‘Do-it-all Dog’ Richard Samuel coming through for Georgia again
It looked like Richard Samuel's career at tailback was going to take off when he broke off this 80-yard touchdown run against Arkansas in 2009. (AP photo)
Athens – Richard Samuel has a reputation for being the ultimate team player for Georgia, and deservedly so. Since arriving in Athens as a 17-year-old in 2008, he has been asked to change positions — and accepted those requests — three times due to depth issues on one side of the ball or the other.
As the page turns to 2012, Samuel is coming to the rescue again. With the recent dismissal of tailback Isaiah Crowell, Samuel is going to be asked to pick up the slack at that position this fall. Samuel had his mind set on playing fullback this fall, but now he will work “primarily” at tailback, according to offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, especially in the early going.
“I don’t think too much about it,” said Samuel as he signed autographs during Countdown to Kickoff at UGA this past Saturday. “Back in the spring I was preparing for both, tailback and fullback. So now it looks like I’ll be leaning more to tailback, which is fine. But I hope I get some time at fullback. I don’t want it to be like linebacker where I prepared for linebacker but never got to rep at it. So I’m just hoping I get a little mix of fullback in there.”
When Samuel (6-foot-2, 243 pounds) signed with the Bulldogs out of Bartow County’s Cass High in 2008, he came in as a 5-star prospect who could play either running back or linebacker. What position he should play in college was a hotly-debated topic. In order to win his recruiting battle, the Bulldogs said they’d leave it up to him and, as these things tend to turn out, Samuel chose to run the football.
It wasn’t necessarily a bad decision. Samuel played in 11 games as a true freshman backup to All-SEC tailback Knowshon Moreno. He finished with 133 yards on 26 carries (5.1 ypc average) and had 401 yards on kickoff returns.
Samuel took over as the starter in 2009 after Moreno left for the NFL and was impressive early on. He had an 80-yard TD run and finished with 104 yards at Arkansas in Game 3. But he fell behind Caleb King and Washaun Ealey and lost the No. 1 spot by midseason.
The decision was made the next year to switch Samuel to defense and he was redshirted in order to acclimate to the new position. Samuel was sharing reps with Alec Ogletree at “Mo” inside linebacker through spring practice and was looking forward to playing defense in 2011. But before the Bulldogs could get to preseason camp, Ealey was pointed toward the door, King flunked out and Carlton Thomas was suspended for the opening game.
So the coaches turned to Samuel and asked him if he’d be willing to come back to offense to help out. As has been his inclination, Samuel answered the call. He started three games at tailback, played in eight and, for all practical purposes, won the Florida game for the Bulldogs when he rushed for 58 yards and scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the 24-20 victory. Unfortunately for Georgia, Samuel injured an ankle on the last play of the Florida game. He had ankle surgery the next week and missed the next five games.
Heading into this year, Georgia seemed set at tailback with the return of Crowell, Ken Malcome and Brandon Harton and the additions of highly-rated signees Keith Marshall and Todd Gurley. The Bulldogs also lost fullback Bruce Figgins to graduation. So Samuel was pretty happy about the coaches’ decision to cross-train him at fullback with the idea of him primarily playing that position this fall.
“I like contact,” Samuel said. “Fullback is close to linebacker to me so I enjoy that as well. I enjoy the contact part of it.”
Then came the Crowell catastrophe and Samuel finds himself back at square one.
“I’ve talked to [running backs coach Bryan] McClendon about it and he says it’ll be interchangeable,” Samuel said. “He said I might be the fullback in the gun or we might have two tailbacks or whatever. It all depends on the plays that are called and the down and distance. We’ll see.”
Samuel was asked if he is ever frustrated by the continued movement.
“I understand the need,” said the fifth-year senior. “There are certain areas where we have needs and right now those are tailback and fullback. If it were a completely different position, that might be overkill. But I enjoy both positions I’ll be playing.”
Bobo, for one, is extremely thankful to have Samuel to turn to.
“Richard’s going to do what’s best for the football team,” Bobo said. “I think if he stays healthy, he can be productive for us. He’s a senior and he knows we’re counting on him.”
As always.
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226 comments Add your comment
If he gets .................
