Georgia’s Kirby Smart ‘fired up’ when receiving video updates on Nick Chubb’s recovery

Every few days, Georgia footbal head coach Kirby Smart will receive a text message from director of sports medicine Ron Courson with a link to a video uploaded.

Each video shows star running back Nick Chubb going through a different drill as he continues his recovery from an injured left knee, in which multiple ligaments were torn and cartilage was damaged. No matter where Smart is, he’s encouraged each time he receives a clip from Courson.

“When you get that video, and you know it’s got a link, I’m fired up,” Smart said.

Much like he has said in the past, Smart does not know if Chubb, who sustained his knee injury against Tennessee on Oct. 10, 2015, will be ready for the season-opener against North Carolina on Sept. 3 at the Georgia Dome.

While Smart — who told to an audience gathered at the Walnut Creek Shooting Preserve during Wednesday’s UGA Day that he’s not a “subject matter expert” on knee injuries — is unsure about Chubb’s status for the season opener, his ability to take on a lot of rehabilitation work during the spring was a positive sign.

Chubb regularly took carries during play-polish drills and did some cutting in front of reporters during the last week of spring practice. Also in the final week of the spring, Chubb was able to shed the knee brace he had on for the first four weeks.

“(Courson’s) constantly sending me a video of the progress,” Smart said. “Well I make a point, each time I get a video, to text Chubb saying, ‘Nick, I see you working. I see what you’re doing.’ Because he wants to be recognized for what he’s doing. He’s busted his tail. He’s living the silent life right now. He’s ready to come bursting out at first opportunity. When that’s gonna be, I don’t know.”

While he hasn’t been able to go through team drills with his teammates, Smart said Chubb has taken it on himself to assert himself more as a vocal leader. Chubb is naturally quiet, so taking this role has been a new challenge for the rising junior.

Chubb began his career fourth on the depth chart as a freshman in 2014 before becoming a starter due to injuries in Georgia’s game against Missouri. From there, Chubb ended his freshman campaign with 1,547 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns.

Before the injury against Tennessee, Chubb totaled 747 yards and 7 touchdowns on the ground and was considered a Heisman Trophy contender. While he was stifled against Alabama, Smart’s former team, Chubb still gashed the Crimson Tide for 146 yards and a touchdown — thanks to an 83-yard score — in a 38-10 loss.

Smart, as he has said all along, is still playing the patient approach with the back he hopes to have available in 2016.

“All I can tell you is that I’m going to rely on the doctors,” Smart said. “We’re gonna make a good decision based on his long-term career and health, but he’s a great kid. He’s a kid that has taken a first initiative to call out other kids who aren’t working out. Which, when you start to get that, you start to get the change. It doesn’t need to be me telling kids they need to work out. It needs to be him and he’s taken on that role now and it’s hard to do that when you are on the sideline. But he’s taken ownership of a couple of guys and I’ve been really pleased with that.”

This story was originally published May 4, 2016 at 7:44 PM with the headline "Georgia’s Kirby Smart ‘fired up’ when receiving video updates on Nick Chubb’s recovery."