Injury lands Washington on Bulldog bench
By John Ard Special to The True Citizen
Keysville native Marcus Washington won't be sacking any quarterbacks this fall.

The Georgia Bulldogs middle linebacker is scheduled to undergo left shoulder surgery in Athens within the next couple of weeks - and will not play football this year.

Washington was injured during spring drills at Sanford Stadium and will be unable to play in the team's spring game this Saturday.

He will be red-shirted this season, leaving one more season for him to play in 2009.

"My injuries have gone from my knee to my ankle to my shoulder," Washington said after doctors assessed the damage.

The Burke County football star made his debut as a starting middle linebacker on ESPN national television last year at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., in a dramatic 26- 23 overtime win over the Crimson Tide.

In the Georgia-Alabama game, Washington was credited with a career-high 8 tackles: 5 solo tackles, 3 assisted tackles, and 1 sack of the quarterback for a 3-yard loss.

Washington, now a 21-year-old senior at Georgia, has come a long way in his football development since 2001-2004 when he was a four-year starter at Burke County High School.

Sporting jersey number 44, Washington played well on a 10-2 Bulldog team last year, including a rout of Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl. Throughout the season, Washington used his 6- foot, 250-pound frame to clog up the middle of opponents' offensive lines.

"Losing Marcus is a big blow to the team," said Willie Martinez, defensive coordinator of a team that is expected to compete for the national championship this year.

Last year, Washington was in a six-man rotation, competing for three starting linebacker positions all year. He played in 11 games and started six. He missed two games after his shoulder popped out of socket in the Ole Miss game. He finished with 40 tackles and 2 ½ sacks of the quarterback.