July 16th, 2012
1:21 pm
If Richard gains 575+ yds and scores 6, 7, TDs AND blocks well as a tailback/fullback, he will have done his job. These stats are very decent in the SEC and are realistic. Coupled with another 450-550 yds out of Ken Boo Malcome, UGA will have done well replacing IC. The 2 new N Carolina guys can come in and add another dimension of both size and speed and throw in say, 575-750 total yds., then the UGA overall rushing attack will be excellent.
Look for UGA this year to really utilize the tight ends with Frosh Jay Rome and Artie Lynch. These two guys can play that position and will add yet one more dimension to UGA’s total O putput. This position has been vastly underutilized lately.
If Murray can stay clam in his drop with his up front linemen doing their job, his bone headed, panic throws, fumbles might be greatly reduced.
We shall see.
Goooooooooooooooooooooo Dogs !!
Herschel>Bo, Marcus, any other college running back
July 16th, 2012
1:21 pm
There, fixed it for you.
Pupfan
July 16th, 2012
1:25 pm
Samuel is indeed a DGD! However, stop blaming the UGA coaches for the RS situation. Kid had the choice as a freshman to play LB or TB. He chose TB…and we know the rest of the story….so far.
Anyone got any “inside” scoop on who else might commit soon?
7576DAWG
July 16th, 2012
1:28 pm
Marshall , Malcome and Gurley have been Tailbacks most of their lives so Bobo needs to treat them like they know that position and after Summer practice in August play them at the Tailback position and let Samuels play Fullback from the start.
Spurrier played Lattimore at Tailback from the start of his Freshman year and look how that ended up. Bobo needs to stop treating these kids like they are still in Pee Wee ball. Marshall and Gurley can learn the blocking schemes on the fly but don’t wait until the 5TH or 6TH games to move Samuels to Fullback because Fullback is a very demanding position and Ogletree and Quayvon Hicks will need help.
Not ready for Prime Time
July 16th, 2012
1:31 pm
The question should be anyone got the inside scoop on who else might leave the program soon? Lost Quintavious Harrow this past Friday.
alpharetta alice
July 16th, 2012
1:31 pm
barry sanders was a much better college and pro back than walker. to think otherwise is foolish.
@alpharetta alice
July 16th, 2012
1:34 pm
Nope, pros yes, college Sanders had one monster year, but his career at Ok State did not match up to Herschel’s.
Dawglasville
July 16th, 2012
1:37 pm
Richard Samuel – 5 star player with the heart of a walk on. Even GTBob has nice things to say about him.
By the way GTBob, Ken has a new blog running today. It has been up since 8:30 this morning. There is less than 40 hits on it and you, of course, are on the UGA blog. I think your team needs your support more than Coach Richt needs (or cares about) your barbs. Did he do something to you?
To the Bo, Marcus>Herschel guy – the numbers don’t prove that. The world knew Walker was going to get the ball and still could not stop him. How many years did it take a 4 year senior to beat out what Walker did in 3?
Bubbatavious
July 16th, 2012
1:37 pm
All I know is that UGA desparately needs some corn fed Hawg Mollies on the line of scrimmage real fast.
alpharetta alice
July 16th, 2012
1:39 pm
sec was down. no bama or lsu on the schedule.
Jimmy Crack
July 16th, 2012
1:40 pm
Whatever happens this season, Richard deserves to get a career team MVP award from UGA.
a country boy can survive
July 16th, 2012
1:42 pm
Hey Alice, kinda sounds like current UGA schedule. If you don’t play the best the conference has to offer, your record should have a * next to it.
Will Muschamp
July 16th, 2012
1:43 pm
I have nightmares about Richard and Jarvis
Contractor
July 16th, 2012
1:44 pm
This poor kid can’t catch a break. You gotta love his heart and ability to be the definition of a teammate, but you also just gotta give the guy a chance to play one position and focus without shifting him back and forth. I feel as if there is plenty of depth at the position without freaking out. He knows the position and is more than capable of filling in if injuries occur. Give Malcone an Marshall an opportunity without flooding the position.
Butter Bean Floyd
July 16th, 2012
1:45 pm
If Samuel dont git no blockin it aint gonna matter. DGD or not.
