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
Big Dawg Cobb
May 9th, 2011
10:47 pm
I wish he could of turned it around but good luck Washaun
Coach Grohbo
May 9th, 2011
10:48 pm
Ealey fumbles too much to be effective at Tech.
Besides, he has already scored a touchdown for Coach Johnson!
Alabama Communist
May 9th, 2011
10:49 pm
Clearly another example of why College Sports is a big business and corporate transfers are okay as long as the Slave does not play for their competition……….
Ralph
May 9th, 2011
10:49 pm
Auburn is in a money crunch, he will be lucky to get 75,000.
Birrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrd Man
May 9th, 2011
10:51 pm
Enter your comments here
Reason
May 9th, 2011
10:57 pm
Who cares… UGA is irrelevant. They’re a bunch of nobodys that only believe their own hype. You’re NOT a national progam. Get over yourselves.
Bulldog Joe
May 9th, 2011
10:57 pm
Cue the Oompa Loompas.
dawg48
May 9th, 2011
11:02 pm
to bad he could not take his life more serious. i thought as a freshman he played real tough and would turn out to be a good back. im glad to see the players that have the bad attitudes are leaving the team. this gives us the chance to go out and pick up another good back
bitter boondocks
May 9th, 2011
11:03 pm
bye punk
PMC
May 9th, 2011
11:26 pm
This is too bad. Such a good high school runner. I hope he gets things in order and accomplishes his dreams.
GoldenBoy
May 9th, 2011
11:31 pm
Ealey finished his last final today, and told Richt via text to kiss his grits.
Hart Co.
May 9th, 2011
11:34 pm
GT GRAD, Ealey is too smart to go to tech…..well, maybe not.
Buzz 2010
May 9th, 2011
11:34 pm
Ealey was nothing but a “high school” running back anyway right? I thought
he was a good addition to Dawg powerhouse..No worry they have a “dream team” now.. Good for
Five wins this year and I think you will win them easily..
Coach Grohbo
May 9th, 2011
11:39 pm
The nightmare team will finish the season with more NCAA violations than wins.
Auburn Fans -1 are horrible...
May 9th, 2011
11:43 pm
Alabama Communist clearly has outstanding reading comprehension. Ealey was granted an unconditional release from his scholarship. 5 syllabals is a lot–I know (I put hear instead of here earlier-FML!) but unconditional means without condition…or Ealey can go wherever he wants–even if they play against UGA. So I suggest you a) read the article on which you are posting or b) check out a dictionary, when there are multisyllabic words you don’t understand. Many are free online–just copy and paste the big words!
And Reason–your posting a comment alone makes UGA relevent…tough tittie. If UGA didn’t matter to you, would you really take the time to enter a handle, an email address, AND a comment!? There are probably many articles written about things irrelevent to me…but I don’t know what they are–because they simply don’t matter to me!
Otherwise–good posts fellas!
Coach Grohbo
May 9th, 2011
11:47 pm
Most Auburn fans I have met are decent people.
Washaun Ealey: From UGA freshman star to yesterday’s man | star
May 9th, 2011
11:47 pm
[...] year ago, Washaun Ealey’s depart from Georgia would have been large news. Today it’s news, though not scarcely so big. A year ago, Ealey was a [...]
DaMan
May 9th, 2011
11:50 pm
You UGA fans are hilarious……already anointing this new kid as the next Herschel…..and hoping for a miracle from Murray to salvage 7 wins this year……my question is how can one school have so many Top 10 recruiting classes in the last 5 years and not even come close to winning just one side of the SEC??? And losing to UCF……come on, man………that’s embarrassing…..
savannadawg
May 9th, 2011
11:54 pm
I’ll guarantee you Coach Monkin will not take him at Georgia Southern. He has already cut ties with his troublemakers too. I wish Wahsaun well were ever he goes. I always thought he’d be better as a “B” back in the flex bone anyway, now that won’t happen either.
Auburn Fans -1 are horrible...
