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
dwayne
September 29th, 2011
6:07 am
on Malcome, rikctht’s fault, you move a 6th string running back to linebacker, then move him back to # 2 running back?? what a joke of a coach. the wind knocks smelluel down.
BigDaddy
September 29th, 2011
6:37 am
If I were a top RB prospect, I’d take a look toward Athens. Likewise LB and OL>
BigDaddy
September 29th, 2011
6:38 am
Booooooooooooo, Boo!
slydog
September 29th, 2011
6:38 am
Decatur coach
September 29th, 2011
12:15 am
When theyh did malcolme like that, they lost the privelege of recruitin in south dekalb county. I can promise you that no athlete from here will ever go to uga again. look at stephenson now, they refuse to go there…i wonder why? I got a phonce call to make over to mlk….Rodger garner…please consider that you can recruit our players but they wont allow you to coach them. they just using you…you should have went to lsu when you had the chance
Good, because south Dekalb County has wasted more scholarships at UGA than any other county. None of those places you have named have produced one impact player on any level, save Quincy Carter. How did that turn out? Call MLK, then fine. I don’t see any all pros coming out of there either. They choose places like Kentucky….lol
Paddy
September 29th, 2011
6:41 am
Augusta Dawg….you wanted to move Samuel back to LB so Malcome could get some carries? Well coach, you just managed to lose your whole team with that move. You thought the players did not respect Houston Nutt at Ole Miss? Try that move with the UGA players and then go call a Real Estate agent. You are history.
Paddy
September 29th, 2011
6:47 am
slydog….all they tried to do is get Malcome on the field and they could not. End of story.
MattDawg
September 29th, 2011
6:58 am
You got two Jakar Hamilton’s in there…. might want to change that.
Gainesville dawg
September 29th, 2011
7:08 am
If you don’t think other SEC schools see the same type attrition, check out Auburn over the past five years.
slydog
September 29th, 2011
7:13 am
I know that Paddy, but decatur coach seems to think CMR played favorites with a true freshman. When has CMR ever deferred to a true freshman, regardless of talent or skill level?
slydog
September 29th, 2011
7:16 am
Malcolme has decided to jump ship 1/3 of the way after we have already departed and are in the middle of the Ocean. He lacks strength of character and oozes “mama’s boy”. By permanently barring him, maybe this is a trait he can develop through reflection. I mean what serious minded man, young or old, prefers to be called “Boo?”
Joey
September 29th, 2011
7:19 am
“I can honestly say I see this staff by mid season having to give Brandon Smith 10 carriers a game.”
***********************************************
Me too. If it happens, I just hope Bobo doesn’t forget about the two #1s. Talk about the “entitlement mentality.” Promise a 5-Star he can wear #1 when you already have a 5-Star wearing #1.
JB
September 29th, 2011
7:20 am
Mark really needs to win Saturday BADDDDDDDDDD……. I know he wants to win EVERY game they play, but the timing of this game is so important. Things are never as good or bad as they seem….and I’d will be willing to bet, even at Bama and LSU right now, there are underlying stories of some player discontent and jealousy due to playing time etc.
slydog
September 29th, 2011
7:20 am
Gainesville dawg
You are right on the money about attrition rates across the SEC. Heck, the entire D1 football level. But what is unique about this is that CMR is in year 11, not year 1 or 2. He chose these players and they chose him for one reason alone: They knew he would not push them. They knew he would give them leeway. They knew he would treat them like “grown” men and allow them to govern themselves. A person may grow in age, but not necessarily in maturity. Making ‘adult” decisions is a learned process and it must be earned, not given.
slydog
September 29th, 2011
7:22 am
Brandon Boykin needs to get more snaps at RB. Branden Smith needs to learn how to play the position he was recruited for first. That is what his problem is now. He was all over the place and not spending enough time learning his own position. Heck, what about Justin Scott-Wesley?
Joey
September 29th, 2011
7:24 am
That’s different, Gainesville dawg.
Auburn’s “attrition” usually is a result of player-contract issues . . .
Dogs Smell
September 29th, 2011
7:26 am
Ellijay dawgcatcher , No georgia can recruit stars they just lack the ability to develope them. Funny how you “Homers” say good ridance yet when they come we all hear How great it is to be a bulldog. I hope MSU kicks your tails !
