Georgia Football: Making a case for Kenny McIntosh

Georgia football running back Kenny McIntosh needs more touches.

In limited playing time Kenny McIntosh was able to show, once again, he is a weapon for Georgia football. The 6-1 210 running back from Fort Lauderdale, FL. is one of the most elusive running backs in the nation. His short-area quickness is matched by few and he is one of the absolute best kick returners in college football.

During the season McIntosh dealt with an ankle injury but was still able to carry the ball 47 times for 251 yards, score one touchdown, and averaged 5.3 yards per carry. He also caught ten passes for another 111 yards for a total of 362 yards and an average of 6.4 yards every time he touched the ball. This dynamic running back is champing at the bit for a larger role.

According to Secstatcat.com, McIntosh led Georgia football in broken tackle percentage this season. He caused 26 defenders to miss tackles on him in 47 carries or 55.32 percent of the time McIntosh was carrying the ball. He was also third on the team in explosive rate. McIntosh had eight explosive runs (ten yards or more) for an explosive rate of 17.02 percent.

McIntosh is not just a dynamic running back, but a dynamic returner as well. He averaged 36.3 yards per kick return on six kick returns this season. His ability to give Georgia football’s offense great field position helped a ton early in the season when the offense was struggling with inconsistent quarterback play.

Not only can McIntosh break tackles, make defenders miss, and explode down the field, he also doesn’t cough the ball up. He has touched the ball a combined 89 times and has yet to fumble.

It was on back to back dump-offs from JT Daniels to McIntosh that Georgia was able to move into field goal range for Jake Pod’s game-winning field goal in the Peach Bowl. Simply put when you need a play McIntosh can get it for you.

There is no doubt that McIntosh needs the ball in his hands more. This could be difficult with how deep Georgia is at running back, but you have to find a way. This past season Georgia started the season getting him some extra touches on kick returns. They very well could do that again in 2021. They could even get him involved more when Georgia uses 12 personnel.

If Zamir White decides to leave for the NFL that would allow McIntosh to move up the depth chart and become more involved in the offense. If White decides to come back it will be a little more difficult to expand his role. Hopefully, if that is the case McIntosh can be patient and wait one more year before becoming the number two running back in the rotation.

Regardless of where McIntosh lands in the pecking order, the simple fact is you have got to get this kid the ball more. With Todd Monken calling the plays and setting the tempo I expect Georgia to be able to run more plays per game in 2021 than they did in 2020 and that will take care of a portion of what it will take to keep all of Georgia football’s running backs happy.