Running backs: Competition between Caleb King, Isaiah Crowell should translate into success
UPDATE: CALEB KING LOST HIS ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY ON JULY 8, 2011
Fourth in a series breaking down Georgia’s 2011 football team by position groups. . . .
Georgia tailback Caleb King, here breaking loose for a 27-yard gain against Georgia Tech last season, brings knowledge and experience to the table. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
THE RUNNING BACKS
- Returning starters: TB Caleb King (Sr., 5-11, 224)
- Others to watch: Isaiah Crowell (5-11, 210) is the most anticipated freshman running back Georgia has had since fellow Columbus resident Jasper Sanks showed up in Athens in the late 1990s. Crowell will be in an all-out competition with King for playing time, but Carlton Thomas, Ken “Boo” Malcome and sophomore walk-on Brandon Harton will be looking to get into the mix. . . . Meanwhile, the Bulldogs will be breaking in a new starter at fullback for the first time in four seasons in converted tight end Bruce Figgins or sophomore Zander Ogletree.
- Key losses: Georgia lost its leading rusher from 2010 with the abrupt departure of junior Washaun Ealey after spring practice. Ealey and coach Mark Richt “mutually agreed” they’d each be better off if Ealey transferred. Ealey, who started seven games — King started five — and rushed for 811 yards and 11 TDs with the Bulldogs last season, ended up at Jacksonville State, a Football Championship Subdivision school for whom he’ll be immediately eligible to play. . . . Georgia lost a ton of experience at fullback with the graduations of three-year starter Shaun Chapas and backup Fred Munzenmaier.
-
It's Isaiah Crowell's breakaway ability that had recruiters salivating. Among his long-distance scampers was a 90-yard TD run against eventual state champion Buford.
Key fact: For all the fan criticism and off-field disciplinary issues, King has actually been a fairly solid SEC back. He has averaged 5.0 yards per carry in his career with that average creeping up in each of his three seasons to 5.4 last year. He has also mastered the playbook and the critical criteria of Georgia backs to be able to effectively pass block, particularly in blitzing situations. The only area where he remains unproven is as a consistent “home run” threat.
- Key questions: Will this be Crowell’s year or King’s year? Everybody wants to discover the next big thing, and there is certainly evidence that Crowell could be that for the Bulldogs in 2011. Crowell had an incredible 11.7 yards per carry average at Carver (1,721 yards, 147 carries, 18 TDs), including multiple TDs runs of 50 or more yards. So he would appear to bring big-play capability to the table. But, early on at least, as Georgia faces a pair of top 10 opponents in Boise State and South Carolina in the season’s opening weeks, King is the one who should know every assignment and will need to fill the role of “Mr. Dependable.”
- Recent developments: Figgins’ move from tight end to fullback can’t be over-emphasized. For the first time in Richt’s 11-year tenure the Bulldogs are coming into the season without a proven commodity at fullback. Ogletree was recruited to play the position and projects as a capable every-down player eventually. But the 6-4, 265-pound Figgins’ willingness to move from a position at which he once was a starter into the backfield gives Georgia a legitimate jumbo presence with blocking and pass-catching skills. Walk-on Dustin Royston (5-11, 242) will be a factor as well.
- Outlook: Pretty good. Losing Ealey has to hurt from a production standpoint but his absence also eliminates a negative element and clears the way for hearty competition between multiple and varied talents. Should be an entertaining horse race all season.
- Your turn: What say you about the running backs?
PREVIOUS POSITION BREAKDOWNS:
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
264 comments Add your comment
UGA Student
July 6th, 2011
2:17 pm
Malcome will be our most consistent RB, if they give him a chance. Crowell doesn’t have experience and seems to have a bad attitude, and King has given no reason for us to trust him.
tide roll
July 6th, 2011
2:21 pm
If the offensive line stays healthy, you got something going with Crowell. Figgins/Ogeltree at fullback is a tremendous upgrade .Big Artie Lynch will be a plus in two tight sets as well.
bulldogmaniac
July 6th, 2011
2:21 pm
UGA STUDENT – Why do you say that Crowell has a bad attitude? Please give examples.
JayD
July 6th, 2011
2:21 pm
As long as the substitution patterns are what they are – GA will never have a “consistent” back! The talent is there – They have to figure out how to use them.
