Tag: uga running backs

Georgia football is returning the highest-graded backfield in CFB

According to Pro Football Focus, Georgia is returning the best backfield in CFB for 2021. Details and analysis here.

Georgia is also known as ‘RBU’ and for good reason. The Bulldogs are like a workshop for elite college and NFL running backs.

Guys like Knowshon Moreno, Todd Gurley, Keith Marshall, Sony Michel, Nick Chubb and D’Andre Swift are just some examples of recent Georgia running backs that have either dominated SEC play, or have went on to productive NFL careers

What about the 2021 Georgia Bulldogs?

Things are business as usual in Athens. According to Pro Football Focus, who grades each player on each play in college football, Georgia is returning the highest-graded backfield in all of college football.

The Bulldogs return four running backs who each received a rushing grade of 80 or more this past season. The next closest is Alabama and Texas A&M at two a piece.

Those Bulldogs are junior Zamir White, junior James Cook, sophomore Kenny McIntosh and freshman Kendall Milton. 

White, the leading rusher from a year ago, will most likely be the No. 1 option with Cook, Milton and McIntosh cleaning up the rest of the touches equally. We may even see a second-year surge from Milton, who earned Freshman All-SEC honors and showed flashes of greatness in limited carries before missing time with a minor knee injury. He should be back and ready to go against Clemson in the Sept. 4 season opener.

Here’s a look at each Georgia rusher in 2020 by the numbers:

Zamir ‘Zeus’ White:  10 games played. 144 carries for 779 yards and 11 touchdowns with a 5.4 yards per carry average.

James Cook:  Eight games played. 45 carries for 303 yards and three touchdowns with a 6.7 yards per carry average.

Kenny McIntosh:  Eight games played. 47 carries for 251 yards with one touchdown and a 5.3 yards per carry average.

Kendall Milton:  Seven games played. 35 carries for 193 yards and a 5.5 yards per carry average.

 

A new episode of “UGA Football Live with J.C. Shelton” is streaming now! J.C. talks the latest college football news and breaks down Georgia’s 2022 recruiting class and more. Listen here:

Georgia Bulldogs RB James Cook returning for another season

Georgia Bulldogs running back Jame Cook is returning to Athens for another season and will not enter the 2021 NFL Draft.

Georgia Bulldogs running back Jame Cook is returning to Athens for another season and will not enter the 2021 NFL Draft. James Cook, the younger brother of Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook, missed the Peach Bowl to mourn the loss of his father.

2021 will be Cook’s fourth season with the University of Georgia, but he’ll be a junior, since nobody lost eligibility in 2020. James Cook came to Georgia as a highly touted recruit from Miami Central High School.

James Cook is projected to start as the third down back for Todd Monken and UGA’s offense next season. Cook is a dangerous receiver and is Georgia’s best receiving back. He could take over as lead running back if Zamir White declares for the 2021 NFL Draft.

Look for James Cook to get more touches next season. He’s averaged 6.6 yards per carry in his career and 11.2 yards per reception. Cook never had more than seven carries in a game during the 2020 season.

The Miami Central graduate gained 320 yards on 47 total touches in 2019. He totaled 61 touches in 2020.

Cook’s best play of the season came when he burned the Alabama defense for an explosive touchdown.

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Watch: Georgia football RB Daijun Edwards scores first career TD

Georgia Bulldogs freshman running back Daijun Edwards scored his first career rushing touchdown against the Missouri Tigers

Georgia Bulldogs freshman running back Daijun Edwards scored his first career rushing touchdown against the Missouri Tigers. Edwards’ six yard score gave the Bulldogs a 49-14 lead over the Tigers.

Edwards has been much more involved in the Georgia offense in recent weeks. The Colquitt County High School product rushed for a career high 77 yards last game against South Carolina.

Here’s a look at Edwards’ first career rushing touchdown:

It’ll be a moment that the Moultrie, Georgia, native will remember forever.

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Georgia Bulldogs get positive injury update on star RB

The Georgia Bulldogs got a positive injury update on freshman running back Kendall Milton after the loss to Florida.

The Georgia Bulldogs lost against the Florida Gators in more ways than one. The entire UGA team seemed to suffer an injury throughout the game or before it. The conference-only schedule is weighing on the Dawgs and they’ll have to rely on depth in several key positions from here on out.

Fortunately for the Bulldogs, freshman running back Kendall Milton only suffered a slight MCL sprain in the defeat. Milton, a former five-star recruit out of California, went down following a first down run in the second half.

Kendall Milton’s father, Chris Milton, has the scoop on his injury:

A sprained MCL is much preferable to a torn ACL, torn MCL, and other serious knee injuries. Milton could possibly return during the season or for the upcoming bowl game. Milton has 31 carries for 183 yards on the season. He’s broken a lot of tackles in the limited touches he’s received.

Zamir White and James Cook are Georgia’s healthiest running backs at the moment. The duo will look for more carries this Saturday against the Missouri Tigers. Georgia out-rushed Florida 165 yards to 97, however the Gators dominated with their aerial attack.

Florida defensive back Brad Stewart Jr. (2) breaks up a pass intended for Georgia running back Kendall Milton (22) during the annual Florida Georgia rivalry game held at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville Fla. Nov. 7, 2020. Photo per The Gainesville Sun

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UGA football player card: RB Kendall Milton

Georgia Bulldogs running back Kendall Milton comes to Athens as a five-star recruit out of California.

