Georgia LB Richard Samuel agrees to move back to tailback (UPDATED)
Junior Richard Samuel (22), here in Georgia's G-Day Game, was actually looking pretty good as a linebacker. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
In the wake of attrition at the running back position, Georgia announced Thursday that junior Richard Samuel will move back to tailback from linebacker.
Samuel, a former five-star prospect from Cartersville who was recruited at both positions, played tailback his first two seasons with the Bulldogs. He agreed to a move to linebacker last year, then redshirted. The 6-foot-2 athlete is now up to 243 pounds. He played tailback in the 225 to 230 range.
Georgia lost its top two tailbacks of the two last seasons — Caleb King and Washaun Ealey – to academic ineligibility and transfer, respectively, since the end of spring practice. True freshman Isaiah Crowell, junior Carlton Thomas and redshirt freshman Ken “Boo” Malcome were the only remaining tailbacks on scholarship.
Following is UGA’s release:
Georgia junior linebacker Richard Samuel of Cartersville will return to the tailback position, according to an announcement Thursday by UGA head coach Mark Richt. Samuel, who played tailback as a freshman and sophomore, had been moved to linebacker a year ago but injuries led to a redshirt season in 2010.
“After discussions with Richard, his family, and our coaches I’m excited that Richard wants to make the move,” Richt said. “He’s one of our fastest and most powerful players, is very mature, has a strong character and is a man we can count on. I’m proud of him for always putting the team first and I look forward to seeing what he can do.”
Said Samuel: “I’m excited about the opportunity at tailback. I’m ready to do anything that will help the team win.”
In his two seasons at tailback (2008-09), Samuel played in 22 games including six starts (all in 2009). He carried 114 times for 528 yards and three touchdowns.
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353 comments Add your comment
trupert
July 14th, 2011
6:34 pm
Auburn’s still being investigated by the NCAA!. It’s official now!!!
Tech is Rennie's B!TC#
July 14th, 2011
6:35 pm
Way to be a team player Richard, it’s so unfair to have someone as talented as you to be dragged around like this. Maybe if Bobo won’t act like an 8 year old playing madden we’ll be alright.
BIGDAWG37
July 14th, 2011
6:38 pm
Good for Samuels! Good for the Dawgs! He’ll be a nice changeup to Crowell!
GATA!
Paul N Destin
July 14th, 2011
6:40 pm
JB Nick Saban has a NC at two schools so what does your guy have?? You run that mouth with the best of them but you don’t play so well. Don’t even to pretend to get in a compare your record between UGA and Alabama. One NC since sliced bread. STFU
Tampa Gator
July 14th, 2011
6:41 pm
When does fall practice begin for SEC teams? Why is it so hot? Love the summer though, as you get great stories about players like Richard Samuel….and then no stories about them in the fall.
1953Dawg
July 14th, 2011
6:43 pm
Columbus, how about his last 3 years? His wins came when Bama, and Fl. were both down and under terrible coaches. He will not win another title or another SEC east title. He has allowed this program to get passed by Auburn, S.C., Miss.St, Arkansas, LSU, Bama,and Fl. Yet you get on these blogs and brag about his first 3 or 4 years. My GOD, wake up, and for once look at where this program is now. Richt has destroyed this program, and he will never get it back. We have no depth at any position, no playmakers on offense, Murray is not a playmaker when the games count, no playmakers on defense, and the only thing this team has is a good place kicker, punter, and kick return guy. If you are so delusional that you think UGA will win with a good punter, kicker, and return man, then i feel sorry for you. Bottomline, this program is irrelevant now because of your wonderful Richt, and that’s not going to change.
big john 360 lbs
July 14th, 2011
6:43 pm
What if R. Samuels turns into Terell Davis this year?