C-Town
July 6th, 2011
2:22 pm
UGA Student…How does Crowell have a bad Attitude? Did you win some kind of fan day in the weight-room or something? So stop telling lies & starting rumors, Ok….The kid will be fine HATER
JDawg1785
July 6th, 2011
2:23 pm
One concern I do have for the running game is that Boo might get the same amount of carries in the season that he got in the G-Day game: not enough.
bulldogmaniac
July 6th, 2011
2:25 pm
People spew garbage about someone that they do not even know.
UGA STUDENT (Yea right), I’m sure that your cousins freings sister step brothers nephew went to highschool with Crowell and you have the inside scoop, right? GET A LIFE!
Chess
July 6th, 2011
2:25 pm
Same story every year. Georgia has always had good running backs but will never focus on the running game. Bobo just wants to pass. How has he kept that job
DixieDemons
July 6th, 2011
2:25 pm
Most running backs need a good, real good , or great offensive line …….. I would rate the bulldog O-line as below average at best. These backs are going to get hammered by opposing defenses and then blamed for not being productive by the Bulldog faithful.
bulldogmaniac
July 6th, 2011
2:28 pm
Chess, when you have a QB like Murray, a WR like Green and the great tight ends we had last year, of coarse Bobo wanted to pass the ball! Had we ran it more people would have blamed him for not passing enough and using the weapons we had. You cant please everyone. With AJ gone my guess is that we will see a heavy dose of running.
TouchDown Charlie
July 6th, 2011
2:31 pm
Love Caleb since Parkview..he was one of the most exciting RB’s I have ever seen coming out of hihg school.
Wonderful Ohio on the Gulf 'Dog
July 6th, 2011
2:33 pm
More Demon than Dixie,
Georgia’s O-line isn’t “below average” as you claim. Ben Jones and Cordy Glenn are as good as they come.
Georgia’s O-line just isn’t deep. You hate to see true freshmen O-linesmen, but two or three will contribute this year. They’ll have to.
Atticus
July 6th, 2011
2:33 pm
Hanging my hat on the following:
1) Returning QB, best performer at Elite 11, has a year under his belt. Richt’s record with returning QBs is excellent
2) Todd Grantham’s second year to install defense. Add Jarvis Jones and Big John, another year for all the others to get more acclimated
3) Excellent kicker and punter and punt returner
4) Schedule is very favorable
5) TN and UF are as down as they have ever been together
This needs to be a 10-2 season and win the East despite all the excuses.
AltamahaDawg
July 6th, 2011
2:34 pm
Bobo just wanted to pass then ball 44% of the time, to be exact. Too little if you ask me.
Saban
July 6th, 2011
2:37 pm
Crowell will not last 3 months. King will be gone by halftime of the Boise State Game.
Dawgs win 3 maybe.
Homepage | MrSEC.com
July 6th, 2011
2:38 pm
[...] Competition at the running back spot for the Georgia [...]
Actually
July 6th, 2011
2:40 pm
Isiah will not be the next Herschel, nor will anyone else. But, I surely hope he isn’t the next Jasper either.
DawginLex
July 6th, 2011
2:44 pm
Penn state 63
Alabama 3
Arkansas 49
Alabama 7
Bama goes 6-6 and Saban quits.
Actually
July 6th, 2011
2:45 pm
Look for alot of tight end. It’s our best chance. Not only does it help the “O” line with extra blocking for both the run and the pass, but also gives you extra pass receivers. Hate we didn’t use them more last year.
Vampire Bill
July 6th, 2011
2:46 pm
I’m with the thought that Caleb will have a big year. If he does then its a perfect situation for Crowell. Let the senior have his last chance to show the NFL he’s got skills but rest him when needed with Crowell and Boo. This could be very effective.
GT BBall Fan
July 6th, 2011
2:47 pm
Did someone actually say Caleb King could be a mentor??? Are you kidding me….
AltamahaDawg
July 6th, 2011
2:52 pm
JayD, good point, but I think you might be overstating that rotation a bit. Obviously this is a platoon type situation, but It wasnt every 2 plays. I think if you go look at the details from games, you will see it was much more by a series or two. There were also quite a few game that either King or Ealey was not (available)in the game, and the other guy got the majority of the carries, being subeds for very sparingly. I don;t think we ever really proved the groove theory in those cases.
