ATHENS – Georgia's Jakar Hamilton said he didn't know running back Washaun Ealey had a suspended license when he let Ealey borrow his car last week.
Ealey, who has been suspended for the Bulldogs’ opener against Louisiana-Lafayette, was arrested early last Friday morning after he hit a UGA Parking Services pickup truck with Hamilton’s 2004 Chevrolet Impala in the East Campus Parking Deck.
“My friends would have let me use their car,” said Hamilton, a junior safety. “I treat Washaun like he’s my own brother. I look out for him, just like he would look out for me. Unfortunately that happened. It’s just a minor setback. It was nothing really major. It could have been worse. Thankfully, he’s back with us and still playing football.”
Hamilton said the damage is minor and the car can be repaired.
According to the incident report obtained Monday, three Parking Services employees confronted Ealey at the time of the incident, but he left the scene before police could arrive.
The police determined the car belonged to Hamilton and arrested Ealey. He was charged with of hit-and-run of a parked vehicle and driving on a suspended license. Ealey was released Friday morning.
“That’s just water under the bridge,” Hamilton said. “I don’t hold any grudges against Washaun. He’s my brother regardless of whatever happened to my car. That’s just a material thing. It can be fixed.”
Ealey led Georgia with 717 yards rushing last year, but Caleb King has been selected to start the opener.
Defensive shakeup
The depth chart released Monday showed Bacarri Rambo at starting free safety and Nick Williams at strong safety, but Hamilton said he's going to start at free and Rambo will start at strong.
"[Defensive coordinator Todd] Grantham came and told me I earned the starting position to run with the 1s," Hamilton said. "I'm just happy to be where I wanted to be."
Hamilton said Nick Williams and Shawn Williams will see plenty of playing time.
“There’s still going to be a lot of rotation,” said Hamilton, who signed last winter after two seasons at Georgia Military College. “The rotation is pretty good. It’s working good right now. Bacarri can play both ways. Nick will come in some downs. Me and Nick will stay in. We’re just coming up with some combinations in different spots, but everybody is playing.”
Senior Brandon Wood is listed as the starter at left end, ahead of Abry Jones. DeAngelo Tyson is at nose and Demarcus Dobbs at right end.
“Wood could start because Abry has missed a lot of work,” Coach Mark Richt said. “It probably would be Wood, Dobbs and DeAngelo, if it was today.”
Richt said Akeem Dent will start at inside linebacker after missing most of preseason practice with an injured toe.
Backup quarterback Hutson Mason is the only freshman on the two-deep, but Michael Bennett is the third-team split end and Alec Ogletree is the third-team strong safety.
Senior Kris Durham is listed as the starter at split end, opposite A.J. Green at flanker.
At tight end, Orson Charles is ahead of Aron White, who started 12 games in 2009. Charles had 23 catches for 374 yards and three TDs in 2009, to White's 13 receptions for 198 yards and four scores.
Injury report
WR Logan Gray (ankle), OLB Cornelius Washington and Dobbs (ankle) returned to practice.
“Logan did pretty good,” Richt said. “You could tell it was still affecting him to a certain degree, but he got most of the work in.”
WR Rantavious Wooten (knee) remained in a green non-contact jersey, but practiced. Richt thinks Wooten will be able to play Saturday.
Etc.
Guard Cordy Glenn said he's "getting his strength back," after returning from his bout with mono. He said he lost about 20 pounds, but has regained it. He's listed at 320 pounds. … Richt said C Ben Jones, who had his knee scoped earlier this month, "hasn't missed a thing. It's amazing how quickly he came off of that scope and was ready to go. Five days out, he probably could have [played]." … Monday was the last day the Bulldogs will practice in full pads this week. … Richt said his wife Katharyn will watch their son Jon's game on Saturday. Jon is the starting QB for Mars Hill College, which will play at the University of Charleston (W.Va.). "I don't agree with it," Richt joked. "It's sad, really. I'm bummed out about it. I keep telling her he's got a wife now. He doesn't need his mommy to be there all the time. She doesn't agree. I get one vote. She gets two."
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