Tag: uga running backs

Georgia’s running backs continued to impress in Week 2

UGA football running backs impressed Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart in Georgia’s dominant win over the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles

The Georgia Bulldogs controlled the game in their 48-3 home win over the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles. Georgia shutout Tennessee Tech until the Golden Eagles converted a field goal on the final play of the game.
Georgia running back Trevor Etienne, a Florida transfer, made his UGA debut after being suspended for the Clemson game. Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart is high on Georgia’s running back group.
“I think we’ve got a really good stable of backs,” said Smart. “I’m fired up about our backs.”
True freshman running back Nate Frazier emerged in UGA’s 34-3 Week 1 win over Clemson. Frazier had a more modest performance against Tennessee Tech. He finished the contest with six rushes for 28 yards. With Etienne’s return, the Bulldogs have an even more explosive backfield.
Georgia running back Branson Robinson found the end zone in Georgia’s big win. It was Robinson’s first touchdown since the national championship game against TCU. Robinson missed the 2023 season with a patella tendon injury.
“It’s awesome. It’s great,” said Smart. “Branson works really hard. Branson’s a good back. He’s still coming back to his old self. I thought he had a good cut today and made some guys miss. He’s a great back, man. He’s just got to get back to full strength.”
Overall, Georgia averaged 6.9 yards per carry and rushed for 166 yards against the Golden Eagles. Georgia dominated an inferior opponent and took care of business ahead of the Dawgs’ SEC opener against the Kentucky Wildcats in Week 3.
Georgia spread the ball around well in the Bulldogs’ blowout win. Seven different Georgia players recorded a rush. However, Georgia was heavily favored and expected to dominate against Tennesssee Tech. “We were considerably better than that opponent and we should execute at a high level,” said Smart. The Bulldogs took care of business to move to 2-0.

Projecting Georgia football’s running back depth chart

Who should start for Georgia football at running back in passing and rushing situations in 2023?

The Georgia Bulldogs always have a great deal of talent at the running back position. Georgia returns a few key pieces the running back room in 2023.

The Dawgs lost last season’s leading rusher, Kenny McIntosh, to the NFL draft. McIntosh was also Georgia’s top receiving back.

However, Georgia returns the remainder of its running back room from 2022. The Bulldogs had depth concerns in spring due to injuries, but the running back room looks pretty strong now.

Who in Georgia’s running back room is projected to start in 2023?

Georgia football walk-on RB enters transfer portal

Georgia Bulldogs running back Sevaughn Clark is entering the transfer portal

Georgia Bulldogs running back Sevaughn Clark has entered the NCAA transfer portal. Clark, a junior, received additional opportunities this spring due to a number of injuries Georgia sustained at the running back position.

The 6-foot-1, 215-pound running back played in three games for the Bulldogs in 2022. Last season, Clark recorded seven rushes for 44 yards and one catch for four yards.

The former Dawson County standout is likely looking for more playing time at his new home. Clark had a career-high seven carries for 35 yards in the national championship against TCU.

Joshua L. Jones/Online Athens

Clark will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Georgia’s projected running back room for the fall features Kendall Milton, Branson Robinson and Daijun Edwards.

Clark dropped some of his practice highlights after announcing he was entering the transfer portal.

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Georgia football walk-on RB enters transfer portal

Georgia Bulldogs football walk-on running back Anthony Summey has entered the NCAA transfer portal.

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Georgia Bulldogs football walk-on running back Anthony Summey has entered the NCAA transfer portal. Summey is a redshirt sophomore and will have four remaining years of eligibility.

The 6-foot, 210-pound running back is from Ocean Township, New Jersey, and is looking for a larger role at his new home. The former St. Peter’s Preparatory High School star has not seen playing time during his career in Athens. He primarily serves as a scout team running back.

Summey has played in four career games at UGA. He recorded five carries for 16 yards in 2021. Summey played against UAB and Charleston Southern this season.

Summey came to the University of Georgia as a two-star recruit as a member of the class of 2019. Summey redshirted in 2019.

He played high school football at St. Peter’s Preparatory. Summey plays with a steady style, but lacks game-changing speed. Summey initially committed to the University of Georgia as a preferred walk-on.

Summey thanked Georgia coaches and announced he would be entering the transfer portal via Twitter

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Georgia football RB named SEC breakout player

Georgia football RB Kendall Milton named SEC breakout player

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ESPN and SEC Network analyst Cole Cubelic has named Georgia Bulldogs running back Kendall Milton one of the top breakout players in the SEC.

