Kirby Smart feels 'good' about running backs Daijun Edwards and Kendall Milton

Georgia coach Kirby Smart offered an update on running backs Daijun Edwards and Kendall Milton at Tuesday’s practice. Edwards, who is dealing with a MCL injury in his right knee, was seen wearing a no-contact jersey while Milton was wearing a normal jersey but has been battling a hamstring injury throughout fall camp.

Smart mentioned that a host of other running backs have been getting reps, but added he feels “good” about both Edwards and Milton heading into Week 1.

“We’ve been giving reps to a lot of other guys, because we’ve got a lot of other guys to get prepared,” the coach said. “But we feel good about both of them.”

Edwards is the Bulldogs leading returning rusher after totaling 769 yards and seven touchdowns this past season. Milton is right behind him with 592 yards and eight scores in 2022. The pair is expected to lead the backfield in 2023 following the departure of last year’s leading rusher, Kenny McIntosh, to the NFL.

Smart said Monday that Edwards suffered his injury in the team’s second scrimmage, which took place less than two weeks ago. He added that Milton has been dealing with his hamstring issue for most of fall camp, but the running back is somewhere between 80-90% healthy at this point.

With Edwards and Milton still on the mend, redshirt freshman Andrew Paul and true freshman Roderick Robinson have got some extra work in recently. Paul was injured last preseason and missed the entire year. Robinson was ranked as the No. 10 running back and No. 152 overall player in the country for the class of 2023, according to the On3 Industry rankings, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Smart revealed last week that sophomore running back Branson Robinson, the No. 2 running back in the 2022 class, is out for the season with a ruptured patellar tendon. That in mind, the Bulldogs will hope Edwards and Milton can get back to full health as quickly as possible.

Until then, he’ll continue to weigh his options.

“We’re looking at everybody at running back,” he said. “We’re going to try to find the best way possible to get the ball in the hands of the playmakers. “I feel good about the backs we have. I’ll feel a lot better if Daijun and Kendall are 100 percent.”

Georgia kicks off the 2023 season at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday against Tennessee-Martin.