The only thing different about Keith Marshall’s preparations for this week’s game against Tennessee is he dined at Cook Out’s on Sunday.
The North Carolina-based burger and chicken joint recently opened a new location just outside of town. This apparently was a big deal to North Carolina natives Marshall and Todd Gurley, who both ate there.
Other than that, Marshall insists there’s nothing out of the ordinary going on with him this week. All indications are that he’ll get the second start of his career this Saturday when the No. 6-ranked Bulldogs (3-1, 2-0 SEC) travel to Knoxville to take on Tennessee (3-2, 0-1).
Gurley, who started all but two games at tailback the past two seasons, remains sidelined with a left ankle sprain that forced him out of the LSU game early in the second quarter this past Saturday. Gurley had 73 yards on eight carries at the time. Gurley did not practice Monday and is not expected to Tuesday or Wednesday. Georgia coach Mark Richt described Gurley’s status as “day-to-day.”
Marshall, Gurley’s roommate and running mate since the two signed out of North Carolina last year, stepped into the role of primary ball carrier against LSU and handled it well. He finished with 96 yards on a career-high 20 carries.
But knowing that he’s likely to handle a significant role this week hasn’t altered Marshall’s weekly routine.
“You just work hard every day and try to get prepared as best you can,” said Marshall, who has 213 yards rushing this season and 972 in his career. “… I’ve got to prepare mentally and physically the same way I do every week.”
Likewise, Marshall doesn’t expect the Bulldogs to alter their game plan for the Tennessee game. As ever, they’ll adhere to the “next man up” edict and Marshall can simply expect more of the same.
“I feel like they have confidence in me,” Marshall said. “I have confidence in myself. So it wasn’t really a big deal to them or me I think.”
More profoundly affected by Gurley’s absence, if he can’t go, will be freshmen J.J. Green and Brendan Douglas, who would move into the role of backup. Georgia is withholding both from interviews this week.
But Marshall is very much a proven commodity. In fact, he had a huge game against Tennessee last season. He logged 164 yards on 10 carries and scored on touchdown runs of 75 and 72 yards in the Bulldogs’ 51-44 victory.
“Last year the whole offense had a great game,” Marshall said. “The offensive line blocked well and opened up holes. I just had a couple of big runs.”
If you get the feeling Marshall is not overly excited about his situation, you’d be right. He said his focus is on merely trying to improve in all areas at the tailback position. But the Cook Out joint, now that’s got him excited.
“Back home, man, they do it right,” he said.
Honors flow in: Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray and sophomore place-kicker Marshall Morgan were receiving a lot of kudos on Monday.
Murray was named the offensive player of the week by the SEC for the fourth time in his career. The fifth-year senior from Tampa this week was also named the Walter Camp national offensive player of the week for the second time this season, the Athlon Sports national player of the week and the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) national performer and national quarterback of the week.
Murray went 20-for-34 for 298 yards and four touchdowns while also adding a rushing score. He connected with Justin Scott-Wesley for a game-winning 25-yard touchdown with 1:47 to play.
Morgan received the first conference honor of his career after being named the SEC special teams player of the week. Morgan, who was also named the CFPA national place-kicker of the week, scored 14 points in the Bulldogs’ three-point win over the Tigers. He connected on all five of his PATs and was 3-for-3 on field goals, including a career-long 55 yarder that put Georgia up by a touchdown in the third quarter.
“I didn’t know all these awards were going to happen, but it definitely feels good,” Morgan said. “”I’m glad because everybody that I let down with the boating incident, I’m trying to make them proud.”
Morgan was suspended for the first two games after pleading guilty to boating under the influence this summer.
Keith Johnson passes: Keith Johnson, a four-year letter winner for the Bulldogs from 1982-86, died last Friday in Athens. The Ocilla played as a true freshman on Georgia's 1982 SEC Championship team before blossoming into a starter at center during the 1983 season when the Bulldogs finished 10-1-1 and won the Cotton Bowl. Back injuries marred the rest of Johnson's career. He redshirted in 1985 and played the 1986 season as a reserve.
It’s been a tough year in the Bulldog football family. Former chaplain Claude McBride and football players Scott Adams and Paul Oliver have all passed away in recent weeks.
