Pair of former Georgia running backs lead their teams in rushing after strong Week 1 NFL preseason performances

The NFL preseason can be a supremely important opportunity for young rookies and players on the roster bubble to make a statement, proving their worth to their respective teams. As Week 1 of NFL preseason games kicked off a pair of Georgia rookie running backs took advantage of every single touch to make sure they give themselves the best shot at sticking in the league.

Daijun Edwards and Kendall Milton, the two leading rushers for Georgia in 2023 who both tallied over 800 yards from scrimmage and double digit touchdowns for the Bulldogs last year posted impressive Week 1 performances in preseason action.

Both Edwards and Milton somehow went undrafted in this spring, but have been making significant strides with their NFL squads this off-season. Edwards landed with the Steelers. Milton with the Eagles. And after one week of preseason games both are leading their teams in rushing thanks to solid performances.

Daijun Edwards posted one of the most incredible runs of the preseason to date as he toted the rock for 24 yards on a simple carry up the middle. His underrated burst, bend, and vision allowed him to accelerate through to the second level, then nearly hold off a last minute tackle ahead of the goal line against the Texans on Thursday.

Edwards immediately followed his explosive play up with a 1-yard rushing touchdown as he capped off a night where he took four touches for 37 total yards. He'll have his hands full trying to make the active roster as a rookie given that Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren are a strong one-two punch, then Cordarelle Patterson likely makes the team due to special teams value. However, if he keeps it up during the preseason he may just steal a spot.

Kendall Milton also looked impressive as he led the Eagles with 39 yards rushing yards on 9 carries. Milton didn't bust out any play quite as explosive as Edwards' 24-yard run but his down to down consistency that Georgia fans are quite familiar with was evident throughout the game.

Milton will also be hard pressed to make the final roster as Saquon Barkley, Kenneth Gainwell, and Will Shipley look like the heavy favorites to carry the Eagles backfield into 2024, but his performance certainly didn't hurt his chances in sticking as a rookie. Milton brings the feature back size, strength, and overall skill set that no other running back on the Eagles possesses outside of Barkley so there may be some incentive to find a way to hold him on the team.

It's still early in the NFL preseason calendar, but it's great to see two former Georgia Bulldogs already proving they should have been drafted this spring. Hopefully they both continue stringing strong plays together and make it on NFL rosters.

Be looking for more Georgia Bulldogs coverage here at A to Z Sports all year long! Follow me (@FF_TravisM) and A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) on X for all the latest football news!

And if you want to look back on Kendall Milton's great Georgia career just check out his highlights in the video below!