Two Georgia tailbacks appear close to returning per Kirby Smart
ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia has been paper-thin at running back the past couple of weeks and it’ll probably be that way again when it takes on Georgia Tech this Friday (7:30 p.m. ET on ABC). Help, however, could be on the way. According to Kirby Smart, who spoke with reporters on Monday to kick off UGA vs. Tech media day, both Roderick Robinson and Branson Robinson have ramped things up of late. In fact, Smart made it sound like they have a chance to play against the Yellow Jackets this week.
“We’ll know more today,” Smart said when asked about the tailback tandem. “Branson (Robinson) and Rod (Roderick Robinson) have both looked good in the last week in terms of picking up their pace, running, cutting. We’re going to progress them today. They’re going to do more today than they have. I guess y’all saw them Saturday run. They did more yesterday. We’re day by day with those guys, but there’s a possibility so we’re excited about them getting back to work.”
Roderick Robinson hasn’t played yet this season. He suffered a turf toe injury during camp and eventually needed surgery. We saw him conditioning on the field prior for the UMass game and it’s the first time we’ve seen him participate in any sort of physical activity this season.
Branson Robinson was part of that same conditioning group after suffering a sprained MCL in Georgia’s win over Mississippi State last month. He has missed the past four games after appearing in each of the first six.
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The Bulldogs are already without Trevor Etienne, a junior who transferred in from Florida. The Louisiana native is battling a rib injury that will likely keep him out at least three more weeks. He’s definitely out for the Georgia Tech game and very doubtful for the SEC Championship game.
The rash of injuries has thrust Nate Frazier into the feature-back role. He’s now the Bulldogs leading rusher, passing Etienne with a 21-carry 136-yard performance against UMass that saw him reach the end zone three times.
Georgia has also turned to another true freshman, Chauncey Bowens, for some key carries the past two weeks. He had five totes in each of the Bulldogs’ wins over Tennessee and UMass while Dwight Phillips, another true freshman, saw action in the latter game. Cash Jones, a walk-on, continues to handle the third-down duties.
