Dogs’ Caleb King runs sprints
Athens — Georgia tailback Caleb King did two things Monday he hadn't done since pulling a hamstring on Aug. 12: he ran some sprints and he talked to reporters.
“It’s been hard for me,” King said. “Me being first string when the injury came and [then] I couldn’t compete — that was very hard.”
King has fallen behind Richard Samuel, who will start Saturday at Oklahoma State, and Carlton Thomas in Georgia’s pecking order at tailback.
“I remind myself it’s a long season,” King said. “I am going to come back and when I come back, I’m going to get some carries.”
King did not participate in contact drills Monday but he showed progress while running and making cuts.
“He’s getting closer,” coach Mark Richt said.
Richt said last week that King probably would need to practice by Tuesday in order to make the trip to Oklahoma State but amended that Monday to say that if King is full speed Wednesday or Thursday, he’ll probably travel.
“I honestly don’t know if I’m playing [Saturday] or not,” King said. “It’s up to Ron [UGA director of sports medicine Ron Courson].”
O-line back together
For the first time in 12 days, Georgia’s starting offensive line was intact at practice on Monday.
Good timing, with the season opener five days away.
No. 1 center Ben Jones returned to practice for the first time since spraining an ankle Aug. 19 and No. 1 left guard Chris Davis, sidelined last week with a less severe ankle sprain, also was back at work.
“They’ll be fine” Saturday, Richt said. “They looked good.”
Jones and Davis rejoined left tackle Trinton Sturdivant, right tackle Clint Boling and right guard Cordy Glenn on the first-team line.
“I’m glad they’re getting [time] together right here before we play this game,” Richt said. “I don’t think the time that Ben and Chris missed will hurt us.”
Still, it was reassuring to have them back at practice, quarterback Joe Cox said.
“Chris is the most experienced lineman we have and Ben is an awesome center [who] knows what to do and brings a lot of life to our offensive line,” Cox said. “It was good to have them back in the huddle.”
A role for Gray
Richt, who previously had suggested the offense would have a package of plays tailored for dual-threat backup quarterback Logan Gray, reiterated Monday that he sees a role for Gray.
“Yeah, I think Logan will play [Saturday],” Richt said. “There might be some situations we’ll put him in but we may also give him a series. I don’t know if we’ll do that or not. It wouldn’t surprise me.”
Said Gray: “I really don’t have any idea how many snaps I’ll get or what’s going to happen. It just sort of depends on the situation and how we’re rolling and what coach Bobo [offensive coordinator Mike Bobo] is feeling.”
About the Author
Tim Tucker, a long-time AJC sports reporter, often writes about the business side of the games. He also had stints as the AJC's Braves beat writer, UGA beat writer, sports notes columnist and executive sports editor. He was deputy managing editor of America's first all-sports newspaper, The National Sports Daily.
