ATHENS — Mike Bobo was on vacation in early July when he got word that his starting tailback Caleb King had lost his academic eligibility. He was at a coaches’ clinic a week earlier when news broke of Brent Benedict’s departure.
This is the side of college football that coaches hate. When summer rolls around, they lose control of the players. Virtually every letterman remains on campus and participates in voluntary workouts, and most freshmen enroll for summer semester. But NCAA rules limit coaches’ contact with players to almost nothing beyond a casual greeting as they pass in the hallway.
“I don’t really understand that rule, but it is what is,” said Bobo, Georgia’s offensive coordinator since 2007.
It has been a strange offseason for the Bulldogs and a particularly challenging one for Bobo. Georgia hasn’t had any arrests, as has been a problem in some years gone by, but it nonetheless has had more than its share of attrition.
Five players who were prominently featured on Bobo’s post-spring offensive depth chart are no longer with the team. Tailback Washaun Ealey, tackle A.J. Harmon and Benedict, a guard, all transferred for various reasons. Meanwhile, King was unable to pass enough hours to stay eligible, and his backup Carlton Thomas was issued a one-game suspension for an unspecified team-rules violation.
“You tend to lose people during the offseason, and it kind of unnerves you a little bit,” Bobo said. “But things are going to happen. It’s kind of like games, you have to adjust. That’s part of coaching. Now we have to figure out what we do best.”
For Bobo, the bottom line is this: His four most productive playmakers from a year ago won’t be around this season, and he must rebuild around five returning starters. Receivers A.J. Green and Kris Durham, the two leading receivers, are now in the NFL. Ealey and King were the leading rushers.
But Bobo insists enough talent remains for Georgia to be productive on offense in 2011.
“Truth be told, I’m still excited about what we have coming back,” he said. “There [are] a lot of opportunities for a lot of guys. There [are] some talented guys on this football team that are going to have the opportunity to step up. I truly believe there’s plenty of talent offensively for us.”
Here’s some more positive spin from Bobo:
On Georgia’s offensive line, which is lacking experience beyond the five starters: “We’re not very deep, but you only need five. I think we played ’02 with only five the whole year and one other year I know of we played with six. You’d like to have more depth, but I feel good about what we have.”
On sophomore Aaron Murray, a consensus preseason All-SEC selection at quarterback: “The hype and accolades really haven’t changed this kid. I feel like he’s going to have another outstanding year.”
On moving junior Richard Samuel back to tailback from linebacker: “I told [coach Mark Richt], ‘maybe we gave up on this guy a little too quick.’ I went back and watched every snap of him on offense in ’08 and ’09, and the guy ran hard and physical. There were some times that guys turned down hitting him because of how big he was and how hard he was running.”
On freshman tailback Isaiah Crowell: “There’s going to be a lot of pressure on this young man. There’s going to be a lot of attention from fans and from [the media]. The main thing I tell him is, ‘you’ve got to go to work and you’ve got to earn your way.’ That’s what coaches always try to teach freshman: Be yourself and find your way.”
Burrows to have surgery
The Bulldogs announced Thursday that Brandon Burrows will undergo shoulder surgery Tuesday at St. Mary’s Hospital. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound redshirt freshman from Marietta will be out for the season, but should be able to return next season. He was listed as a backup at inside linebacker.
Burrows’ loss leaves Georgia with six eligible and healthy scholarship lettermen for four linebacker positions. The Bulldogs signed five linebackers in February, and they have at least nine walk-ons at the position.
“People think we have depth issues,” said junior Christian Robinson, the starter at “Mike” linebacker. “I just think we need guys to step up. We have enough guys here at Georgia to get it done.”
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