Kirby Smart evaluates where Nate Frazier, Georgia RBs stand entering season

As part of the offensive regression last season at Georgia, the Bulldogs’ run game also fell off for some of their worst rushing numbers this century and certainly of the past decade. That has put an emphasis on their backfield again this fall in Athens.

Smart spoke on Georgia’s running backs to this point of fall camp, having had its first scrimmage over the weekend, on Tuesday. He likes what he has seen from that room, with a continued emphasis on them staying healthy so they can all continue to develop coming into the season.

“At running back? Pleased with where those guys are. Had scrimmages where we got to tackle live. All those guys continue to compete,” Smart said. “The biggest thing is staying healthy so we can develop depth at that position.”

In 2024, Georgia rushed for just 124.4 yards per game, which was its lowest average since it ran for just 107.4 per game back in 1993. That’s far fewer than they’ve been used to in the run game at UGA, as the Bulldogs had posted 204.6 rushing yards per game in the previous eight seasons under Smart.

Now, coming into 2025, Georgia returns running back Nate Frazier as its leading rusher from last season, when he ran for 671 yards, at 51.6 per game and 5.0 per attempt, and eight touchdowns as a true freshman ahead of only RB Trevor Etienne (631 yards, nine touchdowns.) They also bring back running backs Chauncey Bowens (16 carries, 58 yards), Dwight Phillips Jr. (6 carries, 33 yards, TD), Cash Jones (14 carries, 27 yards, TD), Wade Penn (3 carries, 15 yards), and Roderick Robinson (4 carries, 3 yards.) The Bulldogs then brought in RB Josh McCray (Illinois), a Top 20 running back in the portal per On3, after rushing for 609 yards and 10 touchdowns last season for the Fighting Illini, as a transfer.

Most notably, Frazier is likely to be among Georgia’s lead backs moving forward as he comes into his sophomore season. Smart expects him to continue trending that way, too, based on what he has learned and how his game has grown in his first offseason.

“His knowledge and pickups, third-down pass pro, knowing when I can get in, when I can get out, when I have to stay in and protect, how I protect? The knowledge and understanding of that and not, you know, having to rely on the quarterback to tell him? That’s big,” Smart said. “His confidence in his run and his ability to give effort and conditioning level is much better than he was as a freshman.”

Georgia has reworked its offensive personnel to get back to what it had been doing on that side of the ball. That starts with the ground game, though, with the Bulldogs maybe having the back to do it again this season.