May 9th, 2011
11:54 pm
Coach Grohbo…Pre2000 Auburn fans were like our cousins…People you like to beat but wouldn’t begrudge them some success, Pre2005 Auburn fans were tolerable. Pre2010 Auburn fans were annoying. Post2010 Auburn fans are just unacceptable. They have an unreasonable sense of entitlement and a very narrow view of the rules of the game–as if it is OK to murder someone as long as you don’t get caught…and if you do get caught, it is OK as long as there is no proof. Auburn fans must love some OJ Simpson.
savannadawg
May 9th, 2011
11:59 pm
@DaMan. I hear ya brother, let the “walk-ons” play. Good kids that are at UGA for the education first and football second, but would give their left “you know what” to play.
Coach Grohbo
May 9th, 2011
11:59 pm
D-Man,
Last year it was Ealey, the year before it was Richard Samuel, the year before that it was No-Show..
The T H U G A fans have more personalities than Herschel himself.
DaMan
May 10th, 2011
12:10 am
I’ll give Richt credit for bringing Murray to UGA, he is a stud, but the constant hype about the recruits and nothing to show has got to drive UGA fans crazy…..
Wtf
May 10th, 2011
12:12 am
U would think that some of you were actually on the team…. With the way you are
carrying on
Spike 80DF
May 10th, 2011
12:12 am
Patrick Romano = Douche Bag
Auburn Fans -1 are horrible...
May 10th, 2011
12:14 am
Patrick…I changed my handle in deference to the reasonable Auburn fan posting here–and yo ain’t him.
And the OJ analogy stands. A lack of enough proof of guilt is not the same thing as being innocent.
If you don’t like it…try going 10 straight years without NCAA sanctions…or even 5! I know Big brother Bama is a tall standard but you have to have some sort of moral compass.
Spike 80DF
May 10th, 2011
12:14 am
Anyone know any good places in Auburn to get some firewood? Need to stock up for the winter…..
bigcalidawg
May 10th, 2011
12:17 am
2011 football will be here again, soon. Too bad Cam has to take a pay cut (for the time bein’).
Hey……..Romano……WOOF……WOOF…….WOOF
Hey Romano,..exactly what professional sport do you engage in?
This is a very cyclical league, my friend, but CAM, best QB money can buy,……how long did he attend classes there? 3 months and some days , I believe………..I wonder what his report card read…………
DaMan
May 10th, 2011
12:18 am
Also, what is with the UGA fans obsession with Auburn…….it is blatantly obvious as jealousy is the most transparent emotion…..why in the world do UGA people seem completely obsessed with AU? I understand that everybody is shooting for the Nat’l Champs every year, but reading these blogs make UGA fans seem borderline OCD…….they can’t stop talking about Auburn……
Auburn Fans -1 are horrible...
May 10th, 2011
12:18 am
Plus…since obviously didn’t get it the first time: Pre2000 Auburn fans were like our cousins…People you like to beat but wouldn’t begrudge them some success, Pre2005 Auburn fans were tolerable. Pre2010 Auburn fans were annoying. Post2010 Auburn fans are just unacceptable. They have an unreasonable sense of entitlement and a very narrow view of the rules of the game–as if it is OK to murder someone as long as you don’t get caught…and if you do get caught, it is OK as long as there is no proof. Auburn fans must love some OJ Simpson.
You have said nothing to disprove any of this.
Coach Grohbo
May 10th, 2011
12:19 am
Spike,
That would be the woodshed. Ask anyone on the UGA team where it is.
sports
May 10th, 2011
12:23 am
I feel he can still be productive, he has the talent,but his behavior cost him in the long run. We will see him in the NFL hopefully, but he better get his $hit together in the meantime. Maybe he needs to call SCAM the Cam and get some pointers.
Coach Grohbo
May 10th, 2011
12:23 am
Ms. Horrible,
Jealousy can be an ugly thing.
Auburn Fans -1 are horrible...