I am confident that if they had a consistant runner, he would be getting the bulk of the work. That’s certainly been true in the past.
I just don’t see where King/Ealey ever proved that for any period of time.
WE are going to have King in the game a lot, and Crowell sitting over on the bench. I’m guessing we fans are going to be all in favor of liberal substitutions in this case.
dapperdanman
July 6th, 2011
2:53 pm
Thunder Dome!!!!
This Sept. 3 in Atlanta, we Georgians (and Dawg Fans) have the opportunity to make a statement.
This may be the most pivotal game we play in deciding our outcome this season. Even if we were to win out the remainder of our schedule and win the SEC championship (the best you could hope for after a loss in the opener), we would not play in a National Championship if Boise remained undefeated, or anybody else for that matter, thus ending the SEC streak with the title game. Well this just can’t happen. We must win. Not because we think we should because we are the bigger program from the SEC and that should be enough to win. Not because we think we can play in a National Championship if we do. Our toughest games will be still to come. It is not because they think they will destroy us since they beat Va Tech last year right before James Madison did and “this isn’t the same team we beat in 2005”. It is because… THIS IS OUR HOUSE. THIS IS IN OUR STATE, IN OUR CAPITAL. THIS IS OUR COCA~COLA. THAT IS OUR DAMN CHICKEN SANDWICH. Do they even have Chic-fil-a in Boise?
When Boise St comes to the Georgia Dome to face us, we the fans have a responsibility to do our part to help our team. If you have ever been to the Dome you know how loud it can be. It is our job to make the walls crumble from our thunderous roar!!!!!!!!! Anytime the Boise offense is on the field it is our job to make as much noise as you’ve ever made. STAY ON YOUR FEET between plays still SCREAMING with all your might. STOMP THE GROUND and CLAP YOUR HANDS. SHAKE YOU KEYS. Bring those CRYING BABIES that you always bring to restaurants. Take off your belts, fold them in half, hold both ends, move your hands in then pull away making the belt pop. Try it, pretty loud. I don’t care if you wear tap shoes. We might take some heat for it if we all showed up in tap shoes, but that would make a ton of noise. Just sayin…
The point is we help win games too. We help motivate our kids to sell out body and mind for us and we strike fear and confusion into the other team. Though our part is nothing to what the players’ and coaches’ roles are, we must still show up prepared and ready to give our all, just like we expect from the team every Saturday. I don’t care if the score is 100-0, we don’t quit making noise or leave early. I want the TV announcers to show the noise meter at the Dome showing new records. Noise can cause miscommunication with play calling, unheard check-offs or audibles from the QB or sidelines, missed kicks, penalties, and turnovers. It can strike fear into the other team and kill momentum. We don’t need to take our feet off the gas, on the field or in the stands, till the game is over and we get that chicken dinner.
I WANT THAT CHICKEN DINNER!!!!!!!!
Then I want to eat chicken again the next week.
Don’t let me down Dawg Fans.
Don’t let our team down.
We will only become champions with each other. Standing behind one another proudly and united.
It’s time to bring the noise. GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Big Earl
July 6th, 2011
2:54 pm
DawginLex….is your info about why Benedict and Ealey left the program your opinion or is it based in fact? … if fact, please elaborate…I’m interested.
JB
July 6th, 2011
2:55 pm
OUCH… Rivals has Ga. Tech at #65 in their pre season countdown. Say’s the 14 year string of bowl eligibility is in doubt. Nesbitt and Allen loss HUGE. Western Carolina looming large I’d say. Click on Sports on Yahoo home page , then NCAA football to read all about it…..You would think a new hire in year 4 would have a program on the up tick….well, maybe not.
DawginLex
July 6th, 2011
2:58 pm
Ealey-Richt clearly got fed up and told him to leave. I have no inside information but it is obvious.
Benedict-Guy is recovering from major injury. Word from several sites is that he and Joe T had a run-in regarding certain types of lifts. Joe t refused to budge and Benedict got mad. The topper was when he and his dad went and met with Muschamp to discuss transferring BEFORE he aanounced he was leaving.
