Georgia football is currently in fall camp preparing to defend their national title.
With three weeks till the Bulldogs tee it up versus Oregon in Atlanta for the Chickfila Kickoff game, there are questions surrounding the Dawgs’ running back room.
Talent is not the question here, but rather how upperclassmen like Kenny McIntosh, Kendall Milton and Daijun Edwards take over for Zamir White and James Cook, who are preparing for their rookie seasons in the NFL.
Running backs coach Dell McGee expanded on the backfield to the media earlier this week.
A Georgia running back is recovering from an elbow injury suffered in a UGA spring practice. Details here.
Georgia running back Kenny McIntosh suffered a dislocated elbow in a spring practice session and will miss the rest of spring training, according to a report by UGAsports.com’s Dayne Young.
McIntosh confirmed the report with this post to his Instagram account on Sunday morning.
McIntosh had an MRI done and the results showed that no surgery is needed.
Georgia shouldn’t miss a beat in spring drills without the third year back. One of the Bulldogs’ deepest positions is at tailback with all of 2020’s production returning, headlined by seniors Zamir ‘Zeus’ White and James Cook.
McIntosh has been an explosive part of Georgia’s rush and kick-return game over the last two seasons. In 2019, McIntosh flashed speed and vision abilities with 174 yards and 7.0 yards per carry on just 25 attempts and in 2020, finished as the Bulldogs’s third-leading rusher with 251 yards on 47 carries and one touchdown.
A breakdown of Georgia football’s running backs for the upcoming 2020 college football season.
It seems like every time an elite running back leaves the University of Georgia, there is another one ready to step in the very next year.
This offseason headlines the departure of running backs D’Andre Swift and Brian Herrien.
Swift was selected 35th overall by the Detroit Lions in the second-round of the 2020 NFL Draft, while Herrien signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Cleveland Browns. Herrien finished with 1,413 yards and 13 touchdowns during his career at UGA. Swift finished with 2,885 yards and 20 touchdowns in a year less.
Georgia’s offense will lose a lot of production with these two gone, but now it’s time to look at who will be carrying the load for the Dawgs in 2020 and beyond.
1. Zamir White (RS So.) –
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Nobody has dealt with adversity as well as Zamir White has. Coming in as the No. 1 running back in the 2018 class, White endured two knee surgeries in under two years. White redshirted his freshman year and has begun to show why he was the top running back recruit in the country.
White was the third back in 2019, playing behind D’Andre Swift and Brian Herrien. He showed glimpses of greatness in this year’s Sugar Bowl, getting 18 carries for 92 yards and a touchdown. Hopefully White will be able to maintain his health and have a breakout year for the red and black as RB1.
2. James Cook (Jr.) –
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James Cook has had it tough during his time in Athens. With a seriously talented backfield ahead of him for the past two years, the former five-star could see his opportunities increase drastically this season.
Cook is a great receiving back and could be used perfectly outside of the backfield with the Dawgs’ new offensive coordinator Todd Monken. Monken was known to use his running backs as receiving threats during his time as OC on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cleveland Browns, which will be fun to watch with Cook. Cook averaged 9.2 yards-per-reception, capitalizing on his few opportunities. Look for Kirby Smart and Monken to get creative with the way they use Cook in 2020.
3. Kenny McIntosh (So.) –
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Kenny McIntosh could potentially take the No. 2 spot behind White this season over Cook. Now entering his sophomore season, McIntosh was ranked as the #11 running back prospect in the country for the 2019 recruiting class. He didn’t get that many touches last season, but made them count when he did. McIntosh eluded an Arkansas State defender this year on his way to a 61-yard touchdown.
4. Kendall Milton (Fr.) –
Kendall Milton is an incoming freshman that could make a huge difference for Georgia’s offense this year. Milton is listed as the 7th running back in the country, per 247Sports. Milton is the ideal all-around back with power, size, speed, vision and elusiveness. The Clovis, California native was at the top of many teams’ wishlists, but Milton chose the Dawgs.
If you watch Milton’s high school film, he plays with amazing vision and poise that you typically see out of elite college and NFL backs. His patience and his power are his two strongest attributes. Milton is expected to make a big splash in the SEC this season.
