UGA starting TB Washaun Ealey granted unconditional release by Bulldogs (UPDATED)
Washaun Ealey led the Bulldogs with 811 yards rushing and 11 TDs as a sophomore last season. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
Athens – Can a team lose its leading rusher and actually become a better team?
The Georgia Bulldogs are about to find out. They granted Washaun Ealey — their starting tailback and an 800-yard rusher last season — his unconditional release on Monday.
The announcement was made in a vague, three-paragraph news release distributed by the UGA Sports Communication office Monday night. It was characterized as a mutual decision.
“Washaun and I have had several conversations in recent weeks,” head coach Mark Richt said in the release. “We both have come to the conclusion that a transfer to another institution would be in his best interest.”
Georgia officials confirmed that Ealey is academically eligible to play next season. Ealey could not be reached for comment so his next destination is unknown.
Ealey’s mother, Joanne Ealey, said she was unaware of this latest development.
“I don’t know anything about that,” she said. “I need to talk to my son.”
Ms. Ealey said her son had discussed the possibility of transferring to Georgia Southern or some other school in the past. She said she was OK with that, “as long as he’s getting an education.”
By granting Ealey his release, Ealey will be immediately eligible at a lower-division school. However, he would still have to sit out one season if he transfers to another Football Bowl Subdivision institution.
While the Bulldogs will be losing a productive back who showed flashes of brilliance, they will also be losing a disciplinary headache. Ealey was suspended at least twice in the last seven months and Richt was constantly on him to conduct himself “the Georgia Way.”
Richt hinted that relations between Ealey and the team were still strained late last month when he was asked about the him during a meeting of the Augusta Bulldog Club.
“Washaun has a ways to go still to show me that he deserves to start or even play right now,” Richt said. “He has a ways to go in my book. We’ll see.”
Ealey was suspended indefinitely from the team in February for missing an early-morning disciplinary run. He was reinstated in time for spring practice in March but was sidelined with a hamstring injury after only four practices and did not practice again. He was also suspended from last season’s opener because of an arrest for hit-and-run of a parked vehicle and driving with a suspended license. Richt was particularly upset about that incident because Ealey had assured coaches he wouldn’t drive while his license was suspended.
A rising junior from Stillmore, Ealey played in 21 games for the Bulldogs with nine starts, including seven last season. He rushed 1,528 yards and 14 touchdowns in two seasons at Georgia.
Ealey’s status as starting tailback was already in jeopardy. He was benched early last season due to fumbling issues. And the Bulldogs in February signed Isaiah Crowell, the nation’s No. 1-ranked running back prospect. They also return senior Caleb King, junior Carlton Thomas and redshirt freshman Ken “Boo” Malcome at the position.
Milan Turner, Ealey’s high school coach at Emmanuel County Institute, said he had not yet talked to Ealey but planned to sometime later Monday night.
Ealey was one of two players Georgia signed out of ECI in 2009. The other one, linebacker Dexter Moody, had his letter-of-intent revoked shortly after national signing day due to a major disciplinary infraction at the high school.
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483 comments Add your comment
UGA'05
May 10th, 2011
11:24 am
I also believe why CMR did not allow Ealey to carry the ball 20 times a game is b/c there is a method in coaching called studying film and the games W.E did not get 20 carries were the games that CMR knew there was a good run defense. CMR knows what the hell he is doing. He has coached for 25 years. It could also have something to do with W.E and his butterfingers. You know, the ones that fumbled the ball too many times. What a bunch of short-termed memories some of the Dawg Nation has. You make us look bad.
how2fish
May 10th, 2011
11:30 am
Wish the young man the best, hope he can land on his feet somewhere and get a degree. It’s clear that for him and UGA a change was needed..best of luck young man..call your mother.
WDE
May 10th, 2011
11:34 am
Geez man your a witty fellow, your bringing light and sunshine to all your fellow trolls. The Bull Dog Nation however is laughing at you…thanks for the chuckles !
Dawg Squeeze
May 10th, 2011
11:40 am
UGA Football; where good citizens are made and champions are molded.
