No. 1 Running Back Recruit in College Suffers 2nd Torn ACL
In February, SB Nation proclaimed Georgia’s 2018 recruiting class as the second-best of all time based on 247 Sports’ composite rankings.
A big factor that went into the Bulldogs ranking — they trailed only Florida’s 2010 class — was running back Zamir White, the No. 1 running back and No. 15 player overall in the class.
White might one day become a great college player and live up to his status, but that won’t be in 2018. The freshman tore his left ACL Saturday and will miss the upcoming season.
It is White’s second torn ACL as he injured he other knee in November 2017 while in the midst of his high school team’s playoff run. He enrolled at Georgia in January and was limited during spring practice while recovering from that torn ACL.
Coach Kirby Smart said White’s injury to his left knee occurred on a non-contact play and he would undergo an MRI to confirm the severity.
“[White] was on cover, he was covering a punt,” Smart said. “It was a non-contact injury, there was nobody around. … It’s his left knee, his non-surgical knee. But I can’t tell you much more than that.”
A reporter then asked about White working on punt coverage and if that was unusual for someone who could have been the starting running back.
“You guys are amazing,” the coach responded. “Sony Michel was a first-round pick last year, he covered a punt, all right? Derrick Henry covered every punt at Alabama. I mean, why would you ask that? Is it unusual for him to be on punt? D’Andre Swift is a starter on punt.”
White rushed for 2,086 yards and 34 touchdowns as a senior at Scotland High School in North Carolina. He averaged a ridiculous 14.1 yards per carry during his senior season.
Trust the process & believe in the man above🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/wQYMFL2aZc
— Zamir White (@zeus1_34) March 25, 2018
Knee injuries have been a recurring theme for Georgia running backs in recent years.
In 2014, Todd Gurley suffered a torn ACL that ended his college career. One year later, Gurley’s replacement, Nick Chubb, suffered a torn MCL, PCL and LCL, ending his sophomore season.
Both players would bounce back the following season and post 1,000-yard rushing season — Gurley as a rookie with the Los Angeles Rams and Chubb while splitting time in the backfield with Michel.
White was expected to help fill the void of Chubb and Michel, who were selected within the first two rounds of the NFL draft.
With White now seemingly out for the season, Swift will get the bulk of the touches out of the backfield. He ran for 618 yards last year as the team’s No. 3 running back.
The Bulldogs also have Elijah Holyfield, the son of former heavyweight boxing champ Evander Holyfield, at running back. The younger Holyfield rushed for 293 yards in his sophomore season in 2017.
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