Bo Walker had a breakout performance for No. 4 Georgia against Charlotte.
The freshman running back scored three rushing touchdowns, achieving a hat trick to help the No. 4 Bulldogs comfortably defeat the 49ers 35-3 in the home regular-season finale Nov. 22 at Sanford Stadium.
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart was happy to see Walker have a breakout performance.
“Great, man. He’s been working his tail off every week,” Smart said. “He’s starting on two special teams units. He never complains. He’s got a smile on his face every day. Just love the way he competes and works. He’s still got to grow and get better at some things, but he catches the ball out of the backfield well, he blocks well, and he’s got good vision. I thought they opened some things up, and he made some people miss.”
In his first game getting meaningful playing time, Walker made the most of his opportunity. The Atlanta-area native totaled a career-high 48 yards on nine carries, averaging 5.3 yards per rush, with three scores.
Walker didn’t receive a carry until the second quarter, though, which makes his performance even more impressive. The Bulldogs led 14-0 after the first period, thanks to two rushing touchdowns from Nate Frazier.
Walker’s number was called on a first down early in the second quarter, resulting in a three-yard gain. The next attempt came two plays later, and it was special, as he scored a 15-yard touchdown, his longest run of the day.
Walker took the handoff from quarterback Gunner Stockton out of the shotgun formation, followed his blockers, and found a hole in the defense. He then made a quick cut before racing to the corner of the end zone.
Walker celebrated with his teammates after he scored his first career touchdown, wearing red and black.
“I think I’m happier for him than he’s happy for himself,” Frazier said of Walker. “To have his first touchdown, then on top of that have two more and have a three-touchdown game as a freshman. That’s big time. That’s real big time. Bo’s a great player. I can’t wait for you guys to see a lot more of him coming up soon.”
Walker added a 12-yard touchdown later in the second quarter, followed by a 3-yard score at the start of the third.
Walker, a 5-foot-9, 215-pound running back, committed to the Bulldogs as a junior in high school. He was rated as a four-star prospect by Rivals.com.
Walker was ranked the nation’s No. 54 overall player and No. 3 running back.
Walker won three state championships at the high school level, two at Cedar Grove High School and one more at Rabun Gap Nacoochee School. He tried to transfer from Cedar Grove to Stockbridge High School following his junior season. One of Walker’s coaches at Cedar Grove took a job at Stockbridge, and he wanted to follow him, which is against the GHSA’s rules. A committee then deemed him ineligible for his senior year.
Walker found a home at Rabun Gap, a private school that competes in an independent league in North Carolina. He helped the Eagles win a state championship and joined the Bulldogs as an early enrollee last December.
Smart was happy that Walker overcame his obstacles and got to play his senior season.
“Yeah, I mean, he got to play his senior year, and that was the positive,” Georgia’s head coach stated. “I mean, he was staring down the possibility of not playing. So, I think he was blessed to play at a really good place (Rabun Gap) in a really good program up there. Then he came here. He’s grown, and he’s competed.”