With the redshirt junior A.J. Turman set to transfer and junior Nick Chubb still recovering from the knee injury he sustained last season as well as senior Brendan Douglas coming off of wrist surgery, UGA is precariously thin at running back for spring. It is up to Sony Michel and Tae Crowder to shoulder the load.
 
 
Michel rushed for over 1,161 yards and 8 touchdowns as a sophomore last year, but can redshirt freshman Tae Crowder step up to the plate and make some noise this spring?
 
 
Crowder has yet to see any playing time in a game, but with several Bulldog running backs nursing their wounds, he is getting the opportunity to get a significant number of reps at the tailback spot this spring. Here is what Georgia’s head coach Kirby Smart had to say on Crowder and how he has progressed through spring practice so far:
 
 
“He’s improving. He’s not a naturally instinctive runner right now. I think the more he gets to carry the ball, the better he gets at it. He’s a guy that’s got to show more toughness. He’s got to run it up in there and stick it in there to help us because we certainly have a depth problem there.”
 
 
Of course, fans and media have gotten to witness Nick Chubb taking some reps and do some drills to the side, and Coach Smart has also reported that number 27 is ahead of schedule as far as his rehab goes; however, just being a little over 5 months since he had surgery, Chubb is not quite yet ready to get hit. And there is still the question of whether or not he will be ready by the opening game against North Carolina this fall. Even if he is cleared to play, will he be 100%?
 
 
Douglas’ wrist injury; although requiring surgery to repair, should allow him to be back for full participation during summer workouts and for fall camp. Georgia does get help at tailback when 2015 signee, running back Elijah Holyfield, joins the team this summer along with the other freshmen.