Ken Malcome, Derek Owens become latest Bulldogs to leave program
ATHENS – Two more Georgia football players have decided to continue their careers elsewhere.
Ken Malcome, a redshirt freshman running back from Decatur, and Derek Owens, a sophomore cornerback from Jacksonville, both asked head coach Mark Richt to be released from their scholarships and are seeking transfers. Including safety Jakar Hamilton, that’s now three players who have left the program during this season.
Owens’ departure was expected and has been in motion for a few days. Malcome’s decision was an obvious disappointment for Richt.
“[Malcome] walked into my office just prior to practice and felt like he had gotten so far behind in the competition at his position, he felt like he needed to go to another school and get a fresh start and maybe get a better opportunity to play,” Richt said Wednesday. “So that’s where we are on that.”
Malcome, an all-state player at Southwest DeKalb High, was expected to step to the forefront this season with Georgia’s attrition at tailback. But after Washaun Ealey and Caleb King exited the program, Malcome fell behind true freshman Isaiah Crowell, junior Carlton Thomas and former walkon Brandon Harton on the depth chart in preseason camp. He did not the make travel roster for Ole Miss and finishes his Georgia career with one carry for zero yards.
Richt said he’d welcome back Malcome back if the player changed his mind.
“If Ken came to me tomorrow and said, ‘Coach, I lost my mind and I’,m sorry and I’d love to come back and compete here at Georgia, I’d hug his neck and say ‘come on,’” Richt said.
Owens played in Georgia’s first three games on special teams but also didn’t make the trip to Ole Miss. He had two tackles this season and six while appearing in 12 games last season. Richt said he does not expect Owens to transfer to Cincinnati, as has been reported.
Malcome and Owens represent the 14th and 15th Georgia players to leave the program with eligibility remaining since the end of last season. That includes players such as A.J. Green and Justin Houston, who entered the NFL draft, and Tanner Strickland and Tanner Sturdivant, who were medically disqualified. (See chary below)
The majority, however, left either because they’d fallen behind on the depth chart or did not see eye-to-eye with the football staff.
“Most everybody we recruit was probably the best player on their team or one of the best players on their team,” Richt said. “So most of them think they’re going to show up and play. They get around athletes that are just as good as them and now they have to learn to compete. Sometimes they see the mountain as too high too climb and they decide to go somewhere else. And that’s fine if that’s what’s going on.
“I want all these guys to get an opportunity to play. I want them all to get an education. But I think there’s value in fighting for your job.”
DOGS GONE
Pos.+Player+Class+Reason for leaving
- OL+Brent Benedict+RFr.+Transferred to Virginia Tech
- LB+Marcus Dowtin+Jr.+Transferred to North Alabama
- TB+Washaun Ealey+Jr.+Transferred to Jacksonville State
- FS Jakar Hamilton+Sr.+Seeking transfer
- TB+Caleb King+Jr.+Academically ineligible
- WR+Logan Gray+Jr.+Graduated w/ eligibility, transferred to Colorado
- WR+A.J. Green+Jr.+Early entry into NFL draft
- FS+Jakar Hamilton+Sr. +Transferring. Destination unknown.
- OL+A.J. Harmon+Jr.+Transferred to Alabama State
- LB+Justin Houston+Jr.+Early entry into NFL draft
- DE+Jeremy Longo+Jr.+Medically disqualified
- RB+Ken Malcome+RFr+Seeking transfer
- CB+Derek Owens+So.+Seeking transfer
- OL+Tanner Strickland+Sr.+Graduated with eligibility remaining
- OL+Trinton Sturdivant+Sr.+Knee injury, career over
- DB+Nick Williams+Jr.+Transferred to North Alabama
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574 comments Add your comment
McDawg
September 28th, 2011
9:32 pm
taking out the trash
JB
September 28th, 2011
9:32 pm
I can honestly say I see this staff by mid season having to give Brandon Smith 10 carriers a game.
Mobile Dawg
September 28th, 2011
9:33 pm
Ellijay, some would say it’s just a “cycle”, you know everyone has them. Others would say “incompetence”. I guess you will have to pick your side.
just a fan
September 28th, 2011
9:34 pm
Sorry to see Boo go I thought he would be a good down hill runner someone that could run between the tackles and would be a load to bring down. best of luck to him
JRW7
September 28th, 2011
9:34 pm
Somethings wrong with the CMR program at UGA?
BIG MIKE
September 28th, 2011
9:34 pm
Talent doesn’t start in the physic…it’s starts in the Head. These players with the exception of Strurdivant and maybe one or two others, were losers and that’s been UGA’s problem for years. That problem has been fixed and the rodents are abandoning ship. No big surprise here.
