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Weekly Top 10: Greatest running backs in Georgia football history

By Kyle Funderburk

Sep 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Nick Chubb (27) runs for yards during the 2016 Chick-Fil-A Kickoff game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Georgia Dome. Georgia won 33-24. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Nick Chubb (27) runs for yards during the 2016 Chick-Fil-A Kickoff game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Georgia Dome. Georgia won 33-24. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 15, 2014; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Todd Gurley (3) breaks a tackle by Auburn Tigers linebacker Kris Frost (17) during the second half at Sanford Stadium. Georgia defeated Auburn 34-7. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 15, 2014; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Todd Gurley (3) breaks a tackle by Auburn Tigers linebacker Kris Frost (17) during the second half at Sanford Stadium. Georgia defeated Auburn 34-7. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Todd Gurley

For 20 years, before a running back could be compared to Hershel Walker, they had to pass Garrison Hearst. Knowshon came close, but leaving after his sophomore year and never having a season like Hearst’s 1992-season, shot that argument down for many.

But then came Todd Gurley in 2012. As a freshman, Gurley had 1,385 yards with 17 touchdowns which is second best in Georgia football for a freshman. But he also played alongside Keith Marshall that year and they were seen as one of the best running back duos in the country.

He was well on his way to another amazing season in 2013 before he was injured in the second quarter against LSU. In his first 14 quarters of the season, Gurley rushed for 450 yards with four touchdowns.

Gurley missed the next three games and returned against Florida. But he never looked 100 percent for the rest of the season. Yet, he still accumulated 539 yards in six games to finish the year with 989 rushing yards with 10 touchdowns.

But with season ending injuries for receivers Malcolm Mitchell, Justin Scott-Wesley, and fellow running back Keith Marshall, Gurley saw his role in the passing game increase. He actually finished 2013 with 411 yards on 37 catches with six touchdowns.

2014 could have been even better though. Gurley only played six games that year, but in those six games he rushed for 911 yards with nine touchdowns. 773 of those yards came in Georgia’s first five games of the year.

Then he was suspended by the NCAA for four games and he tore his ACL in his return game against Auburn.

Some players have their careers marred by injuries and fans are left to ask what could have been. But not with Todd Gurley, fans know exactly what he could have been.

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