ATHENS, Ga. — Branson Robinson showed his potential to emerge as a lead running back for No. 1 Georgia in 2023 by rushing for two touchdowns during a rout of TCU in January’s College Football Playoff final.
Instead, he will miss this season altogether.
Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart, speaking Wednesday, said Robinson sustained a ruptured patellar tendon Tuesday, less than two weeks before the season opener. Georgia kicks off its schedule at home on Sept. 2 against the University of Tennessee at Martin, a Football Championship Subdivision program, then hosts Ball State the following week before South Carolina visits to open Southeastern Conference play.
Robinson rushed for 330 yards and three touchdowns while playing in 12 games as a freshman last season as the Bulldogs repeated as national champions for the first time in program history.
In early October, Robinson rushed for 98 yards on 12 carries, both season highs, and scored a touchdown during an SEC game against Auburn. The 5-foot-10, 220-pounder showed potential to assume a bigger role in 2023 when he ran for 42 yards on seven carries with the two scores in the 65-7 rout of TCU that capped a 15-0 season.