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Georgia football 2025 running backs preview
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- Georgia football 2025 running backs preview
The Georgia Bulldogs a little over half of their rushing production (51.7%) from last season. Georgia 's second-leading rusher, running back Trevor Etienne , was selected in the fourth round of 2025 NFL draft.
Georgia rushed for just 124.4 yards per game last season, which ranked second-to-last in the SEC. Georgia was able to establish the run twice against Texas , who had one of the top defenses in the country, but overall it was a disappointing season for the Georgia run game. The Dawgs lost four of their five starting offensive linemen from a season ago, so Georgia has had to re-tool up front.
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In 2025, Georgia's rushing attack will be even more crucial. The Bulldogs need to have a balanced attack for projected first-year starter Gunner Stockton .
The Bulldogs return nearly 1,000 yards in rushing production from 2024. Projected starting running back Nate Frazier , a third-team All-SEC pick , figures to be Georgia's lead back this fall. Frazier posted 671 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns on 133 carries in 2025.
Georgia's second leading returning rusher is actually wide receiver Dillon Bell , who had nine carries for 107 yards and a touchdown in 2024. Bell could play a larger role for Georgia's backfield in 2025 like he did in 2023.
The Bulldogs return running back Cash Jones , but Jones was more effective as a pass catcher. In 2024, Jones was UGA's top receiving running back with 24 receptions for 275 yards and four touchdowns. As a freshman, Nate Frazier posted 12 receptions for 85 yards. We project Frazier's receiving production to significantly improve in 2025.
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Georgia had a busy spring
Illinois Fighting Illini running back Josh McCray (6) runs for the touchdown against the South Carolina Gamecocks
This spring, Georgia running back Branson Robinson (25 carries for 73 yards and three touchdowns) transferred to Georgia State in the spring after an injury-filled 2024 season. Robinson's power running will be missed, but he struggled to stay healthy during his time at UGA.
To solidify the backfield, Georgia added Illinois transfer Josh McCray , who has missed the start of fall camp. McCray posted a team-high 117 carries, 609 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns (No. 9 in the Big Ten/tied) in 2024. The 6-foot-1, 235-pound bruiser has a physical running style and is tough to bring down on first contact. McCray does not have elite speed, but runs with toughness and is excellent in between the tackles.
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He posted 114 rushing yards on 13 carries and two rushing touchdowns in Illinois' bowl win over South Carolina last season. McCray, a senior, finished 2024 with 13 receptions for 116 yards and a touchdown. He's more of a rushing threat than a pass catcher, but still has to be accounted for in the passing game.
Who else factors in at running back for Georgia?
Georgia returns running back Roderick Robinson (four carries for three yards), who missed almost the entire year with an injury. As a true freshman in 2023, Robinson recorded 24 carries for 196 yards and two touchdowns. If healthy, Robinson could be UGA's No. 2 running back.
UGA also returns redshirt freshman Chauncey Bowers (16 carries for 58 yards) and sophomore Dwight Phillips (six carries for 33 yards and a touchdown). Lastly, Georgia signed three-star running back Bo Walker (No. 48 running back in the country).
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Another factor for the running game is quarterback Gunner Stockton, who has flashed mobility. He posted a negative rushing total in 2024, but the eye test shows he is a little more mobile than Carson Beck . Still, we don't expect to see a ton of designed quarterback runs for Stockton, but he could contribute positively to the rushing attack.
This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: Georgia Bulldogs football running backs 2025 position preview
