Nobody seemed genuinely more thrilled to win an SEC Championship on Dec. 7 than running back Trevor Etienne.
In an interview space not far from the Georgia football locker room in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the Florida transfer talked about it after scoring the game-winning touchdown run in overtime to beat Texas after two losing seasons with the Gators.
“I appreciate this moment,” he said. “Just proud of the guys and proud of this team. …Words can’t explain how much I wanted to win this.”
Five and a half weeks later, Etienne announced Tuesday night that’s he’s declaring for the NFL Draft.
His Instagram graphic ended with his name and the words “SEC Champion.”
So where do the Bulldogs go from here with the running game after losing Etienne who led the Bulldogs with 60.9 rushing yards per game and nine rushing touchdowns?
Here’s a look:
Nate Frazier averaged 5.04 yards per carry last season, just ahead of Etienne’s 4.99.
With Etienne sidelined by a rib injury, the freshman rushed for 68 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries against Tennessee, 136 on 21 against UMass and 50 on 11 against Georgia Tech.
He scored five of his eight touchdowns during that stretch.
“No matter how many times I get the ball, whenever I get the ball in my hands, I’m just thankful to get the ball in my hands,” Frazier said before the Sugar Bowl.
Fraizer said sharing the load with Etienne “keeps our body a little bit healthier,” but he looks like the featured back in 2025 after leading the team in rushing in his rookie year with 671 yards.
Despite bringing back four offensive line starters, Georgia’s running game took a big step back this season.
The Bulldogs ranked 102nd nationally in rushing at 124.4 yards per game. That ranked 15th in the SEC ahead of only LSU.
“We got to find ways to move the ball on the ground,” offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said before the Sugar Bowl. “I think we’ve got a good offensive line that I think we’re the most healthy that we’ve been at offensive line, tight end, running backs. So, I think that’s gonna help us be able to run the ball and then a commitment to the run. We got to be committed to the run, whether things are going good or things are going bad, to still run that ball to help us be balanced and run and pass.”
Georgia was held to 62 rushing yards on 29 carries against Notre Dame in a 23-10 loss.
Georgia lost four offensive line starters after the season, but bring back offensive linemen with starting experience in Earnest Greene, Micah Morris, Monroe Freeling and Drew Bobo.
Georgia’s third leading returning rusher isn’t a running back.
It’s wide receiver Dillon Bell who has rushed for 264 yards and 3 touchdowns on 34 carries.
The 6-foot-1, 210-pound senior averaged 11.9 yards a carry this past season, but saw his touches out of the backfield drop from 25 to 9.
“He came in as a raw, talented running back, you know, and we knew he could be a wide out from being here at camp,” coach Kirby Smart said in mid-October. “He’s brought toughness. He’s brought a very different skill set, a catch and run skill set, hard to tackle skill set. He’s very intelligent, and he’s made us a better team and program.”
Georgia’s most dependable running backs currently on the roster are Frazier and Cash Jones, the pass-catching threat who scored a touchdown in the Sugar Bowl, and is returning for a fifth college season.
It didn’t help that two players Georgia was counting on were sidelined much of the year due to injury.
Branson Robinson was limited to six games this season, rushing for 73 yards and 3 touchdowns on 25 carries. Roderick Robinson played in just two games, rushing four times for 3 yards.
Chauncey Bowens rushed for 58 yards on 16 carries and Dwight Phillips 33 yards on six carries and a touchdown as freshmen.
Georgia only signed one running back in this class, Bo Walker.
The 5-foot-10, 220-pounder from Ellenwood played his senior season at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee. He totaled 681 yards and 3 touchdowns on 75 carries and six catches.
“The team sort of loves him already,” running backs coach Josh Crawford said of the four-star prospect. “Bo’s got a great attitude, works hard every day. Loves the game so we’re excited that he’s here.”
The spring transfer portal window is April 16-25.
Georgia will certainly be shopping for upgrades at running back and any position really.
“You’re constantly looking at every position,” Bobo said before the Sugar Bowl. “The way it’s working now, you’re trying to create competition. …Anytime you can improve your room, whether it’s quarterback, receiver, running back. When I say improve, it’s bringing in competition and that’s what Coach Smart has built this program on is competition.”