Steve Spurrier
July 16th, 2012
1:46 pm
That Arkansas game is looking easier all the time. Smith is not good enough to coach in the SEC>
Richard Samuel. We love you big guy!
July 16th, 2012
1:48 pm
You are GEORGIA!!!
Brian
July 16th, 2012
1:48 pm
The article says he’ll still play some fullback and Samuel will probably play more at fullback if Malcome and either Gurley or Marshall can pass block and provide a presence up the middle.
Keith
July 16th, 2012
1:49 pm
Then came the Crowell catastrophe…
Catastrophe??? More like the “Crowell Blessing” . Glad to be rid of yet another cancer on the team though its time to start looking at who is recruiting them to begin with
JB
July 16th, 2012
1:49 pm
I’ve watched our running efforts the last 2 years. Throw those freshman backs in there….what the Hell. We need a little luck back there. We have had some bust.
Brian
July 16th, 2012
1:50 pm
We love Samuel. I hope he can move back to fullback soon, because I think Marshall and Malcome will be fine if they get decent blocking. Go Dawgs!
Isaiah's twitter
July 16th, 2012
1:52 pm
my homie be down wid dat. He says everthang real. ah shi..he can run da ball. Go lil frigerator Ricky Samuel
Ogeechee Dawg
July 16th, 2012
1:53 pm
Richard Samuel = DJ Shockley = DGD
JB
July 16th, 2012
1:53 pm
I watched the replay of the Fla/Ga game from last year on SEC express Saturday. I was appalled at the passes Murray just totally missed, with no pressure by the way. He missed 15 or 20 wide open receivers. He has some up side….but downside also. My concern is he hasn’t beat a good football team yet, although I don’t hang all that on him.
GTBob
July 16th, 2012
1:54 pm
By the way GTBob, Ken has a new blog running today. It has been up since 8:30 this morning.
I have already told you that I usually stay away from Ken’s blog. Besides, it’s about Al Groh. Al Groh is boring.
JB
July 16th, 2012
1:56 pm
Also, I hate to say this, but I’m excited about having new kickers this year. I have no idea what happened to our kickers last year.
JB
July 16th, 2012
1:57 pm
GTBob……………News flash. EVERYTHING Tech is boring. Except the morning crime report in the AJC from the Tech campus.
Will Muschamp
July 16th, 2012
2:00 pm
I am the greatest, better than Miles and Meyer. Florida will go undefeated and beat Alabama in Atlanta this season. I guarantee this!
VINCE
July 16th, 2012
2:04 pm
Can he beat out Brian Hartman
DawginLex
July 16th, 2012
2:05 pm
Anyone want to predict who Georgia’s leading rusher will be in 2012?
I say Keith Marshall
My prediction is that Samuel is running some at tailback to teach Marshall and gurley how to pass protect. By game 4 or 5, Marshall will be rotating with Malcome and Gurley and Samuel will be splitting time at fullback with Quavon Hicks. Hicks is 250 pounds and bench presses a house. He will be playing as a true freshman
My $.02
JB
July 16th, 2012
2:06 pm
Will, you finish 3rd this year in the East. Sorry.
GTBob
July 16th, 2012
2:06 pm
GTBob……………News flash. EVERYTHING Tech is boring.
Yeah, our students really hate being in one of the greatest cities in the country and getting a first class education. They would much rather be getting drunk on the farm in Athens.
Joey
July 16th, 2012
2:06 pm
“sec was down. no bama or lsu on the schedule.”
*****************************
Alice, LSU was 7-4 and lost to Rice. Bama was 9-2 and lost to . . (wait for it) . . . Notre Dame. UGA was 12-0-0. They are glad they weren’t “on the schedule.”
Go clean the dishes . . .
DawginLex
July 16th, 2012
2:09 pm
JB
I actually think Florida will finish 2nd in the East at 9-3(same as SC) and will beat SC in the Swamp
Joey
July 16th, 2012
2:10 pm
Boo’s my pick, Lex.
Healthy at last. Gonna rumble . . .
Oh, and Bobo said in a interview in the Banner, Hicks is now 270!
JB
July 16th, 2012
2:11 pm
Florida will have a stout D this year, but they will struggle on offense. The Qb position is a problem, as is a RB who can run between the tackles. They have had a roster full of jailbreak type WR’s from the spread, but don’t have any experienced disciplined route runners.