Cubelic considers Missouri wide receiver Mookie Cooper, LSU tight end Kole Taylor, South Carolina wide receiver EJ Jenkins, and Auburn wide receiver Ja’Varrius Johnson to be his other offensive breakout players in the conference.

Milton is extremely talented. He came to Athens as a five-star recruit in the class of 2020 and impressed after enrolling early as a freshman. Milton grew stronger this spring and may have another level to his game.

He played in seven games throughout his first season in Athens. Milton recorded 193 rushing yards, broke lots of tackles and showed a good burst. However, Milton sprained his MCL against Florida and missed Georgia’s remaining regular-season games.

Milton was available throughout spring practice and was impressive in the spring game, in which he scored a touchdown.

This offseason, Milton has changed from No. 22 to No. 2. The No. 2 jersey fits him quite well.

In order for Milton to break out, he will have to emerge from Georgia’s crowded backfield of Daijun Edwards, Zamir White, James Cook and Kenny McIntosh. Georgia returns all of its leading rushers from last season.

Milton may have the highest potential of any Georgia running back on the roster. He is explosive and difficult to tackle. His receiving skills need polish, but nobody wants to tackle him in the open field.

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Georgia football player card: RB Daijun Edwards

Georgia Bulldogs running back Daijun Edwards finished the 2020 college football season with 218 rushing yards on 37 carries

Running Back Daijun Edwards (No. 33):

Class: Sophomore

Height: 5-10

Weight: 201 pounds

Hometown: Moultrie, Georgia

High School: Colquitt County High School

Georgia Bulldogs running back Daijun Edwards finished the 2020 college football season with 218 rushing yards on 37 carries. Edwards played in nine of Georgia’s 10 games and saw additional playing time after Kendall Milton suffered a knee injury.

Edwards recorded one reception for three yards, so he will need to continue to work on that aspect of his game to boost his NFL draft stock.

Edwards came to Athens as a four-star recruit in the class of 2020. The Colquitt County graduate was rated anywhere between the No. 13 and No. 33 best running back in the country.

Edwards will compete with Kendall Milton, Zamir White, James Cook, Kenny McIntosh and more for playing time. Georgia returns all of its leading rushers from last season.

Cook is the most explosive player of the group and is an excellent pass catcher, but he isn’t as polished between the tackles as White. McIntosh is a versatile back who is very elusive. Milton, a former five-star recruit, is powerful like Nick Chubb and has a high ceiling.

Edward has displayed flashes of a rugged, tough style on tape. Edwards saw lots of playing time throughout his high school career at Colquitt County and is quite experienced.

Here’s a look back at his first career touchdown for the Bulldogs:

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April 17, 2021; Athens, Georgia; Georgia Bulldogs running back Daijun Edwards (33) is taken to the ground by linebacker Trezmen Marshall (15) during the Georgia Spring Game at Sanford Stadium. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Georgia football player card: RB Anthony Summey

Georgia Bulldogs running back Anthony Summey has primarily served a scout team role during his two-year career in Athens

Running Back Anthony Summey (No. 28):

Class: Redshirt sophomore

Height: 6-0

Weight: 210 pounds

Hometown: Ocean Township, New Jersey

High School: St. Peter’s Preparatory High School

Georgia Bulldogs running back Anthony Summey has not seen playing time during his two-year career in Athens. He primarily serves as a scout team running back.

Summey came to the University of Georgia as a two-star recruit as a member of the class of 2019. Summey redshirted in 2019.

He played high school football at St. Peter’s Preparatory. Summey plays with a steady style, but lacks game-changing speed.

The Ocean Township, New Jersey, native is expected to compete with Kendall Milton, Zamir White, James Cook, Kenny McIntosh and Daijun Edwards for playing time. Kirby Smart and Georgia have a stacked and experienced running back room heading into the 2021 college football season.

Here’s a look at how Summey initially committed to the University of Georgia as a preferred walk-on:

 

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Georgia football RB among first to create own logo

Georgia football RB Kendalll Milton among first college athletes to create own logo

Georgia Bulldogs running back Kendall Milton is among the first college football athletes to create his personal logo. The California native is a former five-star prospect who played in seven games throughout his first season in Athens.

