Despite Injuries, Smart Bullish on Georgia's Running Backs

Georgia has dealt with a spade of injuries at the running back position over the past several months, but Head Coach Kirby Smart is still comfortable with the options available to the Bulldogs.

Dating back to the spring, Georgia has been dealing with a rash of injuries - both severe and minor - at the running back position. Nearly every player at the position has dealt with an injury of sorts over the past several months, leading the Bulldogs to have to turn to some new and unfamiliar faces as they continue preparations for the 2023 season. On Saturday, Head Coach Kirby Smart detailed Georgia's current situation at running back following the team's first scrimmage of fall camp.

Former blue-chip prospects Branson Robinson and Kendall Milton both missed Georgia's spring game in April with injuries - Robinson with a lower extremity injury and Milton with a hamstring injury - and have yet to be fully cleared for contact thus far in fall camp. Robinson is still recovering from the injury he suffered in the latter stages of spring practice and, as fall camp began, Milton reaggravated a hamstring injury that has been plaguing him for the better part of a year. While Robinson and Milton were projected to headline the running back position for Georgia entering the 2023 season, their injuries have created opportunities for other backs on the team. After watching them work through the first full week of fall camp, Smart expressed confidence in those other options at the position.

“Daijun, Cash, Andrew Paul, Rod Robinson, Sevaughn Clark. That’s five guys I know, JD, Joseph Daniels, those guys, they all get reps. In terms of when the season starts, we’ll take a picture of what we have healthy and make a determination. But Daijun’s doing a great job. Cash Jones is doing a great job. I think Andrew Paul is still trying to get his confidence back. I don’t think he was 100 percent today. I think that was a big psychological hurdle for him to go out there and get tackled live and be able to do that. Rod had a real nice run and some good pickups.

Georgia freshman RB Roderick Robinson (0) carries tacklers on a run during Georgia's spring game in April 2023

Edwards missed time during the spring himself dealing with a minor leg injury, but has bounced back with a strong start to fall camp. Preferred walk-on Cash Jones impressed during Georgia's spring game when he received reps with the first team offense, and is continuing his push to carve out a role for himself in the Georgia offense, likely as a receiving threat on third downs. Paul impressed as a true freshman during Georgia's 2022 fall camp before suffering an ACL tear that cost him the entirety of the 2022 season. The redshirt freshman was not fully cleared for participation during the spring, but has been full-go since fall camp opened and is working to overcome the physical and mental hurdles typically associated with a return from an ACL injury. At 6-foot, 240 pounds, Roderick Robinson, Georgia's lone running back in its 2023 recruiting class, gives the Bulldogs a different body type in the backfield and his ability to stay healthy through the spring and the early portions of fall camp is giving him an opportunity to earn playing time early in his college career.

Of course, it is never ideal for two of a team's top options at a position to miss significant practice time in the lead-up to a new season, but fortunately for the Bulldogs, the outlook is bright when it comes to Robinson and Milton's injury prognosis, as Smart expressed confidence that the two talented running backs are poised for a return at some point during the 2023 season.

"I certainly think before the season’s over, I don’t know when, Branson’s going to be fine, Kendall is hopefully going to be fine. We’ve got the backs we’ve got. There’s ways to be creative around your running backs and use the skill players you have."

Georgia senior RB Kendall Milton (2) takes a rep during one of Georgia's 2023 spring practices. After missing time during the spring with a hamstring injury, Milton re-aggravated the injury early during fall camp. 

Georgia is unlikely to be fully healthy at running back as the program embarks on its quest for an unprecedented third-consecutive national championship, but thanks to the strong evaluation, recruiting, and development skills of the program's coaching staff, the Bulldogs still feel comfortable about their options at the position entering the 2023 season.