Another UGA tailback out; Carlton Thomas suspended at least one game
Georgia tailback Carlton Thomas, the Bulldogs leading returning rusher from last season, will miss the Boise State game due to suspension for a team rules violation. (AJC photo by Bob Andres/bandres@ajc.com)
Athens — There’s another reason Georgia felt the need to move Richard Samuel to tailback. Carlton Thomas is suspended for at least the first game of the season.
The rising junior from Frostproof, Fla., violated team rules back in the spring, three persons familiar with the situation confirmed to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. As per Georgia Athletic Association student-athlete policy, Thomas has to sit out 10 percent of scheduled games this season.
The Bulldogs play 12 games this season, including the season opener against Top-10-ranked Boise State in the Georgia Dome. Most recently that has resulted in one-game suspensions, though Georgia Athletic Director Greg McGarity declined to specify.
“If we have any announcements regarding suspensions, they’ll be made at the appropriate time,” said McGarity, declining further comment.
Had Georgia not moved Samuel from linebacker to running back, it would have had only redshirt freshman Ken Malcome and true freshman Isaiah Crowell on scholarship at tailback. Neither, of course, has played in a college game.
Washaun Ealey and Caleb King, Georgia’s top two rushers each of the last two seasons, each have left the program since the end of spring practice.
Thomas (5-foot-7, 175 pounds) has played in 17 games the last two seasons, including one start last season against Colorado. He is the Bulldogs’ leading returning rusher from last season with 272 yards and two touchdowns.
Indications are Thomas’ infraction occurred before Georgia’s announcement this summer that King would be ineligible this season. Interviewed this past Friday, Thomas talked about serving as a leader as the most experienced member of Georgia’s backfield.
“I pretty much take it as I’m the back with the most experience, the most game-time experience, the most knowledge at the position,” Thomas said. “So I take it as a challenge to lead the group. That’s what I try to do every day. I try to be positive, I try to be motivated and try to give them somebody whose going to push them as much as they push me. We’re trying to get the best out of every guy.”
Thomas’s suspension continues an alarming rate of attrition for the running backs under the watch of position coach Bryan McClendon. Ealey was indefinitely suspended and eventually granted an unconditional release due to mutual discontent and King was unable to meet the NCAA’s satisfactory progress rule for fifth-year seniors. Now Thomas has run afoul of team policy.
No specific reason was given for Thomas’ suspension. A 10 percent-competition suspension can be applied for missing excessive academic appointments, arrests or flunking a drug tests. No record of arrests could be found.
Last Thursday, Georgia moved Samuel linebacker back to tailback, where he played his first two seasons. Samuel started six games as a sophomore before falling behind Ealey and King on the depth chart. He moved to linebacker and redshirted last season after a minor knee injury.
|– Chip Towers
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
423 comments Add your comment
Message Board Surfer
July 18th, 2011
4:33 pm
To the poster asking about the DT Jenkins that UGA signed. Yes it has been reported throughout Mississippi that he has spoken with the NCAA about his recruitment to Auburn and his uncle apparently also spoke with the NCAA to verify what his nephew had talked to him about once he got back from his visit to Auburn.
Is it true he spoke to the NCAA who knows.
The second thing is now the NCAA has told LSU not to make any more public statements about Willie Lyles and his recruiting packages. They are now looking into Auburn and what he provided them in the forms of recruiting packages.
Just a little information.
Lou
July 18th, 2011
4:35 pm
Thiese things happen because big time college football is nothing more than semi-pro ball for the NFL with the NFL getting a pass. The NFL should be giving money to the NCAA to be diastributed to the players for some living expenses. These guys are not amateurs and this is why you see all these problems. They need some spending cash and get wrapped up in all the stupid NCAA rules.. I don’t know if this is the case here but you can’t expect 20 year old studs with national media attention to act like Boy Scouts. Ain’t gonna happen!
Pot to Kettle
July 18th, 2011
4:35 pm
Auburn suspends players for a day – one freaking day and has the audacity to criticize anyone – yeah right.
But it’s OK Auburn will soon be trying to figure out WTF happened when the NCAA picks their bones clean – LMAO – fools.
