Kyle Karempelis, the former Wesleyan School star who walked on at Georgia two years ago, isn’t likely to run the ball much in games that count, what with “Gurshall” ahead of him on the depth chart. But in the G-Day spring intra-squad game Saturday, the 5-foot-9, 183-pound Karempelis was the busiest tailback by far.
He had 13 carries for 89 rushing yards and caught three passes for 35 receiving yards to help lead the Black team to a 23-17 come-from-behind victory over the Red team in Sanford Stadium.
“It was a blast,” Karempelis said afterward. “I mean, ran hard, holes opened up for me, had a lot of fun.”
In four seasons at Wesleyan, Karempelis amassed 5,756 rushing yards and scored 93 touchdowns (sixth most in Georgia high school history), but drew scant attention from college football recruiters.
“I got looks from smaller schools, and Ivy League schools were interested, but I really wanted to go (FBS),” Karempelis recalled. “I got a preferred walk-on (offer from Georgia), and I chose to try my luck at the (FBS) level and just work hard and take coaching and enjoy it, because I love football.”
He played in two games for the Bulldogs in 2011 and 12 (mostly on special teams) last season. He has 13 career rushing carries in games that count, all against New Mexico State in 2011. And of course, he’s somewhere well behind Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall — known collectively as Gurshall — on the depth chart.
“I’ve got great running backs in front of me, so you take every opportunity you get,” Karempelis said. “G-Day is one of those.”
As often is the case in G-Day games, some of Georgia’s top players saw limited action. Gurley and Marshall — both playing for the Red team, which featured the first-string offense —had four and six carries, respectively. Gurley gained 25 yards and Marshall 6.
Karempelis gained 29 yards on his first carry — “I thought I was going to take it to the house for a second there” — and gained 11 yards on a second-and-9 play in the final minute to effectively seal his side’s victory. The only negative to his day was a lost fumble.
“He’s just a tough back,” said Hutson Mason, the Black’s starting quarterback. “He’s just like a little pinball, man. He bounces off and keeping going and keeps his feet driving.”
Best of spring: Georgia's spring football award winners, selected by the coaches, included some interesting choices.
Flanker Chris Conley and safety Josh Harvey-Clemons were named most valuable players for the offensive and defensive units, respectively.
Fullback Quayvon Hicks and safety Tray Matthews were named the most improved players. Matthews graduated early from Newnan High and enrolled at UGA in January.
The Coffee County Hustle Awards went to flanker Justin Scott-Wesley and inside linebacker Ramik Wilson, the True Grit Awards to offensive tackle Xzavier Ward and defensive end Sterling Bailey, and the Outstanding Walk-on Awards to wide receiver Clay Johnson, defensive end Clint Kirk and defensive back Tristan Askew.
Young secondary: Georgia had two members of this year's recruiting class in the starting lineup for the Black, which featured the No. 1 defense: cornerback Reggie Wilkerson and safety Matthews. Wilkerson, from Citra, Fla., started in place of Sheldon Dawson, sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Attendance: The game's announced attendance was 45,113 on a splendid, sunny afternoon. Among those in attendance: UGA president-select Jere Morehead, who will succeed Michael Adams on July 1; former UGA coach and athletic director Vince Dooley; and a large contingent of former UGA players, including Jarvis Jones, Rennie Curran and Brandon Boykin.
New logo displayed: Georgia's new secondary logo — a wide-headed bulldog in a red spiked collar — was painted on the field around the 25-yard lines as a way of introducing it to fans. (It won't be painted on the field during the season, UGA said.) The logo was unveiled last week, triggering much buzz on social media. The iconic power "G" remains Georgia's primary logo.
Etc.: Walk-ons Adam Erickson, Patrick Beless and Thomas Pritchard kicked 19-, 23- and 35-yard field goals, respectively, in the second half to account for the winning side's final nine points. … Walk-on split end Michael Erdman had six catches for 41 yards for the Black. … Coach Mark Richt said he did not know of any significant injuries suffered in the game. "I haven't even seen (trainer) Ron Courson, and that's a really good sign," he said.
