ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — A.J. Turman, who has never played in a regular-season game for Georgia, is emerging as a tailback to watch in 2015.
Turman, a third-year sophomore, led the Bulldogs in rushing Saturday for the second straight scrimmage. He ran for 140 yards and two touchdowns to gain momentum for next week's spring game.
With Todd Gurley preparing for the NFL draft, Nick Chubb being closely monitored and Keith Marshall and Sony Michel out with injuries, Turman has benefited from an increased workload this spring.
Turman missed last season with a right foot injury that required surgery. He was redshirted in 2013.
"Last year was really hard, I'm not going to lie," Turman said this week. "It was probably my hardest year.
"I'm ready to bounce back and get on the field now."
Chubb, the Southeastern Conference's freshman of the year last season, will be Georgia's lead tailback this year. Turman could be moving up the depth chart.
Chubb has little to prove this spring after rushing for 1,547 yards and 14 touchdowns. He had only three carries for 10 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's scrimmage.
Marshall and Michel have been hampered by injuries.
"I get more reps. It gives me more of a chance to play," Turman said.
Marshall ran for 759 yards and eight touchdowns as a freshman in 2012. He had a slow return from a season-ending knee injury against Tennessee in 2013. He played in only three games last season, but looked strong at the start of spring before his hamstring injury.
Michel set a career high with 155 yards rushing against Troy last year before missing five games with shoulder and ankle injuries. Coach Mark Richt has said Michel likely will miss the remainder of spring with another shoulder injury.
The 6-foot, 215-pound Turman was a four-star prospect out of Orlando, Florida. He said he never considered transferring when he appeared lost on the depth chart behind so many tailbacks.
"No, I think competition makes everybody better," he said.
"I picture myself fitting in real good. We're all powerful running backs and that's what Georgia produces, hard runners. I feel like I fit in perfectly."
Brendan Douglas also had a busy day at tailback with 22 carries for 90 yards and a touchdown.
Faton Bauta and Brice Ramsey received most of the work in the competition for the starting job at quarterback. Bauta completed 16 of 28 passes for 250 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Ramsey, the top backup to 2014 senior Hutson Mason, completed 17 of 28 passes for 219 yards and one touchdown.
"As it went, Faton was a little hotter on the front end, and Brice was a little hotter at the tail end of the scrimmage," Richt said. "They're getting there. They really are. We're learning a lot. Of course, the better you protect, the easier it is to prove that you know your progressions and you can get to your second and third guy."
Jacob Park completed 2 of 8 passes for 36 yards.
Linebacker Jake Ganus, who transferred to Georgia after Alabama-Birmingham shut down its program, led the defense with nine tackles.