It hasn’t been the season Todd Gurley envisioned for himself, or his team, for that matter. But the Bulldogs’ star running back is looking to put a positive spin on it these final two games.
Gurley stated in preseason camp that he hoped to rush for at least 1,000 yards and step up his role in the Bulldogs’ passing game. Of course, he also said hoped to play in the BCS Championship game.
The first part of that equation is still possible. In fact, despite missing the better part of four games because of injury, Gurley has 1,089 all-purpose yards. He has averaged 136.1 yards per game, 97.6 of those coming on the ground. He also has scored 11 touchdowns, seven rushing and four receiving.
But he has some work to do get 1,000 yards rushing. He has 781 entering Saturday’s game against Georgia Tech, meaning he’ll need 219 in Georgia’s final two games.
“Yeah, I looked at them,” Gurley said of the season’s statistics. “But it is what it is. I’m just trying to finish this season out strong and get these last two wins.”
Last year as a freshman, the 6-foot-1, 232-pound Gurley had 1,385 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns while playing in all 14 games. Gurley missed three games this season after spraining his left ankle with 10 minutes remaining in the second quarter in Georgia’s Sept. 28 win over LSU.
Gurley will be hard-pressed to pad his stats against Tech. The Yellow Jackets enter Saturday’s game allowing only 104 yards per game. That ranks 10th in the nation. Only one back has gained more than 100 yards rushing against Tech all season. Miami’s Duke Johnson had 184 on 22 carries.
Nevertheless, Gurley said that trends are meant to be broken.
“Stats mean stuff, but teams break them up all the time,” Gurley said. “That’s a big accomplishment for them, but one thing we want to do is always have a good run offense. We’re definitely going to run the ball.”
Gurley rushed for 97 yards on 12 carries and scored two touchdowns against Tech last year. Running back Keith Marshall also ran for two scores as the Bulldogs won 42-10.
Murray for Manning: Quarterback Aaron Murray was named one of 10 finalists for the Manning Award for the second consecutive year. The senior set four SEC career records and 27 school records during his four seasons as a Bulldog. He recorded 13,562 yards of total offense, 13,166 passing yards, 121 touchdown passes and 921 completions to move into the No. 1 spot on the league's all-time lists.
Murray sustained a season-ending ACL injury during Georgia’s 59-17 win Saturday and underwent surgery Tuesday. He compiled 3,075 yards on 225-for-347 passing this season, with 26 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Murray also rushed for 186 yards and seven scores during his final campaign.
Etc.: Even though the weather improved, Georgia practiced for the second consecutive day Wednesday at the Falcons' indoor practice facility in Flowery Branch. For the third consecutive day, the Bulldogs went in full pads in preparation for Tech's option attack. … Georgia coach Mark Richt said punters Collin Barber and Adam Erickson continue to compete for the starting job. Erickson, a walk-on, started against Kentucky, while Barber started every other game this season.
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