Through two weeks, Georgia running back Zamir White has validated some of the hype surrounding the redshirt freshman running back.

In the Vanderbilt game, he rushed for 51 yards on just 5 carries. He followed that up with a 72-yard day on 8 carries against Murray State. His running style has some serious Nick Chubb vibes, as he doesn’t look afraid to plow through defenders.

While the competition hasn’t exactly been tough, the fact that White hasn’t been hesitant or worried about his surgically repaired knees should be seen as a positive start for the redshirt freshman running back.

But per Kirby Smart, White is only just starting to show what he can really do.

“He looks more and more confident. I think the initial getting the ball, reading his keys, and the burst and acceleration is starting to come back,” Smart said on the weekly SEC coaches teleconference call.  “The acceleration through contact, I thought we saw a little bit last week, and he continues to grow with that. That allows him to improve and get better.”

Related: Kirby Smart on what comes next after Zamir White debut: ‘The sky’s the limit’

Smart has noted that running the ball hasn’t been the concern with White. The Georgia head coach has brought up White’s ball security and pass protection as something he wants to see White get better at as he becomes healthier.

White did have a fumble in the Vanderbilt game, as a Commodore defender chased White down and popped the ball out from behind. But Smart did notice that White has improved as a pass blocker. After the Murray State win, Smart mentioned how proud he was of White when he picked up a blitzing backer in the A gap and smacked him right in the jaw.”

White scored his first career touchdown in the Murray State win. When White got to the sideline — after being congratulated by a number of teammates — junior D’Andre Swift came up to him and told him it was going to be the first of many scores.

Related: How D’Andre Swift is ‘trying to be the best running back in college football’

And to hear Smart describe White’s well-known work ethic, it’s easy to understand why that could be the case.

“Zamir is a self-motivated person,” Smart said. “He’s driven by the fact that he’s been through some tough injuries and he’s worked his tail off. He is a self-starter. He is motivated in and of himself. I don’t think he needs Brian Herrien or D’Andre Swift. I think that he’s a great kid that is motivated to do things well and he’s getting better each week.”

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