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
Trojan
July 15th, 2011
8:19 am
Burning question: When the NCAA figures that out they will get the UGA players to tudor your mother at the 3rd grade level. What stupid contribution to the blog. Take your agenda somewhere else.
mgdawg
July 15th, 2011
8:19 am
Samuel is a true team player, I think everyone knew this was going to come it was just a matter of when. My only hope for him is that he will get an opportunity to prove himself, it will be a bad move if he doesn’t get but a couple of mop up plays a game. I always thought the guy was a pretty good runningback, hopefully with his added weight he won’t be as easy to take down.
DawginLex
July 15th, 2011
8:28 am
I don’t agree with this move but I understand it after some thought.
1.) Richard is an example of the “New Georgia Way”-Put the team first
2.) We now have a back who DEFINITELY can block a blitzing linebacker or safety
3.) The other 2(Crowell,Malcome) have been reported to be out of shape somewhat.
4.) The other 2 are freshmen
The only thing I’m wondering is this:
How does this play into our offensive gameplan?
We now have Figgins at 265 and Samuel at 243 in the same backfield.
That can be interpreted 2 ways:
1.) We are going to try and become a power running team and let our defense carry the day or..
2.) We were more worried about pass protection from the backs
FL dawg
July 15th, 2011
8:30 am
Haven’t read all the blogs but Richt just might be thinking Samuel might be able to help Murray out a bit. You’ve got to be tough to play TB in the SEC. Just ask Ealey, He’s one of the reasons Murray had to run for his life last yr.
norris
July 15th, 2011
8:32 am
I haven’t seen this mentioned(if I missed it, my bad!) Does anyone remember that Richard Samuel started UGA when he was 16 years old?! He was 17 his first season, and 18 the next season when he started at running back. He is just now 20 years old and has been here 4 years! He is a good guy with his head on straight. This is the type of LEADER this team needs! I love my dawgs, but I know that we had a lot of ME people on this team. In order for us to turn it around, we have to have WE people!
Thank you Richard for being classy and doing what you can to help this team!
DawgLifer
July 15th, 2011
8:34 am
People lets not forget Camp has not opened yet. They only announced he was going back to RB not that he’s the starter. I for one like our backs.
suwanee dawg
July 15th, 2011
8:37 am
My understanding is we also recruited Lattimore. So if we would of gotten him, last year and the current team looks different and Richt is not an idiot? Sometimes things just do not go your way. Overall Richt has been a succesful coach running a clean program. If I had any complaints it would be the OL recruiting and some Bobo play calling, but life ain’t perfect. It would of been hard to predict for anynone that both King and Ealey were going to be busts.
Samuel does not have the vision but is a bruiser and did average 4.6 yards a carry. We need experience for the first two games. I see him used less but still resourcefully over the next two years as a good balance with IC.
WDE
July 15th, 2011
8:38 am
@Burning question if UGA players read at a 4th grade level its still better than players and coaches that cheat like elected politicians…really troll really ?
atta kid RS GATA!!
July 15th, 2011
8:40 am
a true dawg, teamate and football player……
SouthSide Dawg
July 15th, 2011
8:41 am
This is a really cool opportunity for you, Richard. Good Luck with it. I’m happy for you.
Richt's Butt Cutt
July 15th, 2011
8:41 am
Richt and DoDo have ruined Mr Samuels career. This is Pop Warner BS! They couldnt see this coming? Richt is Long Gone my friends.. Yeah- we should win a lot games this year because we dont play anybody. We will loose the games that matter like we always do! Bye Richt, take DoDo with you.
Roberto Eduardo
July 15th, 2011
8:49 am
Coach Goff needed to move Robert Edwards from linebacker to running back+- 20 years ago and that turned out swell. Unfortunately, his knee was blown out but prior to that, he scored 5? TDs vs SC and was waging a war on UT and Peyton Manning when he blew out that knee.
Robert Edwards was briefly a great UGA back and a team player. His brother was too. Both spent some time in the NFL.
This may turn out equally well for Samuels. He is a good kid and as he relaxes, his physicality could really help UGA in what was a weakended position.