Most of you guys are getting caught up in the scouting reports and ratings of incoming players. I’m not saying they mean absolutely nothing. They are good gauge for talent. But who did the best Quarterback in NFL history play for? Johnny Unitas was recruited by Louisville, Ky. And if you’ve been keeping up with Pro ball, who is this Kilpatrick (or Kirkpatrick, or whatever his name is) he played for Harvard and is making a Sunami in Pro ball with the Buffalo Bills. My point is, you can’t judge the kind of team being put together strictly by the Ratings Sites. That’s for fans. A team is put together with a combination of chemistry and talent. Talent is the easier of the two to spot. When the chemistry is right, you get a championship.
As I’ve pointed out before, the 80 championship team had a quarterback not much better than Joe Cox. But every game someone stepped up to pull the load. Herschel Walker, Buck Belue, Scott Woerner, Lindsey Scott, and every player on defense (which Scott W. was also involved in). UGA has that team now and will win or at least compete for a national championship within two years. You naysayers can all keep flappin’ them jaws, but the necessary moves have already been made and the turnaround has begun. ENJOY.
JB
September 28th, 2011
9:35 pm
You would expect Dooley at Tenn. to have this problem with the mess he walked into….But with 70% of the same staff and 100% of the same recruiting Cord. for 10 years, how does this happen.
ryan
September 28th, 2011
9:37 pm
I sure hope we get those NC recruits but we need at least a couple more wins to seal the deal that wont be easy should beat Miss St . we have a shot against the Vols with there problems .
just a fan
September 28th, 2011
9:37 pm
I have 2 extra tickets to the game Saturday if you are interested email me @ fantasynfl3100@yahoo.com
JB
September 28th, 2011
9:37 pm
Not all the necessary moves have been made.
hind tit
September 28th, 2011
9:38 pm
If you have kids that don’t want to compete, don’t want to study and don’t want to stay out of trouble then you have a football team in trouble. Things will get better as soon as the ones that don’t want to be here weed THEMSELVES OUT.
Frank Lane
September 28th, 2011
9:39 pm
Other teams lose a lot of players also. We don’t hear about it because we do not read their local papers. Somebody leaves Arkansas and it is not news in Atlanta.
There were hints in the coaches comments earlier this week that Malcome was not working hard enough to make the team.
JB
September 28th, 2011
9:40 pm
just a fan………I left 2 on my windshield wipers for the Coastal Game….when I came back, there were 6 there,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Ok, Ok…. I couldn’t resist…….We need some humor.
ryan
September 28th, 2011
9:41 pm
I do agree that something does not seem right with this program which is why at least a couple recruits are looking around a guy name Theus .
JB
September 28th, 2011
9:41 pm
Question…………..Where would this staff be if Crowell had signed with Bama?…….And he almost did. Think about it.
Dawg48
September 28th, 2011
9:41 pm
You tell em big mike! Finally some one with out negativity!!
Frank Lane
September 28th, 2011
9:42 pm
BTW, how is Logan Gray doing at Colorado?
Mr. SEC
September 28th, 2011
9:44 pm
Hard to make chicken salad out of chicken s___t!
Blake
September 28th, 2011
9:44 pm
I mean you get passed on the depth chart by a walk-on , and a LBer. Go ahead and transfer to upside down tech st college. Another bad apple out of the bunch. Another Scholly that will be open up to someone that wants to work hard to earn his bones.
JB
September 28th, 2011
9:45 pm
Crowell physically won’t finish the season IMO. Gonna be interesting.
FLA DAWG
September 28th, 2011
9:45 pm
This is a talented kid who wants a shot at carrying the ball. I don’t fault the young man for wanting to make a change for a better opportunity.
Good Luck Ken. I hope you do well.
Necessary Roughness...
September 28th, 2011
9:48 pm
Heard CMR has hired Coach Gennaro & Coach Rig…Iron Man football, Baby!!!!!
Mobile Dawg
September 28th, 2011
9:48 pm
Your comment to use Brandon Smith probably isn’t to far off as well as running Boykin, maybe throw a few more short passes, not requiring Crowell to block as much. That’s assuming the OC can develop an alternative style game plan. Crowell will need to be protected to some degree.
Dawg48
September 28th, 2011
9:50 pm
Kieth Marshall …….cmon down!
Birrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrd Man
September 28th, 2011
9:51 pm
Loser.
Mobile Dawg
September 28th, 2011
9:52 pm
Braves are in a nail biter. Two on, one out, top of the ninth.
hot dawg
September 28th, 2011
9:52 pm
i must say im disappointed by that one…..i seen him play and he is a true rb….couldnt stay healthy tho and if thats the problem in the next school it will be the same results so in that aspect i dont understand…..hope he decides to stay…………..go dawgs
FLA DAWG
September 28th, 2011
9:53 pm
I don’t know if people are unaware of how big this game against Miss State is or perhaps they just don’t care anymore.
Unless the decision has already been made, this game is the absolute lifeline for Mark Richt and his group of coaches.