Ben
July 14th, 2011
6:46 pm
Great student and just 20 years old and a red shirt Junior. Not an annointed selfish frontrunner. just a team player with no rap sheet.
coloradobulldog
July 14th, 2011
6:48 pm
@Dawg Tired, I am assuming @ D Bag meant 5 yards a carry or at least 50 yards a game as 5 yds a game is pathetic. But your comment of Samuels being absolutely terrible as a RB is just as bad. Samuels had a 100+ yard game vs Arkansas and some good returns as a SO. Not sure why he lost out in the rotation. I never liked King who blew the game vs Colorado when all he had to do was fall down so we could kick a winning FG.
nasty dog
July 14th, 2011
6:50 pm
he avg 4.6 yards a carry. i can not wait to see him carry the ball. great call boys.
Paul N Destin
July 14th, 2011
6:51 pm
what if Mark Richt gets caught with a hooker?
Columbus …You sir are amazing. Did an Bama fan runover your dog or did you growup during the Coach Bryant years? Hell even Tech has won a NC since you guys.
Congrates to Richard for being a team guy…best take a picture since you don’t see this much these days with the player pool we have.
nasty dog
July 14th, 2011
6:52 pm
better yet what if samuels is another robert edwards.
LakeDawg
July 14th, 2011
6:57 pm
JB
July 14th, 2011
5:54 pm
I know he’s fast. May be a Godsend.
You may be right JB. I kinda like the way this off season is shaping up. Getting rid of the dead wood and replacing them with guys who are thankful for the opportunity. With Malcombe, Samuels, and the new FB, UGA may become a power running team with play action mixed in. Wouldn’t that be great!
jack bull
July 14th, 2011
6:57 pm
the story is not yet over…..as soon as Jarvis Jones is ruled ineligilbe for some crazy shyt he got himself into 3 yrs ago, Samuel will be right back at LB….
deacon
July 14th, 2011
6:57 pm
samuels five star recruit big fast explosive in your program for 3 years and does not have defined role in your program it seems that they don’t know what to do with this talent another year spent on the sideline while coaches scratch their behinds on how to use this nfl caliber athlete
nasty dog
July 14th, 2011
6:58 pm
1953 dog we have no depth at any position.we just placed 6 players on the all sec preseason team.we also have the best qback in the sec possibly the country.the best tight end with charles.and one of the best recurting classes in the country.seems to me you are not a real ga fan.
LakeDawg
July 14th, 2011
7:00 pm
What’s the over/under on when the NCAA starts sniffing around Bama and Saban?
1953Dawg
July 14th, 2011
7:01 pm
Marinedawg, this is not based on last year. It is based on the past 3 years, and unfortunately the program has been in decline for the past 3 years. UGA has underachieved the past 4 years actually, while other programs in the SEC have been on the upswing. For programs like Auburn, Miss.St, S.C,and Arkansas to pass UGA is a disgrace, and Richt is the man responsible for this. He is getting paid $3 million to make sure this doesn’t happen. Defend him all you want, but the bottomline is he isn’t getting paid $3 million per year to finish behind Auburn, Miss.St,S.C,Arkansas, and especially Bama, LSU, and Fl. How can any UGA fan defend this clown when he has a 2and8 record against Florida for GOD’S sake, wakeup, did Dooley lose 8 out of 10 to Fl., answer is never. So keep drinking the kool-aid, because this guy is not a good coach, because a good coach would not allow this to happen to his program. As for your question about talent, it is obvious, recruiting services don’t mean anything, and if you don’t have the coaches to coach up talent, and to evaluate talent, these numbers mean nothing. Prime example is Richard Samuel. How has UGA and Richt done with this 5 star talent. Give me a fu..ing break!!
coloradobulldog
July 14th, 2011
7:01 pm
@1953Dawg, dude take a pill? Chill! Before you have a hemorrhage. We are only a few years removed from a Top 5 team coached by a guy you obviously don’t like. And 3 years ago we had 10 wins. Richt’s the right man for the job. What do you want – RayGoff?
