‘Gurshall’: Georgia’s freshman tailbacks command attention
Todd Gurley plows through Vanderbilt defenders (AJC photo/Brant Sanderlin)
ATHENS — As the hype builds around Georgia freshman tailbacks Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall, one of their teammates has settled on a nickname for the duo.
“Gurshall, that’s what I call them,” wide receiver Tavarres King said.
As King excitedly enunciates it, the combination of the first syllable of Gurley and the second syllable of Marshall rhymes with … Herschel.
The wildly premature suggestion that the Gurley-Marshall tandem is somehow reminiscent of Herschel Walker, the greatest Georgia tailback, reflects the excitement the freshmen have stirred.
Keith Marshall breaks a Vanderbilt tackle (AJC photo/Brant Sanderlin)
Tailback is a position that commands attention, good or bad. In the previous two seasons, Georgia tailbacks were known more for the bad — arrests, suspensions, dismissals, injuries. With Gurshall, things seem good again at the position.
“I went to the dining hall one day, and they started clapping,” Marshall said.
Another example of their celebrity: “Sat next to Todd Gurley at Zaxby’s,” a UGA student tweeted this week. “What are you doing with your life?”
Four games into their college careers, Gurley and Marshall have combined to rush for 670 yards and score 10 touchdowns. Gurley, the starter, leads the SEC in rushing (101.5 yards per game), scoring (10.5 points per game) and all-purpose yards (164.2 per game). His roommate and running mate, Marshall, has added 66 rushing yards per game.
In last week’s win over Vanderbilt, the duo combined for 212 rushing yards (Gurley 130, Marshall 82) and four touchdowns (two apiece). Each had a stirring TD run — Marshall a 52-yarder and Gurley a 29-yarder that featured several broken tackles and a safety stiff-armed to the ground.
“Wow, I’ve never seen anything like that in my life,” King said of Gurley’s run. “Well, not live. I saw Herschel do something like that [on tape].
“When [Gurley] made that run, in my head, I heard Munson: ‘My God, a freshman!’” said King, referring to legendary UGA broadcaster Larry Munson’s famous call of Walker’s debut against Tennessee in 1980.
Gurley and Marshall, who grew up 70 miles apart in North Carolina and became friends after meeting at a high school track meet, are aware of their growing celebrity but seem unfazed by it.
“You have people come up to you and everything,” Gurley said, “but I’m still taking it the same.”
“They don’t get caught up in it, and probably the best thing as a teammate is knowing they don’t hold themselves so highly,” linebacker Christian Robinson said. “They just show up everyday to work.”
“They are mature beyond their years,” receiver Michael Bennett said. “Eighteen years old and all this attention coming on them — they’re handling it really well.”
They arrived in Athens after several troubled seasons for the tailback position; Caleb King, Washaun Ealey, Carlton Thomas and Isaiah Crowell drew suspensions for various transgressions and eventually left the team.
“In the past, it’s kind of been a never-know-what-you’re-going-to-get type of thing,” Robinson said. “When you have guys of high character that show up everyday to work, you can trust them and you don’t get as frustrated with them when things don’t go well. I guess, when things are different, you can kind of pinpoint that maybe that’s why we weren’t having the production — behavior issues and things like that. We don’t have that anymore, and this team is a lot better because of it.”
Running backs coach Bryan McClendon is keeping an eye on how Gurley and Marshall handle the adulation that comes with success, although he isn’t worried.
“I’m a part of the process of keeping them humble,” McClendon said. “But they come from a great family, both of those guys. They’re very humble people to begin with, so that’s not something you foresee being an issue at all.”
On the field, the 6-foot-1, 218-pound Gurley is a blend of power and speed, while the 5-11, 216-pound Marshall is a former high school sprint champion who once competed against Gurley in the 100-meter dash. “I won,” Marshall said.
“Those two guys are thunder [Gurley] and lightning [Marshall],” King said.
Off the field, Gurley is affectionately described as “goofy” by several teammates and does not disagree. “I just like to have some fun, pick everybody up,” Gurley said. “I probably am a little goofy.” Marshall is described as the quieter of the two.
“They both act like little kids. They’re really cheerful, messing around the locker room, joking,” quarterback Aaron Murray said. “I don’t see them as guys who are going to let their fame or their success get to their heads too much and think they’re all that.”
