When Zamir White, a 5-star tailback recruit headed for Georgia, hurt his knee Friday night he didn’t think he had suffered a serious injury. He walked off the field on his own power.
It turned out to be a serious injury for White: a torn ACL that ends his high school career and puts his ability to play for Georgia next season in doubt.
Scotland County (N.C.) High School coach Richard Bailey confirmed to DawgNation that White tore his ACL in the second half of his team’s game Friday night. White said after the game that a helmet struck White in the side of the knee.
White is the nation’s top-rated tailback and No. 6 overall prospect in the nation, according to the 247Sports composite. He has said he plans to sign Dec. 20, the first day of the new early signing period, and will enroll at UGA in January.
The normal recovery period for an ACL tear is nine months to a year. Georgia also holds a commitment from the nation’s third-rated tailback, James Cook from Miami Central High School in Florida.
Nick Chubb and Sony Michel are wrapping up their Georgia careers. After the win Saturday over Kentucky, coach Kirby Smart was asked about replacing Chubb and Michel, and he cracked, “I hope D’Andre can do it.”
That refers to D’Andre Swift, the freshman who is Georgia’s third-leading rusher this season with 472 yards and the fourth-leading receiver with 129 yards.
The team also should return its fourth- and fifth-leading rushers, respectively, in sophomores Elijah Holyfield (249 rushing yards) and Brian Herrien (232 rushing yards).
More on this story as it develops.