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Georgia Football: Top 5 players whose careers were spoiled by injuries

By Kyle Funderburk

Oct 10, 2015; Knoxville, TN, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Nick Chubb (27) sits on the sideline after being injured during the first half against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2015; Knoxville, TN, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Nick Chubb (27) sits on the sideline after being injured during the first half against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 15, 2014; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Mark Richt and training staff tend to running back Todd Gurley (3) after an injury in the fourth quarter of their game against the Auburn Tigers at Sanford Stadium. Georgia won 34-7. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 15, 2014; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Mark Richt and training staff tend to running back Todd Gurley (3) after an injury in the fourth quarter of their game against the Auburn Tigers at Sanford Stadium. Georgia won 34-7. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Todd Gurley

There’s certainly a case for Gurley to be no. 1 on this list, but there’s also a case for his exclusion. She he’s right at home at no. 3.

Gurley obviously accomplished a ton at Georgia. Enough that I deemed him worthy of the no. 4 sport in my top 10 running backs list. But I also mentioned on that list how his career was marred by injuries.

As a freshman in 2012, Gurley rushed for 1,385 yards with 17 touchdowns. Expectations were high and many thought that he could be the best Georgia running back since Herschel Walker. And early in 2013, Gurley wasn’t letting anyone down.

After only three and a half games, Gurley had 450 yards with four touchdowns. But Gurley injured his ankle in the second quarter against LSU. In not even two quarters, Gurley racked up 73 yards on just eight carries.

Gurley ended up missing the next three games and even when he returned, he was nowhere close to 100-percent. There was even a scare during the Florida game where entered the locker room after his long touchdown catch. But that game against the Gators was also where Gurley became a threat in the passing game.

Gurley was able to finish the 2013 season with 989 rushing yards, 411 receiving yards and 16 total touchdowns. But it was clear that he could have accomplished so much more that year.

He returned in 2014 hoping for one more great year and once again, Gurley was well on his way there. After just five games, he had amassed 773 yards which put him on track for over 2,000 yards in the regular season. Gurley also had eight touchdowns at that point.

But then he was suspended for four games for selling autographs (because as Eric Dickerson put it, “the NCAA is a bunch of gangsters”). Gurley returned for the Auburn game where he split carries with the new superstar Nick Chubb. He rushed for 138 yards that day before tearing his ACL, ending his college career.

Gurley finished the 2014 season with 911 yards with nine touchdowns in only six games. His career ended with 3,285 rushing yards with 36 touchdowns. But take away the injuries and he could have easily surpassed 5,000 rushing yards.

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