SCDawgFan
May 10th, 2011
12:08 pm
Glad he’s gone. Any of us would jump at the chance to be able to be in his shoes… receive a free education and be able to play between the hedges….. I’m always amazed how they just take it all for granted. Good luck playing at your small college….. don’t fumble !!!
Better Dawgs!
May 10th, 2011
12:28 pm
At least WE came to the conclusion that he doesn’t have what it takes before we did. He is a better man for moving out of the way.
Farmer's Daughter
May 10th, 2011
12:29 pm
I bet ya’ll are some of the same ones that had no problem with Michael Vick coming back to football. Washaun is a kid and he’s gonna do kid things. Get over it and move on.
WDE
May 10th, 2011
12:52 pm
Farmer’s Daughter a true troll comment if ever I heard one…have you lost your bloody mind? Washaun has never come close to the types of misdeeds M.V committed . And Vick came back after paying for those crimes as was his right….but don’t try and paint Washaun out as Vick…
NOBODYYOUKNOW
May 10th, 2011
12:54 pm
If any of you young recruits read these comments, please do not leave this one out. Do you have any idea what you’re giving up when you do something stupid and cause you to lose your scholarship? You are not only getting kicked out of one of the greatest universities and loseing a good education, but most likely are loseing a good chance to be recruited by the NFL. With the possibilty of makeing millions with a pro career. But then alot of pro ball players lose every cent when their pro-career ends by poor decisions then also. What the hell!
Georgia
May 10th, 2011
1:00 pm
too bad, but Georgia much better off without the unknowns. In steps Malcolm.
FLA DAWG
May 10th, 2011
1:22 pm
Good Luck & hope you do well in your career.
Stinger
May 10th, 2011
3:22 pm
6 wins @ BEST. LOL
Sven Ottke
May 10th, 2011
4:14 pm
Uh Coach…..he was conducting himself the Georgia Way. That’s the problem. The Georgia Way got you the Fulmer-Richt Cup.
Husker/Dawg
May 10th, 2011
4:29 pm
Dawg fans need to stand behind Richt, he brings all the elements to the table that fans look for in a coach. In the mid 70’s, Husker nation wanted rid of their coach because he didn’t win enough, Coach Osborne interviewed for the Colorado’s vacant coaching job in 1978. He decided their is no place like Nebraska and the rest is History. Coach Osborne’s Hall of Fame career includes, 3 National Titles, led his team to a bowl game every year for 25 years, and a NCAA record 46-3 record over a 4 year span(94-97). Coach Osborne was critized for his handling of a truly talented RB named Lawrence Phillips (trouble with the law), he allowed him back on the team after a 6 game suspension and HE was told not to come back for his senior year. Coach Osborne was trying to help a young man find his way. Phillips was drafted #6. His troubles didn’t end. Coach Osborne and Coach Richt are great leaders of men. They do it without cheating or bending the rules. They make men out of boys, leading by example in more ways than football. I’m a Husker/Dawg for most of my 61 years. I for one stand behind Coach Richt and what he stands for representing the University of Georgia. GBR/GODAWGS
Washaun Ealey: ‘I want to be a premier back’ and not ‘have to share backfield’ | UGA sports blog
May 10th, 2011
4:37 pm
[...] told Estes that the decision to transfer was as much his as it was Georgia’s and that the main reason he wanted to leave was not [...]
Sven Ottke
May 10th, 2011
5:53 pm
Husker/Dog,
Are you serious? There is an entire book devoted to what was wrong with Nebraska under Osborne when it came to shenanigans, payola, misbehavior. If you think it was just Phillips, you are either sadly mistaken or lying to yourself.
Return to Glory
May 10th, 2011
6:22 pm
Hope the door knob does not hit him in the rear end, what a waste of talent.
Million dollar body ,two cent brain.
RHALL55
May 10th, 2011
7:49 pm
Ten @ Ten??????????
excessive celebration
May 10th, 2011
9:54 pm
He’ll be strapping it up in 2 years for the Gators, remember he liked having his eyes gouged out. He had no problem with it. Would fate have him running all over us or worse the second coming of jamal lewis in tenn orange?