RJ Voorhees
July 14th, 2011
7:01 pm
Richard Samuel is a damn good dawg! He is a beast and will be a good change up to Crowell. I wonder how this news affects Keith Marshall view of the Dawgs?
jack bull
July 14th, 2011
7:02 pm
LakeDawg, 6 weeks! Yahoo Sports is going to drop a bomb right before the season starts….
Poopdawg
July 14th, 2011
7:02 pm
I think maybe even 7 yds a game.
Jason
July 14th, 2011
7:03 pm
Hey college football fan. You obviously aren’t a recruiting fan. Samuel was the #1 linebacker in recruiting. He was recruited as a RB too, but he was listed as a LB first. Don’t comment unless you know what you are talking about.
Uugghh...
July 14th, 2011
7:04 pm
Don’t block me bro! My blocked post was positive…too bad you didn’t block the 45 clowns on here disparaging #22 at RB. Don’t block me bro!!
nasty dog
July 14th, 2011
7:05 pm
Enter your comments here
coloradobulldog
July 14th, 2011
7:05 pm
@1953Dawg, if we underachieved so much the last 4 years as you say how did we finish in Top 5 exactly 4 seasons ago when Stafford was a SO? Dude you are senile.
CHUCK UGA
July 14th, 2011
7:06 pm
I always liked him better than King. Ealey leaving hurts, but Samuel can tote the rock. I like our mix back there. Remember Robert Edwards?!!!
Big Bad Bob
July 14th, 2011
7:06 pm
To 1953Poodle. You are a pathetic loser. UGA does not need negative fans like you. Why don’t you go put on your leather helmet and get up a game of touch football in your back yard and stay off of this vent.
Ra'mon
July 14th, 2011
7:07 pm
Voorhees it shouldn’t affect Marshall because Samuel is a junior. Worst case scenario, when Marshall comes on campus Samuel will be a senior, and Crowell will be 2 years from bolting (what junior top notch RB comes back for another year of hits).
Poopdawg
July 14th, 2011
7:07 pm
Tampa gator , kind of like your REAL QB John Brantley.
ARdawg
July 14th, 2011
7:12 pm
jack bull
to what do you refer as to Jarvis?
1953Dawg
July 14th, 2011
7:13 pm
nasty dawg, you are a total idiot. 3 of the players we placed on the sec team are special teams players. One player on defense, which was second team in Tyson. That really adds up to alot of depth doesn’t it. Please, show your ignorance somewhere else, but once again shows what typical UGA fans know about the depth chart and it shows how kool-aid drinkers think. If you don’t know that UGA has no depth at R.B(Why was Samuel moved again) O.L, 6 lineman that are healty, D.L, L.B, 4 starters are playing that didn’t start last year(Ogletree, Washington,Jones, and Robinson), C.B, and Safety, where hamilton might start and he admitted to not knowing what he was doing on the field last year. Yet you talk about depth, my God, please stop listening to Richt and look at the facts. Placing 3 players on special teams does not mean there is any depth.
Contractor
July 14th, 2011
7:16 pm
Gracious, they keep pulling the guy in different directions. It’s an attitude like this that puts teams in the best position to win, and in National Championship pictures. I sure hope he gets his due and has a hell of a year. Can only want that for a guy that is making career move after career move. Keep it up Richard, and be the bruiser you are this Fall. We’re all rooting that you have an amazing year wherever it is you line up.
RJ Voorhees
July 14th, 2011
7:16 pm
DAWGS will get great news this friday night! Book it, and go DAWGS!
collegeballfan
July 14th, 2011
7:20 pm
“Collegeballfan
C’mon, that wasn’t brain science. We were very weak at LB and had supposed studs in King and Ealy at tailback.”
Supposed studs King and Ealey were 4 star recruits. Samuel was a 5 star. Samuel was taken out of the starting job during the season, months before he was moved to linebacker.
Do not re-write history.
The question on the table remains: why did they move Samuel to linebacker?
I know the answer. Do you?
