There’s nothing like a lingering injury to shake up a position battle. But then again, having numerous worthy applicants makes for some head-scratching as well.

Take the running back issue Georgia faces.

By all reports, sophomore Caleb King had a progressive offseason, and took strong hold of the No. 1 spot over the first seven days of preseason camp.

When the first scrimmage of the season concluded and statistics were announced, something was amiss.

King rushed for only 18 yards on 6 carries. Richard Samuel, who had been the perceived runner-up in the competition, dwarfed those numbers. Samuel ran to the tune of 108 yards on 6 carries with two scores. Add in a 70-yard touchdown reception, and you’ve got a question regarding who really should be No. 1.

The reason for the discrepancy was thanks in part to King’s hamstring, which was injured during the scrimmage.

But King’s hamstring wasn’t the reason Samuel ran so well.

So King’s problem is Samuel’s opportunity. And it seems easy to say while King is away, let Samuel play.

But then there’s Carlton Thomas.

The 5-foot-8 178-pound freshman finished the second scrimmage, held Saturday, with 90 yards on six carries. Those numbers glisten when held up next to Samuel’s, who rushed 13 times for 55 yards.

The knock on Thomas is a durability concern, as some question if the smaller-bodied back can endure the rigors of the SEC. Coach Mark Richt said the notion of using Thomas as only a change-of-pace back should be forgotten.

“He’s an every down back,” he said. “We don’t look at him as only a third down guy. He can play first, second, third down. We wouldn’t pigeon hole him into a situational back. People said that about Warrick Dunn when we were at Florida State.”

With Samuel and Thomas performing so well, it makes for an easy Wally Pipp comparison for King.

“It’s been interesting,” said Logan Gray, currently the backup quarterback. “All the guys have been getting reps with the first unit. Everybody is kind of just throwing their hat in and trying to make plays.”

And just to cast more doubt, reported on more than one occasion, true freshman tailback Washaun Ealey has wowed teammates so far in camp. And then there’s redshirt freshman Dontavius Jackson still in the mix despite a knee injury.

“The guys that we have are good, they’re versatile and they’re different,” said senior linebacker Marcus Washington. “They’re good at different skills that they need for the position. There’s no telling who’s going to be the front-runner but all of them are going to get playing time. Kind of like a couple years ago everybody wondered who would be the running back and then all of a sudden there was Knowshon Moreno.”

Gray proves he’s solid backup, might see field

With all the excitement over freshmen quarterbacks Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger, redshirt sophomore Logan Gray’s solid spring and offseason weren’t the hot topics they should have been.

Gray has come into preseason camp and proven he’s the best option as backup quarterback. But as always, the fight for position is dynamic.

“Here’s what I would say–he’s had a good camp,” Richt said of Gray. “He’s done nothing to lose any ground, but the young guys are progressing. Quite frankly like I said, today we’ll meet and really see where we are. I think Logan had another fine outing [Saturday], so I would say he’s still No. 2.”

Joe Cox has waited four years to be named the full-time starter, but said he would have no complaints if Gray entered for a couple of plays each game.

Because of Gray’s speed, he brings another aspect to the position, another alternative for opposing defenses to mull over.

“I think he should [play],” Cox said. “I think he definitely brings something else to the table and it’s definitely something that can confuse a defense with him coming in with the type of abilities that he has. It wouldn’t surprise me at all.”

Defensive ends make noise, Battle racks up sacks

Senior defensive end Rod Battle has patiently answered questions regarding production from a position that was inept in 2008.

His performance in scrimmages thus far has changed the line of questioning.

Battle racked up six sacks combined over two scrimmages last week. Even if they did come against the No. 2 offense, reflecting on the feeling of getting to the quarterback ignites a smile from Battle.

“It means something,” he said. “I mean, you go in there and put effort into it, you want to get the results. Like I said I hope we just keep getting better as a defensive group. Hopefully for that first game we’re ready to roll.”

The difference a year makes, at least for Battle, deals with injuries, or the lack there of.

He missed three games entirely last year, and played hurt through the nine he did appear in.

All told, defensive ends accumulated only nine-and-a-half sacks in 2008, a number that has grown tired in the minds of everyone at the position.

“[Battle's] excited he’s healthy and he’s practicing as well,” Richt said. “It’s good that we’ve got a bunch of healthy d-ends right now, period. We will be better, no doubt.”

– Fletcher Page is a sports writer for The Red & Black