With a yards per carry average of 9.7 yards and having scored four touchdowns in four games, it’s obvious why Georgia is going to miss Sony Michel as a tailback. But what’s less apparent is the blow the Bulldogs took on special teams when he was sidelined this past Saturday.
Michel served as a gunner on both Georgia’s punt-coverage and kickoff-coverage teams before he was sidelined for a few weeks with a shoulder injury running the football against Tennessee. Not coincidentally, the Bulldogs’ opponents are actually averaging negative yards (0.1 yards) on punt returns. Michel’s absence was also notable on kickoff returns, where Georgia struggled after his departure from the game Saturday.
“It’s not very often you can find a guy like that,” said Mike Ekeler, Georgia’s co-special teams coordinator. “He is probably our best special teams player overall. … But Sony is special.”
Michel is expected to be out three to six weeks with a shoulder injury. So the question now is who might be able to fill in while he’s out.
“We’ve got some candidates,” said Ekeler, who acknowledged Justin Scott-Wesley and Tramel Terry as possibilities. “There will be guys that step up. It’s just football. Unfortunately you get nicked up during the course of the year, and it’s next man up.”
Whoever it is, Ekeler admits he’ll have a difficult time duplicating Michel’s abilities.
“Well, he runs a 4.3, and he’s fearless,” Ekeler said. “And he plays like a senior. Those things are pretty good qualities. He’s tough. He loves the game. All of the above. … He’s one of those guys who will play this game, God willing, for a long, long time. He’s got the God-given ability, and he’s got the love of the game. You can’t teach it. Either you’ve got it or you don’t.”
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