The Daily Southerner, Tarboro, NC

Sports

Related Photos

  • Georgia Bulldogs tailback Todd Gurley runs the ball against the Florida Gators October 27 in Jacksonville, Fla. during a Southeastern Conference game

    Tood Gurley II.jpg

  • Todd Gurley salutes the crowd after scoring a touchdown during a recent game.

    Gurley Salute.jpg
November 7, 2012

Gurley opening plenty of eyes

Correspondent Van Holland

TARBORO — Tarboro native, Todd Gurley is making things happen in Athens, Ga. as a true freshman for the Georgia Bulldogs. His stats are piling up like he is a seasoned veteran who has carried the load for the Bulldogs before and is showing why the Bulldogs coaching staff pushed hard to recruit him out of high school.

Gurley is not used to losing football games, because in high school he only lost three times as a Tarboro Viking and has only suffered defeat once since he has been in Georgia.

One thing Gurley does know how do is be successful and use his size, speed and abilities to his advantage on the field and run over opposing players. He is on track to become a 1,000 yard rusher in his first season as a colligate player. Through nine games this season, Gurley has racked up stat after stat. He is leading the Bulldogs with 885 yards on the ground on just 138 attempts. He has caught nine passes for 90 yards and even has a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Gurley has scored 10 times this season by way of rushing. He is averaging 95.2 yards a game and is averaging 6.2 yards per carry. Gurley is second in the conference in rushing behind Johnny Manziel of Texas A&M who has 922 rushing yards. He is tied for sixth with Marcus Lattimore in overall scoring in the conference as well.

"That is why I came here because I knew it was a great team and I dreamed big," Gurley said. "Why not me as a true freshman and dream big."

He has been compared to the likes of former Georgia Bulldog Hershel Walker. During Walker's freshman season in 1980, he gained 1,616 yards and led the Bulldogs to a national championship. That is the same goal Gurley had going into the season which was to continue winning titles. Gurley led the Vikings to three consecutive state titles in high school and was named the MVP of the championship game two straight years.

With his impressive stats, Gurley may be on his way to receiving his first award as a college player, which is becoming the SEC freshman of the year.

Georgia's offensive coordinator Mike Bobo is impressed with what Gurley has been able to do in the Southeastern Conference as a true freshman.

"He doesn't seem like a true freshman running back," Bobo told reporters. "He doesn't have a freshman body and he is physically like a grown man."

Gurley impressed the Bulldog's coaching staff when he arrived this summer, because he had knowledge of the game unlike most players his age. Gurley has used a game set mental approach to practice and it shows when he steps on the field on Saturday's while he is running over and through players on the opposing team.

 With his style of running and the strength he has, Gurley has opened the eyes of many opposing coaches in the conference.

Time after time, Gurley has shown surprise at the ease with which he has adapted to the conference. He just makes things look so easy with the way he carries the the ball and bounces off of opposing players.

Gurley has helped lead the Bulldogs to first place in the Eastern Division in the SEC and has guided them in the direction in hopes of playing for the SEC title. For that to happen Georgia has to win Saturday which will lock them up for the championship game.

Text Only
Sports
  • DoeRunner.jpg Pinetops 300

    PINETOPS – With the threat of rain during the weekend, it put a little damper on the Pinetops 300 Tractor and Truck Pull attendance. Friday night there was a large crowd in attendance, but not the amount it has been the last several years. There was 500 less people in attendance Friday then there was a year ago, but it didn't stop the pullers from slinging mud everywhere. The fans in one section even had a chance to see what it looked like when a belt breaks on a fine tuned machine. During the Mini Modified run, Thomas Coleman, of Stoneville, had a belt break on his KB 526 Pure Hell ride and the belt slung into the crowd. No one was injured.

    May 20, 2013 2 Photos

  • Vikings, Cougars compete in 2-A state meet

    The Tarboro Vikings and SouthWest Edgecombe Cougars had six girls apiece competing in the NCHSAA 2-A state track meet in Greensboro Friday at North Carolina A&T State University.

    May 20, 2013

  • THS-Relay-Teams.jpg Six Tarboro girls to compete in track finals

    Motivation is a big part of the Tarboro Viking girl's track team's success this season. They enjoy working hard during practice for their coach Rickie Dozier and get fulfillment when they compete in events. Friday will be no different for the six girls that are headed to Greensboro to compete in the NCHSAA 2-A state championship meet at North Carolina A&T State University. They will compete in three relay events and the long jump.

    May 16, 2013 2 Photos

  • 10lb-Carp.jpg BIG FISH

    Camden Grant and her boyfriend Ricky Davis, Jr. caught a 10 pound carp at a state wildlife pond Wednesday morning off of Highway 33 just outside of Tarboro. Grant said she caught the fish on a piece of shrimp around 10:30 a.m.

    May 16, 2013 1 Photo

  • Trey-Radford.jpg Vikings ousted from playoffs by Jaguars

    CARRBORO – After defeating the No. 1 seed in the playoffs Friday, the Tarboro Vikings forgot one thing, they had to hit the ball again Tuesday against the Carrboro Jaguars or their season would be over.
    Tarboro failed to be productive at the plate and were eliminated from the NCHSAA 2-A playoffs after losing 8-0 in the second round. Tarboro never gave in after getting down early, but they just couldn't catch a break offensively and get anything going after trailing by five runs after the second inning.

    May 15, 2013 2 Photos

  • Cougars finish 7th in state golf match

    The SouthWest Edgecombe Cougars went through the regionals and won by four strokes. They just couldn't get it going in the state golf championships Monday or Tuesday at Longleaf Golf and Country Club in Southern Pines. The Cougars finished seventh as a team after shooting 658 over the two day period.

    May 15, 2013

  • Trey-Radford.jpg Vikings advance to second round after defeating Bunn

    BUNN – The Tarboro Vikings brought their "A" game and some lively bats with them Friday night when they defeated the Bunn Wildcats 7-5 in the first round of the 2-A NCHSAA state baseball playoffs. The last time the Vikings won a playoff game it was at the same location five years ago.

    May 13, 2013 2 Photos

  • Reggie-Bess.jpg Bess hired as new Vikings basketball coach

    The Tarboro Vikings have made a coaching change in boy's basketball. They hired Reggie Bess as the new Vikings skipper April 26. Bess is a former Viking basketball star who played for Tarboro in 1995-96. He was part of a team that went to the Eastern Regional finals in 95.

    May 10, 2013 1 Photo

  • Glen-Sasser.jpg Tarboro native inducted into Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame

    Tarboro native and Tarboro High graduate Martin "Glenn" Sasser was inducted into The Greater Wilimington Sports Hall of Fame Sunday.
    Sasser was named to the All-Conference and All-State teams during his high school career. He was also selected to play in the Shrine Bowl game in 1960 and then played in the East-West game in 1961.

    May 10, 2013 1 Photo

  • 16 under softball tryouts

    The Tarboro Parks and Recreation Department and Edgecombe County Girls Softball League will be holding tryouts for 16-under girls fast-pitch softball. The tryouts will takes place Monday and wednesday from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. at Indian Lake Sports Complex on field three.

    May 10, 2013