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Kirby Smart pleased with Nate Frazier's response to critical fumble in loss to Alabama

On3 imageby: Jake Rowe4 hours agoJakeMRowe
Nate Frazier Georgia
Georgia running back Nate Frazier (3) runs out of bounds during overtime of a college football game between Tennessee and Georgia at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Sept. 13, 2025.

Just two weeks after serving as Georgia’s leading rusher and standing out in Georgia’s 44-41 overtime win over Tennessee, Nate Frazier touched the football just four times in the Bulldogs’ first loss to Alabama. Losing his second fumble of the season in the second quarter of that game was the reason for the lack of opportunities.

Frazier had piled up 30 rushing yards before being hit by Alabama safety Bray Hubbard and putting the ball on the ground. From that point on, Georgia rolled with Chauncey Bowens, Josh McCray, Dwight Phillips, and Cash Jones at tailback.

Now that the Bulldogs have practiced a couple of times ahead of their homecoming matchup with Kentucky (12 p.m. ET on ESPN), Georgia head coach Kirby Smart has gotten a chance to see Frazier’s response. Thus far, he likes what he has seen.

“He’s gotta play with confidence, and it comes with habits,” Smart said on the SEC coaches’ teleconference on Wednesday. “And we’re gonna keep working on those with him, but he’s been great. He works really hard and has a positive attitude, and that’s what you look for in a teammate.”

The 10th-year head coach said on Monday that Frazier’s response immediately following the fumble was also pleasing. He noted the sophomore tailback’s engagement and energy level on the sideline as he supported a teammate’s career performance.

Bowens toted the football 12 times for 119 yards and a touchdown, adding four catches for 22 yards in the heartbreaking loss. Frazier was there every step of the way, cheering for his position mate and fellow member of Georgia’s 2024 recruiting class.

It’s not a new issue for Frazier, who lost a pair of fumbles last season and coughed up a couple more that the Bulldogs recovered. When he went through a dry spell in terms of touches during the middle portion of his freshman season, ball security was an issue for Frazier on the practice field.

The California native’s first fumble of the 2025 season came against Austin Peay on Georgia’s first possession. It came at the end of a nine-yard rune. He played some of his best football after that. Between his fumbles against the Governors and Crimson Tide, Frazier logged 30 carries for 161 yards and a pair of touchdowns. That includes a 21-yard run to set up the Bulldogs’ game-winning overtime score on Rocky Top.

There was little to no buzz during preseason camp about Frazier struggling to hold on to the ball. He didn’t have an issue with it in the week one win over Marshall. Having played the position throughout high school and college to this point, the importance of securing the football isn’t lost on him. In order to maintain his spot as a key member of what’s developing into a formidable Bulldog backfield, he must get the issue under control, and soon.

“There’s not a week that we go out there that we don’t talk about, emphasize turnovers, ball security, and those things,” Smart said. “I don’t think there’s a team in the country that’s not repping and practicing ball security. So it’s something that he’s gotta overcome.”

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