Gooooooooooooooooooooooooo Dawgs!!! Sic em!
PS: GT is a school of consistent liars and cheats AGAIN
DawginLex
July 15th, 2011
8:53 am
Ok butt cutt
Enlighten us as to how Samuel’s career is ruined.
He has 2 years left
He was not able to beat out Ealey or King at RB
He was not able to start at LB-better players
He now has been give the opportunity to switch positions. He was asked, not told. He agreed. His decision after he prayed about it.
He now has a chance to be the starting tailback at UGA on opening night versus Boise state on national TV yet according to you, richt has ruined his career???
Yeah riiiigggghhhttttt……………….
Mr. Dawg
July 15th, 2011
8:54 am
Anyone who doesn’t understand that this move is obvious and necessary needs to give up watching football and play with Barbie Dolls.
WDE
July 15th, 2011
8:54 am
@Richt’s Butt Cutt my my sounds like waaaaaa waaaaaaa waaaaaaa to me. Grow a pair, what you didn’t think we would lose anyone to injuries,grades etc. This ain’t perfect but it is what it is..we moved Richard to LB because we were in a good position depth wise at RB and a little thin at LB. Things changed deal with it , Mr Samuels is.
RedandBlackDAWG
July 15th, 2011
8:55 am
I guess when you look at it from this young man’s point of view, this is good for him. He wasn’t going to start at LB this year most likely, so he would have been a backup. At RB, he might see substantial playing time, so it is a plus move for him. The biggest thing about it though, is the fact that he is a team player. Don’t you wish UGA had 84, just like him on the team now?
Blaming the coaches for Ealey and King is wrong also. This young man is the anti-thesis of those two and UGA, as a team will be a lot better off in the long run, without them. Some folks are worried about his weight but I view that as a plus, since I think, it is probably a lot of muscles. With a 260 pound fullback leading the way, a 240 pound runner, has got to be just a little discouraging for the defensive guy to see coming at him. When you have the ball and are almost or maybe bigger than the guy assigned to take you down, it has got to get your attention. With both of them in there at the same time, it will be harder to just concentrate on Murray, so it could help the passing game as well.
Chi Town
July 15th, 2011
8:56 am
The Fleabag nation is in for a looooooooooooooooooooooong season. CF
gdawginkalamazoo
July 15th, 2011
8:59 am
Samuels will be fine. He is a young smart kid. That is why he was able to redshirt last year. Look for him to be a difference maker at RB.
dkg
July 15th, 2011
9:03 am
At first, I did not like this switch, but after thinking it through, I have to agree with it. One of the main reasons Samuel was moved was because of his lackluster blocking. He had difficulty with the blocking schemes. As several people have pointed out, Samuel was a 16/17 year old when he got here. What is the average age of a college freshman? I do not know , but I bet it is around 18 or 19 . Do you think those extra years to grow and mature are not valuabIe? I love the kid’s attitude and have heard that he has matured greatly. He has also become much bigger and stronger. Please, please quit all of the negative criticism. Give the team and this young man your support!!
gregg
July 15th, 2011
9:08 am
You have to remember that this kid was 17 years old playing running back…i personally think that you will see a beast at TB…6-2 243 lbs…he will have that LB mentality and get after your A–GO DAWGS
Richt's Butt Cutt
July 15th, 2011
9:09 am
Mr. W. Dick Eater (WDE)… Time will tell……
Richt's Butt Cutt
July 15th, 2011
9:11 am
Richt will be gone after this season anyway gentlemen..
Richt's Butt Cutt
July 15th, 2011
9:13 am
DawginLex – He may start, yes? Say its 50/50 maybe less. Great athlete, even better kid, just NOT an SEC running back, plain and simple. Would LOVE to eat my words but just dont see this being a good move.. As I said to Mr. Dick Eater, time will tell…
WDE
July 15th, 2011
9:17 am
@Richt’s Butt Cutt didn’t see anyone who thought this was a great idea..its a needed move, and action predicated on circumstance..it’s something adults understand so I won’t waste my time explaining it to you..now go sit in the corner and sulk.