Beef
July 18th, 2011
4:40 pm
So because Crowell puked during conditioning workouts, he’s supposedly “out of shape” now??
You people amaze me, get a clue. I run triathlons and puke all the time during training and races. I’ve seen hundreds of some of the best conditioned athletes in the world puke during training and races. It means nothing.
Heck, we’ve watched Olympic athletes puke right in front of the camera several times. I guess they’re out of shape.
powerhouse?
July 18th, 2011
4:41 pm
Dogs were already in trouble even before any of the runners were not available for the BS game.
ps…your first game next year will not be so tuff.
Stinger
July 18th, 2011
4:42 pm
I feel sorry for Murray. With your running attack “SACK CITY HERE WE COME”
powerhouse?
July 18th, 2011
4:43 pm
I agree with beef…I puked a few times in basic but later became a trained killer!
DawginLex
July 18th, 2011
4:44 pm
powerhouse
The “BS” game.
Now that is a game you would be favored to win……………….
Dawgs down another RB for at least one game | News Georgia
July 18th, 2011
4:46 pm
[...] and citing three sources familiar with the situation, UGA has suspended RB Carlton Thomas for at least the season opener against Boise State. The paper reports that the suspension stems from a violation of unspecified [...]
incompetence
July 18th, 2011
4:57 pm
Did not running backs Coach Bryan McClendon just recieve a huge increase in salary?
Kinda reminds you of the Atlanta Public School System.
LogicalUS
July 18th, 2011
5:05 pm
“Crowell puked during conditioning workouts”
Very unusual for college freshmen these days but it is a cautionary tale expecting Crowell to come in an be the “next Lattimore, Dyar or Hershel”.
Those men were already in the top of their respective schools strength programs when they arrived on campus.
Oh well, there are no other choices now. Don’t be surprised if Crowell develops some nagging hamstring or other injuries if he is not physically ready to play. Dangerous situation.
Egbert
July 18th, 2011
5:08 pm
Does Brian Brewer have any eligibility left?
Buzz2011
July 18th, 2011
5:10 pm
The ” side show” continues in Athens and some Dogs have the nerve to bash GT.. ( 2009 ACC CHAMPS)
Buzz2011
July 18th, 2011
5:13 pm
Geez,, where is Hershel when you need him?
Mobile Dawg
July 18th, 2011
5:18 pm
Red and Black, if you don’t like kool aid, then we’ll give you the rose colored glasses. You call it gloom and doom, if you took the time to read my posts instead of worrying that someone might be using logic to dispell your “over” optimism you would see that I point out positive and negative. I just don’t happen to believe Mark Richt has done his job, and I’m not going to glorify him as the next coming like a lot of you “supporters” do. If he shows he can do the job, he will get my support.
Good one Atlanta 87. Even Einstein wasn’t perfect. Not saying I’m Einstein either. Just don’t live in a glass house and have soft feelings.
Bob
July 18th, 2011
5:21 pm
First of all, a football scholarship to UGA (or any school for that matter) is an honor…a gift…not a birthwright, and the coaches should make this plain. Secondly, we can always run Rantavious up the middle on third and long, so no big deal. And third, as a UGA grad and 43 year GEEF/Hartmann contributor and season ticket holder, I’m not sure we’re getting our money’s worth in Athens any more. Has Richt lost total control?
Dawg from Jacksonville
July 18th, 2011
5:21 pm
Crap, I was dreaming when I thought Carlton Thomas could have been a surprise dream teamer this year. Hope he still will, after the boys in blue.
Beef
July 18th, 2011
5:23 pm
Logical, you’re anything but.
Every college player in the country should be puking during conditioning workouts, if they’re not, then they aren’t giving 100+% to the workout.
Tara
July 18th, 2011
5:26 pm
I love the Dawgs as much or more than anyone (been a season ticket holder for 30 years) but my question is…”not why can’t we suspend him for Coastal Carolina instead of Boise State…but why can’t these kids get with the program – quit violating team rules.”
7576DAWG
July 18th, 2011
5:34 pm
There was 3 coaches that should be replaced or moved to positions that they can handle. I have been saying it for a couple of years now and my point is proven over and over by them not handling their responsibilities.
