Tag: uga running backs

A look at Georgia’s 2020 running back room

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.) –

Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

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.) –

Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

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.) –

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

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.

Watch Milton’s senior highlights here:

UGA football player card: RB Darius Jackson

Prior to coming to the University of Georgia, Jackson ran track and played football for Washington County High School

Running Back Darius Jackson (No. 29):

Class: Junior

Height: 5-10

Weight: 200 pounds

Hometown: Sandersville, Georgia

High School: Washington County High School

Georgia Bulldogs running back Darius Jackson walked on to the team in 2018. He ended up redshirting that season.

Prior to coming to the University of Georgia, Jackson ran track and played football for Washington County High School. He is a strong back, who finished second in the state in weightlifting as a sophomore.

He didn’t play last season, but did participate in G-Day and spring drills. Jackson will look to gain more traction in 2020.

He’ll be competing with Kendall Milton, Zamir White, James Cook, Kenny McIntosh, and more for playing time. Jackson will need to step-up his game in order to compete in UGA’s deep, talented backfield.

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UGA football player card: RB Anthony Summey

Georgia Bulldogs running back Anthony Summey came to Athens as a two-star recruit as a member of the class of 2019

Running Back Anthony Summey (No. 28):

Class: Redshirt freshamn

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 came to Athens as a two-star recruit as a member of the class of 2019. Summey redshirted last season.

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

He’ll be competing with Kendall Milton, Zamir White, James Cook, Kenny McIntosh, and more for playing time. Here’s how Summey initially committed to the University of Georgia:

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UGA football player card: RB Prather Hudson

Georgia Bulldogs running back Prather Hudson is entering into his senior season in Athens. Hudson has 22 carries for 84 yards in his career.

Running Back Prather Hudson (No. 24):

Class: Senior

Height: 5-11

Weight: 200 pounds

Hometown: Columbus, Georgia

High School: Brookstone High School

Georgia Bulldogs running back Prather Hudson is entering into his senior season in Athens. Hudson has 22 carries for 84 yards over his career. He’s played a lot of snaps on special teams as well, where he’s recorded seven tackles over the years.

He didn’t have to make many tackles on kickoffs with Rodrigo Blankenship consistently booming the ball beyond the back of the end zone. His special teams work may be even more important in 2020.

He’s yet to score a touchdown in his career, so bet on Kirby Smart and the offensive staff will try to help him find pay dirt at some point this upcoming season.

Hudson is in a talented running back room that features Zamir White, James Cook, and Kenny McIntosh.

Sep 21, 2019; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver George Pickens and running back Brian Herrien running back Prather Hudson and defensive lineman Malik Herring and defensive back J.R. Reed celebrate after a victory against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

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UGA football player card: RB Sevaughn Clark

Georgia Bulldogs running back Sevaughn Clark redshirted in 2019, but saw playing time against Murray State and Arkansas State

Running Back Sevaughn Clark (No. 20):

Class: Redshirt freshman

Height: 6-1

Weight: 215 pounds

Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia

High School: Dawson County

Georgia Bulldogs running back Sevaughn Clark redshirted in 2019, but saw playing time against Murray State and Arkansas State. Clark will carry experience into next season, but isn’t expected to be a large factor in Georgia’s stacked backfield.

Clark had four carries for 13 yards last season. He came to Athens as an unheralded recruit. He played quarterback and running back in high school, but was more of a threat as a rusher. He additionally ran track for Dawson County.

Clark, a walk-on, has some solid high school highlights. He could potentially step-up to contribute similar to Brian Herrien later in his career.

Clark is in a talented running back room that features Zamir White, James Cook, Kenny McIntosh and more.

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Former Georgia football RB Brian Herrien shares heartwarming Nick Chubb story at NFL Combine

Two legendary Georgia pros have confidence Brian Herrien is capable of achieving a similar future, and because of them, Herrien is, too.

Brian Herrien was a last-second addition to Kirby Smart’s first recruiting class at the University of Georgia, a recruiting class half comprised of Mark Richt holdovers.

Due to issues with his grades early on in high school, Herrien was by no means a highly exposed recruit. Until he got his grades right and qualified for UGA, he was ranked by only one recruiting service and was listed as a very low three-star.

He arrived in Athens in June 2016 and made nearly immediate impact. His first touch as a Dawg was a 19 yard touchdown run late into Kirby Smart’s first game at the helm for his alma mater, sealing a win over North Carolina in the Georgia Dome (rest in pieces). He would go on to rush for 1,394 more yards and 12 more touchdowns without a single fumble in a four-year career.

Herrien, in an media appearance at this week’s NFL Combine, says that he has a number of teammates to thank for his success at Georgia.

According to Herrien, Nick Chubb had something he wanted to tell him at halftime of the 2018 Rose Bowl. It never came up, so weeks later Herrien sent a text message to Chubb, who was training prior to the NFL Combine.

Chubb remarked that he’d rather have told Herrien in person as opposed to over the phone, but Herrien describes the rest of the interaction.

“He was just telling me ‘go show them who you are. Tell them that you can be a starter and show them that you can be that guy. Me and Sony [Michel] was always telling you that.'”

As a young tailback behind two proven stars and future NFL Draft picks, the encouragement was monumental for Herrien.

“He was always encouraging me, always telling me that he could see it, that Sony could see it.”

He continued:

“It meant a lot because because he was an older guy and one who was [on the roster] before me.”

Herrien follows in his former teammates’ footsteps having received his invitation to the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine. Chubb and Michel performed strongly and were subsequently drafted in the first two rounds.

Two legendary Georgia pros have confidence Brian Herrien is capable of a similar future, and because of them, Herrien probably is, too.