Isaiah Crowell has been called the best high school Peach State tailback since Herschel Walker. Like Walker, Crowell will be a Georgia Bulldog and Georgia fans are hoping that Crowell’s first year on campus mirrors Walker’s freshman season, culminating in an undefeated national championship. While the expectations may be through the roof once Crowell steps on campus this summer, this spring several backs will be looking to make enough of an impact that Crowell also starts the season the way Walker did: on the bench.
The University of Georgia entered the 2010 season with two backs and a veteran offensive line, but the Bulldog running game never got going. The current roster does have a small stable of backs though that could certainly give Mark Richt something to think about heading into the 2011 season before Crowell likely enters the depth chart as the top back. As a true freshman Washaun Ealey did not start immediately but eventually led the team in rushing once on the field. Ealey struggled when on the field last season, losing fumbles in critical situations, however it is impossible to not see a runner capable of dominating if given enough carries. Against Georgia Tech, Ealey was handed the ball 13 times and games 118 yards including two scores. Against Kentucky he toted the rock 28 times for 157 yards and tallied five rushing scores. Against Vanderbilt, Ealey rushed for 123 yards on 17 carries. Ealey has the body and the speed to excel for Richt’s 2011 edition if given the carries and if he can stay out of trouble. Ealey was briefly suspended from the team but he has since been allowed back in the team. As a rising-junior Ealey is the back with the most experience that could keep Crowell off of the field and he will, assuming he stays on the straight and narrow, grab most of the carries before Crowell arrives in Athens.
Carlton Thomas has been something of a mystery through his redshirt sophomore year at Georgia. Thomas was seen by some as the second-coming of Tyson Browning, who had several important moments for Richt’s Bulldogs teams in the past. Thomas has been a workout fiend during his run in Athens and gets carries during games because he is a weekday warrior. He scored two touchdowns in 2010 with 272 yards on 64 carries. While he isn’t a threat to start, he will likely get some carries during the spring as a change-of-pace back. Thomas probably shouldn’t be used as a between-the-tackles runner but he can hit the corner and if he continues to impress the coaches enough, Thomas will certainly get some totes this spring.
The last running back that will see plenty of action this spring before Crowell’s arrival is redshirt freshman Ken “Boo” Malcome. According to reports, Richt weighed stripping Malcome’s redshirt several times last season, looking for a spark, however Richt decided to leave Malcome on the sidelines to learn. Malcome has the burst that will remind some of Knowshon Moreno, who dazzled with his athletic ability. Wearing Moreno’s old No. 24, Malcome has the speed, having been a track sprinter in high school but also the moves to bring back the memories of Moreno, circa 2007.
These three backs will likely get the most carries this spring before Isaiah Crowell arrives. Crowell was one of the top backs in the country and who knows if Richt promised him the starting spot against Boise State, but he is coming to Athens with plenty of expectations. If Malcome, Ealey or Thomas hope to carry the ball first against the Broncos in the Georgia Dome to open up 2011, each would need to rock spring drills and the spring game. Even then though it may still not be enough. Bulldog fans are hoping Crowell drives the bus in 2011; look for these three to simply start the ignition and keep the seat warm.
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