Georgia is still loaded at running back even after Zamir White injury
The Georgia Bulldogs will have to do without highly touted freshman Zamir White, but their running back situation is still enviable.
Coming off a trip to the national title game, expectations are high for the Georgia Bulldogs this year. A top-ranked recruiting class promises to keep the momentum going, led by No.1 running back Zamir White.
But during Saturday’s second scrimmage of fall camp for the Bulldogs, White went down with a left knee injury while covering a punt. Later in the day, Seth Emerson of The Athletic reported a torn ACL for the highly touted freshman.
White suffered a torn right ACL late last season, as his high school team in North Carolina went through the playoffs. But he was cleared to practice during fall camp without restriction, and was competing to contribute this year.
The Bulldogs lost Sony Michel and Nick Chubb to the NFL, but they have plenty of depth at running back even without White. Sophomore D’Andre Swift averaged 7.6 yards per carry last year (618 yards, three touchdowns) and is in line for a breakout season in the lead role. Juniors Elijah Holyfield (Evander’s son) and Brian Herrien are back too, and freshman James Cook (brother of former Florida State and current Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin) has been a standout in practice.
In terms of impact on the depth chart, Holyfield and Cook seem to be the primary beneficiaries of White’s absence.
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White will surely apply for and get a medical redshirt for this year now, with an eye on contributing in 2019 and still having four years of eligibility to exhaust on the field. Working on punt coverage in a scrimmage showed he had an uphill climb to earn a major role as a freshman any way, so an unfortunate significant injury could be a blessing and a welcome respite after last year’s knee injury.