Chubb gets the green light

Although Georgia’s situation at quarterback is not yet officially clear, that’s no longer the case with whether or not Nick Chubb will be able to play in Saturday’s opener against North Carolina.

“He’s been cleared. It’s a situation where he’s scrimmaged and done live things,” Kirby Smart said during Monday’s press conference. “He’s had a lot of practices where he’s carried more than five to seven times.”

That’s not all.

Smart also said that the junior – less than a year removed from the major knee injury he suffered at Tennessee – will be able to carry the football just as many times as Smart and offensive coordinator Jim Chaney see fit.

“I feel good about Nick, he feels good and is ready to go,” Smart said. “He won’t be on a pitch count by any means.”

Naturally, defensive lineman DaQuan Hawkins-Muckle said he and his teammates could not be more excited. Hawkins-Muckle admitted to having tackled Chubb in scrimmages and noted No. 27 handled it "just like any other guy."

“It makes us feel we’ve got our brother back. He’s got confidence, we’ve got confidence in him,” Hawkins-Muckle said. “It’s time to play now. Game week is here.”

Obviously getting Chubb back is a major boon to the Bulldog offense.

As a freshman, Chubb rushed for 1,547 yards and 14 touchdowns and last year tallied 747 yards and seven touchdowns in six games before his injury occurred.

“It’s incredible with what he’s been able to do in eight months,” linebacker Reggie Carter said. “He’s been working real hard and he deserves everything he gets.”

Carter said he’s noticed a big difference in Chubb since his comeback began.

“He’s hungrier,” Carter said. “He missed so much football last year … I really don’t know how to explain it. He’s coming work. Not to say he’s hasn’t before, he always has. It’s great to have him back out there.

“He went through all that, so when I see that it makes me push even harder to get over my sore shoulder, my sore knee.”

NOTE: Smart said although running back Elijah Holyfield (day-to-day with an ankle injury) has been cleared to practice and play, there is still no word yet if junior Sony Michel (forearm) will able to play against the Tar Heels. “He’s been practicing,” Smart said. “He hasn’t been cleared to tackle live. It’s a situation where he’s been doing more each day and we continue to get updates after every practice.”