AltamahaDawg
September 29th, 2011
7:26 am
This has everything to do with Malcome and little to do with the staff. The kid had every chance in the world to get more playing time and by his own words he is slipping behind everybody else including some walk-ons and (probabaly yet unnamed recruits coming in). Best of luck to him. Playing is voluntarily, he needs to go it where he is happy.
Very odd situation going on now, almost feels like the first year of a new staff. Maybe that’s not so bad. BTW, that list is full of player who had medical, school, and NFL issues. That part is common everywhere.
We hear, play the best guys, don’t care about anybodies “feelings” all the time in here, I would expect to be reading a lot of praise over this.
Paddy
September 29th, 2011
7:27 am
slydog…You are probably right. But CMR does seem consistant in playing kids with more experience. Thats just his way, right or wrong. Yea, what ever did happen to Scott-Wesley?
JB
September 29th, 2011
7:29 am
Don’t think play the best ever even got to Malcome. He never saw the field…and wasn’t going to, and you are right, he probably needs to look in the mirror. i wish him the best.
Special K
September 29th, 2011
7:30 am
What I find funny is that when a player trasfers from BAMA it is because he got “Run Off” by Saban as you people state. When he transfers from UGA, he is a head case, malcotent, not a team player, selfish, etc. Players leave programs typicallly for one reason…….. playing time. This is the pot calling the kettle black. The hypocricy of it.
walkons rule
September 29th, 2011
7:35 am
give the 2 scholarships to some more deserving walkons at practice today.
SickandTired
September 29th, 2011
7:36 am
Dream Team….LOL….Perhaps Marky Mark Mark could use a little direction in the kind of players he recruits…..This is a continuation of the trend that even the most ardent Dawg Fans can see….for you illiterate Dawg fans, ardent is not an insult to you.
Texas Dawg
September 29th, 2011
7:41 am
On one hand I say he quit the team, quit the fans ect…
But on the other hand i know for a fact that Malcome is a better back than Samuel and for the life of me WHY is Samuel still at tailback………………Samuel is a dgd but he trips over his on feet and has no vision what so ever…………………….why after the injury’s did we not move him back to LB……………………….don’t get it…..
slydog
September 29th, 2011
7:49 am
From an individual perspective, this is all on Malcolme. But this overall attrition is CMR’s and his only. The reasons/issues are common at every institution, as far as the players are concerned, but these same conditions are different when applied to coaches. In year 11, should we have so much attrition that walk-ons, not replacement recruits, but walk-ons are picking up these scholly’s and filling in on the two-deep depth chart. Folks, UGA should not be in this boat, crackdown or not. This isn’t year 1 or 2.
David
September 29th, 2011
7:51 am
Didn’t realize Ken Malcome was still on the team. Kid just was injured all the time.
slydog
September 29th, 2011
7:52 am
Texas Dawg
To answer your question: BoBo is not creative and certainly is not a visionary. He is a protege and disciple of CMR. They even sound and talk just alike. So you will get the same type of creativity and forethought when it comes to offensive personnel. CMR taught BoBo how to coach. So there is your answer.
dap01
September 29th, 2011
7:52 am
Does the spoiled players think that there is no competition at other schools?
ugab
September 29th, 2011
7:52 am
This is not good for our program! I was looking forward to seeing malcome in action. MR did not play Malcome last year. We needed him last year. MR made him ride the bench. I do not understand this sht. GOOD LUCK MALCOME!. I hope Malcome goes to another big time college and make ga pay.
dogbone
September 29th, 2011
7:54 am
Something is amiss with the program….Could it be the coaching??????????
Rhall
September 29th, 2011
7:55 am
“You snooze, You lose”!!! Last year UGA led the nation in arrests / this year leading the nation in transfers!!! This does not bode well for depth or preception of recruiting; these kids can influence other kids for the future!!! CMR and CRG be careful the writing on the wall is getting clearer; lose a couple more games and it will be picture perfect!!!
dawg bitesu
September 29th, 2011
8:00 am
Malcome you baby! You are From SWD home of the hard knocks. Sorry, sorry, sorry cry baby. You let us down like you did your Sr. year at SWD.There are three type of football players: 1. The Rock (hard on the outside and hard on the inside) 2. The jellybean (hard on the outside and soft on the inside) 3. The marshmillow (Soft on the outside and soft on the inside) Malcome is a marshmillow. CMR we need more Rocks in this program.
