Bulldogs look loaded for '10

With the late-season emergence of tailbacks Washaun Ealey and Caleb King, and with receiver A.J. Green healthy again, Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo likes his personnel for Monday's Independence Bowl against Texas A&M.

He likes his personnel for next season, too, as the Bulldogs are expected to return 10 offensive starters.

"I do like the numbers, and I do like a lot of the guys on this offensive football team," Bobo said. "They've got experience, and it's just going to be a matter of us taking that experience and getting better every single day, from now to the bowl and then the offseason. We've got to get bigger and we've got to get stronger and we've got to get more confident in what we're doing and more disciplined, and that comes with hard work and buying in.

"We've had a lot of young guys have success, and hopefully they will continue to grow."

Georgia held its final Independence Bowl workout Saturday, practicing for two hours, and will have a walk-through session today.

Ealey, a true freshman, didn't play until Georgia's fifth game this season against LSU yet is on a four-game barrage in which he's rushed for 447 yards and three touchdowns. King, a sophomore, missed three of the first six games due to injury but has amassed 380 yards and four scores in the past four games.

The two combined for 349 yards in the 30-24 win at Georgia Tech on Nov. 28, with each averaging more than nine yards a carry.

"They've gotten more confident every week, and they're going to be two really good backs," quarterback Joe Cox said. "It was one of those things that was just going to take time. It's tough asking a guy like Washaun, a true freshman, to come in and play at an SEC school and just be able to pound the ball and run for 100 yards every game. He had to get used to our plays and game speed.

"He's gotten better every week, and Caleb has picked up his game, too."

Even head coach Mark Richt admitted "the future is really bright" when asked about his tailback tandem.

Georgia's tailbacks have been running behind a line that for five straight games has consisted of Clint Boling at left tackle, Cordy Glenn at left guard, Ben Jones at center, Chris Davis at right guard and Josh Davis at right tackle. That combination could be the same at the start of next season, or it could be altered by the return of tackle Trinton Sturdivant from his second ACL tear in as many years.

The Bulldogs have improved for a third consecutive year under line coach Stacy Searels and are averaging 428 total yards the past four games.

"Everybody has been playing a lot better," Boling said. "We've had some stability, and everybody's kind of gotten used to playing next to each other, which is a good thing. Coach Searels mixed and matched the lineup, and I felt like he got the right one and just stuck with it."

Green will return for what he hopes will be an injury-free junior season and will be joined by Tavarres King, Rantavious Wooten and Israel Troupe. He also will be joined by current Calhoun High standout Da'Rick Rogers, who is ranked among the top 15 players nationally.

Georgia could have the nation's top tandem of tight ends with Aron White and Orson Charles, who have combined for 32 catches for 538 yards and five touchdowns this season.

The lone departure from this year's starting lineup offensively will be Cox, which will create a quarterback race this spring between Logan Gray, Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger. Gray could move to receiver, which would leave the spot to a pair of players who redshirted this season.

"Aaron knows the game, and Zach has got the big arm, so it could be either one of them coming up next year," Green said. "Aaron is a natural leader. You can see him out there, and he doesn't care that he's a young guy. He's going to lead our team."

Surprised by Meyer

Count Richt among the many surprised Saturday by Florida coach Urban Meyer's decision to resign for undisclosed health concerns. Richt's Bulldogs were just 1-4 against Meyer's Gators, losing 49-10 and 41-17 the past two seasons.

"I have the highest level of respect for Urban Meyer," Richt said. "I really have no knowledge or details about the situation or what led to his decision, but my prayers will certainly be with him and his family."

University of Georgia photo

Tailbacks Caleb King (4) and Washaun Ealey (24) celebrate with Georgia fans following their 30-24 win at Georgia Tech on Nov. 28.