Best freshman tailback? Georgia’s Todd Gurley or Alabama’s T.J. Yeldon
A plethora of long runs, such as this one against Tennessee, is what has separated Todd Gurley from a lot of other freshman backs in the SEC this season. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
ATHENS – Seeing how he’s now considered a front-runner for the Heisman Trophy, Texas A&M quarterback Johnny “Football” Manziel would seem a shoo-in for SEC Freshman of the Year. But the argument over who might be the best freshman running back in the league remains a good one that might not be settled until after Saturday’s SEC Championship game.
Both Alabama and Georgia received all they could have hoped for from their first-year backs. The Bulldogs have been led all season by Todd Gurley, a 6-foot-1, 218-pound true freshman from Tarboro, N.C. Gurley became the first UGA true freshman since Herschel Walker in 1980 to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season when he broke the barrier two weeks ago. He enters the SEC title game with 1,138 yards and 15 touchdowns, including a 100-yard kickoff return.
Alabama's T.J. Yeldon has gained 291 fewer yards and scored four fewer touchdowns than Gurley will splitting time with Eddie Lacy. (AP photo)
T.J. Yeldon hasn’t been quite as productive for the Crimson Tide but he hasn’t had to be. The 6-foot-2, 216-pound tailback from Daphne, Ala., comes into the weekend with 847 yards and 10 touchdowns. But while Gurley is Georgia’s primary back, Yeldon remains a backup for junior starter Eddie Lacy, who has rushed for 1,001 yards and 14 touchdowns. Yeldon has 6.6 yards-per-carry average to Gurley’s 6.5.
Of course, Gurley also has an understudy, but his is also a true freshman. Keith Marshall has averaged 6.7 yards a carry while rushing for 720 yards and eight TDs while alternating with Gurley.
Georgia’s duo has the full attention of the Crimson Tide.
“They run the ball extremely well,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said. “Todd has obviously played the most, but both of those guys are really good players. And they have a good offensive line. That creates a tremendous amount of balance with them with a good quarterback (in Aaron Murray) who is able to complete a high percentage of his passes.”
Said Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosely: “We haven’t really faced a team that has a one-two punch like that.”
Other than in Alabama practice.
Lacy and Yeldon have provided the same sort of inside-outside combination Georgia has in Gurley and Marshall. Along with third-string tailback Kenyan Drake — a freshman from Powder Springs who has run for 273 yards and two touchdowns in mop-up duty — the Crimson Tide is averaging 5.4 yards per carry as a team. Texas A&M is the only SEC team getting more per rush (5.6), while Georgia is the only other league team averaging 5 or better (5.0).
Loading ...“(Bama’s offense is) designed to put the ball in their hands and their line really fires off well,” Georgia linebacker Christian Robinson said. “You don’t see a lot of missed assignments. You see a hat on a hat. That means the running back finds the hole and is able to get to that second level a lot faster than some other teams we’ve maybe played in the past. “Both of those backs are able to hit it up and spin and turn for those extra yards that a lot of other backs that we’ve faced to this point haven’t been able to do.”
If there is anything that Georgia running backs have done better than Alabama, it is what coaches call the “home run.” The Bulldogs’ duo of Gurley and Marshall has ripped off 18 runs of 20 or more yards. Included in that total are 10 jaunts of 30 or more yards and eight of more than 40. Marshall has scoring runs of 75, 72, 62 and 52 yards while Gurley has recorded runs of 55, 51, 49 and 44 yards.
“That may be more than we’ve had in the last five years combined,” Georgia coach Mark said.
Both Gurley and Marshall came to Georgia with nationally-rated track speed. But that’s not what they credit for their long-distance success.
“It’s the line, man, and the fullbacks and the receivers out there blocking,” Gurley said. “It’s our job to finish off runs when we get into the secondary. But all those long runs you’ve seen, that’s the line and our fullbacks giving their effort.”
Alabama’s backs have been nearly as explosive. The Tide has gotten a 73-yard run from Lacy, a 43-yarder from Yeldon and several others of more than 30 yards.
“They are very similar,” Georgia senior cornerback Sanders Commings said. “Gurley is a power back but he can also break away from people just like Lacy. For us, Keith Marshall reminds me of their No. 4, Yeldon. They both, when they find a hole, no one catches them. I think they’re very similar.”
That is part of the reason both offenses have been so effective. Both teams utilize pro-style offenses that are led by highly-efficient quarterbacks. Murray leads the nation in pass efficiency with a rating of 177.15. Alabama’s A.J. McCarron is second at 176.26. The teams average 38 and 39 points per game, respectively.
“You got to be able to run the ball good enough to make your play-action pass worth it,” Richt said. “You have to be able to reduce some yardage on first or second downs. … We are doing a lot of the things you need to do.”
