Todd Gurley (2014 Upcoming Season)

by Kavin Caruso

Todd Gurley is one of the elite running backs in college football today. His speed is exceptionally fast and he has a big body to carry his weight over. One thing Georgia needs this season is for Todd Gurley to be healthy and injury free. Todd Gurley is reminding lots of fans in Dawg Nation of the great Herschel Walker's speed and his power to bulldoze the defenders.

If the Bulldogs want to win the National Championship for the first time since 1980, they need not just Gurley but the other offensive weapons to be healthy and injury free. Malcolm Mitchell is going to return this season. Mitchell tore his ACL last year in the first game of the season at Clemson. Senior QBHutsonMason will be the leader on the offense. He is going to replace Aaron Murray, who was drafted by the KC Chiefs this year. Mason is a good thrower. He can make some big time throws and will make the defenders pay.

Todd Gurley came to Georgia in 2012, and made an instant success that season, but also in the first game against Buffalo. In his first ever college game, Todd Gurley scored his first touchdown on a 10 yard run that put the Bulldogs on the board first. He even ran for 100 yards on a kickoff to score another touchdown. So yeah, he made his first impression big on the first game at UGA. He was dynamite in 2012, but last season, injuries kept nagging him. He still had a good season. He even helped Georgia beat Florida for the 3rd straight season. He scored a touchdown in that game. Georgia won the SEC East division that season. I pretty say if it wasn't for him playing for the Bulldogs that year, I don't think we would've won the division and had a chance against Alabama. In 2012, he had 1,385 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns. In the receiving department, 16 receptions for 117 yards, but no touchdowns.

Last season, he was injured part of the season. He had 989 rushing yards, with 10 touchdowns. He had 6 receiving touchdowns, 441 receiving yards, and 37 receptions. That's pretty good for someone that missed part of the season. His other partner, Keith Marshall also missed part of the season because of injuries. In 2013, Georgia missed some opportunities in winning the SEC East division. One of the bright things that happened last season was, Georgia beating Florida for the 3rd straight season. The Bulldogs haven't done that since 1987-1989. Georgia came back and beat Tennessee in OT; also Georgia beat LSU in a close one in Athens. Both Marshall and Gurley were buddies back home in North Carolina.

In 2014, Georgia will be adding 2 new running backs, Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. The Bulldogs start the season in Athens on Aug 30, they play Clemson Tigers. Last season, Georgia almost beat the Tigers in Clemson. Things will be different for the Bulldogs. One main thing will be different, new defensive coordinator. The new defensive coordinator is Jeremy Pruitt. He came from FSU, the team that won the National Championship last season. I think this season; Georgia will be more mature and ready to win over those tough teams like Clemson, Auburn, and Missouri. If it wasn't for Keith Marshall signing to Georgia, Todd Gurley might not have come to the Bulldogs.