Who’s top Dog all-time in games played? Tavarres King, UGA says
Wide receiver Tavarres King has played in more football games for Georgia than anyone else in school history. The Capital One Bowl will be his 56th — and his last.
“The time flew by,” King said recently. “It feels like just yesterday I was getting dropped off by my parents over there at ECV (East Campus Village).”
King has squeezed about as much into his college career as possible. He graduated early from Habersham Central High School and enrolled at UGA in January 2008. He played in the first four games of the ’08 season before a season-ending ankle injury resulted in a medical redshirt. He played in 12 games in 2009, 12 in 2010 and 14 in 2011, and the Jan. 1 bowl game against Nebraska will be his 14th this season.
UGA confirmed it all adds up to a school career record for games played, and it will be a tough number to top because King played the maximum games allowed in a medical redshirt season.
Tavarres King had 205 receiving yards in last season's Outback Bowl vs. Michigan State, including 80 on this play. (AP photo)
King has been productive, too. With 2,498 career receiving yards, he is No. 4 in UGA history, behind Terrrence Edwards (3,093), Fred Gibson (2,884) and A.J. Green (2,619). With 20 career touchdown catches, he is tied with Gibson for third in school history, behind Edwards (30) and Green (23).
After all his games, including 40 starts, King feels there is unfinished business to take care of in his last one. Although he was held out of several practices last week with a strained hamstring, Georgia expects him back for the bowl.
“We’ve lost our last two bowl games,” King said. “This senior class wants to win its last bowl game. We don’t want to go out with a bad taste in our mouth.”
King came in with Georgia No. 1 in the 2008 preseason polls. He goes out with the Bulldogs as high as No. 5 in the polls (pending the bowl). In between, he experienced the ups and downs of a tumultuous period for Georgia football.
“You can’t get any lower than the season we went 6-7,” he said, referring to the 2010 season that ended with a loss to Central Florida in the Liberty Bowl. “Knowing the tradition around here, the way things used to be, it was just a very low point at that time.”
But since starting the 2011 season with back-to-back losses, Georgia has won 21 of 25 games and two SEC East championships.
“I think my class and the class before mine changed the culture around here, got Georgia back to its winning ways,” King said. “It’s very satisfying. I think the way Georgia used to be, the way Georgia used to be thought of, is back. … During that 6-7 year, we didn’t have a swagger, an edge, about us. I feel like we’ve gotten that back.
“I think this thing is just going to continue to progress and flourish; I really do. I think we’re leaving behind a program that is headed in the right direction.”
The Bulldogs would be headed to the BCS national title game, of course, if they had beaten Alabama in the SEC Championship Game. But they fell four points and five yards short, and King described himself immediately afterward as “crushed, to be honest.”
“It was the toughest loss I’ve ever been a part of,” he said weeks later. “We expected to win. We expected to win the whole time. We felt in that one-minute drive (at the end) we were going to win the thing.
“I’m not fully over it. But you’ve got to keep moving.”
King, who graduated last spring with a degree in social studies education, will begin training for the NFL draft after the bowl game.
“I think I’m ready,” the 6-foot-1, 200-pound flanker said. “I’m looking forward to embracing it and enjoying the ride.”
“We think the world of TK, and I’m very confident he’ll end up getting drafted and have a good pro career,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said. “He’s been very crucial, and we’ve counted on him. … We expect him to be able to get deep. We expect him to be able to stretch the defense. And he’s done a very good job of that.”
King has an invitation to play in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., next month. “It’s going to be a great time to showcase my talents and make a name for myself,” he said.
But first, there’s one more game for UGA. In last season’s bowl — an Outback Bowl loss to Michigan State — King set the UGA single-game record for receiving yards with 205 on six catches.
“It’d be fun to go out with a big bang like that,” he said, adding that he’d script it in a winning cause this time. “I want to leave these guys with a little present of (a bowl win).”
