Earlier this year, Georgia running back Sony Michel broke his arm in an ATV accident.
Michel’s status for the season-opener was unknown, but head coach Kirby Smart seems confident the junior could be back on the field for the team’s opener against the North Carolina Tar Heels.
Smart talked about how Michel has been working hard over the last few weeks and he could be back on the field much sooner than originally believed. In fact, the running back was even returning kickoffs during Thursday’s practice.
“So he’s doing a lot of positive things,” head coach Kirby Smart said Friday during an appearance on the SEC Network’s Paul Finebaum Show. “It’s just that he hasn’t been cleared to play yet, and it may even be a game-time decision.”
The topic of Michel came up when Smart was asked about starting running back Nick Chubb and how his injury is going to affect his playing time going into the season. Smart seemed to be excited about having two talented running backs on their offense.
“I’ve got great confidence in Sony, and Sony’s worked really hard to get in shape,” Smart said. “So the reports not being favorable, I don’t know if that’s accurate. The kid’s out there doing everything that he’s been cleared to do, it’s just that he hasn’t been cleared to do everything. So he looks great, he’s running, he’s in 7-on-7, he’s in a black jersey, he was returning kicks yesterday.”
When Chubb went down with his knee injury last year, Sony Michel knew he had to step up for the team. He did so by rushing for 1,136 yards and eight touchdowns, while catching passes for 270 yards and three touchdowns.
The Bulldogs and Tar Heels meet up on Sept. 3 in the Georgia Dome at 5:30 p.m. EST on ESPN.
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