Georgia Football: 4 Players That Have Surprised Us in 2014

Believe it or not, the Bulldogs are three quarters into the regular season and they are still in the race to the College Football Playoff. Despite losing to South Carolina, the Bulldogs got a big win to start the season against Clemson, and they had an opportunity to get some younger players in to run over Troy last week.

To no surprise, Todd Gurley, Amarlo Herrera and Ramik Wilson have played well and are on pace to have All-SEC seasons. But there have been a few players who have performed well that were not expected to, or even expected to play at this point of the season.

Here are four players who have surprised us in 2014.

RB Nick Chubb

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It’s not surprising Nick Chubb is playing because he proved during fall camp that he was ready to contribute right away. But how much he has impacted the run game in limited snaps is what has surprised many fans.

Chubb burst onto the scene against Clemson, rushing for 70 yards on four carries and one touchdown. He also played solid against South Carolina, recording 23 rushing yards on four carries.

Before the Troy game, Chubb had thumb surgery and only had 10 rushing yards.

Chubb runs like Gurley, but he may be tougher to bring down. It’s safe to say the future is bright when it comes to the running game.

RB Sony Michel

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But Chubb is not the only reason the running game will be strong for the next few years. Sony Michel is also making an impact, and he’s playing better than Chubb.

The true freshman has 206 yards on 20 carries and 20 touchdowns through three games. But he is also dangerous as a receiver, tallying four receptions for 58 yards and one touchdown.

Michel is built and runs like Keith Marshall, but he might be faster. In the Troy game, Michel had no issues getting to the edge and turning on the second gear. It was the same thing against South Carolina, as he had a 33-yard touchdown reception where he blew past the defenders in the middle of the field.

Both Chubb and Michel are proving that the running game will not be an issue for a long time.

WR Isaiah McKenzie

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One of the more dynamic players for the Bulldogs this year has been a player who is known more for his play as a return specialist.

Isaiah McKenzie has played sparingly as a receiver, racking up 71 yards on four receptions. But he is really going to make a name for himself as a punt returner, as he has three returns 77 yards, which includes a 52-yarder for a touchdown.

McKenzie is a smaller player (5'8", 164 pounds) who is very fast and elusive. It would not surprise anyone if he becomes the permanent punt returner because the Bulldogs need a playmaker on special teams other than Gurley.

S Aaron Davis

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Based on how he played during spring practice and fall camp, it’s not a surprise Aaron Davis is a key contributor to the secondary. But what has caught everyone’s eye is his knack for the ball, as he has one interception, two pass breakups and one fumble recovery.

Because of injuries in high school, Davis is a walk-on and had to earn everything he has right now. He has made his share of mistakes, but the more reps he gets, the more improved he will be, which will make the secondary a better unit.

Other Players That Could Surprise Us This Season

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The 2014 season is still really young, so there are going to be a lot of changes when it comes to the personnel. That means there will be more players who will surprise us, and those potential players could be freshmen and sophomores like Tim Kimbrough, Dominick Sanders, Lorenzo Carter and Tramel Terry.

Those four players have seen playing time, but had not made an impact like Chubb, Michel, McKenzie and Davis. But as the season rolls on, more players will catch the eye of fans, and if the Bulldogs do achieve their goals for the 2014 season, it will be because the players who have surprised us this season have raised their game to another level.