Georgia football has played four games so far this season and is currently 4-0. The Dawgs are on a bye week and don’t have a game, so let’s look at two of the most improved football players from last year to now after the first four games.
After four games, Georgia football is still undefeated in the 2019 season. The Notre Dame game was hard-fought and one that the Dawgs had to work harder than they wanted to for, but it paid off, and Georgia got the win.
While it may be a little early to talk about who some of the most improved guys are, I want to talk about these two players because, since last season, they’ve stepped up their game to the next level.
Georgia’s loaded and has one deep team, we all know that but these three guys have been here for a long time, and it’s their time to shine. Well, they’ve done that through the first four weeks, and I’m impressed.
Those two players are Tae Crowder and Brian Herrien. Yes, I’ve put Herrien in there because I wasn’t the biggest fan of his last season, but now I see what he brings to the table and how he’s improved leaps and bounds from last year.
Other guys have gotten better, but these two have been crucial for the four wins, and that’s why I chose them.
Tae Crowder
Crowder has had quite the run at Georgia. He came here as a running back and then made the flip to inside linebacker.
This year, he’s the No. 5 leading tackler on the team as he’s recorded 17 total tackles, eight solo, and nine assists. Crowder also has two tackles for loss and one quarterback hurry as well.
After four games last year, he had nine total tackles, one solo, and eight assists along with .5 tackle for loss, two quarterback hurries and an interception against Missouri. So already he’s doubled his stats from last year to now, at least through the first four matchups.
Crowder’s most significant game this year was the Notre Dame game as he had nine total tackles against the Fighting Irish. Four of those were solo tackles. He also had one of Georgia’s three tackles for loss against Notre Dame and recorded his quarterback hurry too.
When I say he flew all over the field, he did. I kept saying dang there is Crowder again. It seems to be clicking on the field for him, and it’s good to see. As an inside linebacker, he’s expected to be one of the leaders on the team.
Crowder commanded the defense against the Irish, and his hard work is paying off. He’s one of the guys that turned his career around and didn’t get stuck down the depth chart. I also have to give Crowder credit because he didn’t run or try to transfer when being a running back at Georgia didn’t pan out. Instead, he asked how he could help, and they made the move.
Georgia’s blessed to have a guy like Crowder on this team, and he’s getting better the more time he sees on the field. At one point I thought he might lose his job, but it looks like he’s fighting off those young bucks and holding his own.
Brian Herrien
While some people might think it’s not okay to put Herrien on this list, I think he’s a perfect person to be on it. Last season, I wasn’t impressed by him. He had a hard time cutting up the field, and he didn’t always run with his head up, and he got swallowed up a good bit.
Now it’s like I’m looking at a different running back. Herrien runs with power and is showing off his speed as well. He looks downfield more and like he’s added some muscle to his frame.
Through four games, Herrien’s toted the rock 29 times for 163 yards, three touchdowns, and averages 5.6 yards a carry. He also has three catches for 20 yards as well.
After four games last year, he had 17 carries for 100 yards and one touchdown. He averaged 5.8 yards per carry and also had four catches for 23 yards as well.
While he may have averaged more through the first four games last year, Herrien’s got 63 more yards under his belt already. He’s the second back behind D’Andre Swift and takes that role seriously.
This year he helped out with 65 yards against Vanderbilt and 42 against the Fighting Irish. Herrien isn’t putting up numbers like Swift, but he’s gotten a ton better. I’m glad he decided to stay instead of transferring out because it means he wants to play for Georgia because he loves it here.
I’m surprised he’s held his own with young bucks like Zamir White and James Cook looming behind him. It could still be early, but I would love to see Herrien succeed this season and have a blow out year. He’s on the right track too.
These two guys have jumped leaps and bounds from last year to now, and they’re only going to get better. Herrien and Crowder are guys that didn’t quit on this team even when adversity hit them, and that’s the biggest reason they’re the two most improved players.