Georgia’s backfield ranked as the best in college football

Nick Chubb and Sony Michel have triggered Georgia being selected as the best backfield in the country.

Curtis Compton/AJC

Posted 3 years ago

Welcome to your one-stop shop for Georgia football news and takes every Monday through Friday. Today, we look at Jacob Eason’s chances to reach 3,000 yards passing, Heisman odds for a couple of Bulldogs and UGA’s backfield ranking the best in college football.

Georgia backs on top

Although there’s a lot of competition for this title in both the SEC and throughout the country, at least one publication thinks Georgia’s stable of tailbacks is the best backfield in college football.

David Kenyon of Bleacher Report ranked the top 25 backfields in college football, and the Bulldogs came away with the No. 1 spot. The biggest reason for the high ranking is the strength of Georgia’s two-headed monster, Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. But Kenyon also put Georgia first in the nation because of its incredible depth, as backups Brian Herrien, Elijah Holyfield and D’Andre Swift all have potential star power in their own right.

The breakdown: Chubb deserves the plurality of carries, and the Bulldogs will be happy to oblige. However, they needn’t overwork the senior. Michel should receive double-digit touches per game, and Herrien proved his merit last season. Holyfield might have a small role, though Swift is probably a year away from notable contributions.

Why they’re here: Two years ago, Chubb was a leading contender for the Heisman Trophy before an injury derailed his pursuit. Michel, a steady backup throughout his career, stepped in and crested the 1,000-yard mark. And then when he missed time in 2016, Herrien averaged 6.8 yards over a five-game sample. When one player goes down, Georgia has a star ready to take over.

All Bulldogs fans know the immense amount of talent Georgia has spread throughout its crew of tailbacks. That was never in question. What is in question is whether the offensive line can get enough of a push to create some running lanes for these backs. It didn’t last season, rendering Chubb and Michel shells of themselves. If that changes this season, I have little doubt those two and that group of talented backups can live up to this top ranking.

Anyways, this as good an excuse as any to watch some highlights of UGA’s dynamic duo. Enjoy.

Jacob Eason among most likely SEC QBs to pass for 3,000 yards

Only two SEC quarterbacks surpassed the 3,000-yard passing mark last season, but with a deeper, more experienced crop in 2017, that number should grow. Edward Aschoff of ESPN looked at SEC QBs with the potential to surpass 3,000 yards through the air and ranked Georgia’s Jacob Eason as the fourth-most likely to hit that mark.

4. Jacob Eason, Georgia: Eason didn’t come out of the gate as strong as many thought he would as a true freshman, but he still threw for 2,430 yards. Wide receiver and offensive line are still two areas with question marks for the Bulldogs, but Eason is getting much more comfortable with Jim Chaney’s offense. And if he makes better decisions with the ball — as he should — 3,000 yards should be in his future.

Heisman odds for a few Bulldogs

Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook updated its Heisman Trophy odds for 2017, and a few Bulldogs are included. Chubb comes off at 25-1 odds, 14th best in the country, and Eason stacks up at 100-1, tied for 29th best, with a slew of other players.