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Swift ascension: True freshman running back fits in now, should stand out soon enough
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When Nick Chubb and Sony Michel leave Athens after this season, they’ll leave as two of the most accomplished backs in Georgia history.
They’ll have their place all over the Bulldogs’ record books after standout four-year careers. They’re rare in this era of underclassmen jumping to the NFL. Kirby Smart says that the two senior backs are “extremely unselfish,” which has permeated the running back room.
“If it was not that way, I think the freshmen and sophomores would get inpatient,” Smart said. “But with the upperclassmen not fussing, complaining, they know their role and they understand it. They embrace that.”
Michel and Chubb certainly aren’t fussing about the freshman tailback who’s emerging before their eyes.
In Georgia’s best offensive performance of the season against Missouri, D’Andre Swift led the Dawgs with 94 rushing yards. Most of that production came when he ripped off a 71-yard run in the third quarter, which was Georgia’s longest running play since Chubb scampered for 83 yards against Alabama in 2015.
Alongside two of the country’s top backs, Swift is embracing his role. For now, that role is to be part of one of the most dangerous three-headed rushing attacks in America.
But when two-thirds of that attack moves on to the NFL, No. 7 will be one of many cornerstones of Georgia’s bright future.
Swift’s immediate success isn’t necessarily a surprise. The 5-star recruit was too talented to keep out of the lineup, even with Chubb and Michel healthy. The question was how Georgia offensive coordinator Jim Chaney would get Swift involved.
The goal was clearly to get the freshman touches in meaningful spots. Despite Georgia’s lopsided results, Chaney has been able to do that. In his first seven games, Swift had 23 touches in the first half. Whether it was rushing, receiving or even a halfback pass, Swift has been a versatile part of the game plan.
Fitting it was that Swift’s first career touch came in the first half of the season opener. Jake Fromm floated a pass near the sideline to Swift, who had lined up in the slot on the play. With one hand, Swift hauled it in like it was a routine catch.
The athleticism. The big-play ability. The power. It’s all there. The true freshman is already hurdling defenders and dragging them along for the ride.
My God, a freshman.
D’Andre Swift (@DAndreSwift) pic.twitter.com/ZWb5w4U4GN— Dayne Young (@dayneyoung) September 30, 2017
His skill set is different than Chubb’s and Michel’s, but his unselfish approach isn’t. Swift’s ticket to more playing time came because of his ability to block. Having a freshman who can pass protect and catch passes out of the backfield gives opposing defenses yet another dimension for which to prepare.
The next team that has to game-plan for Swift is Florida, which will face the challenging task of trying to become the first team to hold Georgia’s rushing attack under 175 yards.
Jim McElwain flipped on the film and saw what everyone else has seen from the Bulldogs’ backfield — depth and versatility.
“Jim Chaney has done an outstanding job of spreading the ball around and really keeps ya guessing,” McElwain said. “That’s the one thing you see, is the different touches and how they’re using (the three running backs). I just can’t say enough about those backs, especially, as far as those guys working together and affecting the team.”
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McElwain was asked if he had seen a backfield quite like Georgia’s before. The Florida coach harkened all the way to the 2010 Alabama team when he served as Nick Saban’s offensive coordinator (and, ironically enough, Smart was the defensive coordinator).
That backfield, of course, had Mark Ingram, Eddie Lacy and Trent Richardson. It finished the season with 2,547 yards from scrimmage in 13 games. Georgia’s trio is on pace for 3,190 yards from scrimmage, assuming Georgia earns a trip to Atlanta and plays 14 games.
It seems imminent that Swift and the Dawgs will bulldoze their way to an SEC East title. If they can hurdle past Florida — perhaps literally — those odds will improve significantly. It’d be the first time that Chubb and Michel would be part of such a feat.
Swift, however, hasn’t experienced anything but victories at Georgia. His college career certainly had a different start than Chubb’s and Michel’s. They all wouldn’t mind playing a part in delivering the ultimate ending to 2017. It would be the perfect swan song for Chubb and Michel.
But regardless of how this season finishes, there’s at least one silver lining for Georgia fans.
Swift’s time in Athens is just beginning.
Connor O'Gara is the senior national columnist for Saturday Down South. He's a member of the Football Writers Association of America. After spending his entire life living in B1G country, he moved to the South in 2015.
