Georgia sophomore tailback Washaun Ealey has been suspended for a minimum of one game by coach Mark Richt following his arrest early Friday morning for a hit-and-run collision with a parked vehicle and driving with a suspended license.
"I'm extremely disappointed in Washaun's lack of good judgment," Richt said in a statement. "He was fully aware of his suspended license and had been instructed not to get behind the wheel."
Ealey is the eighth Bulldogs football player arrested since March.
Richt said after Friday's practice that he informed Ealey of the punishment before announcing it to the media, but he admitted, "I didn't feel like speaking to him, quite frankly."
The 5-foot-11, 211-pounder from Stillmore, Ga., was arrested by campus police and booked at the Athens-Clarke County Jail at 5:22 a.m. Ealey was released at 11:18 a.m. after posting bond, which had been set at $3,480.
The two misdemeanor charges each carried a $1,500 amount. The remaining $480 was for Ealey's failure to appear at Athens-Clarke County Municipal Court on July 12 for speeding and tag violations that occurred May 30. Ealey's license was suspended on Aug. 12 as the result of his failure to appear a month earlier.
"I'm not happy with it," Richt said. "It was foolish. He knew better. Nobody thinks it's going to happen to them, you know? He thought he could take a short, little trip."
Ealey ran while the rest of the Bulldogs practiced Friday. He played in just nine games last year yet led Georgia with 717 rushing yards, averaging 112 in the last four regular-season games.
Richt said he told junior tailback Caleb King to expect more carries next Saturday against Louisiana-Lafayette. Running backs coach Bryan McClendon had said after Thursday's practice that King likely would start ahead of Ealey in the opener.
Reserve tailback Carlton Thomas and backup fullback Fred Munzenmaier could get more opportunities in the opener as a result of Ealey's mistake, Richt said. The suspension is not expected to alter tentative plans to redshirt freshman Ken Malcome.
When asked what it would take for the suspension to remain at one game - the Bulldogs visit South Carolina on Sept. 11 - Richt said, "How he reacts to this. I've got some internal things for him to handle, and if he handles them the way he should and behaves between now and the next one, then he'll have a pretty good chance of playing."
There was some good news Friday, as several players are at or near full strength with game week approaching. Among those Richt listed were middle linebacker Akeem Dent and offensive linemen Cordy Glenn, Ben Jones and Trinton Sturdivant.