May 10th, 2011
12:26 am
DaMan…I am not obsessed with Auburn. Just disappointed how my favorite SEC rivalry has taken a turn for the worse. Dooley went to Auburn. Dye went to UGA. We have always been respectful competitors…until last year. It has nothing to do with the final score of the game–it has to do with the way Chizik coached his players to play. It was disgusting. And everytime and Auburn fan tries to justify that kind of play by pointing out our arrests make their argument even more hollow. If you are an Auburn fan you should be ashamed of your fellow fans and the way that team played last fall.
Auburn Fans -1 are horrible...
May 10th, 2011
12:27 am
Y’all may have bought Cam Newton–but hey we won the Fulmer cup that year so it must be OK. And Fairley cheap shotted our QB…but it is OK because somebody chop blocked him 20 minutes later. That all makes sense to me!
An Old Violin
May 10th, 2011
12:27 am
Where ever he goes, I hope he goes with a different out look ! He’s got the talent, he just doesn’t have the maturity ! I’d love to see him do well, but I hope no one tries to inflate his ego any further, and I hope he has to work his butt off to make the team….then and only then will he be accepted by those of us who have suffered through his stint at Georgia….The mind is a terrible thing to waste, and so is talent !
GaSouthernFan
May 10th, 2011
12:36 am
Sorry but they DON’T need him in Statesboro. GS has a lot of great RB’s. Maybe GA State???
RED DOG 77
May 10th, 2011
12:40 am
My heart felt hope Washaun Ealey gets his act together…….what a shame though, really thought he might do something at Georgia this year. With that said, I really don’t understand why we gave him an unconditional release……….If it were me? I’d say………”Take-off young man, and good luck in the ACC, BIG10, BIG12, or PAC10″……you’ve cancelled your opportunity to play in the SEC by wasting our time”………bye, bye Washaun, hello Isaiah………..GO DOGS !!!!!!
Auburn Fans -1 are horrible...
May 10th, 2011
12:41 am
Hey patrick…as I understand it, according to you I am an idiot form making a valid analogy. and you are really smart because you question the names a mother gives her chile and THEN questions whether or not that child with what you don’t think is a good name has a father!?
Wow.
Some would say that it would be better to be fatherless than have an unscrupulous supposed minister for a father like Cecil Newton.
What exactly are you making a stand for?
Preachers that auction their children off to the highest bidder?
Casinos for student atheletes rigged so that they win?
Late hits?
All are very honorable causes. You keep up the good work–you hear? The world needs more people like Patrick Romano–I’ll say that much. A high minded person like Patrick could single handedly stamp out terrorism.
Colorado Brah Dawg
May 10th, 2011
12:43 am
For Heaven’s Sake don’t give Crowell #3. First Bryan Evans, then Washaun…that digit is cursed! Only Dale Murphy is allowed to wear #3 in the state of Georgia.
Preston
May 10th, 2011
12:46 am
I hate it for him and the university. I was looking forward to watching him have a big year this season and now he’s transferring. Makes you wonder of Coach T’s S & C program is too tough for him.
Preston
May 10th, 2011
12:47 am
He’ll dominate at GSU or Valdosta State! hope he chooses one of these schools to help them win a title in one of those divisions.
Tech 54
May 10th, 2011
12:48 am
My son, and Ealey among other football players, have been enrolled in the same classes (particularly Property Mgmnt) over the past two years, and the frustrated reports from my son, about student-athelete cheating are sickening. My guy works hard and studies his tail off and he makes over 90 in his classes, but he finds it repulsive that the level of cheating is what it is and goes unchecked. Sure, he and I want UGA to whip a$$ in the games, but where is the integrity in the degree we are paying for?!? BEFORE YOU JUMP…IT HAPPENS EVERYWHERE-EVEN AT TECH.