Douglas Dawg
July 15th, 2011
9:21 am
You gotta like this kid. Good Luck RS
PaleRider
July 15th, 2011
9:22 am
Good man and good Dawg.
DawginLex
July 15th, 2011
9:25 am
I don’t agree with the move either because I thought Samuel could be a great LB but the bottom line is protect the QB because Murray is the best player on this team
Carz
July 15th, 2011
9:31 am
Given time he would have been a heck of an LB with a shot at playing in the NFL. This is a big sacrifice he is making.
WDE
July 15th, 2011
9:34 am
DawginLex agree with you I think this is a move for two reasons Boise and USCe. Boise has a smaller DL than our OL but were one of the top sack producing DL’s in the country. They are mobile and hostile I think we can pound them down as the game goes on and having two backs over 230 in the backfield should really help the OL do that and as you said we have to protect Murray. USCe has a good all around defense if our two backs can establish the run at all that will let Murray have a chance with the passing game. This is a stop gap measure for certain and for sure but if it helps us win those two critical first games…
TallaDawg
July 15th, 2011
9:35 am
I really wish Samuel success, not just for the Dawgs, but to reward a true team player and a DGD.
DawginLex
July 15th, 2011
9:40 am
Back in the day, 2 way players were the norm. Now this kid could move back to linebacker if we have injuries there.
I hope it works out for him because lord knows we all want it to and richt really needs it to.
BMDPD
July 15th, 2011
9:41 am
I love the team mentality, but I hope he didn’t spoil his shot at the NFL.
LogicalUS
July 15th, 2011
9:41 am
“must feel good about the Jarvis Jones situation”
Good lord, UGA fans are the delusional. The same homer fans were saying the EXACT same thing two months ago when Ealey left. Good riddance, the coaches must really feel awesome about King and the messiah Crowell.
Except here we are two weeks before fall practice and a rejected RB who was shunted off to LB is moved back to RB??
And UGA fans never miss a beat…the terrorizing LB whom all other SEC teams were afraid of meeting is now the next Hershel Walker. And now it isn’t the SEC RBs who are going to be afraid of running the ball, it is the SEC DL\LBs who are going to be cowering at blitzing because they might run into this terrorizing third string UGA player that never seems to actually make it on the field.
Just hope none of these delusional UGA fans end up screaming at this poor kid when he whiffs those blocks.
Whiskey Breath
July 15th, 2011
9:46 am
Why did you move him in the first place Mark? Wasn’t that basically saying he was not good enough to play TB? Cover your backside Richt, who cares about the player! I can hear the conversation now, ” listen Richard, you couldn’t cut it last time, but man you have gotten better so now you can back up our new freshman sensation!
DawginLex
July 15th, 2011
9:48 am
Logical, you really need to read all of the comments before making your idiotic generalizations.
Did I say he was the 2nd coming of Herschel?
Did I even agree with the move?
Just read and comprehend what you read.
I know you are guzzling your hateraide and it has this life long effect on your brain, but try and control it a little bit.
It makes you appear really really stupid.
DawginLex
July 15th, 2011
9:49 am
and Whiskey is so dam smart, he knows about private conversations between Richt and Samuel
Man I wish I was that smart
BMDPD
July 15th, 2011
9:49 am
Lex, that is because he is really really stupid.
gdawginkalamazoo
July 15th, 2011
9:50 am
Talent is talent folks. This kid is very good at LB and RB. Damn good dog to do what the team needs. Kids like this are successful.
DawginLex
July 15th, 2011
9:53 am
We ought to all be glad we are reading about a kid on the UGA football team who is willing to put the team ahead of himself.
We are also not reading about things like:
Being on probation(Tech,UNC,OSU)
Covering up an ineligible player from the NCAA(Tech)
Our AD being caught driving drunk with a woman who is not his wife holding her panties(June 2010)
2 players being arrested for DUI(July 2010)
so we do have that going for us
Big Dirty Dawg
July 15th, 2011
9:53 am
How come we never hear of other programs moving players around as much as UGA? if none of you true dawg fans see a discrepancy here…then you’re blind. UGA seems to do this often. Bean, Tripp, Figgins, now Samuel. Regardless, i’ll support our team…but no very enlightened by this changed! Thanks Samuel..for being a DGD!
