Georgia running back Todd Gurley is widely regarded as the best running back in football, bar none. Well, Nebraska's Ameer Abdullah apparently took that as some kind of challenge.
At 5'9", 195 lbs., Abdullah is much smaller than Gurley (6'1", 226 lbs.), but has been just as effective this season. He leads the nation in rushing yards (833) by a wide margin, and has already been into the end zone eight times on the ground. Gurley has 223 fewer rushing yards on 45 fewer carries, averaging 8.8 yards per carry compared to Abdullah's 7.3.
Both have amazing numbers, but it's important to not the circumstances surrounding those numbers.
Abdullah is counted on to carry the Cornhuskers every single game, and their offense will go as he goes. Georgia needs Todd Gurley at his best to be the team they want to be, but he's not the end-all-be-all for the Bulldogs.
UGA head coach Mark Richt has limited Gurley's touches this year, hoping to safe his injury-prone running back for the games where the Bulldogs need him the most - and that's where Gurley has made his mark. He has gone for 198 yards and 3 TDs against Clemson, 138 yards against South Carolina, and 208 yards and 2 TDs against Tennessee.
Nebraska's biggest game to date has come against Miami, where Abdullah ran for 229 yards and 2 TDs while also catching a three-yard TD pass. He has gone over 200 rushing yards three times in just five games, but Abdullah hasn't proven he can still put up numbers this year against good competition.
He'll get his chance this weekend when the Cornhuskers will be in East Lansing to face Michigan State - and if he performs well, we might just consider him to be the best back in the country.
Back to the Nebraska Cornhuskers Newsfeed