If he wins I think he lives for another week (yes, I think a win gives him only a week to week chance of returning next season).
But if he loses it is absolutely over………………Why no mention of this on the AJC site!?
Maybe they all know but in deference to Richt – or perhaps fear of the perception they are piling on they write nothing.
An SEC HC about to enter his lifeline game and nothing about it in the AJC.
MarineDog
September 28th, 2011
9:54 pm
Big Mike, I totally agree. Over the last few years, these blogs have been littered with bloggers calling for Richt to stop babying these guys. The off the field issues and arrests were not only devastating to the team but they were an embarrassment to the university as well. Over the last year he has heeded to those demands and started to get rid of players who refuse to be part of the team as well as the constant troublemakers.. Now everyone is crying because he is weeding out players who these same bloggers feel were too valuable to let go even if they were part of the problems there. Well, guess what; you got your wish. If this was part of the problem that so many have been hanging their hats on, then don’t cry now that it’s happening. Those of you who fit in that category know who you are. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s more to come. If indeed this is Richt’s last year, then he will be doing his successor and university a huge favor. .
ryan
September 28th, 2011
9:58 pm
Yea UGA needs to win big at home and not play like they did against Ole Miss sloppy .
interesting
September 28th, 2011
9:58 pm
UGA Motto–last one here –turn off the lights
Harold
September 28th, 2011
9:58 pm
Why is it such a struggle for people to learn to spell and use proper grammar? For instance:
“Boots” and “Lake Dawg” : The young man’s name is MALCOME, not Malcomb or Malcombe! If you had read the article and retained anything in the article you would have known this!
from Ryan: I don’t like to here about transfers but i hope and prey that we get Kieth Marshall and Todd Gurley and hang on to Derrick Henry it has been just a PR nightmare for CMR and company .
Ryan, properly written your comments would read: I do not like to HEAR about transfers, but I hope and PRAY that we get KEITH Marshall and Todd Gurley. It would be nice to retain Derrick Henry. It has been a public relations nightmare for Coach Richt and the Bulldogs.
from “Just Curious”: Why doesnt other SEC teams who recruit the same caliber of players as we do have as many players leave? Are they not the best on there high school teams too? Maybe they do and we dont hear about it as much. I guess it opens up more scholarships to give on signing day anyway. If they do not want to play for us they dont have too! Go Dawgs!
“Just Curious” I am just curious as to whether or not you have “went to school”? (That was intended as sarcasm by the way) Your comments properly written would read:
Why do other SEC teams, who recruit the same caliber of players as Georgia, not have as many players leave? Are they not the best on THEIR high school teams as well? Possibly these other SEC teams do have as many players leave as Georgia does, but we do not hear as much about it….If they do not want to play for us they do not have TO!
You need to be more aware of the difference between THERE and THEIR, TO and TOO. Also if you are going to attempt to use contractions you need to use an apostrophe. Read your last sentence. Either say do not or say don’t. Do not use both, especially in the same sentence. It is more proper to not use contractions.
I think there are too many people that watch too much football, send too many phone text messages and spend too much time on Facebook. I think many of you people are morons!
Dawg48
September 28th, 2011
10:02 pm
Be careful every one! Harold the grammar policeman is on the prowl!
Mobile Dawg
September 28th, 2011
10:03 pm
Fla Dawg, I think it’s just that obvious that he’s coaching for his job each week and doesn’t need to be said any longer. I see no way he survives should we lose Saturday, even though I think MS is a formidable foe.
David
September 28th, 2011
10:04 pm
Ealey left because he was leading the team in td’s and yards for 2 years, but Richt wouldn’t give him 30 carries like his his new favorite Crowell, who can’t passblock.
Must be nice to be one of Richt’s favorties, Crowell gets 30 reps without good passblocking, even with Thomas there.
Just Asking
September 28th, 2011
10:05 pm
@ Harold (Mr. English PHD)
You may want to check your 5th paragraph:
school teams too? Maybe they do and we dont hear ..
Should that be don’t?
Necessary Roughness...
September 28th, 2011
10:05 pm
Close game at half time this weekend…
CMR to Coach Rig: OK, Now, let’s analyze what’s been working for us.
Coach Rig: NOT A GARSH DARN THING’S been working for us. Like this garshdarn suit doesn’t work for me… and this stinking tie… and this GAWSHDARN shirt. IT DOESN’T WORK FOR ME. YOU KNOW HOW TO PLAY WINNING HARD-NOSED FOOTBALL? YOU PLAY FOOTBALL LIKE ED GENERRO PLAYED FOOTBALL. A guy who gave his life for this football team. He was a 140-pound halfback, and HE PLAYED LIKE A GARSHDARN WILDMAN! NO! LIKE A GARSHDARN RAMPAGING BEAST! And that’s the way you got to do it! YOU GO OUT THERE! YOU TEAR THEIR FREAKING HEADS OFF, AND YOU SPIT DOWN THEIR NECKS! Let us pray.
