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Should Georgia Bulldogs Immediately Start Todd Gurley?

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By @Brandon_Rant

Should Bulldogs Start Todd Gurley?

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

It’s not as ridiculous a question as you would think. We should hear soon from the NCAA when Georgia Bulldogs tailback Todd Gurley will be reinstated. Most believe it will be an immediate reinstatement, but there’s still a chance another two games could be tacked on. We will know the answer to that soon enough.

What’s more interesting is what the Bulldogs coaching staff chooses to do when they get the word Gurley is available. Will Mark Richt and Mike Bobo elevate Gurley back to the top of the depth chart, or do they make him battle and beat out freshman sensation Nick Chubb? It wouldn’t be shocking if it were the latter.

Richt and the Georgia program have undergone a culture shift over the last five years. It was clear after the arrests of Caleb King and Washaun Ealy years ago that Richt learned his message wasn’t getting through and he’d had enough. Since then, slowly but surely, the expectations in Athens have been ramped up and there’s been a zero tolerance policy on nonsense.

Gurley is the Bulldogs’ best player, and as soon as he is reinstated he will be on the field. That’s not in question. If it’s for the annual clash in Jacksonville against the Florida Gators, expect to see plenty of No. 3 carrying the ball. But should he start?

The Bulldogs have carried on impressively through their two games without Gurley. Chubb has proven he is a worthy No. 1 back. A clear message would be sent to the rest of the team if Gurley were on the sideline for the first play — you have to earn everything you get. No one is immune.

Odds are that Gurley starts as soon as he’s able. From all reports, he’s worked as hard as he can while under suspension. And that answer is a right one. But there’s still a chance that Richt and Bobo reward Chubb for stepping up when his number was called and allowing the two backs to compete for No. 1 status. This could potentially make them both better and raise expectations for the team overall.

Neither answer is wrong. It will be interesting to see how it plays out but, regardless, the Georgia program wins and this will make them better in the long run.

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