Georgia football: Zamir White is biggest x-factor for Bulldogs in 2020

The Georgia Bulldogs have built a pipeline of top-end running backs, and it’s time for Zamir White to step up in 2020.

As the Georgia Bulldogs enter another season with lofty expectations, a lot of attention has been placed on their quarterback situation with transfers Jamie Newman and JT Daniels coming in. But they’ve also had at least one 1,000-yard rusher in six straight seasons, and Zamir White is first in line to replace the departed D’Andre Swift.

247 Sports ranked White as the No. 1 running back and the No. 9 overall prospect in the 2018 recruiting class. But he suffered a torn left ACL in fall camp that year, which came on the heels of a torn right ACL during his senior season of high school. He had an uphill climb to earn a role as a freshman, as evidenced by his knee injury coming on punt coverage in practice.

White played 13 games last year, and finished third on the team in rushing with 408 yards (on 78 carries; 5.2 yards per carry) and three touchdowns. His best game of the season was the last one, with 18 carries for 92 yards and a touchdown against Baylor in the Allstate Sugar Bowl to end on a high note.

Is Zamir White the next running back stud for Georgia?

During FOX Sports Big Noon Kickoff special Wednesday night (via 247 Sports), analyst Reggie Bush spoke highly of White in tabbing him as a breakout candidate for 2020.

“Georgia is a running back-friendly system. You think about the lead back in Georgia – over the last eight years, the lead back from Georgia has averaged 1,200 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns,”  “And so just by sheer volume, Zamir White is going to get the football, he’s going to be the lead back, he’s not gonna have to play behind some of the other backs like DeAndre Swift, who just went to the NFL, who’s actually one of my favorites to watch.”

Swift (196 carries for 1,218 yards and seven touchdowns last year) was drafted in the second round by the Detroit Lions in April, and second-leading rusher Brian Herrien (103 carries for 490 yards and six touchdowns) is also gone to the NFL as a UDFA signing by the Cleveland Browns.

James Cook (brother of Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook) is also coming back to the Bulldogs’ backfield. He’ll surely have a solid role this year, and there are others who may be in the mix for carries. But the runway is clear for White to be the lead back, and a move to a spread system should help him.

The Bulldogs have built a pipeline of top running backs in recruiting, then plugged them in with great success when it was their time to be guy. White is next in line, with the pedigree to succeed just as those who’ve preceded him have. If Georgia is going to reach the lofty expectations that are embedded in the program this year, the junior tailback will be the driving force.