Photo by: Conor Dillon/UGAAA
Frazier Led Strong Performance By Freshman Backs
November 25, 2024 | Football
By Kyle Tatelbaum
Georgia Sports Communications
With starter Nate Frazier leading the way and Chauncey Bowens and Dwight Phillips, Jr., helping out off the bench, the Georgia ground attack in the No. 10-ranked Bulldogs' 59-21 win over UMass last Saturday was powered by a trio of freshman running backs who combined for 193 yards and three touchdowns.
Frazier, starting in place of injured junior Trevor Etienne for the second week in a row, had the best game of his young career. The 5-foot-10 and 210-pound back from Compton, Calif., ran the ball 21 times for 136 yards and three TDs — all career-highs. Bowens was second on the team with five carries for 31 yards, while Phillips added two carries for 15. Late in the game, another freshman, Wade Penn, saw the first action of his career and ran the ball three times for 15 yards.
In the absence of Etienne, Branson Robinson and Rodrick Robinson II due to injuries, the Bulldogs' offense has for much of the season had to rely on Frazier, redshirt junior Cash Jones and others to lead the rushing attack. Saturday's game against UMass was a prime example. Georgia finished with 550 yards of offense, with 208 yards coming on the ground.
"We were able to run the ball," coach Kirby Smart said after the win. "When you can run the ball efficiently and you can throw and convert third downs, you're going to be really good, and we were able to run the ball and control the line of scrimmage.
Etienne, a star transfer from Florida, missed the first game of the season, returned for eight games, and has not played since Nov. 11 after sustaining a rib injury at Ole Miss. Frazier has gotten the majority of the carries whenever Etienne has been on the sideline. Heading into this week's regular-season finale against Georgia Tech on Friday night at Sanford Stadium, Frazier has rushed for a team-high 537 yards and seven touchdowns on 112 carries. Etienne is second with 477 yards and seven scores on 95 attempts.
"It's been huge. He's very confident," Smart said of Frazier's play. "He's hitting the hole really hard, sometimes too fast, but he's a good running back and he's growing up fast. He's a kid that usually would be getting a few carries, and now he's our veteran back at this point."
Frazier played his strongest game in the red and black against the Minutemen, running the ball very decisively while surpassing 100 yards for the first time in his career while collecting his first multi-score game. After his breakout performance, Frazier now leads the SEC among freshmen in rushing touchdowns and is second to LSU running back Caden Durham in rushing yards.
"He's explosive. He makes really good cuts, really good reads and he runs the ball which is all you can ask for as an offensive lineman," offensive lineman Tate Ratledge said. "I love the way he runs. He runs hard, he runs physical. It's good to see out of him, especially as a freshman."
Led by the freshmen, Georgia recorded the most rushing yards since the Capital One Orange Bowl last season, where the team combined for 388 yards and five touchdowns.
"As a freshman, it's always difficult to come in and have to play such a big role," quarterback Carson Beck said of the young running backs. "We played (four) freshman backs today which is crazy. But with Etienne out and Cash not going every single play, you put a guy like Nate in there and he's been able to just ball whenever he's gotten his opportunity."
And there's a good chance Frazier and the rest of the freshmen will get plenty more opportunities against the Yellow Jackets.
Georgia Sports Communications
With starter Nate Frazier leading the way and Chauncey Bowens and Dwight Phillips, Jr., helping out off the bench, the Georgia ground attack in the No. 10-ranked Bulldogs' 59-21 win over UMass last Saturday was powered by a trio of freshman running backs who combined for 193 yards and three touchdowns.
Frazier, starting in place of injured junior Trevor Etienne for the second week in a row, had the best game of his young career. The 5-foot-10 and 210-pound back from Compton, Calif., ran the ball 21 times for 136 yards and three TDs — all career-highs. Bowens was second on the team with five carries for 31 yards, while Phillips added two carries for 15. Late in the game, another freshman, Wade Penn, saw the first action of his career and ran the ball three times for 15 yards.
In the absence of Etienne, Branson Robinson and Rodrick Robinson II due to injuries, the Bulldogs' offense has for much of the season had to rely on Frazier, redshirt junior Cash Jones and others to lead the rushing attack. Saturday's game against UMass was a prime example. Georgia finished with 550 yards of offense, with 208 yards coming on the ground.
"We were able to run the ball," coach Kirby Smart said after the win. "When you can run the ball efficiently and you can throw and convert third downs, you're going to be really good, and we were able to run the ball and control the line of scrimmage.
Etienne, a star transfer from Florida, missed the first game of the season, returned for eight games, and has not played since Nov. 11 after sustaining a rib injury at Ole Miss. Frazier has gotten the majority of the carries whenever Etienne has been on the sideline. Heading into this week's regular-season finale against Georgia Tech on Friday night at Sanford Stadium, Frazier has rushed for a team-high 537 yards and seven touchdowns on 112 carries. Etienne is second with 477 yards and seven scores on 95 attempts.
"It's been huge. He's very confident," Smart said of Frazier's play. "He's hitting the hole really hard, sometimes too fast, but he's a good running back and he's growing up fast. He's a kid that usually would be getting a few carries, and now he's our veteran back at this point."
Frazier played his strongest game in the red and black against the Minutemen, running the ball very decisively while surpassing 100 yards for the first time in his career while collecting his first multi-score game. After his breakout performance, Frazier now leads the SEC among freshmen in rushing touchdowns and is second to LSU running back Caden Durham in rushing yards.
"He's explosive. He makes really good cuts, really good reads and he runs the ball which is all you can ask for as an offensive lineman," offensive lineman Tate Ratledge said. "I love the way he runs. He runs hard, he runs physical. It's good to see out of him, especially as a freshman."
Led by the freshmen, Georgia recorded the most rushing yards since the Capital One Orange Bowl last season, where the team combined for 388 yards and five touchdowns.
"As a freshman, it's always difficult to come in and have to play such a big role," quarterback Carson Beck said of the young running backs. "We played (four) freshman backs today which is crazy. But with Etienne out and Cash not going every single play, you put a guy like Nate in there and he's been able to just ball whenever he's gotten his opportunity."
And there's a good chance Frazier and the rest of the freshmen will get plenty more opportunities against the Yellow Jackets.
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