Georgia FB: Why You Should Know Knowshon Moreno

About a week ago, I was admitting my "football man-crush" on West Virginia freshman Noel Devine.

Today, I'm here to profess my newfound love for Knowshon Moreno.

Moreno is Georgia's freshman RB, and is the Bulldog's leading rusher through four games.

It might be Moreno's jersey number...or his demeanor...or maybe just his running style...

But whatever the case, Knowshon Moreno strikes as an exact clone of Carnell "Cadillac" Williams.

Now, just saying that could get me into trouble with UGA fans in Athens, as Williams played for Georgia's longtime rival Auburn.

But it's true.

Moreno wears number 24, as Williams did for Auburn. The intensity that Cadillac brought to Jordan-Hare Stadium is now being seen between the hedges at Georgia's Sanford Stadium. Both backs seem to thrive off physical play, constantly seeking contact despite their size.

Speaking of size, both are listed at 5'11", and both are in the range 210-215 pounds.

The comparison is almost too easy.

Against Alabama, Moreno totaled 95 yards and a TD on 19 touches. Those numbers aren't as eye-popping as Devine's were in West Virginia's win over Maryland, but Moreno was equally impressive.

First off, I really like how Knowshon isn't one of those "look-at-me" guys.  After almost every play, he puts the ball on the ground and briskly jogs back to the huddle.

Although it's subtle, it tells me a lot about the youngster.

Moreno seems to be playing the game for the right reasons—for his team, and to win. That's something I have a lot of respect for.

But then again being a team player is pretty easy isn't it?  The third-string QB can be a team player simply by holding onto his clipboard and making sure his jersey is tucked in.

In the end, it's what a player does on the field that really matters.

And Moreno impressed me in that category too.

He made his biggest impression with a 19-yard carry in the third quarter of Saturday's 26-23 OT win in Tuscaloosa.  Some viewers might've just seen a 19-yard run, but I saw the future of the Georgia offense:

On 2nd-and-20, the Dawgs hand the ball off to their stud freshman.  Moreno bounces outside, gaining yards as he turns on his speed.  As he approaches the Crimson Tide sideline, he plants his left foot and delivers a crushing blow to the oncoming defender—refusing to step out of bounds, refusing to be tackled.

Moreno has just single-handedly turned a 2nd-and-20 into a 3rd-and-1, giving his team a legitimate shot to move the chains—and more importantly, a chance to waste more clock.

And, again, he simply jogs back to his huddle, focusing on the incoming playcall. Nothing more than business as usual.

The play had little impact on the outcome of the game, as the Dawgs failed to convert the 3rd-and-1. Still, Knowshon Moreno's message came through loud and clear:

"Take my teammates and me seriously, college football world! I'm not scared of anyone!"

I've heard you Knowshon—don't worry.

Moreno photo: (AP Photo/Rob Carr)