SEC Sports Insider Magazine 2013 Bowl Edition | Page 24

RB Todd Gurley: For the first time since hurting his ankle during Georgia’s fourth game of the season against LSU, Gurley should be near 100 percent health-wise. Gurley is the most complete running back in college football and will be relied upon heavily once again in both the running and passing game. Despite missing three-and-a-half games this season with the ankle injury, Gurley has still produced 1,247 total yards and 15 touchdowns. QB Hutson Mason: It has been known for some time that Mason was going to be the starter for the Bulldogs for the 2014 season. However, when Aaron Murray, the SEC’s most statistically prolific passer in conference history, went down with an ACL injury, Mason was thrust into the spotlight. He got his first career start against Georgia Tech in the Bulldogs’ season finale. The redshirt junior got off to a slow start but finished strong, completing 22 of 36 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns, while leading the Bulldogs back from a 20-point deficit. LB Ramik Wilson: Wilson was one of the key players the Bulldogs were counting on this season to help replace last season’s linebacking corps that was one of the most talented units in UGA history. The task was not going to be easy with the departure of names like Jarvis Jones and Alec Ogletree. Although the Bulldogs were unable to do it as a unit, Wilson did his part and enters the Gator Bowl against Nebraska with a leagueleading 128 tackles. The All-SEC selection will need to be on the top of his game against Nebraska. LB Leonard Floyd: Todd Grantham’s 2013 unit will not be remembered as his best. However, the young Bulldog defense could become one of the nation’s best over the next few seasons. However, UGA still has one more game this season, and the Bulldogs will need their best pass-rusher, freshman star Leonard Floyd, to have a big game. He has led Georgia with 6.5 sacks and finished the year with 8.5 tackles for loss and 47 total tackles. With freshman quarterback Tommy Armstrong starting for Nebraska, Floyd will need to channel his inner Jarvis Jones. WR Chris Conley: With the depth the Bulldogs have, this could be any of their wide receivers. However, with the game Conley had last season against the Cornhuskers, he has to be the leading candidate. Conley had two receptions for 136 yards, and both catches resulted in touchdowns. If the Bulldogs can make a few big plays in the passing game, Gurley will take care of the rest.