ATHENS — Georgia tailback Zamir White is next in line to get back on the football field and do amazing things.
Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart indicated following the G-Day Game that White, a redshirt freshman, is on schedule to do just that sooner than later.
“He’s fine, he’s doing well, we’re expecting him to come back,” Smart said after watching Brian Herrien, D’Andre Swift, James Cook and walk-on KJ McCoy enjoy impressive performances Saturday.
White, of course, underwent surgery on his left knee last August after suffering a torn ACL while working a punt coverage drill in practice.
It was a non-contact injury, but the damage was severe enough to require surgery. White has been dutifully re-habbing when not bulking up his upper body in the weight room.
“He’s right where he needs to be on course of the schedule for a knee injury,” Smart said “He does individual (drills), he goes out and does blitz pickup and walk throughs, he catches balls.
“But he doesn’t do competitive contact.”
There was certainly no reason for Georgia to rush White back for the G-Day Game, as eager as the fans are to see the former No. 1-ranked running back recruit out of Scotland County High School in Laurinburg, N.C.
White has already overcome the torn ACL he suffered in his right knee his senior season of high school football — again, in a non-contact situation.
Georgia will provide White with as much time as he needs to heal physically and mentally from the knee injuries — his psyche is just as important to future success as the soundness of his repaired knees.
White’s high school coach, Richard Bailey, told DawgNation earlier this offseason that he’s confident White will return at 100 percent once cleared.
“I really feel like the chances of recovering from what he has had is 100 percent,” Bailey said. “He is going to be back and as good as ever if not better than ever. Especially with what he has added to his body in the weight room since he has been at Georgia.”
White has appeared in good spirits throughout, engaging with a very supportive Georgia fanbase on social media.
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