MORE SEC CHAMPIONSHIP COVERAGE
- Bowl options not great for losing team
- Sanders Commings agrees that UGA’s defense ‘best in country’
- Georgia QB Aaron Murray declines all interviews this week
- Matchup: Georgia’s rushing offense vs. Bama’s rushing defense
- Bradley: Dogs must overcome Alabama’s aura
- UGA-Bama winner gets Miami for BCS Championship
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
106 comments Add your comment
slydog
November 27th, 2012
11:52 am
Fact: Saban, being from the Belichik School of Football Economics, is going to completely take away Georgia’s best weapon- Gurley and Marshall, and force them to play one dimensional. The DB’s will play zone even if they blitz the LB’s. So Murray can’t just chunk it down the field at will. Jay Rome needs at least 6-7 catches and 10 targets this game right across the middle or sitting inside of Bama’s zone. Also, Marshall needs to flare out for more swing passes and shovel passes. 3-4 yards at a time is better than sacks, turnovers and 3 and outs.
RedandBlackDAWG
November 27th, 2012
12:01 pm
Bo Duke
November 27th, 2012
9:10 am
And yet, remarkably, they have already done more in their young lives than you will ever accomplish.
Vampire Bill
November 27th, 2012
12:04 pm
Yeldon fumbles too much, that’s all there is to it.
Huh?
November 27th, 2012
12:04 pm
Shouldn’t this be about Yeldon vs Marshall? They are both backups that benefit from getting to see the defenses before getting their first carry. But as it isn’t I am partial to Gurley based on his ability to “fall forward” and get that extra yard whether it is for a TD or just in the middle of the field. That guy finishes every run. Yeldon is good and coould turn out special, but it’s more of a wait and see thing with him. He’s still not the man as Gurley quickly became
RedandBlackDAWG
November 27th, 2012
12:07 pm
Tech Sucks
November 27th, 2012
11:40 am
After Saturday’s ACC championship, it will be 6-7 and unless, Tech. is granted a waiver to play in sunny El Paso, they can spend the extra time sharpening their pencil collection.
NCdawg
November 27th, 2012
12:32 pm
Could this week go by any slower. Hope the Dawgs come ready to play in the Dome.
McDawg
November 27th, 2012
12:34 pm
hope we play better D than against Tech-they moved the ball at will
love to watch K. Marshall run-you don’t realize how fast he is going until you look at the defenders-smoothest runner in CFB
McDawg
November 27th, 2012
12:38 pm
need to come out throwing and get Murray in a rythm
ND has the best defense but i think we match up well against them
hope our kickers are dependable
bham dawg
November 27th, 2012
12:38 pm
@McDawg… i agree he doesn’t even look like he is moving that fast until you see the guys chasing him and he just pulls away. i love how he runs with that foward lean also, Gurly is too upright sometimes.
7576DAWG
November 27th, 2012
12:38 pm
In the Texas A&M game at the end of the game Lacy was hurting and Saban was more confident in his Quarterback getting the ball in from the 6 yard line than a Freshman who has fumbled some this year.
If Lacy had been full strength Alabama would have run the ball four times but they would have only needed 2 plays.
If Saban had had Gurley with no ball control issues at all this year and Lacy not at 100% he would have run the ball 4 times with Gurley. Both are great backs but I give the edge to Gurley.
Mobile Dawg
November 27th, 2012
12:39 pm
Both are great backs, so instead of trying to figure out which one is better how about ask the question, which one meant the most to their team.
bham dawg
November 27th, 2012
12:42 pm
@mobile Dawg… that’s not even a debate. no way we get by florida without gurley
sickdog
November 27th, 2012
12:45 pm
Gurley. His stats would be more impressive also if he hadnt been pulled from a couple of games in the 3rd. I say he could have a couple hundred more yards and few TD’s easily.
7576DAWG
November 27th, 2012
12:46 pm
Marshall isn’t far behind both Yeldon and Gurley, if at all. When Marshall see’s a hole open his first step to get through that hole is one of the fastest I have ever seen. Gurley is fast with that first step but not as fast as Marshall. Gurley is more about power when he hits the hole . Both are about the same when in the open field. Not many defensive backs will ever run either down in the open field.
WDE
November 27th, 2012
12:53 pm
Just got to wonder how many yards Gurley would have if he was the featured back and had Bama’s OL he would be closing on HW territory .
7576DAWG
November 27th, 2012
12:55 pm
I really like the way Richt has used Gurley and Marshall this year. Both running no more than 10 or 15 times a game has kept them strong all year.