– Tim Tucker
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242 comments Add your comment
joe jenkins
September 28th, 2012
10:06 am
I would love to see richt finally beat sc fla and tenn in the same season. If our defense starts playing up to expectations…I think we will beat all of them. I think our o-line is only going to get better and f gurley and marshall hold on to the football we will be pretty good on offense the rest of the way.
zbulldawg
September 28th, 2012
10:07 am
King ani’t Got a CLUE. Now he wants to jump on the band wagon ? Henry knows if he comes to UGA he will be playing LB. He’ll get a shot at RB But he may get booed off the field !!! LOL Carvell has let his mouth over load his BUTT. WILL THE “REAL” DAWG FANS ” Please stand up. You tech fans, what a shame !! You are so worried about UGA You can’t take care of your own business !! KEEP winning BAMA we want your best !! GETUSUM !!!! LET THE BIG DAWG EAT
JB
September 28th, 2012
10:08 am
Saturday’s game is special in 2 ways to see if this team is for real. 1. Coming off a big win and almost flawless play last week, need to see if these Dawgs and carry that on to this week.2. It would be easy to look ahead to next week in Carolina as a win tomorrow means the whole season comes down to Carolina and Florida. Although the Auburn team could keep improving by the time we get there. All that said, This Dawg team brings a load to the game and everybody we play better be ready.
ga gator
September 28th, 2012
10:09 am
My wife asked me to put on here if anyone would be interested in buying an extra ticket we have for sale. If interested I will give you my email address and we could meet at the ATM machine at the Tate Center.
Cobb Dawg
September 28th, 2012
10:09 am
Random Thoughts
September 28th, 2012
8:14 am
“Law & Order took the words right out of my mouth.
Will all of the UT and UGA probation officers be sitting together in the stadium? They should be recognized by the announcer for all their hard work.
Will Russ be at the game, or has he croaked already?
Will the dwags be wearing their regular home uniforms, or will they bring out their Nike clown costumes from last year?
Tennessee, a beacon of integrity and honor, will defeat the very dishonorable UGA hooligans by two TDs”
Random thoughts, are you referring to the Tennessee of Nu’Keesse Richardson, Mike Edwards, Janzen Jackson, Tyler Smith, Melvin Goins, Brian Williams, Cameron Tatum, Da’Rick Rogers, etc. Is this the program that you describe as “a beacon of integriy and honor”?
0rlandodawg
September 28th, 2012
10:10 am
@nutin….will take the points on the UGA vs USC game for any amount…put your $ where your mouth is! do it! Dawgs Rule!
DAWGRX
September 28th, 2012
10:11 am
Point taken, Nothing Could be Finer, but STILL, inspite of those “stops”, UGA STILL scored 42 points on that vaunted defense. No doubt, Carolina has a great defense, but the offense leaves a lot to be desired. It will be a great, hard hitting game, but I’m very confident that UGA’s offense against USC’s defense leans much more in favor of UGA than USC’s offense against UGA’s defense. But hold on that, we still have an orange to squeeze tomorrow. Then we’ll line it up in Columbia on the 6th to see what is what.
zbulldawg
September 28th, 2012
10:12 am
OH by the way !!! To all you recruits : Watch some NFL You’ll see what can Happen if you come to UGA !!!!!!!! LET THE BIG DAWG EAT
59bulldawg
September 28th, 2012
10:13 am
Ha! Cracks me up that a bunch of chickens coached by a jackass win two in a row over the Dawgs and suddenly think they are the greatest football team to ever take the field.
DAWGRX
September 28th, 2012
10:14 am
I meant to say “UGA’s offense against USC’s defense leans much more in favor of UGA than USC’s offense against UGA’s defense favor’s USC.”
DirtyDawg
September 28th, 2012
10:16 am
Tavares better copy-write Gurshall in a hurry (and the AJC put it in their style guide). I got a feeling it’s gonna be around for a while…and big. Also, the ‘what are you doing with your life’ tweet is classic and says a lot about what these kids are doing…says a lot about the cleverness of, at least, one UGA student too.
Adam
September 28th, 2012
10:18 am
Gurley #3 Marshal#4 H. Walker #34
ugab
September 28th, 2012
10:20 am
I do not like the ‘Gurshall”. Walker is a legend at Uga. I am still looking for the statue of Hershell Walker at the stadium.. If Gurley and Marshall can get us to the NC game like HW did, then they have earned that name.
