HOOVER, Ala. — Georgia running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel shocked many with their decisions to return for one final season in Athens. The dynamic duo held off from chasing their NFL dreams for one more year for a number of reasons, but most of all, they both expressed their unfinished business during the second day of SEC Media Days.

After all, neither player has beaten Florida or played extensive roles in the last Georgia victory over annual SEC East foe Tennessee back in 2014.

“There are certain goals and things I want to achieve,” Chubb said in regards to his decision to return. “Last year really wasn’t what I was expecting and what we expect at Georgia, so that factored into my decision.”

According to the senior running back, chief among those goals is beating Florida and Tennessee in 2017.

“There’s an opportunity to beat some teams I haven’t really beat since being here, including Florida, so it would be great to get that one win against (Florida) or against Tennessee for my senior year,” Chubb continued.

Last season’s tough losses played a role in Michel’s decision, too. The UGA senior expressed his desire not only to get one final shot at both East rivals but to achieve the overall team success that has evaded the Bulldogs during his time in Athens.

“Those were big factors, just falling short in some games last year,” Michel said. “The possibility of hopefully going to a championship (played a role in his decision).”

According to junior linebacker Roquan Smith, the team’s leading tackler last season, the return of the two running backs provided a spark to the program heading into the offseason.

“That was definitely big when you have two guys like that, pretty decent running backs. Well, decent is an understatement — great running backs like that choose to come back,” Smith said. “It just means the offense is going to be a lot better with two guys like that, choosing to come back.”

While each player came to their individual decisions independently of one another, Chubb noted the strong relationship between the two Bulldog running backs would only continue to grow with both embarking on one final season in Athens.

“It’s great having him here, everything I’m doing, here’s right there with me, even today,” Chubb said. “Just having that guy is a comfort and we look forward to the season me and him competing and having fun. Hopefully, we’ll have a great season.”

Michel went a step further than his teammate. Winning the East for the first time since 2012 in Year 2 of the Kirby Smart era would probably qualify as a “great” season for Georgia, but Michel doesn’t shy away from his team’s chances of winning the entire league.

“The SEC is a great conference, great football teams are in it. I think every year it’s up for grabs no matter what the preseason rankings say,” Michel continued. “Every team has an opportunity to go out there and get it — and the best team will get it.”