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79 comments Add your comment
Colorado Dawg
December 25th, 2012
4:54 am
Habersham! He dad was a legend when I played for Raiders. Good luck in pros TK12.
Who’s top Dog all-time in games played? Tavarres King, UGA says – Georgia – Dawg News
December 25th, 2012
8:33 am
[...] more here: Who’s top Dog all-time in games played? Tavarres King, UGA says ← Back to Home Tags: ankle, capital one bowl, focal, game, jan, january, receiving, [...]
WindyDog
December 25th, 2012
9:48 am
I always enjoyed watching TK compete. He’s one of the most competitive guys on the team, just HATES losing. In the Bowl game last year, they guy just made play after play to try and win it for UGA. I thought he was underutilized through his career but his numbers are superb, and his competitive spirit is as high as Gurley, Jones, Williams.
You want guys who love to compete, who hate to lose, you want a team full of guys like Tavarres King.
WindyDog
December 25th, 2012
9:55 am
TK was #3 in the nation in yards per catch in 2012, and #13 nationally in 2010. In fact TK averaged over 20 yards per catch in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012.
zbulldawg
December 25th, 2012
10:08 am
LET THE BIG DAWG EAT
WindyDog
December 25th, 2012
10:17 am
TK reminds me of Hines Ward, about the same size, speed, and so on. TK had 500+ more receiving yards than Ward at Georgia, but Ward caught about 15 more passes than TK at Georgia, still, to be that close to Hines Ward’s college numbers is saying a lot.
fred russo
December 25th, 2012
10:50 am
Sorry kid if you played for a real coach you would have had a ring!
LoyalDog
December 25th, 2012
11:30 am
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
TK has a social studies certificaton which means he will be able to teach any of these subjects Geography, Sociology, Psychology, US History, World History, Economics, Political Systems, Grades 8-12 He will have a great career either playing ball for awhile and then teaching in High School. I taught for 35 years after playing pro ball and was blessed as a player and teacher. TK has a wonderful choice of a degree because it is his choice. By the way, there is never a social studies class per se. And if someone sleeps in a class, that is the teacher’s problem, not a curriculum issue. As a season ticket holder and an alumni from The University of Georgia, I am proud of our players and TK.
OuterBanksDawg
December 25th, 2012
12:02 pm
Some of you guys are unbelievable. Timeout, do you even think about what you are writing before you post? TK will have a good solid career in the league. He’s got great speed, sure hands and is a very intelligent route runner. He’s been a DGD, never in any trouble that I could remember. When his playing career is over, he will be able to do whatever he wants. Guys like him make so many connections. I’m sure he feels like the teaching degree gives him some options if he wants to get into coaching at some point.
Good luck, TK!
Merry Christmas, Dawgnation!
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 25th, 2012
1:00 pm
LoyalDog….that was an Answer. I never had a “Social Studies” Class. I didn’t know(but did make fun of) what Social Studies is. In government schools there is no telling what they teach these days. Thanks for an Honest Answer as to What he can teach. That does seem to be a little WIDE Open with no real expertise in one particular area. I would expect a History Major to teach High School History. Sorry but I would prefer my child to be taught some of the classes mentioned by a teacher that studied said subject not a General Studies teacher.
Again Thanks for the great answer. Some of the greatest teachers in my experience were not Teachers at all but were people passionate about the subject in their charge, Those teachers were gifted to find ways to get the students to find some level of passion for their subject as well. One of the greatest teachers in my life was a pretty famous middle school teacher in the Atlanta Area. He was not as much a Science Teacher as he was a science Magician. He did Magic Tricks in class. Through the MAGIC we learned how many scientific principles work. There isn’t Magic but the manipulation of the mind through the use of everyday Scientific Principles. When we left his class we would be talking about his class all day. Kids would ask each other during the day, “Hey what did you do in Mr. Bobby’s class today?” Public education today needs to find more teachers like Mr. Bobby. I am sure there are some good government school teachers but I wouldn’t put my child in a government school. I have found private schools have overall better teachers. I thank you for your time spent in the battle zone called the classroom and trying to educate the future leaders of this state.
