The hope is that Nate Frazier could come back this week for Georgia against Auburn, and if he does it couldn't come at a better time.
The junior running back could be back in the lineup when Georgia hosts Auburn on Saturday as he was not listed on the latest injury report issued by the team. That was the case all last week before he didn't play against Alabama, but this week could be different.
Georgia has been thin at running back recently, but they got two huge games from junior Dwight Phillips Jr. and sophomore Bo Walker in its win over Alabama Saturday as UGA rushed for 206 yards as a team against the Tide.
Bringing Frazier back to the mix would give this team a much-needed additional runner, and a dangerous one, at that.
Nate Frazier's return would be impeccable timing for Georgia
Phillips gashed the Crimson Tide for 120 yards on 17 carries which was everything Georgia could have asked for while missing their top two running backs. Phillips said Frazier was “very proud” of him after the game.
It’s hard to watch that game and not think about what Frazier and Phillips could do together when both are healthy. Running back Chauncey Bowens is likely out for an extended period of time, so this is going to be Georgia’s backfield tandem going forwar with Walker and freshman Nick Peal in auxiliary roles.
Frazier was injured in Georgia’s Week 3 win against Arkansas. He returned two weeks later for the second half against Vanderbilt, but took just two carries for nine yards.
His return from a painful rib injury is no guarantee just because he isn't on the injury report. He wasn’t on it last week either, but was apparently held out just before kickoff which left him visibly emotional.
Frazier was running at a high level before he got injured. The rare burst he showed his first two seasons was being paired with a new sense of physicality. Frazier was running hard and inviting contact, while still looking every bit like the speedster he’s been throughout his career.
That style should pair well with Phillips, a smaller back who might not be built to carry a 20+ touch per game workload, but has the explosiveness to score whenever he gets in space. If Frazier and Phillips can be healthy at the same time, this could be a dangerous duo.
The most important thing for Georgia is its offensive line play. That group is playing so well that the Bulldogs look poised to have a top rushing attack in the SEC no matter who is back there.
The Bulldogs currently average 211.8 rushing yards per game which is the fourth-most in the SEC. Their 6.3 yards per carry is No. 1 in the SEC and tied for first in the country.
Georgia’s offensive line imposed its will on Alabama, and that’s probably the best defense it’ll get for the rest of the regular season. Get ready for some more swaths of grass for these backs.
It probably spells trouble for the Auburn Tigers this week.
"I think the offensive line has done a really, really good job of: one, protecting them. Two, creating a really physical advantage in the run game all year,” Auburn head coach Alex Golesh said of Georgia’s offensive line.
Auburn has allowed the conference’s third-most rushing yards per game at 149, and star linebacker Xavier Atkins is suspended for the game. But Smart still gave defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin’s defense credit.
“They can fly to the ball,” he said. “They play really hard. They attack the ball. They blitz. They come after you. They're aggressive.”
This game could be our first look at a Frazier/Phillips tandem with Bowens out for the year. Don’t forget about Walker, either. Georgia has had some outstanding running back duos under Kirby Smart– Nick Chubb/Sony Michel, D’Andre Swift/Elijah Holyfield, James Cook/Zamir White, etc.
This could very well be another one-- and it could be up there for the best duo in the country.
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