The Most Important Georgia Players for the Rest of the Year

The Georgia football team has an 8-2 record with a 6-2 record in the SEC. It needs Missouri to lose one of its last two games to clinch the SEC East and make the trip to the Georgia Dome for the SEC Championship, which would be the third time in four years for the Bulldogs.

But even if that does not happen, the Bulldogs will need to play well in their last two games because they still have a lot to play for, including a 10-win season and a chance to finish the year in the Top 10.

In order for those things to happen, they need their star players and key contributors to play like they have all season long. But who are the most important players for the rest of the season?

QB Hutson Mason

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Hutson Mason is not the most prolific passer in the SEC, but he knows how to get the job done.

In 10 games, Mason has thrown for 1,638 yards, 16 touchdowns and only three interceptions. He has completed 67.6 percent of his passes, which ranks first in the SEC, and in 12 career starts, Mason has a 9-3 record.

The run game is the central focus of the Bulldogs offense, but Mason’s steady hand is a big reason why the Bulldogs are the No. 9 team in the country. He will be a key player for the Bulldogs if they are able to reach the SEC title game.

RB Nick Chubb

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Todd Gurley’s ACL injury hurts because he was the best running back in the country. But the Bulldogs proved the running game has not missed a beat with Nick Chubb.

Chubb has not been the full-time starter and he already has 1,039 yards, nine touchdowns and averages 6.84 yards per carry, which ranks first in the SEC (not including Gurley).

Chubb has the speed to score at any point on the field, the strength to carry the ball 30 times per game and the power to break tackles on a consistent basis. He should have no issues running over defenders of Charleston Southern and Georgia Tech. And when the Bulldogs enter postseason play, he will be able to put on a show in front of a national audience.

C David Andrews

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As good as Mason and Chubb have been, those two are not the MVPs on offense.

The offensive line has played extremely well this season, and the leader of the group is center David Andrews.

He is the lineman who has the most experience, and he’s the guy who the other offensive linemen look to if they have a question. His leadership and his quality of play have fed off the rest of the linemen, and they have been able to lead an offense that averages 40 points per game, which ranks first in the SEC.

LB Amarlo Herrera

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If Andrews is the leader of the offense, then Amarlo Herrera has to be the leader of the defense.

The senior linebacker has 87 tackles, which is the sixth-best total in the SEC. He also has three sacks, one interception and five quarterback hurries.

There have been times where the defense has not played up to standards, but overall, it has played solid football. Herrera has bought in to what defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt has taught him and the rest of the defenders, and he’s having his best season because of it.

LB Leonard Floyd

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Another linebacker who is having a strong season is Leonard Floyd, and he will be crucial to the defense moving forward.

He has six sacks, which puts him 10th in the SEC. He also has a knack for creating turnovers, as he has forced three fumbles this season.

In Pruitt’s system, there has to be an outside edge-rusher who can get after the quarterback on a consistent basis. Floyd has been able to do that, and if continues to play at a high level, he could finish the season with 10 or more sacks.