UGA's King won't make trip to season opener

By Tim Tucker

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

ATHENS — Caleb King, Georgia’s No. 1 tailback at the start of preseason practice, won’t be on the plane to Oklahoma State for Saturday’s season opener.

Georgia set its 72-player travel squad Wednesday, and King was left off because his hamstring — injured Aug. 12 — has not healed enough for him to play, coach Mark Richt said.

King has not participated in contact work since the injury and is still not running at 100 percent, Richt said. “He was running, I’d say, at least three-quarters speed [Wednesday],” Richt said.

Also absent from the travel squad: defensive end Kiante Tripp, who has an injured shoulder.

It has been clear for almost two weeks that Richard Samuel would start at tailback and be backed by Carlton Thomas in the opener, but Richt had said King would make the trip if he was running full-speed by mid-week.

Richt said “I would think” King will be ready to play in the Sept. 12 home opener against South Carolina.

Walk-on Kalvin Daniels will be the Bulldogs’ No. 3 tailback Saturday, although freshman Washaun Ealey also will make the trip.