STFU
December 25th, 2012
2:32 pm
start in on Calvin Johnson like a bunch of redneck lunatics
ramguy68
December 25th, 2012
3:16 pm
@Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira I never had a “Social Studies” Class. I didn’t know(but did make fun of) what Social Studies is
I doubt there was any reason to have a Social Studies course while you studied at Hamburger U…..of course your classes were more a hands on experience such as asking “can I super size that for you’?.
FLA DAWG
December 25th, 2012
5:28 pm
A Damn Good Dawg!
Despite his record-setting usage this young man could have – and should have been used even more.
There were games when even the tv announcer wondered why T. K. was not used more.
Richt and Bobo strike again!
Good Luck T. K., Merry Christmas & Happy New Year !!
FLA DAWG
December 25th, 2012
5:30 pm
Kind will be a solid NFL player.
Watch and see you dolts.
Strat Cat Dawg
December 25th, 2012
6:59 pm
Enter your comments here
Strat Cat Dawg
December 25th, 2012
7:02 pm
Take two: Thanks for giving it your all, T. King. You’re already down on the short list of All-Time DGDs. Best wishes on your NFL career and future endeavors.
dawgfan
December 25th, 2012
8:34 pm
The most important stat that all the nerds running their fat traps should keep in mind is that he was 4-0 vs. the Joke By Coke as an active player. Of course that makes him one of about 10,000 UGA players within the last 20 years or so to accomplish that feat.
Thanks.
HOUDAWG
December 25th, 2012
9:22 pm
PTO …… put down the bottle ( either yours or your mama’s teet ) & get a life ……
HOUDAWG
December 25th, 2012
9:33 pm
And just one more thing PTO …. your comment(s) at around 1:00pm today simply expose that your life / world experience is almost totally related to the tutorial / school / academic aspects of a college student ( uh …. nerd ). Come back when you grow up & real life shows ya something to talk about …….
jojo
December 25th, 2012
9:51 pm
Love You T.K. Good Luck in all you do. 1 DGD
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 25th, 2012
10:04 pm
Houdwag……nice you know how my life was lived. How old do you have to be to be grown-up? How many countries do you have to travel to have world experience? I’m pretty sure have enough live real world experiences to have a good enough idea how things work.
HOUDAWG
December 25th, 2012
10:35 pm
Yeah ….. pto ….. you explained it so well. Again, put the bottle away …. punk.
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 25th, 2012
10:47 pm
Ouch….Punk.
Is that like Thug?
I don’t owe you any explanation.
You wouldn’t believe anything I tell you anyway.
I am over 40. I’m a man!
tebrow
December 26th, 2012
1:01 am
still inbreed fighting
Just Real
December 26th, 2012
1:02 am
Couldn’t take it anymore. timeout you are pathetic
hit a single
December 26th, 2012
8:27 am
Thanks TK for everything. There is one last thing I would like to see you do and that is to ditch the bandanna. Whether we like it or not it is a gang symbol. I wish all players would wear the skull cap and not the bandannas. I preach to my classes that they are symbols not to be proud of. The kids realize it and don’t want to be associated with ones that wear them.
griz
December 26th, 2012
12:38 pm
A classy kid from a classy family. Loved watching him at HCHS, at UGA and next in the pros. He’ll be successful at whatever he chooses in life, and that’s what matters.
SEC Headlines Christmas Day 2012 – Arkansas – Razorbacks News
December 26th, 2012
2:21 pm
[...] 5. Which current Georgia receiver has played in more games for the Bulldogs than anyone in history? [...]
2013 Capital One Bowl: Tavarres King will set school record for games played | Campus Organizing
December 26th, 2012
5:31 pm
[...] Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Tavarres King will set a school record just for playing in the 2013 Capital One Bowl against the Nebraska Cornhuskers on New Year’s Day. The record will be for most games played in his college career at Georgia, according to Tim Tucker of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: [...]