5 Georgia players Tennessee fans need to know
The Tennessee Volunteers travel to Athens, Ga., for their annual SEC East matchup against No. 12 Georgia on Saturday. The Vols (2-1) are coming off a bye week that followed a 34-10 loss to No. 4 Oklahoma. The Bulldogs (2-1) look to continue their momentum from a 66-0 Week 4 win over Troy.
Here are five Georgia players every Tennessee fan should know entering Saturday’s matchup.
1. Hutson Mason, QB: Hutson Mason entered the 2014 season as the heir to SEC all-time leading passer Aaron Murray. Thus far, Mason has been a solid game manager with 419 yards and four touchdowns on 42-of-59 passing. The senior quarterback has been fortunate to have one of the best backfields in the nation carry most of the load offensively. However, if a solid Tennessee defense can disrupt Georgia’s running game, Mason may need to step up as more than a game manager.
2. Todd Gurley, RB: What else needs to be said? Todd Gurley is having his best season of an already legendary career. He leads Georgia with 402 yards and four touchdowns on 41 attempts, averaging 9.8 yards per carry and 134 yards per game. Gurley will continue to be the focal point of Georgia’s offense against the Volunteers Saturday.
3. Sony Michel, RB: One of the nation’s top running back prospects for 2014, Sony Michel has already impressed in his first three games. As Georgia’s No.2 running back behind Gurley, Michel enters with 206 yards and three touchdowns on 20 attempts. He is averaging 10.3 yards per carry and 68.67 yards per game. When Gurley steps off the field, Michel provides Georgia with yet another home run threat and is capable of breaking a big run against Tennessee this weekend.
4. Amario Herrera, LB: Amario Herrera has been Georgia’s most outstanding defensive player thus far. Herrera leads the Bulldogs in both tackles (24) and sacks (3.0). Against a struggling Tennessee offensive line, the outside linebacker should provide pressure to quarterback Justin Worley throughout Saturday’s game.
5. Ramik Wilson, LB: Ramik Wilson is one tackle shy of tying Herrera as the Bulldogs’ leading tackler. Last season, Wilson led Georgia with 133 tackles, but had to work his way back into the starting lineup in 2014 due to an undisclosed injury. However, the senior has picked up where he left off and should be a major threat to Tennessee’s offense in Week 5.
Others to watch: LB Leonard Floyd, CB Damian Swann, RB Nick Chubb