There are very few circumstances in which a team's star transfer running back being suspended for a huge Week 1 game is a positive thing for a program.
For Georgia, which opened with No. 14 Clemson, Trevor Etienne's absence could have been devastating blow due to already mounting injuries in the Bulldogs' backfield. But Georgia is Georgia, and coach Kirby Smart has what folks in the personnel space call "creatures" up and down his depth chart.
Thus, the college football world met Nate Frazier on Saturday as Georgia steamrolled to a 34-3 win. The true freshman made the most of his opportunity, running for 83 yards and a touchdown on just 11 carries. He also added a catch for 24 yards.
It had been Branson Robinson, returning from a knee injury that cost him the 2023 season, who garnered much of the running back hype going into this game. But midway through the contest it was obvious that Frazier, who earned 11 carries to Robinson's seven, had emerged as UGA's primary option in Etienne's absence. The classic sports call is "Down goes Frazier" but Saturday it was mostly Frazier taking down Clemson defenders who tried to get in his way -- and seeing his stock going way, way, up accordingly.He showed excellent vision, instincts and the ability to create yards after contact. Perhaps more importantly: Georgia trusted him on the biggest possible stage.
It shouldn't be all that surprising to see Frazier flash like this. He was the No. 2 running back and the No. 71 overall player in the 2024 class per the Top247 rankings. Frazier isn't huge at 5-foot-10, 210 pounds but he packs plenty of power as a runner and compliments that with speed. Frazier ran a personal best 10.58-second 100-meter time as a high school junior, which gives him a breakaway ability that few backs in the country can match. Clemson saw both elements of his game Saturday as Frazier ran aggressively and decisively for 7.5 yards per carry against what projects to be one of the best defenses in the country.
While there was a shaky moment with a dropped pass in the first half, Frazier also showcased his receiving skills with a big 24-yard catch and run to open Georgia's drive after Clemson's only score of the game. That's a big moment and Georgia had no issue putting its true freshman in position to make a play.It's possible that Frazier fades back into the background a bit as the season goes along.
Etienne will return and so Roderick Robinson, who missed the opener with a toe injury. More likely, though, Frazier just forced his way into Georgia's running back rotation for the rest of the year. Either way, get used to hearing Frazier's name. Etienne's suspension would have been a blow for most programs. For Georgia it just means another of the program's talented depth pieces is now a proven option as the year moves along.