Samuel shines in UGA scrimmage

By TIM TUCKER

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Athens - Richard Samuel, who missed spring practice with a wrist injury, made up for lost time in Georgia’s tailback competition Wednesday.

The sophomore put up big numbers in the Bulldogs’ first scrimmage of preseason practice, prompting coach Mark Richt to suggest that a reordering of the depth chart might occur after film is reviewed.

“We probably will re-rack them,” Richt said.

Samuel entered the closed-to-the-media Sanford Stadium scrimmage listed No. 2 on the tailback depth chart behind No. 1 Caleb King, but Samuel’s performance — five carries for 108 yards and two touchdowns, plus a 70-yard touchdown reception — far exceeded King’s five carries for 18 yards.

“No doubt, [Samuel] was impressive,” Richt said.

Richt pointed out some extenuating circumstances. He said Samuel “had more space to work with” than King and the other backs, and added that King seemed bothered “a little bit” by a sore hamstring.

Even so, Richt said scrimmage performance is the No. 1 component in the coaching staff’s preseason evaluation of players.

“It’s as live as we can get, as real as we can get, so scrimmages mean a lot,” Richt said.

Richt praised Samuel for breaking tackles and finishing runs strong, but bemoaned his one fumble.

“Probably the only thing that would keep him from getting a substantial amount of playing time is just being a guy who fumbles,” Richt said.

King and Samuel are among five tailbacks competing for Knowson Moreno’s old job. Coaches have indicated a likelihood that several will share the load, at least early in the season.

Richt said both King and Samuel got most of their scrimmage carries with the No. 1 offense, which went up against the No. 2 defense.

Among other tailbacks, Carlton Thomas had five carries for 60 yards, freshman Washaun Ealey five carries for 13 yards and Dontavius Jackson four carries for minus-6 yards.

No players were available for interviews with the media afterward.

The tailback competition is, of course, a fluid process, with another scrimmage scheduled for Saturday and the season opener still over three weeks away.

“I don’t particularly care who’s No. 1 today or tomorrow,” Richt said. “I’m looking for guys who are ready to play. I’m not even looking for starters. I’m looking for guys that if we put them in the game, they can function and play winning football. That’s really and truly all I’m concerned about right now.”

The 6-foot-2, 216-pound Samuel played sparingly as a freshman last season, totaling 26 carries for 133 yards. He missed spring practice after wrist surgery to repair ligaments damaged in the Capital One Bowl. King emerged from the spring No. 1 on the depth chart, but coaches made it clear then that Samuel would have a shot at the job in August.

Etc.

Other notables from Wednesday’s scrimmage:

● In an encouraging sign for Georgia’s beleaguered pass rush, defensive end Rod Battle had 3.5 sacks.

● Starting quarterback Joe Cox completed 9 of 13 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns. Logan Gray completed 6 of 12 for 93 yards and two touchdowns. Richt said Gray is “still a solid No. 2,” ahead of freshmen Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger. Murray completed 5 of 16 passes and Mettenberger 1 of 10. Richt said Mettenberger “didn’t get much help from the line at all,” with most of his incompletions batted at the line of scrimmage.

● Freshman tight end Orson Charles caught three passes.

● Marcus Washington, who seems to be converting from linebacker to defensive end, worked mostly at end in the scrimmage, Richt said.