Hyped tailback injures his knee

ATHENS — Georgia fans might have to wait a while longer before finding out just how good Zamir White is.

The Bulldogs’ heralded freshman running back was injured Saturday during the second scrimmage of preseason. According to numerous people attending the closed scrimmage as invited guests, White injured his left knee. The severity of the injury was not immediately known.

White suffered a torn ACL of his right knee during the North Carolina state playoffs in November. He underwent surgery in December and has been practicing without limitations while wearing a metal brace since preseason camp opened Aug. 2.

“I’m sick for the kid, but we don’t know the severity of the injury,” coach Kirby Smart said during his post-scrimmage briefing. Smart confirmed that the injury occurred while White was working on a punt-coverage unit. He said it was a “non-contact injury.”

“There was nobody around,” Smart said. “He and (defensive back) Mark Webb were kind of holding each other up. He’s getting an MRI right now. It was his left, non-surgical knee, but I can’t tell you much more than that.”

Smart took issue with a reporter who asked if it was unusual for a running back to be on punt coverage. “Sony Michel was on punt coverage, and he was a first-round draft pick,” Smart said. “D’Andre Swift is on punt coverage. … That’s not a fair question.”

About 1,000 or so donors were attending the otherwise closed scrimmage, along with players’ parents. News of White’s injury circulated via social media and chat rooms of fan sites before Smart met with the media.

White, a 6-foot, 210-pound freshman, was one of the most anticipated members of Georgia’s 2018 recruiting class, which ranked No. 1 in the nation. He was rated the No. 1 running back in America, according to the 247Sports Composite. He rushed for 3,086 yards and 34 touchdowns in 11 games.

White’s absence leaves the Bulldogs with four running backs who could realistically contribute this season. Sophomore D’Andre Swift is the leading returning rusher. Juniors Elijah Holyfield and Brian Herrien played as backups the last two seasons. Freshman James Cook was ranked No. 3 in the nation among all-purpose backs and has impressed in camp.

Georgia lost more than 8,000 yards in career rushing with the graduation of Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. Both are in the NFL now.

Heavy metatarsal: Smart confirmed that safety Tyrique McGhee suffered “a small fracture in his metatarsal” at Saturday’s scrimmage. He sustained a similar injury last season. “We think he’s going to be fine,” Smart said of the junior, who saw action in all 15 games in 2017. “He might be able to go out and play with it — he played with it last year.”

Offensive line concerns: Asked about specific concerns on the offensive line, Smart said he’s still looking at the big picture. “Getting a formidable backup center,” Smart said. “Getting a good two sets of tackles; who’s going to be the tackle if this guy goes down, who’s going to be the right tackle of the competition, which guards can go out and play tackle, who are the guys that can play left and right side, who are the guys that can just play left or go left tackle and left guard?

“So, when you say ‘concerned,’ I’m concerned about every spot because the competition’s thick; but more importantly is if this spot goes down, who goes where?”