The Show Must Go On: Georgia RB Targets After Nick Chubb's Injury

The University of Georgia is hoping its recent recruiting streak of running backs is more than a coincidence.

In 2012, the Bulldogs were able to sign Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall. Gurley now is an NFL rookie for the St. Louis Rams, and Marshall has overcome knee injuries to be a contributor as a senior.

In 2014, Georgia again signed two running backs in Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. Chubb was on a record-setting rushing pace before suffering a gruesome, season-ending knee injury last week against Tennessee. Michel, Chubb's primary backup, now serves as the go-to back—and is a more-than-reliable fill-in, considering Michel was ranked higher than Chubb coming out of high school.

With Chubb now out indefinitely and Marshall finishing his senior year, the Bulldogs are, once again, looking for running backs to continue the impressive trend of success within the program. Georgia has targeted a few running backs for the 2016, 2017 and 2018 classes to help add depth to the position.

Here are 10 targets to keep an eye on from now until national signing day.

4-Star 2016 Elijah Holyfield

Courtesy: 247Sports

Hometown (School): Atlanta (Woodward Academy)

Size: 5'10", 204 lbs

247Sports Composite Rank: No. 159 overall (No. 5 RB)

Commitment Status: Committed to Georgia

When Elijah Holyfield committed to Georgia in September, it was a big recruiting win for the Bulldogs. He chose Georgia over Auburn, Alabama, Tennessee and South Carolina. Holyfield is a solid Georgia commit, and he's ready to step in and be a go-to player at the position.

Georgia has six running backs on its roster, but there will be opportunity for early playing time for Holyfield with an injured Chubb and Marshall a senior. Holyfield is talented enough to bypass the competition—but he knows playing time won't be given to him.

4-Star 2016 Devwah Whaley

Courtesy: 247Sports

Hometown (School): Beaumont, Texas (Central HS)

Size: 6'0", 205 lbs

247Sports Composite Rank: No. 136 overall (No. 4 RB)

Commitment Status: Uncommitted

With Holyfield already committed, Devwah Whaley is Georgia's biggest target at the position. If the Bulldogs sign two running backs, having two of the nation's top five backs would be huge for Mark Richt and his staff. In short, position wise, the rich get richer.

Georgia is considered a slight favorite in landing Whaley but will have to fight off a few other schools. Oklahoma and Arkansas are teams with strong running games. They are contenders, as are in-state schools Texas and Texas A&M.

4-Star 2016 Antonio Williams

Courtesy: 247Sports

Hometown (School): New London, North Carolina (North Stanly HS)

Size: 5'11", 210 lbs

247Sports Composite Rank: No. 211 overall (No. 7 RB)

Commitment Status: Uncommitted

After recently decommitting from Wisconsin, Antonio Williams is a player to watch for several schools. There are those who feel Ohio State could be in the driver's seat, but with the reputation of Georgia's running back success, and with his hometown roughly a four-hour drive from Athens, Georgia, the Bulldogs have to be a team to keep an eye on.

Being coached by Thomas Brown also is something to note when discussing Williams' recruitment. Brown, the running backs coach influential in recruiting Williams as a junior, left Wisconsin for Georgia in February. Brown also played running back at Georgia. You can bet Williams has done his homework on the program.

3-Star 2016 JaQua Daniels

Courtesy: 247Sports

Hometown (School): Athens, Georgia (Clarke Central)

Size: 6'2", 210 lbs

247Sports Composite Rank: No. 488 overall (No. 29 RB)

Commitment Status: Uncommitted

Little has been said recently about JaQua Daniels, but from the eyeball test only, he passes with flying colors. Daniels is a big running back who can run and catch passes out of the backfield. It's his versatility that makes him an intriguing prospect.

Daniels earned his first offer from Georgia in June 2014. He has five reported offers, including Ole Miss and Tennessee, but Georgia, being the first to offer, always will have a special place in Daniels' heart. He can bring the quickness and strength of a jumbo back wherever he ends up.

5-Star 2017 Anthony McFarland Jr.