Snoop Dawg
September 28th, 2011
10:05 pm
All you blind homers are crazier than a loon. Do you all buy in on the 2012 apololypse too? If so, just think about 2011.
Malcome was heavily recruited by Richt and Brotha Garner who is supposed to be a great recruiter. Unfortunately, he just recruits black players. I noticed that as those little players from Idaho were smacking down the UGA power rangers.
Anyway, Malcome was picked out by Richt. What has happened since. Maybe Boo is injury prone, maybe he’s lazy, and maybe he’s just found out about Richt’s Friends and Family Program where he didn’t kiss the ring enough to fit in.
Now, he’s the latest to jump off Richt’s sinking ship. Or is that the sinking bus?
Face it. Richt is driving us all off the cliff in his energy bus. He is so incompetent that I’m going to try to think of some scam to sell to all these idiots living in Georgia today.
What happened in Georgia. Georgians used to be up and coming. Real estate boom, Olympics, Atlanta, etc. It has all imploded. Today, Georgia has reverted to Deliverance. Sad…
I escaped when I was 23… Whew…
I love the Dawgs, but they are now cellar dwellers. I predict that UGA will lose to Vandy and that Richt will give us a post-game lecture about what a great team they lost to.
You folks have bought into the scam hook, line, and sinker.
I’m afrraid there’s no hope if the average IQ of a UGA grad these days has fallen into double digits.
WAKE UP FOLKS. Take control DEMAND EXCELLENCE from the laissez faire is everywhere club of Mark Richt idol worshipppers.
jeff
September 28th, 2011
10:06 pm
People…. this happens at every school. You don’t follow those teams so it goes unnoticed. I hate it for Malcome, the kid had potential, if he doesn’t want to fight for job, oh well. As for Rodney Garner, he is one of the premier recruiters in the SE.If we keep winning(which we will) we will have another GREAT class coming in.
http://www.collegefootballfreaks.com
JAWJeRDawg
September 28th, 2011
10:07 pm
It’s okay, ryan.
We know what you mean, and what you mean to say!
bubba4dawgs
September 28th, 2011
10:07 pm
I know a school who is in desperate need of a good running back……Tennessee! Boo could probably start right away!
Pope UGA XXIII
September 28th, 2011
10:08 pm
Harold – love your post and very good grading of some of these
editorial comments.
Forgetting for the moment the players who had to give up the sport
due to injuries, I see no one who went to a top-flight football program
other than Benedict and he hasn’t played a down yet. It’s unfortunate
to have all of these playes leave as we are very thin to start with, but
life goes on. I suspect that more than a few of UGA’s longtime season
ticket holders are much more concerned with the number of “W’s” than
players who for whatever reason either move on or are asked to move on.
Dawg48
September 28th, 2011
10:08 pm
Snoop your the only dawg fan I know who is pulling for your team to win! This just in snoop has a mullet and wears Jean shorts
P. Bull Terrier
September 28th, 2011
10:10 pm
The “me first” attitude illustrated by so many of the players who are leaving the program because they aren’t “given” the playing time they expect shows exactly what is wrong with the UGA program. As much as I hate to say it, the responsibility for that falls squarely on Mark Richt’s shoulders. Richt and his assistants have focused so much on 40 dash times, bench press results, and stars from the recruiting services that they have lost sight of what it takes to be a winner. With all of these guys standing around waiting to be handed playing time and catered to like superstars, it’s a wonder UGA wins any games at all.
JB
September 28th, 2011
10:12 pm
harold….Thanks for getting one of the Nerds in IT at GT to fix your caps button….
Good luck Ken!
September 28th, 2011
10:13 pm
Though you won’t be a bulldawg, I’d like to thank you for your commitment to our program. As a former player who had to transfer from UGA like you did when I got cut from the 1986 baseball team at UGA (50 walk-ons down to three players and I was one that was ousted), I told the coach at UGA (Steve Webber) that I’d see him again on the playing field on another team. I did and went 2-3 against UGA while playing at Mercer U. Go Bears. BTW – I signed with the Yankees thank you very much.
Nub
September 28th, 2011
10:13 pm
Harold please come join us in J-ville for a hug fest with the gators when they whip us by 30….. We will all feel better … Extra bonus you can recite poetry toooooo… By the tickle pile!
McDawg
September 28th, 2011
10:13 pm
Harold don’t be a weirdo
Dubbayoo
September 28th, 2011
10:13 pm
If he’s behind Brandon Harton he can’t be too much of a loss.
Snoop Dawg
September 28th, 2011
10:14 pm
Dawg48, better get in your survival shelter buddy cause the apocolypse is gonna get ya…