When Caleb King committed to the Georgia Bulldogs he was ranked by Scout.com as a 5-star prospect. In his first four years at Georgia (he red-shirted in his inaugural season) Caleb is yet to live up to that billing. He’s been hampered by injuries throughout his career and also served a two-game suspension last year due to a license issue. This year will be the last chance for Caleb as he’s a fifth year senior. It’s his last chance to make his mark at Georgia and his last chance to catch the eye of NFL scouts. Georgia’s leading rusher from last year, Washaun Ealey, has transferred which paves the way for Caleb to start off the year as Georgia’s #1 back.
I suspected that Caleb would win the starting RB job out of fall practice, or at least be co #1’s with incoming mega-recruit Isaiah Crowell. Now it’s all but a lock that will be the case. Caleb is Georgia’s most complete back when you factor in everything that goes in to playing in the backfield. You can’t expect a young freshman like Crowell to come in and be a great blocker right away or to adapt immediately to the speed of the game at the college level. That’s why Caleb will be so important for Georgia. Especially with the way Georgia’s schedule sets up and the fact that they play two very good teams right off the bat.
Over the last two years King has had put up some decent statistics. In 2009 he ran the ball 114 times for 594 yards and an average of 5.2 yards per carry. He also scored 7 rushing TDs. In 2010, he ran the ball 80 times for 430 yards and an average of 5.4 yards per carry but only had 2 TDs. That’s not a bad ypc average at all. If you could give the ball to your RB and get back 5 yards per carry I think that’s a deal that you would take. Because of injuries and off the field issues Caleb has never really been able to get #1 back carries. Last year only four times did he get double digit carries. This year he is going to get the shot to get #1 back carries. If he can extend that five yard per carry average out when he gets starters carries then this could be a very successful year for him.
It seems like Caleb has learned a lot from his trials and tribulations over the past few years. He’s been honest this past off-season about the mistakes he’s made and how he took things for granted early in his career. Mark Richt was also very complementary of Caleb this spring and his confidence in Caleb definitely made it easier for the Dawgs to part with Washaun Ealey. It is clear that Caleb King will play an important role for the Georgia Bulldogs this year. Whether it’s being the primary back, playing in key situations, or helping Isaiah Crowell and Ken Malcome find their way as youngsters. This is Caleb King’s year to redeem himself in the eyes of Bulldogs Nation and in the eyes of the NFL. Can he do it?
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