1- Bobo should be QB coach and co- head recruiter but he can not keep up with everything that the offensive coordinator has to do. He seems lost on the field especially when it is a close game when a lot of pressure is on him. He has proven that he doesn’t know what to do as offensive coordinator. Example is the entire backfield last year has left or has gotten into some trouble. The offensive line was the weakest in 2010 than I have ever seen at Georgia and I have been following Georgia since I went to school there in the 70’s.
2-McClendon has no business being running back coach. He has been more of a friend than a mentor and coach to the running backs.” Somebody in the family has to be the disciplinarian” . He let Ealey do whatever he wanted and when he wanted to do it. King was always border line academically and didn’t get any help and now Smith got out of line. McClendon was given one of the most important jobs on any SEC team way too early. He needed at least 3 to 5 more years experience before being given the running back coach job.
3- Gardner needs help as head recruiting coordinator. . Either he needs to be replaced or we need a co-head recruiter to help him out. We lose way to many top recruits that live in Georgia to other states where they didn’t even consider Georgia in the first place. I don’t mine a top recruit going somewhere else if he fits in better there but when they don’t even consider Georgia because Georgia wasn’t pursuing them is a problem with the recruiting coordinator. He has become complacent and lazy .
CMR needs to stop filling jobs with under qualified people with the idea they can learn on the job. That may work in Jr. College or a less demanding conference but not the SEC.
Hit A Single
July 18th, 2011
5:34 pm
Tara – It is a long story. Some of these kids were catered to in high school. Coaches begged them to come to practice. They have no idea of what a work ethic is or to just do the right thing. Remember it is not all kids but it always seems to be the skill position kids. Very few lineman, linebackers, kickers, or punters are ever in trouble.
bsubronco
July 18th, 2011
5:38 pm
Nice to see some of the positive comments about BSU from Georgia fans. Thanks for scheduling us and here’s to a good game!
Beef
July 18th, 2011
5:46 pm
Here’s some Lattimore/Crowell comparisons that should open some eyes:
Lattimore is 6′1″ 220 lbs, a 4-down back, more of a downhill runner with about 4.5 speed.
Crowell is 6′0″ 210 lbs, a 3-down back, ellusive sideline to sideline runner with about 4.35 speed.
Both of them bench and squat nearly the exact same weight (about 300/450 respectively).
Lattimore had 442 MORE carries than Crowell in 3 years (missing 2 games from injury), but only 1,400 more yards. A 7.1/YPC average.
Crowell had only 407 total carries, but an 11.5/YPC average in 3 years (missing 4 games from injury).
Lattimore had 1160 receiving yards and 9 TD’s on 99 receptions, an 11.7/YPR average.
Crowell had 1320 receiving yards and 11 TD’s on 96 receptions, a 13.75/YPR average.
Lattimore had 95 total TD’s in 3 years (including receptions) on 948 touches, an average of 1 TD every 10 touches.
Crowell had 69 total TD’s in 3 years on 503 touches, an average of 1 TD every 7.2 touches.
I don’t care what you think, Crowell will be played as a 3-down back, which will save him on durability, and could be just as, or even more productive than Lattimore.
on the job complacency training
July 18th, 2011
5:47 pm
7576DAWG is so correct about the UGA coaching staff.
Would any other college hire Mike Bobo as Offensive Coordinator ?
Bob
July 18th, 2011
5:51 pm
Hey Beef..past history does not guarantee future performance.
Bob
July 18th, 2011
5:53 pm
on the job…, yes, probably Ga State, Vandy, Coastal Carolina, New Mexico State, Buffalo, and maybe Arkansa State. Would they pay him the same salary he’s getting at UGA?
Hilton Head Island
July 18th, 2011
5:54 pm
Beef, — thanks for the info about Lattimore & Crowell.
I might add that High School football is much stronger in Georgia than in South Carolina.
Bob
July 18th, 2011
6:00 pm
A fish rots from the Head Down.. And this Big Fish at UGA has been stinking for awhile. When a team lacks leadership from the top, it runs all the way to the bottom. Mark Richt, it is time to move on my friend. You have not lead this team in the past 7 years. In the SEC it takes talent and discipline, Georgia has had the talent but is only behind Southern Florida in arrest and suspensions. Our players have no respect for University System, UGA, the heritage of our team and for basis rules and regulation. Bobo and Richt need to find a new place to lead like in the ACC to fit their personality because it just does NOT fit in the SEC.. Enough is enough..
