Surprisingly, the question hasn’t been asked that often.

We asked it, though, in our SDS offices on Saturday night when Georgia marched its kickoff return team after Clemson’s opening touchdown drive when Todd Gurley stood four yards deep in the end zone for the Bulldogs.

He didn’t return the first couple of kicks. He got his shot in the second quarter after a Tiger touchdown put Clemson up 21-14, and he electrified Sanford Stadium by taking the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown.

It was Gurley’s second career kickoff return for a touchdown, putting him one behind all-time leader and current Philadelphia Eagle Brandon Boykin. There’s no doubt Gurley is a playmaker on special teams.

But is it the right decision?

He’s the team’s best player, a lock to be a top-10 pick in next year’s NFL Draft and is the frontrunner after one week for the Heisman Trophy. And with Georgia’s depth at the skill positions, there’s no way he should have to return kicks, right?

Depending on when you ask them, you might get a yes or no from Bulldog coaches on whether or not they feel Gurley should be returning kicks.

“Depending on which day you ask everybody, some days it’s like ‘oh yeah,’ and some days, ‘no,'” assistant coach John Lily told the Athens Banner-Herald. “The great thing is he’s hungry to be out there.”

Gurley is the unquestioned leader of the team, and the guy whose hands you want the ball in to make a big play when needed. But you don’t need him back deep every time out.

You have the nation’s best player on probably the best team in the SEC East. It’d be criminal for Richt not to want the ball in Gurley’s hands every chance you can get, but to run him out there on special teams every time is begging for an injury.

There will be four, maybe five, situations this season during the ‘Dawgs SEC schedule in which they’ll need a spark. Gurley is the guy who can provide that. He can change the game or flip the momentum in a tight game.

Georgia has too much depth and talent at their skill positions to use Gurley on every single kickoff, though. Sony Michel got a few reps against Clemson on special teams, but he has the speed and agility to perform well on kick return. The Bulldogs also have freshman Isaiah McKenzie who made waves during fall camp on punt and kick return.

Don’t get me wrong, we’ll continue to see Gurley return kicks. Let’s just hope it’s at times when he’s needed most.