Now, Milton is testing the waters of the name, image and likeness bill. College athletes across select states in America can profit off their personal brand. The NIL bill gives athletes the “ability to have endorsement deals, monetize their social-media followings or get paid for signing autographs” after not being permitted to do so in the past.

The NIL bill is not uniform across the states, but is allowed in Georgia.

Last season, Kendall Milton recorded 193 rushing yards and showed an impressive burst before spraining his MCL against Florida. Milton scored a touchdown in Georgia’s spring game and has had a busy offseason.

Milton changed from No. 22 to No. 2 after the 2020 college football season. The No. 2 jersey fits Milton and his new personal brand quite well. Additionally, if Milton makes it to the NFL, then he could continue to wear the No. 2 at the professional level thanks to a recent NFL jersey rule change.

Kendall Milton will compete with Daijun Edwards, Zamir White, James Cook and Kenny McIntosh in Georgia’s stacked running back room. Georgia returns its seven leading rushers from last season and should have one of the most exciting stables of backs in the country.

It looks as though Milton already has some cool designs planned for his brand. It is a new era for college athletes.

Milton may have the highest potential of any Georgia running back on the roster. He is explosive and difficult to tackle. It will be a treat to watch Melton’s personal brand take off as he has success on the football field.

Milton comes from an excellent football background. His brother, Ka’Lonn, played as a defensive back at Fresno State. Kendall’s uncle, Kevin Hardy, won the Butkus Award at Illinois and played in the NFL from 1996-2004 after being a first-round draft pick.

Here are several of the first college athletes who have created their own personal logos:

All of the logos above are pretty awesome. D’Eriq King and Spencer Rattler’s logos really standout. It will be interesting to see how widely adapted personal logos become. They are becoming more and more common across the NBA, NFL, and now the NCAA.

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Report: Georgia RB to miss rest of spring practice with elbow injury

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 posted this photo to his Instagram story.

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.

Sophomores Kendall Milton and Daijun Edwards will have a chance to get more reps with McIntosh out.

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.

 

Check out a new episode of “UGA Football Live with J.C. Shelton” here!

Georgia RB coach Dell McGee on UGA’s loaded backfield

Georgia RB coach Dell McGee compares UGA’s loaded backfield to that of 2017, when Nick Chubb and Sony Michel were playing for the Bulldogs.

Georgia is at it again, returning yet another load backfield for the 2021 season.

Zamir White, James Cook, Kendall Milton, Kenny McIntosh, Daijun Edwards and 2021 early enrollee Lovasea Carroll all project to share the ball this season, resulting in another year of RBU going strong.

Right now, no single player is expected to shoulder the load, said Georgia running back coach Dell McGee on a Tuesday Zoom session.

“We don’t necessarily play seniority with any of our players, that’s why we have offseason workouts and spring ball.”

“A lot of our evaluation and setting of the depth chart will come from how they perform day in and day out leading up to the spring game. It’s a constant battle with our guys at the running back position.”

Last season, though, it was White who led the way in carries, yards and touchdowns.

Georgia running back stats (2020):

Zamir White: 144 carries, 779 yards, 11 touchdowns

James Cook: 45 carries, 303 yards, 3 touchdowns

Kenny McIntosh: 47 carries, 251 yards, 1 touchdown

Daijun Edwards: 37 carries, 218 yards, 1 touchdown

Kendall Milton: 35 carries, 193 yards, 0 touchdowns

Georgia’s running back battle will be exciting to follow this offseason with so much returning star power. McGee went as far as to compare the return of White and Cook to that of Nick Chubb and Sony Michel in 2017.

“It’s very similar to the situation when Sony Michel and Nick Chubb came back,” McGee said. “From a team standpoint, they want to do more and they feel like they are a part of that and part of the success that we can have.

Younger guys, like D’Adre Swift, seized the opportunity to learn from Michel and Chubb, and this year’s youngsters should take every chance they get to study and emulate Cook and White.

“I think it’s a good situation for our younger running backs and our younger players because they offer a lot of leadership mentally and physically on how to perform, how to practice and how to take care of their bodies.”

They have to treat this offseason and spring practice like it’s a brand new season,” McGee said.

They have to be eager to learn, eager to get better, eager to improve their skills because all of our players have weaknesses that they need to work on and that needs to be a point of emphasis and that starts with me making sure they’re detailed in what they need to improve on.”

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