ATHENS, Ga. -- When Kirby Smart steps inside the Georgia Dome on Sept. 3 to face North Carolina, there's a chance his best player won't be his old self.

In fact, there's a pretty good chance that Georgia running back Nick Chubb, a former Heisman Trophy candidate, won't be 100 percent. To expect him to be less than 12 months removed from a devastating knee injury that left multiple ligaments severed is pretty naive.

But maybe Chubb doesn't have to be 100 percent to be effective. The bullish back with more than 2,200 yards to his name has pushed through his rehab with the fervor of a superhero, according to his head coach and teammates. While Chubb, a junior, hasn't taken contact since the middle of the 2015 season, he started fall camp running and cutting like everyone around him. If Chubb isn't 100 percent, the people around him can barely tell.

“Nick has been doing for the last three months everything the team has done," Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart said on Monday. "He will continue to do that -- everything the team’s done. We’ll continue to monitor his progress. The big thing for Nick is putting a ball in his hand because that’s what he really hasn’t had outside of drill work.”

Nick Chubb isn't quite 100 percent, but his rehab from a severe knee injury seems well ahead of schedule. Dale Zanine, USA TODAY sports

That has to be so reassuring for Smart, who steps into his first year as the Bulldogs' head coach. His best player has battled through a rigorous rehab after his leg bent the wrong way back in October, and is now running around like a pup again.

“It doesn’t surprise me with Nick," center Brandon Kublanow said. "Nick works extremely hard, probably the hardest worker on this team.”

Smart is also right to be cautious with Chubb. He's the franchise player, and things will be much different for him once he takes his first hit. Those first few runs with the football and pads on will no doubt be a little awkward. And once he gets into a real game, everything will once again change.

Still, it's impressive that he was running, cutting and participating in every drill on Monday. Yeah, that knee brace might be a little cumbersome, but it's a precaution well worth Chubb's time. This day was kind of expected by those around the program. Word on the street is that no one was holding him back during his offseason workouts. Chubb was already sprinting on a treadmill back in February:

He was even cutting after spring break.

And, if you put your ear real close to the ground, you'll hear rumors that Chubb was squatting near 600 pounds before fall camp. That might be more than Smart and his coaches want, but my goodness, that's a lot for someone standing on two perfectly good legs.

“Man, unbelievable guy, right there," safety Dominick Sanders said of Chubb. "The things he does, unbelievable. He’s a very strong player -- strong, very strong, fast -- and he’s been doing a lot. His recovery’s been excellent.”

Chubb might be breaking the rehab mold, but his partner Sony Michel is still very much on the mend. After fracturing his left forearm in an ATV accident on July 3, Michel will be limited for the first part of camp and was seen wearing a brace in practice.

"There’s going to be things he can and can’t do," Smart said of Michel. "He’s going to really work hard on the conditioning aspect early on. Not comfortable with him right now if he were to have to fall or anything and brace himself. So he won’t be as involved.”

Time will tell if either will be ready for North Carolina, but Smart seemed irked at the idea that his offense, which could have a true freshman starting at quarterback, can't run without Chubb or Michel. He pointed to senior Brendan Douglas' experience (715 yards, five touchdowns in his career), the improvement of redshirt freshman Tae Crowder, and the arrival of freshmen Elijah Holyfield and Brian Herrien. After all, Douglas and Crowder impressed him during spring camp with Chubb and Michel sidelined.

“The rhythm can be built through those guys," Smart said. "Whoever’s the next man up has to step up and play.

“The timing should be there.”

It might be, but let's be real: Smart is praying that Chubb trots out for the first series against the Tar Heels.