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Why internet outrage over RBU rankings shows why Georgia is the real ‘RBU’
Boy, do people take position rankings seriously.
Over the weekend, ESPN posted a graphic of its historical position rankings — stemming from the start of the BCS era to the present day —from an article that was released last July. In said article, ESPN’s Chris Low explained that Georgia’s lack of success at the position in the early 2000s was why Georgia was left off the list. The article also added it weighed All-American seasons more than All-conference seasons or draft selections.
Related: ESPN shows serious disrespect to UGA football again
And Todd Gurley, D’Andre Swift, Sony Michel, Nick Chubb, and Knoshown Moreno have made a combined one All-American team in their time at Georgia.
Nevertheless, it’s probably not a good look for your rankings when so many people are shouting about an obvious exclusion.
Most informed college football fans would at least recognize the success Georgia has had with producing elite running backs, especially in the modern era. The Bulldogs are about to put another running back in the NFL with Swift set to be one of the first running backs taken in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Georgia is also set to feature Zamir White this coming season. While he’s had a bumpy road to this point due to multiple ACL injuries, he’s showed some promise with a 92-yard and one-touchdown performance against the Big 12’s top defense in a Sugar Bowl win. And the Bulldogs were missing both starting offensive tackles in that performance.
There’s also the likes of James Cook, Kenny McIntosh and Kendall Milton serving as back-ups and possible key players. Milton and Cook were both top-60 recruits while McIntosh played well in the limited action he saw in 2019.
So it’s safe that Georgia is set at the running back position for the years to come. Maybe, just maybe it will eventually crack the all-powerful ESPN’s list (That was sarcasm for people who don’t understand sarcasm).
Georgia is going to continue producing great running backs. For as much as some would like to complain about Kirby Smart and his offensive philosophies — and they have been worth criticizing at times — he’s shown that you can win by relying on the running game. And that tends to produce and attract star running backs.
Just last week Georgia landed 4-star running back Lovasea Carroll as a piece of its 2021 recruiting class. And the Bulldogs almost certainly aren’t done at the position in the 2021 cycle, with top-40 running back Donavan Edwards still very much an option for the Bulldogs.
Related: Lovasea’ Carroll: Why the 4.4 back sped up his timeline to choose UGA
Under Smart, Georgia has made it a point to rely on multiple running backs, so to not wear down one player over the course of the season. This might end up hindering All-American type seasons. But as the 2018 Rose Bowl showed, it helps to have multiple running backs who can blowtorch a defense over the course of a game.
And recruits in this day and age know that sometimes it’s better to get to the next level with less tread on the tires. Georgia has pioneered that with Chubb and Michel successfully co-existing during their college careers.
Milton in the 2020 class made it a constant point to try and add another elite running back to the recruiting class. The Bulldogs did so by bringing in 4-star prospect Daijun Edwards just days before National Signing Day. He knows that while college carries are important, it’s NFL carries that get you paid.
Related: What Georgia football is getting in Daijun Edwards
Recruits still very much know and understand the history Georgia football has with the running back position, even if ESPN doesn’t. That’s another big reason why Georgia is going to continue to recruit the position so well. Most recruits won’t be able to tell you who the 2018 All-American running backs were, but they can tell you that Gurley, Michel and Chubb were all top-35 picks.
In this whole ‘RBU’ debate, think of Georgia like the film Goodfellas. The iconic Martin Scorsese movie — which many consider his finest work — won a single Oscar, thanks to Joe Pesci winning for the best-supporting actor. Dances With Wolves won best picture that year, while Kevin Costner took home best director.
But all these years later, just about everyone recognizes Goodfellas as the real best movie from 1990. So while Costner might have the hardware, Scorsese gets the popular recognition and greater admiration because of it.
ESPN is the Academy Awards, but the general, informed college football fans, players and recruits know that Georgia is the real ‘RBU’.
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