Ghost of Herb Brooks
September 29th, 2011
8:08 am
Malcome was a training room staple. I won’t go as far as to call him a hypochondriac but the proof is in the pudding. Maybe he was another who thought he was “entitled” to play regardless of his work ethic. Who knows? But the facts are this highly touted RB was a complete and utter bust. This leaves us in a precarious situation at RB for the immediate future; however, it does open another scholarship at RB. Let’s hope we can get the “right” player for that position because the “best” players do seem to be working out too well.
Megan
September 29th, 2011
8:11 am
“The biggest thing for Ken is he just has to come out there and be able to practice so he can keep progressing ,obviously, that’s something that’s sort of held him back last season, this season, this past spring, this past summer. I think he has a bunch of talent. Once he is out there and once he does get better, you’ll see the player that he can become. But he just has to be out there.” -Bryan McClendon. That right there sums up Mr. Malcome’s work ethic!
Rduck
September 29th, 2011
8:12 am
I’m pretty sure coach Richt just called these guys a bunch of wusses without a nut sack…lol
slydog
September 29th, 2011
8:12 am
If UGA “greyshirted” more often, would all this attrition really matter?
bulldogmaniac
September 29th, 2011
8:17 am
Just shows that Crowell is the real deal and Ken does not think he will get to play while at UGA.
Opens up another scholly for us.
gdawginkalamazoo
September 29th, 2011
8:17 am
“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.
Looks like coach is still giving Boo every opportunity to heal and get well then compete. Why does he feel like he is behind everybody else? From all the reading on here I gather that the kid has some talent that could be utilized at UGA. Like everybody says, we are one sprained ankle or twisted knee from needing a big back. So put in the work and get the playing time kid. It’s not too late. You heard what the coach said. But I guess you could really heal up playing JC for a year THEN coming back to D-1. Or put in the effort this year and get on the field this year in D-1. Good luck either way.
7576DAWG
September 29th, 2011
8:18 am
I would limit Samuels carry’s because he is slow and it doesn’t take much to tackle him but at least he falls forward, so that’s good. I think Boykin and Branden Smith should get a lot more carry’s. Also take the red shirt off Nick Marshall and let him play TB. Any of these three would be better than Samuels and would let UGA not fall off at running back so much when Crowell is not in the game.
DJ Dawg
September 29th, 2011
8:20 am
I say dont let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya !!!! Just weeding out the losers and cry babies that think all they have to do is show up and they get to play. This is not pee wee football where everybody gets to play!! You have to earn your spot!!!
Joe
September 29th, 2011
8:23 am
Any team can be successful with a lesser talented TB if they are loaded with first class offensive linemen. Until Richt builds his team around a great OL he will not be successful. Look at the WR’s that are on the lower debth chart. We have seniors on that list and freshmen on the two deep on OL and duplicates in other OL positions.
mcdaviddawg
September 29th, 2011
8:25 am
Richt’s team is falling apart. We are close to losing the equivalent of an entire class. The recruits are leaving for opportunity to play. Next recruiting class will not be good. The Richt era is over.
DJ Dawg
September 29th, 2011
8:27 am
And I be damned if I would hug his neck if he came back and said I lost my mind!! I’d give him a swift kick in the ass on his way out the door!
AltamahaDawg
September 29th, 2011
8:29 am
Special K, the difference is that when we lose player, we are just that much lower in our numbers. You are comparing that to the conversation about the perception that at Alabama, player transfers only get them closer to the getting under the max limits. (which they were recruiting above while most other programs had policies against) I’m pretty sure you knew all that but it just decided to mix up the examples to make some irrelevant point anyway?
dixie dawg
September 29th, 2011
8:29 am
elijay everyone wants cmr to fix problems but when players leave that are not producing you talk crap if they dont want to be true dogs then they need to go elswhere we only need players that want to be here and work hard ad be proud to be a dawg besides as some of you know saban runs of players every year
RedandBlackDawg
September 29th, 2011
8:31 am
It is no different at UGA than any other school. If you don’t practice you can’t play on game day. I know Malcome has had a lingering groin injury but It might also be the fact, that he thought he was just going to step into the starters position and isn’t willing to work hard enough to climb up the depth chart. None of us knows why he wants to transfer truthfully, but the only thing it has to do with CMR, is he is the head coach. I would bet my bottom dollar, he has not been taken advantage of, mistreated or dealt with unfairly by the head coach.
