Georgia may not need to rush Nate Frazier back into the lineup this week, even if he’s healthy enough to go.
The Bulldogs’ starting running back sat out last week’s game against Oklahoma, and Thursday’s injury report still left him questionable for Saturday’s matchup with Vanderbilt. That means a return is possible. But with Georgia installed as nearly four-touchdown favorites over the Commodores, Kirby Smart could have a simple path here: let Frazier rest again and save him for what comes next.
That next stretch is the bigger issue. Georgia opens a difficult four-game run after Vanderbilt, and three of those opponents are currently ranked in the top 10. The most important one on the immediate schedule is Alabama next week, and that’s where Georgia will likely need Frazier at full strength.
There’s no denying the Bulldogs were fine without him against Oklahoma. Dwight Phillips handled the lead role with 84 yards and a touchdown on nine carries, while Chauncey Bowens added two rushing scores. Gunner Stockton hasn’t been a big part of the ground game this season, but he has shown he can be effective as a runner when Georgia needs him to be.
That depth is why this decision may not be much of a dilemma at all. Georgia’s odds of beating Vanderbilt are already high enough that Frazier’s presence may not change much on the scoreboard. But for a team trying to make a championship push, preserving him for the tougher games ahead could matter more than getting him back this week.
Georgia’s next injury report comes Friday night, and Frazier will likely still be listed as questionable. As things stand, he may end up a game-time decision again on Saturday morning, with fans possibly waiting until the offense takes the field to find out whether he’ll play.
In Other News...
Georgia Vanderbilt Week Just Got More Complicated Than Fans Expected
Georgias buildup to Vanderbilt took a familiar turn this week, with the focus shifting as much to the Commodores quarterback situation as to the matchup itself. Jared Curtis has been listed as questionable because of injury, and the timing matters because Georgia is trying to get ready for an opponent whose offensive ceiling could change depending on who is available under center. The betting line has already nudged in Georgias direction, a sign the market is reacting to the uncertainty as much as the matchup on the field.
There was also some off-field clarity for Bulldogs fans on the recruiting front. Five-star running back Kemon Spell publicly reiterated that he remains committed to Georgia, pushing back on reports tying him to other programs. For a fan base that is tracking both the immediate schedule and the next wave of talent, it is a welcome update even as the Vanderbilt week carries a little more intrigue than expected. [Read more 🡒]
Kirby Smart Is Getting Early Vindication On His Most Criticized Move
Mike Bobos latest contract extension comes with the kind of early-season momentum that tends to quiet a loud debate around Athens. Georgias offense is putting up points at a rate that has it sitting atop college football, and the burst has been fueled in part by a pair of young wide receivers, Talyn Taylor and Craig Dandridge, stepping into prominent roles. For a staff that has asked for patience while the unit found its footing, the results have offered a strong opening argument.
Still, the real test for Bobo has never been September efficiency. Since he took over the offense, Georgia has not won a College Football Playoff game, and that postseason burden continues to hang over the conversation even as the regular-season production looks sharper. The extension signals confidence from Kirby Smart, but the lingering question is whether this version of the offense can carry Georgia when the stakes rise and the calendar turns toward playoff football. [Read more 🡒]
Kirby Smart Mourns A Georgia Figure Who Meant More Than Fans Knew
Ray Lambs presence around Georgia football stretched across generations, long after his days as a high school coaching legend and later as the Bulldogs longtime coordinator for high school relations. He died at 90, and Kirby Smart took time to reflect on the man whose ties to the program went well beyond a job title, noting Lambs loyalty to Georgia and the reach of his influence within the sport.
Smarts remembrance also underscored how deeply rooted Lambs family remains in football, with multiple generations of coaches working at the high school and college levels. For Georgia, his passing is a reminder that some of the programs most important figures are never the ones filling the spotlight, even as their imprint is felt in the way the Bulldogs have recruited, connected and built trust across the state for years. [Read more 🡒]