Georgia freshman suspended for fighting returns for second half of SEC Championship

Georgia’s sideline might’ve collectively exhaled as No. 1 George Pickens took the field for the second half’s first offensive drive.

No. 2 LSU led Georgia 17-3 at the game’s intermission and worked offensively without star freshman Pickens and graduate transfer Lawrence Cager. In their absence, Georgia’s offense looked discombobulated. Quarterback Jake Fromm didn’t have a rhythm with the receivers, and that became evident over two Bulldog drives.

Fromm had two solid throws to Tyler Simmons and Matt Landers, one of which was dropped and the other was completed out of bounds. An underthrow to Demetris Robertson, which could’ve resulted in a touchdown, followed. After Georgia reclaimed possession, Fromm overthrew Dominick Blaylock on third down.

Pickens was suspended for the first half of play after a late-game altercation on Nov. 30 at Georgia Tech. Pickens exchanged punches with Yellow Jacket cornerback Tre Swilling after a Bulldogs’ touchdown to Blaylock. Pickens threw Swilling against a wall prior to being ejected.

Pickens was already suspended for the first half against Georgia Tech due to a “violation of team rules,” head coach Kirby Smart said.

“We don’t want to reflect ourselves that way,” Smart said. “He’d be the first to tell you that he lost his composure.”

Pickens has 498 yards and six touchdowns on the season.