Running Back Kendall Milton (No. 22):

Class: Freshman

Height: 6-1

Weight: 220 pounds

Hometown: Clovis, California

High School: Buchanan High School

Georgia Bulldogs running back Kendall Milton comes to Athens as a five-star recruit. He’s a member of the class of 2020. The California product was rated pretty much universally as a top ten running back recruit in his class.

Milton be competing with Daijun Edwards, Zamir White, James Cook, Kenny McIntosh, and more for playing time. With the departure of D’Andre Swift, fans should expect a lot of competition at the running back position.

James Cook is the most explosive returning player and is an excellent pass catcher, but he isn’t as polished between the tackles as Zamir White. Both Daijun Edwards and Kendall Milton are touted recruits and have the talent to earn significant carries or even start as freshmen.

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

Milton will look to be the next great running back at the University of Georgia.

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Former Georgia RB Nick Chubb enters NFL concussion protocol

Former Georgia Bulldog Nick Chubb has entered the NFL’s concussion protocol after taking a hit to the head/neck area in training camp

Former Georgia Bulldog Nick Chubb has entered the NFL’s concussion protocol after taking a hit to the head/neck area in training camp. The Cleveland Browns running back finished second in the NFL in rushing yards (1,494) last season behind Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry.

The former UGA standout has played in every game throughout his two year NFL career. Cleveland will miss him should he miss any game action. Hopefully, Chubb can heal up soon and get ready for the start of the NFL season.

The Cleveland Browns open their season against the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 13. Kareem Hunt will assume the starting role in the Cleveland backfield until Chubb returns. Chubb must go through the various steps of the protocol before he’ll be able to fully return to practice and eventually able to play in a game.

Chubb is a key fixture in Cleveland’s offense. The Browns will look to improve upon their 6-10 record from last season.

We will provide updates on the status of Chubb’s recovery. His injury could open the door for Cleveland to bring back former Georgia Bulldog Brian Herrien. The Browns previously cut Herrien this offseason.

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UGA football player card: RB Daijun Edwards

Georgia Bulldogs running back Daijun Edwards comes to Athens as a four-star recruit.

Running Back Daijun Edwards (No. 33):

Class: Freshman

Height: 5-10

Weight: 201 pounds

Hometown: Moultrie, Georgia

High School: Colquitt County High School

Georgia Bulldogs running back Daijun Edwards comes to Athens as a four-star recruit. He’s a member of the class of 2020. The Colquitt County product was rated as anywhere between the 13th and 33rd best running back in the country.

Edwards be competing with Kendall Milton, Zamir White, James Cook, Kenny McIntosh, and more for playing time. With the departure of D’Andre Swift, fans should expect a lot of competition at the running back position.

James 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 Zamir White. Both Daijun Edwards and Kendall Milton are touted recruits and have the talent to earn significant carries as freshmen.

Edwards also has the ability to catch out of the backfield. He flashes a rugged, tough style on tape. Edwards saw lots of playing time throughout his high school career and is quite experienced.

Check the tape of the four-star running back for yourself:

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Georgia football play of the day

Watch the Georgia football play of the day here!

Happy Friday DawgNation! Today’s play of the day comes from Georgia versus Florida in 1985.

Florida entered it’s 1985 match up with Georgia as the No. 1 ranked team in the country and riding an NCAA leading 18 straight wins.

Georgia would spoil Florida’s first week ever at the top a news-agency poll, allowing only 28 rushing yards on 30 Florida carries and adding three rushing touchdowns on offense in a blowout 24-3 win.

Georgia running back Tim Worley had the play of the game, tying Johnny Griffith for the longest rushing touchdown in Georgia history.

Watch Worley’s touchdown narrated by Bulldog legend Larry Munson here:

“Worley touchdown!”

UGA football player card: RB KJ McCoy

University of Georgia Bulldogs running back KJ McCoy attended East Georgia State College from 2017-2018. 

Running Back KJ McCoy (No. 39):

Class: Redshirt Freshman

Height: 5-10

Weight: 200 pounds

Hometown: Swainsboro, Georgia

High School: Swainsboro High School

Georgia Bulldogs running back KJ McCoy is a redshirt freshman. Before attending the University of Georgia, McCoy attended East Georgia State College from 2017-2018.

He impressed during the 2019 spring game, when he gained 46 total yards on seven total touches. McCoy’s cousin, Isaiah, also walked on to the team in 2019.

McCoy played both football, basketball, and track at Swainsboro High School.

McCoy will be competing with Kendall Milton, Zamir White, James Cook, Kenny McIntosh, and more at the running back position. McCoy would surprise a lot of folks if he earned touches in Georgia’s very talented backfield. He’s projected to be primarily used as depth on the scout team next season.

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UGA football player card: RB Garrett Jones

Georgia Bulldogs running back Garret Jones walked on to the football team as a freshman in 2018

Running Back Garrett Jones (No. 36):

Class: Redshirt Sophomore

Height: 6-0

Weight: 203 pounds

Hometown: Albany, Georgia

High School: Deerfield-Windsor High School

Georgia Bulldogs running back Garret Jones walked on to the football team as a freshman in 2018. He immediately took a redshirt during that season.

Jones played in the 2019 edition of G-Day and carried the ball once. Jones is expecting to major in Business during his time in Athens. Jones ran for 1,400 yards as a junior in high school. He earned recognition throughout the state for his excellence.

Jone will be competing with Kendall Milton, Zamir White, James Cook, Kenny McIntosh, and more for playing time. Jones will need to step-up his game in order to compete in UGA’s deep, talented backfield. He’s projected to be primarily used as depth next season.

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