Georgia’s running back room has been busy in fall camp, but one job is still sitting there waiting for somebody to claim it.
The Bulldogs have plenty of candidates in the backfield, yet the third-down role Cash Jones handled the last two seasons remains unresolved as Kirby Smart heads into Georgia’s second and final scrimmage. Smart said Wednesday that no one has separated himself in that spot just yet.
“As far as who that back's going to be yet, nobody has stood out,” Smart said. “Nobody has taken that role and said, 'OK, I can do this,' you know, to the level Cash did or better in terms of protection, catching the ball out of the backfield, instincts.
There's so much that goes into that. That's still an open position grouping really - not the whole back but the third-down back.”
Jones gave Georgia a dependable answer in obvious passing situations. In 2025, he finished with 20 catches for 195 yards and 1 touchdown while also rushing 13 times for 15 yards. He was even more involved in the passing game in 2024, when he hauled in 24 passes for 275 yards and 4 scores.
That production helped the Bulldogs climb to 32nd nationally in third-down conversion percentage in 2025 at 43.7%, a sharp jump from 78th in 2024 at 39.2%.
Smart said the third-down back’s value starts with the ability to catch the ball and keep the offense on schedule, but the role asks for much more than that. Pass protection and route knowledge matter too, especially when the quarterback changes the protection.
“It’s more important that you catch the ball, you understand the routes, you know the protections. You can get yourself out when the quarterback changes the protection,” Smart said.
“There's a lot that goes into being the third-down back, which is why Cash was so good at it. We've been a pretty good third-down team over the last five years average.
We've been good, and we want to continue to be good at third down. That starts with being in third-and-short and -medium and not third-and-long.”
Georgia does have options. Nate Frazier and Chauncey Bowens are both in the mix, and both have shown they can contribute as receivers. Frazier closed 2025 with 16 receptions for 116 yards and 1 touchdown, while Bowens caught 14 passes for 82 yards.
Dwight Phillips Jr., Bo Walker - who had 2 catches last season - and true freshman Jae Lamar are also fighting for playing time.
For now, the job is still open. Cash Jones was the trusted piece on money downs, and Georgia will keep sorting through its choices as the competition carries into the season.
In Other News...
Georgia QB Battle Is Heating Up As Stetson Bennett Turns Heads
Stetson Bennetts first preseason run with the Rams has only sharpened the lens on Georgias quarterback situation back home. Bennett started and played the first half of Los Angeles second exhibition game, then put together a lively showing with his arm and legs, while rookie Ty Simpson handled the second half with far less success. For Georgia, the larger takeaway is less about Bennetts box score and more about how familiar the quarterback room still feels as fall camp rolls on.
At Georgias second fall scrimmage, Gunner Stockton remained the starter, but the real movement appears to be behind him, where Ryan Puglisi and Ryan Montgomery are pushing for the backup job. The offense also looked sharper than it did a week earlier, a useful sign as the Bulldogs keep sorting out depth at the most important spot on the field. Bennetts success in the NFL only adds another layer to a room that already has a clear No. 1 and a tightening race underneath him. [Read more 🡒]
Stetson Bennett Still Faces One Big Rams Problem After Strong Showing
Stetson Bennett gave the Rams a little reminder of why he keeps hanging around the conversation in their second preseason game, turning in a strong showing at a time when every snap matters. For a quarterback trying to keep a foothold in the league, preseason is often less about style points than proving he can stay composed, and Bennett did enough to keep his name in the mix.
Still, the long-term picture in Los Angeles is not built around him. The Rams used a first-round pick on Ty Simpson, who is viewed as their likely quarterback of the future, and Bennett is playing with a contract that expires after this season. If he keeps stacking solid outings, he can at least make the decision more complicated for the Rams, or for whichever team might be watching if he reaches the market. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Fans Will Love David Pollacks New Take On Texas
David Pollack is looking at Texas a little differently heading into the 2026 season, and Georgia fans will probably appreciate the shift in tone. The former Bulldogs linebacker said the Longhorns deserve the buzz this time around, pointing to a roster he views as loaded enough to carry the kind of expectations that come with being talked about as a contender, with Arch Manning at the center of it.
Pollacks point was less about celebration than accountability. After feeling Texas was overhyped in 2025, he said this group should be judged by whether it wins and not by excuses if it falls short, which gives the Longhorns a much sharper spotlight heading into the fall. For Georgia supporters still sizing up a conference foe, it is the kind of preseason confidence that sounds good right up until the games start mattering. [Read more 🡒]