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Chubb's Status Remains Unclear

Wednesday, April 20

“I am not a [subject matter expert] on knee injuries. So I don’t know if that guy is going to be back or not," Georgia head coach Kirby Smart told Seth Emerson of DawgNation.com on Tuesday. "Do I want him to be back? Yes. But it’s hard to say with where he is now whether he’ll be back or not.”

Smart added:

He’s doing so much extra behind the scenes that people don’t know about. It’s so important to him. Yet he’s smart enough to kind of temper that with, ‘I need to be ready.’ He’s such a role model for the kids. They see him work. They saw him the day after the surgery, he’s right back and ready to go rehabbing. He’s got such a great attitude.

Chubb, who will be a junior next year, hit the national scene in a big way in 2014, rushing for 1,547 yards and 14 touchdowns, while also catching 18 passes for 213 yards and another two scores. He was off to an excellent start last year as well, rushing for 747 yards and seven touchdowns before injuring his knee in the team's sixth game against Tennessee. 

Chubb tore several ligaments, including his PCL. It remains to be seen if Chubb will be ready for the season opener, or if he'll even be able to play at all next season, though it certainly won't be for a lack of trying or rehabilitation, as Smart indicated.

He's one of the best running backs in the nation, however, so getting him back would be a major boost for Georgia. Fellow junior-to-be Sony Michel played well for the Bulldogs last year, rushing for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns, so the Bulldogs will be in good hands if Chubb cannot start the season.

But the thought of having the pair at running back to wear down opposing defenses is appealing for Georgia and, by proxy, frightening for the rest of the SEC.

You can follow Timothy Rapp on Twitter.