Kirby: Zamir White "is More Confident."

ATHENS - Kirby Smart thinks Zamir White might be gaining steam. 

The No. 3 Bulldogs’ second-leading rusher, White spent the last year recovering from two ACL injuries that sidelined is 2018 season. 2019 has been a different story for the North Carolina native. 

White has 13 carries for 124 yards to average 9.5 yards per carry. He scored his first college touchdown of the year last Saturday against Murray State. 

“He's more confident,” Kirby Smart said on Wednesday. “The burst and acceleration is coming back.”

That’s been evident in two of White’s 13 runs thus far this season. One came on his 23-yard run in the third quarter of the Vanderbilt game. The run ended with a fumble that was recovered by UGA, but the play showed White’s explosiveness. That was backed up a week later with his 29-yard run against Murray State that featured a spin move at the line of scrimmage that folks who have seen White over the years are familiar with. 

But what got Kirby has been most excited by so far this season with White was the block he delivered during the win over the Racers. 

“I was most proud with Zamir today that he picked up a blitzing backer in the A gap and smacked him right in the jaw,” Kirby said after the Murray State game. “So go back and watch that one. That’s what being a running back is about. He’s playing with great physicality and protecting the quarterback, which is the thing he hasn’t had an opportunity to do. He doesn’t do that often, in high school kids aren’t asked to do that. That’s where he’s going to earn more playing time is being able to protect the passer.”