Former Burke County Star to Miss 2008 Season

Marcus Washington, a standout linebacker at UGA, has opted for season-ending surgery.

Burke County High's Marcus Washington was making a name for himself last season in his junior campaign at the University of Georgia.

Now, the Waynesboro native will have to wait a year to conclude his collegiate career in Athens, announcing that he will undergo season-ending surgery on his shoulder in the near future.

"I think it would be in my best interest to go ahead and get it fixed," Washington said.

The former four-star recruit first injured the shoulder in a game against Ole Miss last season. He then re-injured it at practice on March 7.

The loss of Washington means the Bulldogs will be without a player that posted 40 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 11 games last season.

As a senior at Burke County, Washington was rated one of the top players in the state of Georgia. He was pegged as the 22-best linebacker in the country.

He followed up a 118-tackle junior season in high school with a 127-tackle, 21 tackle-for-loss, and two-sack senior send-off in his final year of prep football.

He wound up choosing Georgia over a host of other offers from programs such as Alabama and Auburn.