AltamahaDawg
July 16th, 2012
2:11 pm
75, I hate to pick on your comment becasue it seems like I do that to you too often, not really meaning to. But if Tree and Hick need help, it’ would be at backing up Merrit Hall who is the projected starter right now, and I am certain they can handle that. I would suspect we would see Samuel at FB situationally, but not becasue of need.
As far as Bobo being willing to let a freshman play feature TB, when was he not? We’ve been doing that going on, how many years in a row now?
I personally don’t need to look at Lattimore to see how anything works out. (Aside from him being an execption, not the rule). I can point to THIS team and scoring situations blown up, and games lost, as a result of mistakes by Frosh RBs, so IF we can finally get a bit of experience back there during the crunch time, late in a game, why wouldn’t we? I guarantee you that Spurrier would agree with that in theory, too.
JB
July 16th, 2012
2:13 pm
But Bob, do they stay here or go back to India?
G-Dawg
July 16th, 2012
2:16 pm
Lex,
Hicks will be the next big stud FB at UGA…only gonna get bigger and stronger…
Boo finished the season running hard, and hitting the hole…pretty much a a one-two punch with him and Samuels running the ball. Just as long as they keep them running north and south, and not east and west with that shotgun handoff crap. These are power I backs…not shifty elusive backs. But doubt Bobo recognizes this fact.
JB
July 16th, 2012
2:17 pm
Lex, who do we lose to this year? I think we could up 9-3 also. We have some situations that aren’t cake walks. Mizzou,SC,Fla,Au,& Tech.
AltamahaDawg
July 16th, 2012
2:18 pm
Let us all not forget how quickly “cut down the mistakes” banner gets hung on Murray now, and some of the more memorable ones were not so coincidently on plays that our inexperience in the backfield started that chain of events.
G-Dawg
July 16th, 2012
2:18 pm
Gators will be definitely improved on offense with the Pease hire!! Great offensive mind….just depends if the players can digest the new offensive gameplan fast enough.
BeatHelloutTech
July 16th, 2012
2:23 pm
Samuel is my favorite player! Wonder how good he would be if we had seen what a dufus King and Ealey were?
GTBob
July 16th, 2012
2:23 pm
But Bob, do they stay here or go back to India?
Considering only 6% of our undergraduates are international students, and only a small portion of those are Indian, im guessing not many of them go to India.
JB
July 16th, 2012
2:24 pm
Yea, Altamaha, I remember Crowell last year totally missing blocks, missing handoffs etc, which blew up the backfield.
JB
July 16th, 2012
2:26 pm
Come on Bob, you know anybody out of Georgia is considered international to us…LOL
JB
July 16th, 2012
2:28 pm
And also Bob, you ARE all nerd by the way you answer challenges on here. I’m sorry a sense of humor can’t be purchased.
DawginLex
July 16th, 2012
2:29 pm
JB
We will DEEESTROY Mizzou
They won’t be able to stop us
Also, there is about to be some good news coming out of Athens
I say run the table and shut everyone up
GTBob
July 16th, 2012
2:31 pm
And also Bob, you ARE all nerd by the way you answer challenges on here. I’m sorry a sense of humor can’t be purchased.
I have a great sense of humor. I spend most of my day laughing at you guys.
AltamahaDawg
July 16th, 2012
2:35 pm
If I may quote ChuckDawg:
“I know a lot of people are worried about Mizzou. Unfortunately, I have had the displeasure of watching more Big 12 football than most of you Bulldogs, including Mizzou. I can absolutely assure you of this, they have never, ever faced a front 7 like UGA has this year. They will be so physically dominated that although it may be a scratchy 3 quarters we should “out physicality” them by the 4th Quarter. They are weak on D against pretty much everything we are good at on O. Sure, their deep ball threat against our bubble gum and string secondary is there, but they got to have a QB that can get off a pass. Their only hope would be the 5-10 yard quick passes, but I believe ole Grantham is going to be much more ready for that than against BSU. And MIzzou’s surgical passing is now where near BSU’s last year. It’s hard to want to throw and catch when you’re scared to heck of being pulverized. And we can hit them very, very hard.”