NEW ORLEANS — Georgia redshirt freshman tailback Zamir White could be in line for more carries and his first career start at the Sugar Bowl, depending on the health of junior D’Andre Swift.
The No. 5-ranked Bulldogs will be without senior tailback Brian Herrien when they face No. 7 Baylor at 8:45 p.m. next Wednesday. Swift’s status for the game is best described as “questionable.”
White, who was forced to sit out the 2018 season after suffering a torn ACL in fall camp — his second ACL injury in less than a year — was the No. 1-ranked tailback in the 2018 signing class.
The 6-foot, 215-pounder from Laurinburg, N.C., has 60 carries for 316 yards this season, including a career-high 72 rushing yards against Murray State.
“I’ve just got to be more patient with my runs,” White said after the SEC Championship Game on Dec. 7. “The game is moving so fast, you’ve got to think quick.”
Georgia will also have sophomore James Cook and freshman Kenny McIntosh available in the backfield.
It’s possible Swift, who has a bruised shoulder, could attempt to play in a limited role like he did against LSU. Swift had two carries and three catches in the 37-10 loss to the Tigers, adhering to a pre-game plan for him to avoid contact between the tackles.
McIntosh, a 6-1, 210-pound freshman from Pompano Beach, Fla., had 148 yards rushing on 19 carries this season, including the team’s season-high 62-yard touchdown run against Arkansas State.
Junior linebacker Monty Rice, who has been practicing against the offense, indicated he has been impressed with both of the young backs.
“Kenny is going to do his thing,” Rice said on Friday, “(and) you’ve got Zamir, he’s going to get more carries.”
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