1953Dawg
July 14th, 2011
7:23 pm
Coloradog, i might be senile, but i am in touch with reality. Too bad you aren’t. How does it feel to sit there and brag about Richt and the program reaching such great heights the past 3 years.Go watch the 2005 SEC title game, because that’s the last time you can be proud of the UGA program and Richt. He got his ass handed to him in Knoxville, and at home to S.C. in 2007, i would consider that a huge underachievement. But you keep drinking your Richt Kool-aid you moron.
Delbert D.
July 14th, 2011
7:26 pm
Terrell Davis was a 6th-round draft pick by the Broncos. He was 6th-string during their training camp. Alex Gibbs and his blocking scheme for the Broncos OL let that young man develop into a 2-time Super Bowl winner and 2000+ yards NFL MVP.
John
July 14th, 2011
7:26 pm
Wow the Dawgs have incredible depth. No wonder they are a front runner to win the east. South Carolina is nothing compared to this fine oiled machine.
Keith d
July 14th, 2011
7:27 pm
Nice to see a kid who puts his team first instead of just thinking of himself.
25th CAB Army Dawg
July 14th, 2011
7:30 pm
I dont know what some dawgs fan are crying about. Sameul is a good back. he averaged 4.6 yards per carry. HELLLLOOOOO… Last time I checked 4.6yds x 3 carries= 13.8 yards. First down! Move the change gang and keeps Crowell fresh. However, I do question the decision making of this coaching staff. I just hope it doesn’t back fire.
Go DAWGS!!! Hoooaah!
Black Mountain Bulldog
July 14th, 2011
7:30 pm
I hope that this kid can be another Robert Edwards. He is a great Teammate , from my point of view. I wish Richard all the success, in the world.
deacon
July 14th, 2011
7:34 pm
i believe bulldog football will establish it self as a force in the sec east this year regardless of the issues they are facing this offseason all the problems last year uga lost alot of close games
D Bag Trolls!
July 14th, 2011
7:35 pm
Clarifying: 5 yards a carry will be his average. IC and CT have the break away speed with RS and Boo pounding the D. Again, no brainer decision! Keep in mind we have a huge FB that can block extremely well with hands that can catch.
Mean Machine
July 14th, 2011
7:35 pm
Many thanks to Samuel for putting the team first. A true Dawg, through and through! I hope this move does not diminish his chances in the NFL. I believe his future in the NFL is at LB.
Tide Roll
July 14th, 2011
7:35 pm
Just run the Stud behind Kenarious Gates, Bean Anderson, Artie Lynch, and Bruce Figgins. All day long. This is the year to wear down Florida and Auburn’s defenses. Both are extremely thin. Just wish Richt/Bobo had anticipated this, and recruited more depth in your offensive line. Samuel presents a great opportunity to control the ball and keep your defense off the field. This again raises the question as to whether or not you’re patient enough to do it. That’s the problem when you have former QB(s) as both head coach and offensive coordinator. They don’t challenge one another. Just support each other’s desire to throw it all over the place. The only two times you’ve beaten Florida is when you scored 4 Touchdowns ON THE GROUND.
RxDawg
July 14th, 2011
7:36 pm
I simply just do not agree with this. It just seems like we should have some better options from other skill positions. I hope I’m wrong and Richard does very well…. but I never felt like he made a good back.
PMC
July 14th, 2011
7:37 pm
It takes away some of the good depth at linebacker, and I still feel like he’s a much better linebacker than a tail back.
Oh well. I hope it works out.
Delbert D.
July 14th, 2011
7:40 pm
I don’t think this is a good move. Samuel could have developed into a decent linebacker.
D Bag Trolls!
July 14th, 2011
7:42 pm
1953 did you just rise from the darkside? We understand you are not a true DAWG but why so bitter?
84@74sborohasbeen
July 14th, 2011
7:44 pm
I’ve read comments on this site for several months. Those that steady critisize have evidentley never played at a very high level in any sport. I,m amazed at the armchair stars, coaches,ect…. Why don,t all be supportive or shut the hell up PLease!!!!!!!