Sony Michel gaining appreciation for predecessors

ATHENS, Ga. (TNS) — Georgia sophomore tailback Sony Michel has a little less tread on his tires than he did two weeks ago.

Since Nick Chubb’s season-ending knee injury on the opening play of the Oct. 10 loss at Tennessee, the 5-foot-11, 212-pound Michel made 50 combined rushes against the Volunteers and Missouri. He had only 39 carries through the first five games and had 64 rushes throughout his freshman season.

Michel also is having to run more between the tackles than ever before, so is he feeling it afterward?

“Oh, yeah,” Michel said with a smile. “Any time you run inside in an SEC game, you’re going to get some pounding and some wear and tear.”

Michel’s durability the second half of the season could help determine whether the Bulldogs can challenge for the Eastern Division title or wind up in a bowl game at a chilly locale. Georgia (5-2, 3-2) is off this week before facing East-leading Florida (6-1, 4-1) in Jacksonville.

After rushing 24 times for 145 yards at Tennessee, Michel spent last week dealing with a groin injury that was not publicized. He experienced tightness during the first half of Saturday night’s 9-6 win over Missouri and went to the locker room before returning to complete a 26-carry, 87-yard performance.

“We weren’t 100-percent sure how that would go, but he came through with that very well,” Bulldogs coach Mark Richt said. “Now we’ve got a couple of weeks to where he can rest and get in a position where he’s as healthy as possible and still have that balance of being prepared as well.”

Redshirt junior Keith Marshall and junior Brendan Douglas are Michel’s primary backups, with Marshall collecting 24 yards on five carries against the Tigers and Douglas gaining 24 on nine. Senior fullback Quayvon Hicks has practiced some at tailback in case the position thins further.

Michel’s 89 rushes this season have yielded 508 yards and 5.7 yards per carry, but he’s no longer entering games after Chubb has helped wear down a defense. A year ago, he was coming in after Todd Gurley and Chubb had taken turns plowing through foes.

“It’s something I have prepared for,” Michel said. “Every back is ready for this opportunity, and if I go down the next guy will be prepared. They were all great backs who came before me, and just watching them and then going in and trying to do the same thing is tough.”

Freshmen aplenty

A staggering 13 true freshman defenders played for Georgia in Saturday night’s win, including the starting trio of tackle Trenton Thompson, nose DaQuan Hawkins and cornerback Rico McGraw. Defensive back Johnathan Abram had four tackles and a tackle for loss, while linebacker Natrez Patrick had three tackles.

“Injuries are a part of it, and we know guys can’t get better without playing,” Richt said. “It’s a little bit twofold, because you can’t just play one deep in our league. You’ve got to keep developing your younger players and letting them gain confidence, because you can only go so far getting better in practice.

“Sooner or later, you’ve got to get in a game and do it.”