When Isaiah Crowell signed with Georgia as the crown jewel of the Bulldogs’ top-five recruiting class this past February, the five-star running back was expected to be the workhorse in UGA’s running game.
While Crowell’s far and away UGA’s leading rusher, the true freshman has yet to start either of the Bulldogs’ first two games. This Saturday, that will change as the Bulldogs attempt to climb out of the 0-2 hole they’ve dug themselves.
Head coach Mark Richt announced the inevitable Tuesday, saying that Crowell will start this weekend at home against Coastal Carolina.
“I think he is a very special back,” Richt said. “As the game was going on, I thought he was running well. But when I looked at the film -- the side and then the end zone copy, I thought he made some really good runs.”
Richard Samuel, who’s third on the team in rushing, has started the first two games, but a combination of Crowell’s production as well as his own heel contusion will force the junior to cede his job to the touted frosh.
Crowell himself is a bit dinged, suffering a minor rib injury during the loss to South Carolina last weekend. The injury, though, will not be enough to keep the back from assuming the role most thought he’d have from the opening kickoff to the season.
“By the middle to the end of this season, I’ll be all right,” Crowell said. “Just got to keep working out and training at practice pretty hard.”
In the first two games, Crowell has 218 total yards -- 178 rushing, 40 receiving. He also has one rushing and one receiving touchdown.
