SEC Media Days: Michel’s injury brings “a lot of unknown”

(Photo: John Kelley/UGA)

HOOVER, AL – Georgia’s running back position raises many questions to begin the season on September 3rd, and the health of Sony Michel is one that Georgia doesn’t yet know about. Michel sustained a broken arm injury in an ATV accident over the break over Independence Day, and Georgia head coach Kirby Smart elaborated on his status.

“With Sony’s situation there’s a lot of unknown,” Smart said in a pre-meeting with beat writers. “He’s started the rehab process, and I don’t think we’ll know availability until closer to the first or second scrimmages. We’ll know closer to then how long it’ll take.”

Smart revealed that Michel sustained an open fracture, with the bone out of the skin. “People say six to eight weeks but (Kenyan Drake’s) injury was less than that.”

Drake, a running back at Alabama when Smart was on staff in Tuscaloosa, sustained a similar injury to a lesser degree. His injury serves as a reference point, however the severity creates many question marks.

Michel rushed for 1,161 yards last season and scored eight touchdowns as the starter for a majority of the season. Nonetheless, the injury concerns surrounding Michel create concern for Smart and staff.