DaMan
May 10th, 2011
12:49 am
@au-horrible…..an unreasonable sense of entitlement??? Auburn is the reigning Nat’l Champions, so what other entitlement could you be referring to?? If UGA won the Nat’l title (not likely in our lifetime), then they could strut around, they earned it……and the constant whining about how Auburn played last year had nothing to do with Chizik, it’s called smashmouth football, and unfortunately, UGA players couldn’t protect their QB and have become a very “soft” team……facts are facts and it is usually the guys that get pushed around that cry the most……you should be ashamed of your O-line for getting the poor guy demolished all season…..and nobody really cares what UGA fans think about the rivalry with Auburn….I’m sure it’s the same as the Gators (but that’s not really a rivalry considering some crazy number like 14 out of the last 15 games have been Florida wins)…….strange crew, those UGA fans…
Columbus
May 10th, 2011
12:52 am
Auburn is slimy, dirty, unethical, cheaters and have been for at least the last 20 years and they need to be cleaned out just like our federal government. Get all new people in there, Public institution bought and owned by a few. All I have to say is Bobby Lowder….gets nominated AGAIN for the Board of Trustees….a trustee? Him? Scandalous….They buy their way in to run/own the school and it works so then they buy the players….Auburn is ALL that is wrong with college football and they have no place on the same field except with USC and Ohio State maybe, the old SMU. Auburn could not hang with Bama so a few rich a$$es decided they would get in there and do WHATEVER it took to show Bama up….could not do it on nearly a consistent basis otherwise. Anyone familiar and who has been around awhile knows this is true. That is why is bugs us UGA fans….Most of Auburn trustees are corrupt along with many boosters….that is why there is a lawsuit filed against them Friday by a former president of the alumni association or something. Auburn is scum because of the win at all costs mentality and they are about to have to reap what they have sown and to be honest I hope it is the NCAA death penalty….they deserve it for letting seats on the Board of trustees continued to be bought and not raising hell. They would rather win by allowing cheating and by buying their wins and looking the other way than by doing it even close to the right way….The NCAA death penalty was adopted for schools just like Auburn. May they use it…..
Auburn Fans -1 are horrible...
May 10th, 2011
1:04 am
Sorry DaMan…I don’t think that they earned it.
O-lineman stop blocking after the play has long past the line of scrimmage. Dirty players take that opportunity to dive at a QB’s knee…in a game in which the score is already out of reach for the team on offense. So yeah–I take offense to that. And you and a thousand other Auburn fans will not change my mind.
Furthermore…Cam Newton, the reason you were able to win that National championship is tainted goods. It would be like UGA paying Matt Ryan for a year and then bragging about our success while we had him. Cam Newton is a cheater…with little respect for the rules or the law. Cecil Newton is a cheater…and Gene Chizik is a cheater. You guys bought Cam second hand as if he was no longer a cheater. OK.
Don’t you think there is a difference between developing a player right out of high school and buying one from juco?
Hey man enjoy that trophy while you have it…I just hope you still have a football team when the FBI gets done.
Finally hats off to Trooper Taylor for giving a high five…on the field…during a game..to Dirty Fairly after he tried to intentionally injure our QB. Good good show there. Nothing encourages a dirty play like a high five from the coach-huh?
I hope you have a really good night.
DaMan
May 10th, 2011
1:10 am
@columbus, you’re exactly what I was talking about……UGA fan obsessed with Auburn…..you should probably concentrate on getting more than 6 wins this season than obsessing over the NC team…..and it is ironic that UGA fans say all of the negative things about Auburn, Ohio St, etc….and they have 13 players arrested in ONE off-season, so I’m not sure your point holds any merit……so you’re saying that all of the other schools are slimy but UGA is clean as a whistle??? Come on man, at least open your eyes and see that UGA is as dirty as they come…..assault, domestic issues, AD with red panties in his lap…..and you’re throwing stones???
Auburn Fans -1 are horrible...
May 10th, 2011
1:15 am
Columbus is a UGA fan on a UGA blog…yet the Auburn Fan on the UGA blog is claiming that the UGA fan is obsessed wih Auburn. What were you saying about throwing stones guy?
I said good night.
KurtF
May 10th, 2011
1:35 am
Washaun who? Was that the mouthy kid who kept dropping the ball? He’ll make a fine second string arena player someday.
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
May 10th, 2011
1:35 am
Would be surprised if Georgia Southern’s Head Coach took this problem on…Lot of good things going on in Statesboro right now to open the door to these kind of problems…