There is no way anybody can convince me that Lattimore wasn’t hurt because of over use by Spurrier. When you run the ball over 30 time every game your Ligaments and tendons and muscles just get fatigued and can give way in a physical Conference like the SEC. Spurrier’s motto of winning at any cost may be destroying one of the best back ever to run in college. Lattimore is a great guy and if I was his father I would go to Spurrier and tell him that my son would be transferring if Spurrier didn’t agree to limit his carry’s.
bham dawg
November 27th, 2012
12:59 pm
@7576… if we didn’t have keith marshall gurley would be getting around 25 touches a game. Just saying SC hasn’t really had a compliment back.
replacement ref
November 27th, 2012
1:02 pm
Sammy, whatever your smokeing, I’ll take some. That must be some good stuff..
JimDog85
November 27th, 2012
1:03 pm
Has anyone else noticed that the long runs our backs were making seemed to stop after Bennett went out with his knee injury. That guy was a beast as a blocker at the wideout postion. Marvin Brown was pretty good too. The other guys, Mitchell, TK and Connoly are more focused on catching passes (which they do rather well – not to complain or anything). I especially like the way Connoly picks the ball out of the air with two hands. He is going to be a special player before he heads off to the NFL.
America spoke
November 27th, 2012
1:11 pm
Gurley might well be the best running back in the country after first contact! Rarely, does he go down with the first hit (unlike Michael Turner!).
dawgfarts
November 27th, 2012
1:17 pm
hey look, i have “dawg” in my screenname as well
Tide 48
November 27th, 2012
1:20 pm
They are both great backs. I would say Gurley has the edge right now only because Yeldon is not Bama’s primary back. Only time will tell but I don’t think either one of them will be a disappointment to either team down the road. This is going to be a great game between too really good football teams. Of course I want Bama to win but if the Dawgs come out on top, you’ve got this Bama’s fans support against Notre Dame!!
Buckeye
November 27th, 2012
1:27 pm
Maurice Clarett won the NC as a Freshman.
Ha!
Clay
November 27th, 2012
1:30 pm
This is not a good comparison. Gurley’s stats are more in line with (if not better than) Lacy and Yeldon is more in line with Keith Marshall.
Huh?
November 27th, 2012
1:32 pm
Yo Buckeye:
Did Clarett win it or did he steal it? Rumor has it he was high and heavily armed during that game
Built Ford Tough
November 27th, 2012
1:36 pm
Tech fans need to just bow out of any discussion on football, cause Tech just plain sucks.
RxDawg
November 27th, 2012
1:41 pm
“Rarely, does he go down with the first hit (unlike Michael Turner!).”
Well geesh, in his defense Turner has some better talent trying to bring him down.
Heat Check
November 27th, 2012
1:53 pm
Poor Sammy,
I see you have been drinking your daddy’s moonshine again…. smh… you were on here this same time last year spouting useless stats and how between the common opponents UGA had with LSU that UGA had the advantage and Murray would do this and that… bla bla bla
LSU destroying UGA 42-10 is how that worked out, so I hope you’re here on Saturday night with that nonsense
Todd - Lawrenceville
November 27th, 2012
2:00 pm
A true Ga fan but I’ll tell you after Saturday night’s game… My God, I am hoping it’s Gurley, if nothing more than anything, we share the same 1st name. That has to count for something, you think?
Who’s The Best Freshman Tailback Gurley Or Yeldon? : BamaFootball4Life
November 27th, 2012
2:03 pm
[...] T.J. Yeldon hasn’t been quite as productive for the Crimson Tide but he hasn’t had to be. The 6-foot-2, 216-pound tailback from Daphne, Ala., comes into the weekend with 847 yards and 10 touchdowns. But while Gurley is Georgia’s primary back, Yeldon remains a backup for junior starter Eddie Lacy, who has rushed for 1,001 yards and 14 touchdowns. Yeldon has 6.6 yards-per-carry average to Gurley’s 6.5. Of course, Gurley also has an understudy, but his is also a true freshman. Keith Marshall has averaged 6.7 yards a carry while rushing for 720 yards and eight TDs while alternating with Gurley. Georgia’s duo has the full attention of the Crimson Tide. “They run the ball extremely well,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said. [More] [...]
Football Fan
November 27th, 2012
2:15 pm
Easy, Yelden, UGA has not played a tough schedule…UGS only has S Carolina and UF for tough games and you can’t argue that.
WDE
November 27th, 2012
2:24 pm
Football Fan give me a break your guys run behind the best OL in the country or so we are told. And who was so tough on your schedule ? LSU who should have beat you and A&M who did ! You ducked UGA,USC and the Gators…
Oklahoma Dawg
November 27th, 2012
2:26 pm
I have seen both play two times each this year. Gurley is a power runner with good cut back speed. Have not seen much from him in the recieving aspect of his game. Yeldon is a power runner who can also catch the ball with soft hands.