Courtesy: 247Sports

Hometown (School): Hyattsville, Maryland (Dematha Catholic)

Size: 5'9", 189 lbs

247Sports Composite Rank: No. 29 overall (No. 2 APB)

Commitment Status: Uncommitted

What's not to like about an athlete like Anthony McFarland Jr.? He's a speedy, shifty back who runs bigger than his frame. He's also someone who has great field vision and runs with a second gear. That seems to be the formula for quality Georgia backs, and McFarland would fit in well.

McFarland, who has more than 20 reported offers, received a warm welcome during a September unofficial visit to Georgia, and he left with an extremely high feeling about playing for the Bulldogs. Georgia will look to build its 2017 class around McFarland, a potential game-changer at the next level.

5-Star 2017 Toneil Carter

Courtesy: 247Sports

Hometown (School): Houston (Langham Creek HS)

Size: 5'11", 198 lbs

247Sports Composite Rank: No. 20 overall (No. 2 RB)

Commitment Status: Uncommitted

Explosive and super elusive, Toneil Carter can be the gem of a class for any school. Georgia would love to have Carter, who is just as good running north to south as he is making tacklers miss outside the tackle box. His combination of speed and power has similarities to the quality backs already on campus for the Bulldogs.

The biggest issue for the Bulldogs in recruiting Carter will be competing against the schools closer to his home. Carter likes both Texas A&M and LSU, as well as Arkansas. Alabama also is a school to watch for the athlete rapidly approaching 20 offers.

4-Star 2017 Trey Sermon

Courtesy: 247Sports

Hometown (School): Marietta, Georgia (Sprayberry HS)

Size: 6'1", 206 lbs

247Sports Composite Rank: No. 44 overall (No. 4 RB)

Commitment Status: Uncommitted

Watching Trey Sermon run makes it appear that anyone can do it. He makes running look effortless on the football field. Credit that to his upper-body and lower-body strength and his excellent field vision. Sermon is an athlete who would fit in well in Georgia's system.

Sermon announced a top 10 in August with Georgia included, but the race will be tough, as Georgia will battle against Ohio State, Alabama and other programs with established ground games. The Bulldogs, however, are hoping to keep the in-state talent close to home.

4-Star 2017 Ty Chandler

Courtesy: 247Sports

Hometown (School): Nashville (Montgomery Bell Academy HS)

Size: 5'11", 190 lbs

247Sports Composite Rank: No. 111 overall (No. 9 RB)

Commitment Status: Uncommitted

As he inches closer to double-digit offers, Ty Chandler is emerging as the kind of back every run-first team wants. He's a workhorse, someone who doesn't mind getting 30-plus carries in a game. In a September game against McCallie, Chandler rushed 41 times for 270 yards and four touchdowns.

Georgia is a school Chandler has interest in, but the Bulldogs will have to out-recruit Tennessee for his services. The Volunteers are an early favorite, but there is still plenty of time for the Georgia staff to win over a quality back like Chandler.

2018 Zamir White

Courtesy: 247Sports

Hometown (School): Laurinburg, North Carolina (Scotland County HS)

Size: 6'1", 202 lbs

247Sports Composite Rank: n/a

Commitment Status: Uncommitted

He's only a sophomore, but Zamir White looks like a grown man and has grown-man capabilities on the field. White runs with a purpose and is a load for one defender to handle alone.

White currently has 15 reported offers, including Florida, Florida State, Ohio State, Michigan State and in-state schools Clemson and North Carolina. Georgia hopes to win a competitive recruiting battle and land a player who can be ranked one of the best running backs of the 2018 class.

2018 T.J. Pledger

Courtesy: 247Sports

Hometown (School): West Hills, California (Chaminade HS)

Size: 5'8", 190 lbs

247Sports Composite Rank: n/a

Commitment Status: Uncommitted

When discussing running backs, shiftiness sells. This play by T.J. Pledger is reason to believe why Georgia wants him wearing the red and black when it's his time to play college football.

Pledger's recruiting is starting to blossom and rightfully so, as he is nearing 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns for his sophomore season. Pledger has reported offers from Pac-12 schools USC and Washington, and UCLA also is showing interest. Georgia's hoping to get him out of California.

Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles