Ealey again impressive for Bulldogs

By Jeff Haws

For the AJC

Start or no start, Washaun Ealey continues to show he belongs in the Georgia backfield.

After starting the previous two games, Ealey began Saturday's game against Tennessee Tech on the bench behind Caleb King. And even with only seven carries to King's 12, Ealey led the team in rushing for the third consecutive game, posting two touchdowns and 89 yards, good for a 12.7 average per rush.

The biggest chunk of that came on his longest run of the season, a 44-yard jaunt over the left side of the line that ended in his second touchdown of the day.

Georgia coach Mark Richt liked what he saw from the 5-foot-11 freshman, who made a big play out of something that looked as if it might not amount to much.

"He stuck it right where he should," Richt said. "Every once in awhile, that's all you need is a little push. He got right where he should be; there was no crease, but once he hit it, it opened up and then he was gone. That's just the sign of a guy maturing."

If so, it's happening quickly for the 20-year-old running back who set a state record with 58 touchdowns his senior season at Emanuel County Institute in tiny Twin City, with a population less than 1,900.

Now, nine games into his first year in Athens, he's starting to make a case for being the team's best running back, and he's gaining on Bulldogs rushing leader Richard Samuel, who has played in four more games than Ealey.

For his part, Ealey doesn't sound interested in who starts and who comes off the bench. He knows where his coaches say he needs to improve, and he's trying to make strides each week.

"In practice, they have me blocking more; I feel like I'm trying to get better. I can get a lot better, though," Ealey said. "It's not any different [not starting]. I'm just a team player. I just want to go out there and win games."

The best way for him to reach that goal is to get into the end zone, and he did that Saturday, scoring his first two touchdowns as a Bulldog.

His first came on a 7-yard run to close out Georgia's opening series on offense. He scampered in easily off the left side.

He said he enjoyed putting touchdowns on his resume.

"It was a great feeling, just going in front of all the fans," Ealey said. "And I know all my family back home was watching me, too."