Georgia football running back Brian Herrien brought no stars to Athens. Now he starts on the most star-studded Bulldog team ever.
The Bulldog Nation migrated to Nashville last weekend for some country music, some Georgia football, and to get a look at redshirt freshman running back Zamir White.
It got all three, but it didn’t get a look at White until after Brian Herrien started in the Bulldog backfield ahead of not just the five-star White, but the five-star D’Andre Swift and the four-star James Cook.
Herrien’s story, like his running style, is a study in determination.
To become eligible for a Georgia football scholarship, the little known prospect made all A’s in his core classes his final semester of high school and knocked his final ACT attempt out of the park.
Plus, he’s got a little ‘tude.
Stars don’t rate
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Herrien is New Manchester High School’s first SEC scholarship recipient. He seemed as unlikely a division one talent as he did a college student during much of high school.
It wasn’t that he couldn’t get the job done on the field. Herrien was recruited by Alabama as well as Georgia.
Had Kirby Smart remained at Alabama, Herrien would likely be playing for the Tide. He just didn’t care about chasing those recruiting stars.
Classroom comeback
Herrien let himself get off to a slow academic start in high school, but he roared back his last two years.
During his senior season, he reported to school early for online ACT practice tests and extra tutoring to stay on top of his course work to secure NCAA eligibility.
Now, the underdog recruit is sharing snaps with D’Andre Swift.
Herrien’s play is no surprise to those that have seen him up close and personal on the football field.
His head coach at New Manchester high school, Rob Cleveland could not recall when anyone brought him down with a solo tackle.
“Maybe if he slipped then,” he told Jeff Sentell of DawgNation. “I just have visions of him dragging guys along down the field and that dates back to his sophomore year.”
“Brian is a good back, and Brian has gotten better,” Smart said. “He’s been here for several springs, (and) one of those spring he carried 20 or 30 times when Nick (Chubb) and Sony (Michel) were coming back as seniors.
Power running advice from Pop
How does the six-foot, 210 pounder excel at tackle breaking? “My dad always told me to run behind my pads and don’t let anyone hit your legs, always keep your feet moving,” Herrien said.
And don’t let anyone tell you those stars make a bit of difference when you step on the field. Brian Herrien will tell you otherwise