These guys are Freshmen. These guys are going to go through adversity. So far they are DGDs.
Lets give credit to the OL and FBs also.
We have to pound the ball to beat Tennessee. We have to control the clock. Bray is to good of a passer. Ga’s D has to get pressure on Bray.
Paddy
September 28th, 2012
10:20 am
Finally, to have a true running game is what UGA football should be! But to me, the real story is that we get to add 2 All-American candidates to our defense.
Lobosolo
September 28th, 2012
10:21 am
Gee, Flat Tire, you sound just like the armchair pussies on the Braves’ threads… I’ll ask you like I ask them: How is the team YOU are coaching doing this year? Ever coached at all? Ever played football on a level above Pop Warner? Didn’t think so…. just more blather from an armchair, pussified wannabe… Baseball is bad enough for these types, but football really brings out the “experts” … experts in nothing but being whineyassed know-it-alls….. Search out alexis on the Braves beat… he/she buys binkies by the gross and will help you have something in your mouth 24/7…
JB
September 28th, 2012
10:22 am
The most lonely place on earth……………… The football trophy case at South Carolina.
ugab
September 28th, 2012
10:23 am
I have seen where CMR said to “wear red”. If your gonna call a red out or black out, you better be prepared to win. lol
kingdaddy
September 28th, 2012
10:25 am
59
don’t know if we are running it more or just running it better. It’s a combination of better runningbacks and a better scheme by CWF. Oline is for real…
Nick
September 28th, 2012
10:30 am
I knew when I saw that Marshall graduated early with a 4.3 GPA, none of us were going to have to worry about issues with dealt with in the past. Both of these kids are very mature and smart. I just don’t see them putting themselves in bad postions like some we’ve seen. Good for them. Reflects well of their parents too.
Go Dawgs!
GATA
kingdaddy
September 28th, 2012
10:31 am
zbulldawg
You talking bout me getting on the bandwagon???
Douglas
September 28th, 2012
10:32 am
We do need to thank their parents for raising such respected, humble, and gracious youth. They are a blessing to UGA and their parents.
rhbDAWG1
September 28th, 2012
10:32 am
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville I agree, let the season play out without all your (and your ilk) negativity (you try to dress it us as “realism”). If you can’t find something good to say about our team, don’t say anything. I’m not predicting MNC yet, but I do think it is in the realm of possibility and as long as we are undefeated, it WILL happen. Please understand, I said “as long as we are undefeated”.
kingdaddy
September 28th, 2012
10:34 am
Z, your 10:07, you talking about me???
JB
September 28th, 2012
10:35 am
Theus and these backs will less of True freshman as every week goes by.
ARdawg
September 28th, 2012
10:37 am
DGD’s, both of them
rhbDAWG1
September 28th, 2012
10:37 am
Lobosolo – you really get the gist of things. Right on.
dawgfan
September 28th, 2012
10:38 am
You have to like it when we have a “slasher” guy that still weighs in at a solid 216 lbs. These guys are studs. If the O-line holds up (always a substantial “if”) and they stay healthy and don’t get fumblitis our offense will be very difficult for anyone to defend. And this is coming from a guy who still thinks Bobo is clueless.
Thanks.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 28th, 2012
10:38 am
Lobosolo
You might want to go back and retrain at the Jedi school of morons
You ask how is the team doing so far?
UGA is doing just fine against mid to low tier schools that will never even sniff a national title game APPEARENCE.
Know it all you say?
It doesnt take a know it all to realize you dont go talking about “We are winning the national title this year” when your coach has NEVER NEVER NEVER beaten all the SEC east teams in the same year.
Has NEVER NEVER NEVER beaten FL two years in a row
Has NEVER NEVER NEVER coached an undefeated regular season
Has a 300 avg against top 10 teams and a 500 avg against the top 25
So moron how about searching out the JEDI kool-aid bar the next time you visit the Jedi Temple it might help your brain come back to reality
rhbDAWG1
September 28th, 2012
10:41 am
We are not hearing many comments about the offensive line anymore. Does anyone else think it odd that we lost two fairly high round draft choices to the NFL but seem to have a better line this year? Sounds like we have an “us” team this year, rather than “me and the other 10″ of the past few years.
kingdaddy
September 28th, 2012
10:43 am
rhbDAWG1
You don’t need to explain shiz to a troll who’s not listening anyway. I have heard nothing but negative out of him all morning. Sportswriters like what they see, but a biased troll just sees the worst. We are 4-0 and ranked #5 with a positive outlook, yet all I hear from him is trash. You are right and are a DGD fan…
rhbDAWG1
September 28th, 2012
10:43 am
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville – Cap typing and name-calling — classy (not high, but classy).
