Michel and Chubb. Chubb and Michel. The more you hear those names in Saturday’s game, the more it means the No. 3 Bulldogs (7-0, 4-0 SEC) are doing what they want. Running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel are the focal points of a Georgia offense that will face Florida (3-3, 3-2 SEC) at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in Jacksonville. The two backs blow through tackles, break defenses with long runs and rank top 10 in the SEC in rushing yards per game.
“They’re physical backs,” Gators linebacker Jeremiah Moon said. “They’re both seniors. They’re going to get paid.”
Softening Georgia’s one-two punch out of the backfield is a priority for Florida, a team that desperately wants to rebound from back-to-back home losses. Letting Chubb and Michel run free has been a recipe for success against all of Georgia’s opponents this season. Gators coach Jim McElwain recognizes that threat.
“They’ve done an outstanding job, those backs, of keeping you off-balance,” McElwain said.
UF linebacker David Reese said the duo of Chubb and Michel is likely the best rushing tandem Florida has faced all season. But he said the Gators are well-prepared after playing against top rushers like Vanderbilt’s Ralph Webb, Tennessee’s John Kelly and LSU’s Derrius Guice.
Even so, the Gators haven’t proven they can completely stifle the run. Florida has let three teams rush for more than 180 yards this season. And Georgia runs the ball more than anyone in the SEC.
The only thing Florida can do is prepare. Moon, a redshirt freshman, said the defense has gotten practice out of trying to stop UF’s own running backs in drills. And he believes in Florida’s chances as long as individual defenders do their jobs.
“Tackling, knowing our assignment and we’ll be all right,” Moon said. “We just got to stop them. That’s it.”
Update on suspended players:
Seven of Florida’s nine players accused of credit card fraud are taking the first steps back to becoming eligible to rejoin the team. Receiver Antonio Callaway, running back Jordan Scarlett, defensive lineman Keivonnis Davis, receiver Rick Wells, linebacker James Houston, linebacker Ventrell Miller and defensive lineman Richerd Desir-Jones have agreed to enter a pretrial intervention program, which would lead to the dismissal of charges if completed, according to court documents posted by Alachua County public records.
Alachua County State Attorney Bill Cervone previously stated that all but two players — offensive lineman Kadeem Telfort and defensive lineman Jordan Smith — are eligible for pretrial intervention. Cervone filed documents Thursday that recommend Callaway, Scarlett, Davis, Wells, Houston, Miller and Desir-Jones appear in front of a judge in early November to finalize the pretrial-intervention agreement. Similar agreements tend to involve community service, court costs and requirements that defendants serve a probationary period in which they have to avoid further legal trouble.
With more court dates set for November, it’s unlikely Florida’s players will see the field anytime soon. McElwain said the following in a statement concerning the players’ return: “We’ve been made aware of some updates in the legal process and there are still steps to go that include the University student conduct code.”
All nine players accused of fraud are still suspended indefinitely from all team activities.
You can follow Matt Brannon on Twitter @MattB_727, and contact him at mbrannon@alligator.org.
Georgia running back Sony Michel (1) out runs Missouri linebacker Cale Garrett (47) to score a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, in Athens, Ga. Georgia won 53-28. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