It Ain't Rocket Science
May 10th, 2011
9:54 pm
Ealey had way too many chances it would appear. He is all Ealey and evidentally not team. If UGA has a runner that will step up, they will be ok. He is not a great loss because even though he did get 800+ yards last year, him not being a team player hurt the team more than his stats. helped the team I believe. I don’t know whether Crowell can come right in and be an impact from the start, but at worst, he will not do any more harm to UGA than Ealey. Hope the man can get his head screwed on right and get his life straightened out, but not sure he can until he grows up. CMR did what was best for the team. I think his history as a head coach shows he tries as hard as possible to stick with these young guys and truely cares for them. To finally give up on Ealey, you know it had to be bad.
The Old saying goes, “There is no I in team”. Hopefully Ealey will learn that sooner rather than later. He will need an attitude adjustment as we used to say in the service, in order to be productive in life.
GO DAWGS
cpb
May 11th, 2011
11:13 am
He’ll more than likely go to Ga Southern
Sweet Lord People!
May 11th, 2011
1:01 pm
Geez = m = War Damn Eagle = yellow fuzz = a sad and lonely Tech Troll.
Read the UGA fans’ posts and ignore the imbeciles trying to lure you into an argument.
I don’t think he goes to Southern. I believe that coach has discipline as a priority. With comments like these…I don’t know what kind of coach would take him on. I hope he catches on somewhere though.
Kenny Powers
May 11th, 2011
5:13 pm
There’s no I in team and there’s no eye in Osama.
LanceWeakLegs
May 11th, 2011
8:11 pm
Washaun, take a look at defending FCS champion Eastern Washington University. they lost their junior All-American half back Taiwan Jones to the NFL draft. maybe they’d take you. and, it’s so out in the middle of no-where you’d never get into trouble…
Richt's Butt Cut
May 11th, 2011
8:35 pm
Caleb ineligible…
Dawg
May 11th, 2011
9:55 pm
Did Georgia Southern say they didn’t want any part of Washan Ealey on their team? I thought I heard the coach make a compent about it.
ugab
May 12th, 2011
10:57 pm
Wish you luck Ealey! You will be missed. Our Ol has not been that strong in the last 4 to 5 years. It is hard to be a rb without a line to block for you. I don’t think there is going to be a solid OL for a few years to come. I hope Ealey finds a school he can be the go to back. Ealey does need to learn ball protection. Ealey had an ex WR coaching him at UGA. I did not see any ball protection out of all the RBs. Poor coaching!
ugab
May 12th, 2011
10:58 pm
POOR COACHING!!!! Isiah Crowell is not doing to run through defenses without a FB or an OL.
olddawg
May 14th, 2011
6:58 pm
dont matter bobo is there to mess it up with the same plays
LevonDawg
May 15th, 2011
12:40 pm
Ealey is good enough to be a feature back at many schools, However, he did not show consistent behavior off of the field. He never changed his Twin City lifestyle when he moved to Athens. His production will surely be missed, but the negatives that came along with having a head coach constantly distracted by him won’t. The change regretably, leaves us thinner at TB. If Crowell can come in and find holes between the tackles, Ealey will be missed by few.
hunkerdown
May 15th, 2011
9:29 pm
Lots of hype on Ealey coming in to the program. Good solid runner but never could replace a knowshon type player. Wish him luck.
89Eagle
May 16th, 2011
11:43 am
DAWG He isn’t in any plans for Ga Southern. If he can’t last under Richt there is no way he would last with Coach Monken and the staff at Ga Southern.
404
May 16th, 2011
1:39 pm
Its so quiet in Athens you can hear a pin drop.
No news yet on the release of grades & academic standing for King, Crowell and Jenkins.
It would be just the latest in the on-going list of PR disasters
for UGA if Crowell or Jenkins dont qualify.
Frankly, it wont be a shock if Crowell, and Jenkins make it, but King doesnt.
I’m sure Michael Adams is doing “what he needs to do” to keep the
UGA “customers” happy.