— Nick Chubb looked as strong and durable as ever.
Optimism is soaring at No. 18 Georgia about its running game — and not only because of Chubb, but all the backfield help for the tailback looming on the horizon has the staff beaming.
Chubb made a remarkable return only 10 months after tearing three ligaments in his left knee as he had 32 carries for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the Bulldogs’ 33-24 opening win over No. 22 North Carolina on Saturday.
He showed power, speed and endurance in his impressive return from last season’s gruesome injury. His 32nd carry was a 55-yard touchdown run.
Though Chubb was not available for interviews on Monday, compliments from his teammates were still flowing even as coach Kirby Smart attempted to shift the attention to this week’s game against Nicholls.
“To come back from that type of injury and to hit the ground running like that and have that many yards and that much success in one game is just amazing,” said cornerback Maurice Smith.
Added fullback Christian Payne: “He’s a freak. He has tons of God-given ability. He’s blessed. I knew when he got hurt he would come back even stronger. ... I couldn’t be more proud of him.”
Chubb’s big game may have been only an indicator of more to come from Georgia’s running game.
Sony Michel, who ran for 1,161 yards last season, most coming after Chubb’s injury, was held out against North Carolina while he recovers from a broken left forearm. Michel ran so well in pregame warmups that Smart noted after the game the junior was “tearing it up.”
Meanwhile, freshman Brian Herrien flashed his speed on his 19-yard touchdown run. Another freshman, Elijah Holyfield, the son of former boxing champion Evander Holyfield, was held out with an ankle injury. Senior Brendan Douglas ran for 23 yards on three carries.
Smart said Monday Holyfield almost was cleared to play against North Carolina and will receive more practice reps this week in anticipation of playing against Nicholls (0-0). Michel appears ready as soon as he receives clearance from his doctor.
As tailback depth grows for Georgia (1-0), it’s possible that 30-carry games for Chubb will become a rarity.
Smart said his plan for sharing carries could change each week.
“We’ll go with the hot hand, whoever that is and what style defense they’re playing,” Smart said, adding “You just can’t become predictable. That’s going to change game by game and how those kids practice during the week.”
Smith, the Alabama transfer, said Michel and Holyfield will make the offense stronger.
“I think once they get back we’ll definitely have a stronger running game,” Smith said.
Chubb used hard work to remain ahead of schedule throughout his recovery. Still, it would have been difficult to predict 32 carries in his first game since the injury.
Smart gave credit to Chubb’s weight-room work with director of strength and conditioning Scott Sinclair, improving in his bench press and squat.
“He feels much more conditioned and stronger as a running back,” Smart said. “It was evident that he was able to run through some tackles in the fourth quarter because he’s such a powerful low body guy.”
Chubb’s re- emergence was perhaps more important to Georgia’s championship hopes than the ongoing competition between Greyson Lambert and Jacob Eason for the starting job at quarterback. Lambert started in the opener but shared time with Eason, the freshman.
Smart said he will continue to give reps to both quarterbacks in practice “and make a decision as to what we’re going to do, whether it’s later in the week, or game time.” play — to put up solid numbers and deliver big plays.
Hurts passed for 138 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for — 32 and two more scores. Alabama quarterbacks Most of his passing proJalen Hurts and Blake duction came on throws Barnett both will likeof 71 and 39 yards to ly play against Western ArDarius Stewart. Kentucky. Barnett was 5-of-6
It’s not a formupassing for 100 yards, la coach Nick Saban including a 45-yard touchexpects to continue down to Gehrig Dieter throughout the season, and a 40-yard completion but it worked out OK for to tight end O.J. Howard. the top-ranked Crimson Bateman, who some conTide against No. 20 sidered the favorite after Southern California. last season, got in late in
As for the starter, the 52-6 blowout. Saban isn’t saying but It’s not a bad situahe indicated they might tion to be in since both be used differently this Barnett, a redshirt freshtime and didn’t rule out man, and Hurts had big the true freshman Hurts moments in their first opening the game. college game.
“I think that if we’re “Really, all the quargoing to have two young terbacks, they all still quarterbacks both of have a good chance to them need to gain expeplay,” Dieter said. “They rience so they can play just have to come to in the future,” the coach practice each week with said Monday. “How we a chip on their shoulder go about doing that is a and something to prove plan that I think is very, to each other and prove very important to both to the coaches that they guys and to our team. should be the guy. They We’re going to try to do should just keep improvthat the best way we ing.” can. Hurts gives oppos
“Look, the body laning defenses more of a guage on the sidelines running threat. He lost from the players involved the ball on a read option at the position was very play in faking the handgood. Both guys were off to tailback Damien very supportive of the Harris on the opening other guy, paying attenplay. Hurts’ only other tion, and I think that’s big mistake was an intervery critical.” ception when he tried to
It could be imporforce the ball into covertant to get it settled in age when the game was Saturday’s game against already in hand. Western Kentucky. Up “He might have had a next is a trip to No. 11 little bit of nerves in his Mississippi, which has first college game ever handed Alabama its only against a big-time opporegular-season defeat nent like USC,” Dieter each of the past two seasaid. “That happened sons. and obviously you could
Both quarterbacks tell he calmed down overcame shaky starts after that and had a great against USC — Hurts game. I am really excited lost a fumble on his first for him.”
Saban expects to play two QBs in next game TUSCALOOSA, Ala.