I’m not “UGA Insider” but i get enough information from people in and around the program that lead me to believe this is right.
JB
July 6th, 2011
3:00 pm
Johnson 26-14 after 3 years at Tech…..Hum………………….Best damn coach in America outside Saban too.
Kick a fieldgoal with 4th and inches
July 6th, 2011
3:00 pm
Same ol story humpers.
DawginLexIsSmartButHeAin'tPatrick
July 6th, 2011
3:00 pm
Nice try TROLL boy
Charlie Hayes
July 6th, 2011
3:01 pm
Knowshon Moreno didnt have a talented O-Line. He got the job done with vision, patience and extra effort on every play. Go back and watch the tape and see how many times Moreno got the extra three, four and five yards play-after-play with his spin move and extra effort. You need a back that wants it and will not go down to show string and arm tackles. The O-Line isnt good enough to open up gaping holes that CMR himself could run through thus the back has to make it happen. I just hope that Caleb runs like he did in high school while trying to get a big time D1 offer. He was highly motivated his junior and senior seasons at Parkview and GAC. Now, he is in the same boat with the NFL looking down on his talent and ability. Kind of like a contract renewal year for the pros….Gotta get it done or he is out. I also think that Ken Malcome will surprise a lot of people this year. I watched him in several HS games and he is a punishing runner that loves to lower his head and crack linebackers. I truely believe that it will be a 1-2-3-4 combo of King, Malcome, Thomas and Crowell in the first game against Boise State in the dome. I feel that CMR will run all of them to see who wants to play and the best back from that game will be the primary back against USC when it matters. Good to know we have four backs for depth coverage. Also, I watched Ealey in two HS games and he was a man among boys in those games playing both HB and SS bothways. I want to see Crowell against USC or Tennessee before I will call him a savior or feature back. I understand that he dominated in HS, however a lot of those schools didnt produce D1 talent either. I thought Ealey was a sure deal for us and I was proven wrong. I hope Crowell is the real deal and becomes a feature back, but I am not eating crow again. Go Dawgs!
DawginLex
July 6th, 2011
3:01 pm
Patrick Sulley?
He is a bigger homer than I will ever be.
Summer National Champs
July 6th, 2011
3:02 pm
Wow, every position is in good shape, I guess this isn’t the same team that lost it’s best players on both sides of the ball off a team with a losing record that lost to middle florida in a bowl game.
Running back will not matter when the midget cannot see over the OL
July 6th, 2011
3:03 pm
You are weak Patrick.
DawginLex
July 6th, 2011
3:03 pm
Summer National Champs
July 6th, 2011
3:02 pm
Wow, every position is in good shape, I guess this isn’t the same team that lost it’s best players on both sides of the ball off a team with a losing record that lost to middle florida in a bowl game.
*********************************************************
Reading comprehension not your thing huh?
All of us have been discussing the lack of depth on the OL.
There is an article about it too.
D BAG TROLLS!
July 6th, 2011
3:04 pm
We will be great at this position with all the change of pace backs we have. I love a new start to a position that has been the attitude of entitlement. You earn the right to run the ball at UGA and that has been missing since KM. Go Dawgs!
Crowell another Ealey-King
July 6th, 2011
3:06 pm
Humpers crack me up.
You're right JB
July 6th, 2011
3:07 pm
You’d also think a coach at a school that’ll spend any amount of money on football and recruit any player no matter his criminal record or grades would have a team on the up tick in year 10?
Are you so unaware of how silly (it’s actually more than silly) you are?
What if ....
July 6th, 2011
3:07 pm
How good were Jasper Sanks, Caleb King, and Washaun Ealey supposed to be at UGA after coming out of high school? 4-5 Stars, right.
And did even one of them live up to his high school hype? Nope!
Yes, even a blind squirrel finds a nut, so maybe I.C. will be as good as, or better, than Lattimore was at USC as a freshman, but What if …… he’s just as good as JS, CK, or WE.
Oh yeah, and UGA might have OL issues in 2011….
I used to respect you; drinking too much Pat?