1eyedJack
September 28th, 2012
10:44 am
kingdaddy, when did you jump off the bandwagon dude? Better get back on before it gets too crowded.
Chris
September 28th, 2012
10:44 am
Flat tire must be backed up. Things not going well at home? Been punched in the mouth lately?
This is a UGA fan blog. People get hyped and are happy that the team has renewed energy and a positive direction. Your different opinion is duly noted. You don’t have to argue with everyone who posts something positive about UGA.
I, for one, hope you do get many flat tires on I-95. That will give you something to complain about for sure.
rhbDAWG1
September 28th, 2012
10:46 am
kingdaddy – thanks for your kind words. I agree with your assessment of our fellow “fan”.
dawgfan
September 28th, 2012
10:46 am
“We are not hearing many comments about the offensive line anymore.”
Well, look at who we’ve played. The jury is still out in my opinion. Its probably going to make or break the season. Nothing new about that.
kingdaddy
September 28th, 2012
10:47 am
It’s getting harder for the trolls to defame the Dawgs. Good, make them work at it…
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 28th, 2012
10:49 am
rhbDAWG1
Wait a minute
You and your friend Lobosolo come on here and call me names first then you want to call me out for returning serve
LOL
Wow priceless
Say What???
September 28th, 2012
10:49 am
@ Nothing Could Be Finer… You are right… And we did that missing four starters in the first two games and two starters in the 2nd two games. And not just any starters – the best players on our defense. Again, I think we are in a better position than your team.
Will you be back on this blog if you guys lose to us?
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 28th, 2012
10:51 am
Chris
Get hyped when you’ve done something Moron and screw you for wanting someone to have a flat
No wonder why so many fans I talk too hate UGA fans
schmeckdawg
September 28th, 2012
10:51 am
Need a HUGE day tomorrow from the O-line and “D.”
Old Man Fball
September 28th, 2012
10:51 am
Good lord, these boys are funny. I’m goin to put them on this weekend instead of that crap on CBS: http://www.JoJaBoys.com … “John Jenkins is like a ‘fridgerator with cleats on” ha, makes me miss Larry
kingdaddy
September 28th, 2012
10:52 am
You couldn’t knock me off the bandwagon with a ballbat, lol. Don’t know who Z was refering to when he said King…10:07…Must be another kingdummy…
Chris
September 28th, 2012
10:55 am
Flat Tire,
Your spelling and grammar are terrible. If I’m a moron, what would that make you? Yes, I would get satisfaction knowing you had a flat tire.
Speaking of doing something, they have! They’re a much improved team over last year. That’s something to be hyped about in my opinion.
kingdaddy
September 28th, 2012
10:56 am
Old Man
that’s one fast refridgerator. UT has a really good Oline and this will be a great challlenge for all aspects of our game…
rhbDAWG1
September 28th, 2012
10:58 am
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville – Please read (or learn to) my comments before you make charges. I have not called you any name. My vocabulary is well stocked and I can make my points without calling you or anyone else names.
PS I don’t use “caps lock” either.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 28th, 2012
11:02 am
Chris
Glad you call out my spelling and grammar just shows you have nothing intuitive to say than the ole spelling and grammar come back
Just like I tell many other morons like you, this is a blog not a research paper that Im supposed to turn in. I post responses from my phone and I could care less about going back and proof-reading
Now since you are the grammar police please make sure you go back and read everyones posts because half the posts on this blog need help with Grammar
ok Professor
Again screw you
Long-time Dawg
September 28th, 2012
11:04 am
They both seem to be nice young men. That’s the part I like best.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 28th, 2012
11:06 am
rhbDAWG1
“others of your ilk”
Thats name calling
But again no calling out your buddy Lobosolo
Priceless
Chris
September 28th, 2012
11:06 am
Flat Tire -
The only reason I referred to your poor grammar and spelling is because you called me a Moron. Ironic, isn’t it?
Go get therapy. Seriously, you have issues.
Ryan
September 28th, 2012
11:06 am
Love the nickname and how much King knows about and respects Georgia’s history.