Bob
July 18th, 2011
6:02 pm
The above post is not from me (the original Bob); however, I agree with his analysis.
UGAgrad71
July 18th, 2011
6:04 pm
Tiger in the Valley, this 62 y.o. dog fan thanks you for your excellant postings today. I remember as a Junior at UGA in 1969 we played Kentucky in basketball. I saw Coach A. Rupp walk on the court about two hours before tipoff. The Georgia fans gave him a standing ovation. We still got beaty, but that was a class act by the Georgia fans. I don’t know if wee Georgia fans have that much class today, judging by the lack of common sence and stupidity evidenced by many on this blog.
UGAgrad71
July 18th, 2011
6:05 pm
sorry for the typo’s
TaterDawg
July 18th, 2011
6:06 pm
You can make it a full season if you turn “injury’s off”. I did it and only used one RB in NCAA 2012.
Bill
July 18th, 2011
6:08 pm
The idiots on this blog are clueless. The only person dumber is Bill King. Support the UGA football team or shut up! Coach Richt is the ONLY honest football coach in the SEC. Get a clue, PLEASE!
Bob
July 18th, 2011
6:10 pm
UGAgrad71…I was three years ahead of you and we did the same thing with Rupp, and with Marovich at LSU. I think most of our fans have class, but I’m not so sure about the majority of the athletes we recruit.
Kirby Smart
July 18th, 2011
6:17 pm
None of this would have happened if I were hired this year. No one watching Ealey. No one on top of Kings summer school studies. How many assistants and coaches are in that program? Im sorry to my dawg family but Richt will play Samual out of loyalty and sit Crowell just like he did with Thomas Brown and Knowshon. Its going to be a rough year. Chins up though I will be there next year. Richt and Bozo will be gone. And I promise the runnings backs coach will be an actual former running back. What a concept.
Bulldawg Richie
July 18th, 2011
6:17 pm
At this rate I may have to suit up and play tailback myself. I think I have a few years of eligibility left and I’m in pretty good shape for my age. Unbelievable. I certainly hope that Crowell is as good as advertized.
Beef
July 18th, 2011
6:19 pm
“Hey Beef..past history does not guarantee future performance.”
Bob, all I was doing is replying to someone who said that Crowell doesn’t come close to comparing to Lattimore in high school. But fact is, he most certainly does.
2-AAA in GA is not that far from 4-AAAA in SC. And there is a huge difference between 7.1/YPC vs. 11.5/YPC.
These kids simply play different styles of football. Crowell will surely get less snaps, but that’s fine. Samuel, Thomas, and Malcolm will play their roles in short yardage and change-of-pace. In the end, it’s very possible that Crowell does for UGA what Lattimore did for SC, but just differently.
COACH B
July 18th, 2011
6:21 pm
I may be one of the few who believe’s Samuel’s return to running back is a positive move. He’s a better back than either King or Ealey. He’s larger and can block and survive the bruising of running the ball in the SEC. I think our chances of winning the East just went up. Unfortunately, there are still three West division teams better than us–Alabama, LSU, and Arkansas and we’ll see one of them in the championship game.
Mat"T"
July 18th, 2011
6:22 pm
Yeahhhhhhh! I’m for the other team.
Jasper Oc.
July 18th, 2011
6:22 pm
Why has Richt never been suspended for incompetence. He should refund his entire salaries for the past few years. He’s not capable.
Happy Gilmore
July 18th, 2011
6:25 pm
Reading the constant problems with the UGA football program, makes me even more proud I received my education at Georgia Southern. While the Dawgs are stumbling out of the starters gate, the GSU Eagles will attempt to improve on its national semifinal showing of last year. I wish UGA the best, or at least better than what you have right now. You guys have some serious issues and those problems keep getting worse and worse and worse. Oh, and Tech fans, wipe that silly grin off your faces. You have serious issues too. Thank goodness that program down in Statesboro still exists to try to redeem the Peach State of the pitiful standards seen by UGA and Tech.