Both are great young players. Gurley will do well in the NFL if he stays healthy. I call it a wash as both do what is expected of them and more for their respective teams.
someone who knows
November 27th, 2012
2:36 pm
honestly, the Drake kid is probably going to be better than both of them…
Oklahoma Dawg
November 27th, 2012
2:37 pm
Not to change the subject, but this morning out here in OKC, I had the pleasure to speak with a couple of folks who have done some minor work for the NCAA in the past few years and they said without a doubt that if the items that are proven to be true regarding Auburn are accurate the impact of Auburn Football will be one of the biggest in modern( BCS era) football history. They also said that this investigation is not just this year but goes back several years and that people who would not talk in the past have given up resources and documents that will impact the program very very negatively.
someone who knows
November 27th, 2012
2:39 pm
Clarett’s profile would have been perfect for UGA…missed out on that one dawgs…
Oklahoma Dawg
November 27th, 2012
2:44 pm
WDE
November 27th, 2012
2:24 pm
Football Fan give me a break your guys run behind the best OL in the country or so we are told. And who was so tough on your schedule ? LSU who should have beat you and A&M who did ! You ducked UGA,USC and the Gators…
Too funny, this comment coming from a Auburn fan who is now commenting on ” LSU should have beat you”, and while Johnny Football and A&M put up 60 plus on the Tiger on Dye Field.
Both UGA and Bama are good teams, both will represent the Conference well in the BCSCG.
Big Mo
November 27th, 2012
2:47 pm
AJ Green is better, no point to even debate….
WDE
November 27th, 2012
2:48 pm
Oklahoma Dawg your right it would be funny if I was a Auburn fan . I’m a UGA fan and my initials are WDE and I use them as my handle to confound and confuse the Barners .
Mark (another one)
November 27th, 2012
2:51 pm
I watch these two and it is comparable to watching AJ Green and Julio Jones at receiver a few years back. Both are greatly skilled, and if they keep their heads on straight and keep developing, they will both be stars on Sunday. Anyone trying to say one is better than the other at this point is splitting hairs.
someone who knows
November 27th, 2012
2:53 pm
the NCAA will let Auburn and North Carolina slide with a slap on the wrist…but let Northern Arizona or Sacramento State color outside the lines, they will drop the hammer…its all about how much revenue you can contribute…
RammerJammer 14
November 27th, 2012
3:06 pm
Yeldon has 47 fewer rushing attempts than Gurley. Taking Yeldon’s 6.6 yards per and multiply that times 47 would equal 1157 yards for the season. Just slightly higher than Gurley. Just sayin… Both are awesome but to say it’s not even close means you have not seen Yeldon play. He is the next great one at Bama.
WDE
November 27th, 2012
3:19 pm
RammerJammer 14 no one that knows college football would not know Yeldon is the real deal, I have to think that if Gurley had your OL from day one to run behind his stats would be much better…I OL is much better than it was the first 4-5 games but still a ways behind your bunch they are just that good.
Longhorn Sally via Kansas
November 27th, 2012
3:28 pm
The UGA Offensive Line is not as good as you guys from UGA make them out to be. Every Game and I mean Every Game that UGA played that the opposing team got pressure on Murray he upchucks the ball and makes wild throws. Since the UF game UGA has had a cake walk and now the UGA nation is putting UGA up there like their O line is almight and great. Our O-line in Texas is as good as UGA’s and ours is horrible. Gurley may well get a 100 yards rushing but it will be his hardest 100 yards of the year.
RxDawg
November 27th, 2012
3:28 pm
@Oklahoma Dawg
November 27th, 2012
2:37 pm
Well I hope your right. Enough is enough with those arrogant cheaters. Justice needs to be served.
O'Ventbrel
November 27th, 2012
3:40 pm
They are essentially equal in size, talent and impact, just slightly different. Both are deceptively fast and agile for being over 6 feet tall and 220 lbs. Gurley is a bit more of a bulldozer tho, while Yeldon has the quicker feet.
WDE
November 27th, 2012
3:44 pm
BAMA MAN when you woke up after losing at home to a freshman QB what world did you think you were in?? Just show up on time Saturday and tell your bunch to bring their helmets they are going to need them.
HEY WDE
November 27th, 2012
4:22 pm
Go back to the trailer and praise your next coach Petrino as the entire football world laughs at you…
North Georgia Dawg
November 27th, 2012
4:24 pm
For those who still feel like whining because they think Florida should be in the national championship game and that Georgia’s schedule was too easy, look at this quote by Florida coach Will Muschamp: “We had our opportunity in Jacksonville, and we didn’t get it done.”That’s our fault. Nobody else’s.”
SEC Fan
November 27th, 2012
4:54 pm
Expect a great game on Saturday. Hope whoever wins does not suffer any injuries as know we all want to see a 7th consecutive championship win by an SEC Team.
Have a feeling whoever plays ND that they will have an issue going against SEC speed…