect inexperienced backs to pass block all that well. The O-line needs to man up and stay healthy.
Krt
July 8th, 2011
4:39 pm
Interesting that so many think nothing of this loss….yes, King is one of the biggest busts out there, but the loss of his experience will be meaningful. Crowell is no Lattimore…his attitude and propensity to put the ball on the ground will surprise some….on the downside.
With all these losses in players, I do not see how the Dogs get ranked as high as they are….will be a surprise to pull that one off.
Uuugh
July 8th, 2011
4:39 pm
kev I am not sure that would be fair to Samuel at this point. Our coaches have jerked a bunch of kids around like this. Remember our Fair Catch Specialist, Logan Gray? We hosed that kid. One of the two FB’s this year kind of got the shaft too. Seems like there is a lineman that gets moved from O to D and back over the last 3 years.
Sure we sign good classes…but the corkers of each class haven’t amounted to much lately. Sure we have been a pit stop on the way to the NFL for a few guys but by far my favorite player in the Richt Era was a 2 star FB recruit that moved to DE and worked his tail off.
We need to find people willing to work like David Pollack. Hopefully having Thomas Brown on the staff will help in the work ethic area.
Grantland Rice
July 8th, 2011
4:39 pm
Whatever, at least I know the difference between “your” and “you’re”.
MCC
July 8th, 2011
4:40 pm
I agree with you Jeff, when I heard the news I said good riddance. It’s time to take out the trash on this team. It’s time for the CROW Show!
Real Dawgs drink POWER-aid.( kool-aid is fool-ade)
July 8th, 2011
4:40 pm
Wait a minute. What’s going on ? Weren’t we told that CK4 was doing the things he was expected to do and he was reformed ? Who’s the starter now Carlton Thomas ? Is true freshman Isaiah Crowell the de-facto starter now ? Wow. There is NO seasoned RB at UGa this year …..Unbelievable. Boy do we miss WE3 already and the season hasn’t even started. Only an idiot would say addition by subtraction is good under these circumstances at UGa. You can’t win in the SEC without a solid running game. Now UGa has no choice but to be pass first and one dimensional, not that King was going to be a factor anyway. He’s a better pass blocker than runner in this offense. I bet the CMR/Bobo braintrust is saying: Fear not Bulldog Nation, our losses at RB this year will make us even better. We’ll find a replacement that will pass block even better. Our passing game is strong and will save the day. Buy or sell that Dawgdom. I’m selling.
moleman
July 8th, 2011
4:40 pm
Samuel should have never been moved from RB. CMR screwed him over big time
Mike Bobo
July 8th, 2011
4:41 pm
Everything will be fine.
We played a close game in the Libery Bowl without King.
dawg-gone
July 8th, 2011
4:42 pm
Surprised he stayed in school that long. All he really has is football and that did not cut it at the college level.