Georgia Football: Ranking the 5 Best Freshmen for the Bulldogs

Watching freshmen contribute for a football team is always a treat. Fans get to see these young players grow before their eyes every time they step out on the field, and that was the case for the Georgia Bulldogs this season.

The Bulldogs normally have quite a few redshirt freshmen make an impact for them, but some true freshmen have recently been putting in the work as well. A good example of that is Dominick Sanders, who this season made some big plays at the cornerback position.

Was he among the team's best freshmen this year?

Let’s take a look at the five best freshmen for the 2014 Bulldogs. 

No. 5: OLB Lorenzo Carter

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Even though Lorenzo Carter was not a full-time starter, he was able to be an impact player when he was out on the field.

Carter played in all 12 games and finished the season with 33 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 15 quarterback hurries and one fumble recovery.

As a result of his accomplishments as a true freshman, he made the True Freshman All-America team.

Carter has shown he has the speed, agility and awareness to play the outside linebacker position. Along with him, Leonard Floyd and Jordan Jenkins, the Bulldogs will once again be strong at outside linebacker in 2015. 

No. 4: WR Isaiah McKenzie

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One of the things the Bulldogs needed this season was an impact player on special teams.

Isaiah McKenzie became that player, notching three returns for touchdowns.

Two of those came against Kentucky. McKenzie opened the game with a 90-yard kick return for a score, and he scored on a punt return later in the game.

McKenzie averaged 12 yards per punt return and 28 yards per kick return. He showed speed, elusiveness and great vision as a returner this season, and the Bulldogs now have a player that can change the game when it comes to special teams. 

No. 3: TE Jeb Blazevich

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When Arthur Lynch played his final game in the 2014 Gator Bowl, the thought was that Jay Rome was going to slide in and make the same type of impact.

That was not the case.

Instead, Jeb Blazevich was able to beat out Rome and make plays in the running and passing game.

Blazevich had solid numbers this season. He caught 16 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught the longest pass play from scrimmage—a 50-yard toss from Todd Gurley in the Vanderbilt game.

It’s unfortunate that Rome has not been able to get things going, but Blazevich has answered the call and it seems he is not going to be letting go of his spot any time soon. 

No. 2: RB Sony Michel

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Despite playing only seven games this year, Sony Michel showed the fans why he was an elite recruit from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Michel was third on the team in rushing yards with 377. He also scored four rushing touchdowns and averaged 7.1 yards per carry.

Before Michel suffered a shoulder injury, many thought he was going to be the impact freshman for the Bulldogs because he was playing at an elite level. Michel was able to blow past defenders, catch passes in the backfield and was a great spell back for Todd Gurley.

However, the injury to Michel made way for the best freshman on the Bulldogs roster in 2014. 

No. 1: RB Nick Chubb

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There is not another freshman in the country that has made a bigger impact on his team than Nick Chubb has on the Bulldogs.

When he took over for Gurley midway through the season, nobody thought he would be able to match the production and the intensity that the superstar RB produced over the last three seasons.

Chubb rushed for 1,281 yards, 12 touchdowns and 106.75 rushing yards per game, which is the second best total in the conference. He also averaged 6.8 yards per carry, which is the best in the conference.

Chubb is fast, strong and is very tough to bring down. He is like Gurley but has a lower build. It will be really interesting to see how he does next season when he’s the No. 1 back for the entire season.