Richard Samuel has a chance to be Georgia’s starting tailback in the Outback Bowl after missing the past five games following ankle surgery.TAILBACK TURNS
Five Georgia Bulldogs have started at tailback this season:Isaiah Crowell 7Richard Samuel 3Ken Malcome 1Branden Smith 1Carlton Thomas 1
Georgia has roughly four weeks until its Outback Bowl matchup with Michigan State, which is more than enough time to develop a sixth starting tailback.
The Bulldogs have started four players at tailback in their past five games, a stretch that began with cornerback Branden Smith getting the nod Nov. 5 against New Mexico State. Georgia was without Isaiah Crowell, Carlton Thomas and Ken Malcome that game due to single-game suspensions, as well as Richard Samuel because of an ankle injury.
Crowell, Thomas and Malcome have started since, and the position is up for grabs for the trip to Tampa.
“It will be a competitive situation throughout the bowl practice time,” coach Mark Richt said Monday. “We’ll just see who’s best equipped to do it. We expect Richard Samuel to be healthy and get back in the mix there, too.”