According to running backs coach Bryan McClendon, Taylor Maxey played only about 20 snaps in his debut as a fullback for Georgia this past Saturday. But it could be argued that the senior walkon had an impact on some of the most crucial plays in the Bulldogs’ 45-21 victory over Clemson.
Twice in the fourth quarter Maxey managed to put safeties on the ground and another time time he sealed the running lane to spring tailbacks Todd Gurley and Nick Chubb on long runs off toss sweeps. Georgia scored three four-quarter touchdowns on toss sweeps right with Maxey serving as lead blocker on each play.
“He played a pretty good game,” McClendon said of Maxey. “Obviously he still has a lot of stuff he needs to improve on. But Maxey is a guy that you always have faith in that he’ll know what to do and how to do it. Maxey did a really good job. … He came through for us.”
Maxey is yet another in a long line of walkon fullbacks for Georgia. He came from nearby North Oconee High School in 2011 and played scout-team linebacker his first two years before getting switched to fullback in the spring of 2013. Maxey won the starting job in preseason camp as Georgia’s fullback after junior Merritt Hall was medically disqualified due to chronic concussions in early August.
“He’s a guy who wasn’t afraid to hit somebody,” offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said. “We’re always looking for those guys. He’s been kind of learning the position for two years and then the opportunity presented itself when Merritt had to be DQ’d and Quayvon having to play some tight end. He’s done a nice job and I expect him to continue to do that the whole year.”
It didn’t start out great. Maxey whiffed on a block on a lead play early in the game and failed to stop his man on a toss sweep later in the first half. Maxey was also running interference for Gurley on his 104-yard kickoff return, though he mostly just got in Gurley’s way on the touchdown run.
“Maxey did a really good job,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said. “He’s a tough kid. He knows what to do and he’s willing and able to do it. There are things, obviously, everybody needs to get better at. But he came through for us, no doubt.”
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