Cuz
July 15th, 2011
9:58 am
I think he is a great kid with a great attitude. I do not think he can be a great Running Back. If that was so, he would have never switched to LB or lost his starting job.
I wish him the best but I fear for the worst.
BD
July 15th, 2011
10:00 am
Samuel made a mistake not going to GT. He would already be starting at LB and be getting a better education.
Born2Bark
July 15th, 2011
10:02 am
Great team attitude Richard! I feel a lot better about the situation at RB now. He is bigger now at 243 and hasn’t lost a step according to coaches. That should make him even harder to bring down and adds a bonus to pass protection. The “I” formation should be nasty with him and Figgins in front of him at 260. People need to get off his case and get behind him! The kid has only been given a 150 touches in his career, at most schools feature backs get 200 plus a season. Happy about the move! Ealey, King, and Thomas have all fumbled a ton, so quit hating on this kid for having a few drops and going down after initial contact. You can win games if 4.6 yds at time. GO DAWGS!!!
Bored Dawg
July 15th, 2011
10:04 am
I wish RS the best of luck, but what does this now do for our ILB depth? What happens if Ogletree gets hurt?
rodney
July 15th, 2011
10:05 am
Richard Samuel TB – 6′2″ 240lbs + Bruce Figgins FB 6′4″ 270lbs. Uh huh. I think I’m ok w/ this scenario.DAWGS!
Jimmy Crack
July 15th, 2011
10:09 am
BD, yea and he would also have to date women that look like teenaged boys.
It will be like having another tight end in the game to block for Aaron, plus he is a punishing runner. Sic ‘em Richard, WOOF!
gbal
July 15th, 2011
10:09 am
“Bad Move” …. “Terrible”…. “Stupid Decission” ….. ” Richt is an idiot doing this”… “Quit jerking this guy around”
You folks saying this are either not UGA fans or dont know squat about football at this level.
Do you think CMR and BoBo really wanted to move RS back to running back? …. NO
Was there a choice here? What do you want; to go out and pick up another right quick off the street? – NO
Do you expect CMR to go into a season with 2 Freshmen and C. Thomas as your only players at RB? … NO
Unfortunante about CK and WE, but given the situation MR and company had to evaluate the talent pieces they have any put them in the best position for the team. Fortunantly RS is a team guy and has evidently had a great attitude about the switch.
I think it is the best move the team could make and absolutely necessary given the situation. He might not turn out to be a star back but he also may suprise us. He obviously has talent.
At that weight and speed he could really turn out to be a power back that we need and a new twist for our game that we haven’t had. He is older, and likely wiser now and seems to have a great attitude.
Time will tell, but it is not like there were any choices here folks.
Thanks Richard. Good luck and make the best of this opportunity. I am pulling for you all the way!!!!
gbal
July 15th, 2011
10:18 am
dirty dawg – These kids are atheletes. They are worked into a position in HS that is a fit for the team. At the next level this talent may be better utilized in another position. Nothing wrong with that.
A guy with tight end skills at FB? I like it! Has blocking skills which is how we and most teams primarily use the FB. Size is a plus against the big OL. Has ability to catch the ball out of backfield on occasion and has carried the ball. I think this was a GREAT idea moving a TE experience to the backfield. Take some pressure off the RB too on blocking assignments which has always been an issue with MR. Let the runner focus on running and the FB on blocking.
Trojan
July 15th, 2011
10:20 am
CMR should start him every game as a reward. A more physical running game would shorten the game and help the defense. Running games win. Mike Bobo are you listening? Clock management wins, Bobo are you listening? Start Samuel and then relieve him with the freshman.
j
July 15th, 2011
10:21 am
y’all a bunch of stinking mutts. can’t wait to see another year full of losses.