July 6th, 2011
3:07 pm
DawginLex
July 6th, 2011
2:44 pm
Penn state 63
Alabama 3
Arkansas 49
Alabama 7
Bama goes 6-6 and Saban quits
Big Earl
July 6th, 2011
3:08 pm
Lex…thanks for the info! I was hoping the “dead leg” thing was the reason for Benedict leaving, but if the Muschamp thing is true, I think I’ve got a new most favorite coach to hate(for some reason I can’t hate Spurrior @ SC like I did when he was @ FL). If Muschamp met with a GA player, wouln’t that be some kind of NCAA infraction?
C-Town
July 6th, 2011
3:08 pm
I am sick of UGA fans, talking about Jasper Sanks. Give it a rest. Jasper did have problems off the field, BUT he still was better than 3/4 of UGA RB’s since he left UGA. Jasper finshed 2nd in the SEC in Rushing in 1999, Can Caleb King, Ealey,C.Thomas,Tyson Browning, Dontavious Jackson,say the same……NO……so if Crowell can do what Jasper did on the Field, or better…thats fine….thats better than most UGA RB of the past. Crowell will be a star.
puppy in KY
July 6th, 2011
3:10 pm
Can you read the title of the article or read more than 1 post? Come back when you’re in the 5th grade.
D BAG TROLLS!
July 6th, 2011
3:10 pm
For the Murray haters! You are the same douchers that say Drew Brees and Vick where not tall enough either, right? They turned out pretty good. Silly argument from a dark and gloomy basement that the individuals that reside in it smell WEIRD! Sorry that your Bumble Bees don’t have a sting, but the DAWGS still have a bite. L
Returning QB
July 6th, 2011
3:11 pm
That was a good point about Richt’s record with returning QB. 5 seasons with returning QB, wins = 13, 11, 10, 11, 10. 5 seasons with new starting QB, wins = 8, 10, 9, 8, 6 with the 10 win season being Shockley who clearly had the most playing time of any of the other new starting QBs. Doesn’t mean we will have 10 or more this year but still interested statistics.
DawginLex
July 6th, 2011
3:13 pm
to the TROLL who keeps calling me patrick
1.) Give it up, I’m not him
2.) You need to stop changing your blog handle so much or you will get banned
3.) I posted the Bama scores as a comeback to the Saban idiot who posts the 66-3 score for our opener
Anything else you need explained to you?
Letter to Santa
July 6th, 2011
3:16 pm
(1) Please keep our players out of trouble
(2) Please keep our coaches out of trouble
(3) Please keep our OL healthy
(4) Please keep our QB healthy
(5) Please do not run Thomas up the middle
(6) Please keep us from turning the ball over
(7) Please keep us from getting stupid penalties
MarineDog
July 6th, 2011
3:19 pm
dapperdanman
July 6th, 2011
2:53 pm
oohrah!!!
GT Fan ...
July 6th, 2011
3:20 pm
JB … What was Rivals reasoning for having GT at #65, and the 14-yr Bowl run in jeopardy?
What did Rivals have them ranked before PJ’s 1st season (when NO player on the team had any game experience running his O)? And they finished 9-4 that season.
Last season for GT was a good example of what can happen when you factor in TOs and injuries. GT was darn near the WORST team in Div 1 in TOs lost last season with 27 (20 Fum, 7 int). Now add Nesbitt’s injury to that, and BAM, 6-7 is easily accomplished. Change the 4 TOs vs both UGA and Air Force to 1 or none, and GT wins both of those, and goes 8-5.
Here’s a fact for you … if GT has no major injuries, and cuts their TOs a bunch in 2011 they will finish the season ranked further from #65 than your Dawgs do.
P_The_Ricker
July 6th, 2011
3:20 pm
as much as everyone wants to question King and his production, it’s pretty hard to complain about a 5.0 ypc avg. IF he gets on the field, then all should work itself out. his failure to actually play the bulk of the season was his biggest negative……not his actual carries.
people also forget that he played several games in ‘09 w/ a broken jaw. the kid is standing in his own way. if he figures things out, he could be the surprise player of the SEC.
Bob
July 6th, 2011
3:21 pm
All of our RBs have the potential…it’s really up to how quickly our OL jells. I would love to see Justin S-W line up in the backfield similar to Percy Harvin. He’s got the size (220) and speed (fastest guy on our team) to shake up the defense and cause some excitement.