Nick Chubb has all the tools. Big and strong enough to break tackles, shifty enough to leave defenders diving at air and fast enough to outrun pursuers, the Georgia sophomore was expected to be a 2015 Heisman Trophy contender.

And he was right on course to meet those expectations with 745 yards, seven touchdowns and an 8.2-yard rushing average in the Bulldogs’ first five games.

But with one play — the first from scrimmage — Saturday afternoon, Chubb’s season (probably) ended. Carrying the ball, Chubb’s left knee bent awkwardly as he was tackled near the sideline.

The Bulldogs will miss him down the stretch as they battle for the East Division title he was supposed to carry them to.

But there’s no team better prepared to absorb the loss of a star running back than Georgia.

The Bulldogs have five-star backups Sony Michel and Keith Marshall, each of whom could start at most other teams in the SEC, and Brendan Douglas, who filled in admirably when Todd Gurley was out with an ankle injury in 2013.

Running back is the only position in which Georgia chose to list four players on its depth chart prior to the Tennessee game.

Chubb’s combination of power, elusiveness and speed makes him unique. But he might have been waiting behind Marshall, the nation’s top-rated high school running back four years ago, had been healthy last season.

Marshall is that good. And he’s behind Michel on the depth chart. We saw why on two long runs by Michel in the first half.

With Chubb out, Michel quickly took on a starring role.

On Georgia’s first scoring drive, he took a short reception for an 18-yard gain to get the Bulldogs out of hole inside their 10. Then he broke several tackles, crossing the field on a 29-yard run.

But his most spectacular run came on the Bulldogs’ third scoring drive when he raced 66 yards, juking past defenders and breaking tackles for several others.

Thanks in large part to Michel, who finished the first half with 124 yards rushing on 13 carries, the Bulldogs took a 24-3 lead before allowing two TDs late in the half. Marshall added 11 yards on three carries.

Michel finished with 145 yards on 22 carries and Marshall tacked on 24 yards on five attempts.

Georgia rarely has a shortage of quality running backs. But the Bulldogs also have a history of injuries at the position that usher in new stars.

It was, after all, a suspension to Gurley and injuries to Marshall that gave Chubb the opportunity to rush for more than 1,500 yards as a freshman.