Coach Grohbo
July 18th, 2011
6:33 pm
Looks like that picture was taken at a pee-wee game.
I see that new nutrition, strength, and conditioning program is going very well.
LogicalUS
July 18th, 2011
6:38 pm
“2-AAA in GA is not that far from 4-AAAA in SC.”
Good lord the delusions….just hope these idigits don’t end up screaming at this poor kid when he isn’t the messiah.
Only an ill-informed knucklehead would compare Byrnes to mid-level Ga 3-A school.
Maybe that is why Brynes destroyed Parkview when they played or why Brynes with Lattimore ran over top schools from Ohio and Evangel Christian.
It is hopeless trying to warn these idigits only know that the kid signed with UGA so he MUST BE the greatest player who ever stepped on the field. Just remember not to insult and scream at this poor kid because of your delusional nonsense.
Beef
July 18th, 2011
6:39 pm
UGA has way less “issues” than you think. The depth of the OLine is pretty much the ONLY thing you can consider an issue, but even then, it’s far less a problem than people are making it out to be. 2 of the guys on the OL will be 1st round draft picks in next year’s NFL draft for goodness sakes.
Crowell was going to start no matter if Ealey or King were still here. And the locker room is a much happier place without them now anyways. Crowell, Samuel, Thomas, and Malcolm, with Figgins and Ogletree, are an incredible RB/FB corps.
The depth we have at QB is unmatched anywhere in the country.
We have the best TE in the country and three WR’s who can run 4.3-4.4 speed, one of which is 6′5″ who was a 5-star WR and is emerging from AJ’s shadow finally.
Our 2 NT’s are 6′5″ 350 lbs EACH and our 2 DT/DE’s are 6′3″ 305 lbs each. All of our OLB’s at 4.5 speed at 245 lbs and our ILB’s are nearly the size of NFL DE’s at 6′4″ 255 lbs.
Our secondary has 3 guys who can run 4.3 or faster, one of which is 6′2″ 210 lbs. The other leads the SEC in kick return yardage and TD’s as a sophmore (going to be junior this year – Boykin).
People can cry all they want and haters can hate all they want, but when we’re 2-0 and moved into the top 10, a lot of people will be eating crow.
FLA DAWG
July 18th, 2011
6:41 pm
Tiger In The Valley,
Where is your posting denegrating the high pressure water hoses turned on UGA Fans after The Dawgs beat your Tigers? The elderly and children were knocked down and injured from an intentional act by Auburn.
The next season your tiger fans came to Sanford Stadium wearing raincoats in jest and fear the same would occur to them. On the contrary, UGA has too much class to stoop to the intentional injury of opposing fans in our own stadium.
But hey, this is all just my opinion.
easyridge
July 18th, 2011
6:42 pm
another medicore season got to have a run game Georgia for sure
LogicalUS
July 18th, 2011
6:43 pm
“He’s a better back than either King or Ealey”
Is that why he was playing scout team defense?
With the anemic UGA rushing game from last season seems as if this hidden stud would have been on the field as a RB?
Sad really for a solid QB in Murray but he needed a strong surrounding case to shine.
Beef
July 18th, 2011
6:52 pm
OK Logical, I guess all the scouts in the country who decided to set Crowell as the #1 RB in the country don’t know what they’re doing and you obviously do.
In fact, I’m wondering why you’re wasting time trying to prove them dumb on some random sports comment section rather than working for some national media outlet making your case.
LogicalUS
July 18th, 2011
7:01 pm
“scouts in the country”
Many of same people said the same thing about Ealey, King and a whole host of other players whom they never have even saw play.
Simply have seen it too many times that fans put unrealistic expectations on kids then murder the kid when he doesn’t match your hysterics. The kid may be a solid player down the road but UGA fans have been screaming messiah with this kid for 6 months now. Not likely/
Simply trying to warn you UGA fans to temper your lame delusions but keep on rolling down the primrose path.
buffdawg
July 18th, 2011
7:01 pm
Boo a 1000 yds rushing and he can smell the end zone 18 td’s BANK IT