Georgia Bulldogs leading rushers Zamir White, James Cook and top tackler Lewis Cine declare for NFL draft

Play.

The muscles in Georgia are of the Zamir White variety.

White pushes the ball into the end zone to give Georgia the lead. (0:20)

2 pm

Georgia will be without its leading tackler and two of its leading rushers when it tries to defend its national championship in 2022.

White, who was the team's leading runner this past season, is entering the draft. James Cook is leaving with one season of eligibility remaining.

Cine, who is the fourth safety available for the draft, also announced on Friday that he is entering the NFL draft.

White, who overcame two knee injuries and health problems as a child, ran for 856 yards with 11 touchdown this past season. White, from North Carolina, is 15th in school history with 2,043 rushing yards, and he has led the team in rushing in each of the past two seasons.

White ran for 84 yards and a touchdown in Georgia's 33-18 victory against Alabama in Monday night's College Football Playoff National Championship presented by AT&T, which ended the school's 41-year wait for a national title.

White wrote on his account that bringing a national championship to Athens was the ultimate reward. I am so proud to be a part of this team. These are memories that will last a lifetime.

One of Georgia's most versatile players this past season was Cook, the younger brother of Dalvin Cook. He ran for 728 yards and had seven touchdown runs. Cook is the ninth running back available for the draft.

Georgia will bring back three running backs who ran at least 200 yards in the year 2022. The running back missed most of the season with a knee injury. The No. 2 running back in the country was signed by the Mississippi State.

Cine, a junior from Cedar Hill, Texas, had 73 tackles and nine pass breakups this season. He was named the defensive most valuable player of the game against Alabama.

Cine wrote on the social networking site that he would forever cherish the friendship and camaraderie he built with his teammates. We accomplished something special, and it will never be taken from us. We are the Dawgs forever because our family is UGA.

Christopher Smith, the starting safety, will return next year.

pic.twitter.com/kDzDCHiuEN
>
Chris Smith will be on January 14, 2022.