Kirby Smart hasn’t just tasted excellence; he’s built a college football empire brick by brick, with national championships fueled by elite recruiting and the richest contract in the game. Georgia has reigned supreme. But the winds of change are howling in Athens. After a challenging 2024—offensive hiccups, a painful playoff exit against Notre Dame—the cracks from last season are looking like fault lines in 2025. Is Coach Smart’s seemingly untouchable Georgia finally showing vulnerability? Whispers from insiders speculate that the first domino in the Bulldogs’ potential decline from their dominant position may be on the verge of falling.

The Georgia Bulldogs, a program historically known for its prowess in the running game, are coming off a season that marked a departure from their usual standards, with no single running back eclipsing the 1,000-yard rushing mark last year. Consequently, according to Smart, their spring practice has seen adjustments to address this area. In a recent press conference, he noted, “I don’t know we have improved on it, but we have harped on it.” Echoing Smart’s words, Ryan Kerley of Dawg Post pointed out that the Bulldogs possess a “running back room that didn’t really make any improvements this offseason.” Kerley further elaborated on the current state of the running backs within the Bulldogs’ locker room.

“Trevor Etienne—he’s gone. He’s off to the NFL. He was supposed to be Georgia’s lead back, and he was for a good portion of the year last season. When they dipped into the transfer portal and got him from Florida, he was suspended in that first game, which threw a wrench in things at the beginning. Then he dealt with injuries throughout the year, dealt with rib injuries, so Nate Frazier ended up becoming RB2.” Etienne did have a productive season last year, carrying the ball 122 times for 609 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns on the ground. However, he is no longer with the team, and that’s just the beginning of the challenges facing the Bulldogs’ backfield.

Beyond Etienne, running back Roderick Robinson is coming off an encouraging freshman campaign. However, he is currently sidelined with an injury, as Kirby Smart stated, “Rod’s (Robinson) been dealing with a little bit of a toe injury.” While there’s optimism that he might be available for the season opener against Clemson, his current status remains uncertain.

Then there’s Branson Robinson, who is working his way back after suffering a torn patellar tendon last year during fall camp. However, Ryan Kerley paints a less optimistic picture regarding the recovery timelines for both Branson and Roderick, saying, “They’re still dealing with those injuries this spring. They’re both limited, not really practicing with the team; they are doing their own workouts. So Georgia’s running back situation doesn’t necessarily seem to have improved this offseason.”

So, where does this leave Kirby Smart’s running back room heading into the 2025 season?

According to Ryan Kerley, “There’s no one else on Georgia’s roster other than Nate Frazier who has at least 100 carries in their Georgia career.” Given these recent developments, it appears that Nate Frazier stands as the primary hope for the Bulldogs’ running game. The statistics speak for themselves: Frazier has accumulated 133 carries for 671 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns, while Roderick has just 4 career carries and Branson has 25. This stark reality undeniably places Kirby Smart in a precarious position regarding his running back depth.

On a more positive note, the team does boast promising young talents such as Chauncey Bowens, Dwight Phillips Jr., and Bo Walker, who are reportedly making positive impressions during spring practice. Even Kirby Smart has expressed confidence in their potential development. When addressing who else might step up alongside Nate Frazier this season, he commented, “Chauncey and Dwight have been great bright spots, in my opinion. They’re both getting better, and they are competing. Dwight has hit some big runs, Chauncey has made some really good cuts. Nate has been very consistent.”

However, the fact remains that a team that concluded the previous season averaging just 124.4 rushing yards per game understands that this figure falls significantly short of the program’s established standards. But the challenges facing the Georgia Bulldogs extend beyond just the running back position.

Another setback hits Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs

Georgia’s offense encountered headwinds in 2024, notably grappling with inconsistencies in their ground attack. Furthermore, the team’s defense experienced a dip in performance throughout the season, surrendering an average of 329.7 yards per game—marking their least stingy showing under Kirby Smart’s tenure and positioning them at 30th nationally in total defense. While this statistical output might be considered respectable for numerous programs across the country, for a perennial powerhouse like Georgia, it understandably sparked concerns. This marked the first occasion since 2020 that the Bulldogs had permitted opponents to gain over 300 yards per contest, signaling a regression from their traditionally dominant defensive standards.

Shutting down opposing running games had long been a hallmark of Georgia’s defensive identity, but last season saw them concede an average of 129.6 rushing yards per game—the highest such figure since 2018—placing them 37th nationally in this critical category. The team, renowned for its disciplined and suffocating defense, struggled to consistently prevent explosive plays, allowing a total of 23 plays of 30 or more yards. This particular performance metric placed them in a tie for 60th nationally alongside programs such as Florida State, Liberty, and Mississippi State. Even Ryan Kerley echoed this sentiment, stating, “The identity of Georgia, especially under Kirby Smart, has been stopping the run. Think about the 21 and 22 teams with all the guys they had on the defensive line.”

The absence of a consistently dominant defensive front arguably contributed to opponents finding more success on the ground, a relative rarity during the Bulldogs’ recent championship-winning seasons. And if we consider Ryan Kerley’s analysis, “Georgia has had a lot of good guys on the defensive line last year. They’re out the door. There’s a lot of production that’s going between Jalon Walker and Mykel Williams, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, and guys that are good in run stop. Couple other guys like Warren Brinson, Nazir Stackhouse. Georgia is going to have to replace a lot of that on the defensive line as well.” So there is not just a lack of experience in the RB room but also on the defensive line that Kirby Smart and his coaching staff will need to effectively address in the upcoming season.

That collection of defensive statistics isn’t exactly what an elite SEC defense aspires to keep, reflecting potential underlying issues such as breakdowns in coverage, missed tackles, or perhaps a temporary dip in game-changing talent at key positions. Fingers crossed Kirby Smart gets those Dawgs back to their bite-you-in-the-butt best this season!