The plan in 2024 was not for Nate Frazier to be the starter in at tailback in his first college football game.
But when presumptive starter Trevor Etienne was suspended for the opener due to an off-season arrest, the true freshman stepped in and stepped up. He would go on to become a key contributor in the Bulldog running game throughout the season, finishing with a team-leading 671 yards on 133 carries, adding 8 touchdowns. Etienne has moved onto the NFL, and Frazier is now the clear number one at
the position.
If Frazier‘s contribution in 2024 was important, his ability to take a step forward in 2025 will be mission critical. With Carson Beck moving on and the Gunner Stockton era beginning in Athens, it is safe to say that Georgia will run the ball more this year than last. No team in college football today is truly a “run first offense” anymore, outside of perhaps the service academies and a few outliers. But Georgia is almost certainly going to emphasize the run more than they did in a 2024 season that saw them throw the ball on 54.5% of offensive snaps.
The Red and Black finished 15th in the SEC in 2024 in rushing offense, easily their lowest ranking in the Kirby Smart era. Much of that was down to the emphasis on putting the ball in Beck’s hands and letting him get it downfield to guys like Arian Smith and Dominic Lovett.
And while Frazier will certainly be leaned on to pump up the total rushing yards, he’s going to be critical in the passing game too. As Georgia’s most experienced tailback other than Cash Jones, he’s going to be counted on in pass protection, an area he (like most freshmen) had to learn through hard experience last season. Gunner Stockton has the athleticism to create with his legs. But it would be much better for the Bulldog offense (and Stockton’s health and professional development) if he throws from clean pockets and doesn’t have to take off on every other snap.
In short, while the UGA offense is going to run through Gunner Stockton, it isn’t going to run smoothly without a solid sophomore effort from Nate Frazier.
2025 Ceiling: Frazier stays healthy and is the centerpiece of a UGA offense that runs the dang ball, especially in SEC games. He notches the first 1,000 rushing season by a Bulldog back since D’Andre Swift in 2019.
2025 Floor: Barring injury, an ever-present threat at the tailback position, Frazier struggles behind an offensive line that’s got some question marks of its own.
Go ‘Dawgs!!!
