Electric frosh RB Knowshon Moreno sparks Georgia

Redshirt freshman RB Knowshon Moreno has carried the Georgia offense during its four-game winning streak. Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

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ATHENS, Ga. -- Knowshon Moreno stood in the end zone with his hands on his hips and turned toward the black-clad Sanford Stadium crowd, his head vigorously bobbing up and down.

It was just what you'd expect from the player receiver Sean Bailey calls "the Energizer Bunny;" Moreno just can't stop moving -- on and off the field.

Minutes after the 24-yard touchdown run -- in which Auburn's Zac Etheridge and Jerraud Powers were closing in from different directions and Moreno cut inside, causing them to run into each other -- he was on the sideline with fellow backs Thomas Brown, Kregg Lumpkin and Jason Johnson, snap dancing to Crank That (Soulja Boy) as the song pumped through the stadium speakers.

"I always feel myself always moving," Moreno, a redshirt freshman, said.

The 5-foot-11, 207-pounder has been a catalyst in the eighth-ranked Bulldogs' midseason rebirth, with his fourth straight 100-yard game in last Saturday's 45-20 win over No. 18 Auburn. It marked the first time Georgia scored 40 points in three straight games since 1942.

"He's been a big part of our momentum swing," coach Bulldogs Mark Richt said. "He's a high-energy guy and playing with that kind of energy has rubbed off on a lot of guys. He does make people miss and he does run hard and he's just got 'it,' and he's helping raise the level of play for everybody."

If not for injuries, Georgia's offense may not be seeing as much of the perpetual ball of energy. Moreno was the talk of the annual spring G-Day game, running for 68 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries. But at the season's outset, he was set to share carries with seniors Brown and Lumpkin in a loaded backfield.

Lumpkin broke his thumb in the first game and later suffered a knee injury that will keep him out at least until the end of the regular season, while Brown was knocked out against Vanderbilt with a broken collarbone. That opened the door for Moreno.

After averaging 15 carries a game through the first six games, Moreno turned into a workhorse against Vandy, carrying 28 times for 157 yards. He followed that with 33 carries for 188 yards and three touchdowns in a 42-30 win over Florida and 196 yards and three TDs on 26 carries in a victory over Troy. With Brown back in the lineup against Auburn, Moreno still took the bulk of the carries, running 22 times.

In the process, he's put his name alongside the most hallowed name in Georgia football, as his 1,104 yards make him the first Bulldog freshman to hit the 1,000-yard mark since Heisman winner Herschel Walker in 1980. But the kid from New Jersey has a personality that's a sharp contrast to his boisterous on-field persona -- and he's as quick to dodge praise, as he is defenders.

"It's definitely an honor, but I can't do it without my teammates, without my boys up front," Moreno said. "It's definitely an honor for the whole team."

Although Moreno refuses to accept much credit, he's made an enormous impact on the Bulldogs offense. Moreno has helped bring confidence to a line that starts two true freshmen (left tackle Trinton Sturdivant and right guard Clint Boling) and a redshirt freshman (left guard Chris Davis) and he's also eased the strain -- and the spotlight -- on sophomore quarterback Matthew Stafford.

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