Greyshirting him wouldn’t have been any better than the situation he is in right now. Either way, he is not playing and that appears to be his biggest concern. Either his physical, mental or both conditions would have to improve for him to get decent playing time, and that appears to be improbable, at least for the near future. Maybe a new start, at a new school, probably an FCS school, is his best choice.
People always looking to complain and say something stupid or nasty about UGA and the coaches don’t need this instance to spout your wasted space on these blogs. If not for the AJC, you wouldn’t even have a forum to make such stupid, irresponsible and hateful remarks at all. Don’t worry though, for as long as the AJC condones these remarks since they represent web hits, you will always have a place to spout your same old rhetoric and garbage.
GO DAWGS and GATA
01HAWK
September 29th, 2011
8:31 am
TRANSFERS happen at every program . If you have at least a couple years of eligibility left then you should leave to get playing time.
Happens under SABAN yearly .
Updating ex-Tide players who transferred
Posted on September 23, 2011 by Michael Casagrande| 2 Comments
There were eight players on the 2010 Alabama roster who transferred out before this fall. Here’s a quick update on how most are doing at their new football homes:
WR Keiwone Malone (Memphis): Receiving a special exemption to skip the transfer redshirt, the Memphis native has four receptions, but a grand total of two receiving yards. Malone had three catches Saturday against Austin Peay for zero yards.
DB B.J. Scott (South Alabama): Once a five-star recruit, the wide receiver turned defensive back is fitting in with his hometown program. He has 20 tackles — the second most on the team and has one forced fumble. The third-year program lost its first game last week at North Carolina State, 35-13
RB Demetrius Goode (North Alabama): The senior has yet to play in the four UNA games after suffering a hamstring injury.
DB Robby Green (California University of Pennsylvania):After sitting out the 2010 season in Tuscaloosa on a NCAA-ordered suspension, the junior ranks fifth on the team with 17 tackles including one sack. He had 12 stops in last week’s win over East Stroudsburg.
DL Darrington Sentimore (Mississippi Gulf Community College): Suspended for spring practices, the Louisiana native has 15 tackles in three games at the JUCO level. Click here for a story from the Mississippi Press where he talks about Nick Saban’s advice post-Alabama. There are also reports from Knoxville saying Sentimore made an official visit to Tennessee two weeks ago.
DL Brandon Moore (East Mississippi Community College): The Montgomery product didn’t move too far from Tuscaloosa (geographically speaking) where he has 16 tackles include two for losses. Moore also recorded three quarterback hurries.
I couldn’t find information on linebacker Petey Smith who reportedly transferred to Holmes Community College. His name didn’t appear on the roster on the school’s website. The other transfer was running back Corey Grant who is sitting out this season at Auburn.
zbulldawg
September 29th, 2011
8:32 am
WEED the WEAK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! COACHES (check) PLAYERS (check) FANS (in progress) There’s a fine line between WINNER & WINER.It’s the “n” Remember this when we are on the other side of the fence Because the sign will read do not enter you’re missing an “N” Notice from 4 generations of BULLDAWG FANS. SOLD OUT
Chris
September 29th, 2011
8:33 am
It is so funny to see these fools saying the team (like mcdaviddawg) is falling apart…what is even funnier is that the true fans on here get worked up because these fools (maybe just one or two – mcdadvid and the rest of the trolls seem to be one who goes under many names…), which means they win… also, if bobo was soooo bad, why has our point production gone up?
AltamahaDawg
September 29th, 2011
8:35 am
Clearly the hug on the neck would not be for coming back and moping around. OBVIOUSLY that’s not what the offer was. He would need to have a change of heart that would include competing for playing time, IF he were to come back and ask if he could stay, since his reasoning was needing more playing time. Nothing wrong with the comment/offer.
Ever heard the story of David Pollack quiting the team in Richt’s office one day? Probably not many folks who are as offended by that hug on the neck.
Mark
September 29th, 2011
8:35 am
zbulldawg=rooster=flattire=any other troll