RB Andrew Paul Looking "Better and Better," Per Kirby Smart
This time last year, then freshman Georgia running back Andrew Paul was making a strong impression during his first fall camp with the Bulldog program and was putting himself in position to perhaps earn some snaps heading into the 2022 season. However, an ACL tear late in fall camp brought that momentum to a grinding halt and forced Paul to miss the entirety of Georgia's 2022 national championship season. Now, a year removed from the injury, Paul has been fully cleared for practice and Georgia Head Coach Kirby Smart spoke to his progress while meeting with reporters following Georgia's second scrimmage of fall camp.
Georgia RB Andrew Paul carries the football during one of Georgia's practices. The redshirt freshman is working his way back from an ACL injury that cost him the entire 2022 season.
Paul still isn't fully back to his old ways following the knee injury, but Smart believes the young back is showing consistent improvement as he works his way back into form.
"Andrew Paul has been good. I wouldn't say he's 100%, he's a post-ACL knee and I guess he's at a year - I don't know if it is a year today or a year last scrimmage that it happened - but he looks better and better and he's more and more confident in the system.
Paul is showing progress, but as one would imagine with nearly a full year away from taking reps in practice, the redshirt freshman is still working off the rust.
"He [Paul] still makes mistakes. Made a mistake today and he'll learn from it and he'll grow from it," Smart said. "That's why we practice. Hopefully he'll be 100% by the time the first game gets here"
Georgia RB Branson Robinson (22) celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game against TCU. Robinson has been out since the spring with a lower extremity injury.
While Paul's return has been a boost to the Georgia's running back position, injuries to sophomore Branson Robinson and senior Kendall Milton have complicated matters, leaving the Bulldogs searching for answers at the position as fall camp comes to a close.
"The running back position has been a work in progress," said Smart. "We're trying to get healthy guys, they're going to get to play behind a really good offensive line, some good tight ends, and a quarterback that's going to be able to help them, but we need to get production out of that position.
With Georgia's season opener against UT-Martin still two weeks out, Paul and the rest of the Georgia running backs will continue to compete and work to make the progress that Smart is looking for heading into the 2023 season.
