Georgia football: Running backs compete to establish the pecking order for carries

Georgia football has four running backs competing to establish the early depth chart. One more back joins the running back stable later this year.

As always, Georgia football has a plethora of running backs on campus competing for playing time and carries. This spring features four running backs in competition, and coaches will likely split the group in half for the G-Day Game. Spring practices begin on Tuesday, Mar. 17.

RSo. – Zamir White

Perhaps a little underutilized last season, Zamir White is now almost two years removed from his last torn ACL. White is coming off a season where he rushed for 408 yards on 78 carries. However, 92 of those yards came in the Sugar Bowl win over Baylor. The bowl game was the first time for White as the feature back in Georgia’s offense with D’Andre Swift, Brian Herrien and James Cook all nursing injuries.

White is the kind of running back teams want carrying the biggest load of carries. He is big and physical. He does not seem satisfied on a carry if he doesn’t get to truck a defender. He is a mean and angry running back. White punishes defenders and wears them down.

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However, he does need to work on his vision. Baylor exposed him somewhat in that area and his vision may have been why he didn’t play too much in the regular season. His potential in Georgia’s offense hinges on him improving his vision and proving he isn’t dealing with any lingering effects of tearing two ACLs. If he proves both, White may runaway with the starting tailback spot.

Jr. – James Cook

From a possibly underutilized running back to an undoubtedly underutilized running back. The gross mismanagement of James Cook’s playing time is a big reason why James Coley was moved out of the offensive coordinator position (and eventually gone from the program entirely).

188 rushing yards, 132 receiving yards and 47 touches on offense is criminally low for Cook. He had more touches and more yards from scrimmage as a freshman. Why he didn’t receive more playing time in 2019 is a mystery that was hopefully solved with Georgia football hiring Todd Monken as offensive coordinator.

Cook, doesn’t have the size to be a featured tail back in the SEC, but his speed, athleticism and skill set is perfect for other featured roles. Cook is a great change-of-pace backup. He’s an excellent receiver out of the back field or in the slot. Two running back sets featuring him have a lot of potential. Between carries in the running game and targets in the passing game, Cook’s usage in Georgia’s offense should match that of whoever starts at tailback.

So. – Kenny McIntosh

In the little sample size of carries Kenny McIntosh had, he was really impressive. McIntosh only had 25 carries, but he gained 174 yards and scored twice. His 62-yard touchdown run against Arkansas State was the longest of any Georgia running back last season. McIntosh will continue surprising fans this spring by putting himself in the middle of the battle for playing time.

Fr. – Kendall Milton

The only player in the discussion without any college experience is early enrollee Kendall Milton. 247Sports Composite ranked the California native No. 53 overall in the 2020 class and as the No. 7 running back in the nation.

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Those rankings come with a lot of expectations to perform early, and Milton has all the tools to do so. He already has 215 lbs. on his 6-1.5 frame. Milton has speed, he has some power and even some agility. The best part is, he’s already on campus. Milton is already able to learn the playbook from coaches and teammates and able to work within Georgia’s conditioning program. When fall practices roll around, Milton will be in the middle of the competition for playing time.

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