Yesterday the University of Georgia announced it had granted the unconditional release of leading rusher Washaun Ealey. This means Ealey is free to transfer where ever he may like including any SEC program. Last season Ealey led the Bulldogs with 811 yards rushing and 11 TDs as a redshirt sophomore. This coming up season there was a pretty good chance he was going to be second fiddle to incoming freshman Isaiah Crowell, the #1 running back prospect in the nation enrolling this summer.
This is great news for UGA. Ealey was a constant headache for the Georgia program and most importantly Coach Mark Richt. If you aren't familiar with the incidents Ealey has been through since his arrival in Athens let the AJC refresh your memory...
Ealey was suspended indefinitely from the team in February for missing an early-morning disciplinary run. He was reinstated in time for spring practice in March but was sidelined with a hamstring injury after only four practices and did not practice again. He was also suspended from last season’s opener because of an arrest for hit-and-run of a parked vehicle and driving with a suspended license. Richt was particularly upset about that incident because Ealey had assured coaches he wouldn’t drive while his license was suspended.
Ealey during his time in Athens displayed for the most part a "me" attitude. What could Georgia give to him was more important than what could he give back to the Georgia football team and his teammates. With a coach on the hot seat like Richt is this season you can't deal with clubhouse cancers who could ruin the whole attitude of the team. It was time to trim the fat and get rid of Ealey.
Ealey will bounce back and learn a valuable lesson. The kid has skills and is a good running back when he wants to put the time in and prove himself. The hot rumor is he winds up transferring to Georgia Southern.
For Georgia this is the dawn of a new running back era. Crowell is looking to make an instant impact this fall much like Marcus Lattimore did in Columbia last season for the SEC East Champ Gamecocks. Georgia is also seen as a front runner for highly touted tailback Keith Marshall out of North Carolina. Marshall has visited Athens several times and is considered an elite tailback.
In the end the best thing that could have happened for both Ealey and Georgia was to go separate ways. It also might have saved Richt's future in Athens.
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