Who’s out of the Sugar Bowl? Latest updates on Georgia Bulldogs who won’t play New Year’s Day
A trip to the Sugar Bowl for a Kirby Smart-led Georgia team must have some sort of distraction and semblance of outside chatter.
At least that seems to be the case through the first two visits. Georgia limps into the 2019 edition of the New Year’s Six bowl game — albeit a consolation with the College Football Playoff’s implementation — with a number of players expected to be absent.
Ahead of last season’s loss to Texas, Georgia looked unenthused after falling short in its national title quest. A year later, Smart said he would only bring players who were “engaged” to compete against No. 7 Baylor (8:45 p.m., ESPN).
That proved to be no lie, because the Bulldogs are dropping like flies.
It began with the declarations of NFL draft-eligible offensive linemen Andrew Thomas and Isaiah Wilson. They opted to steer clear of playing in the game, and it began a domino effect.
Sitting out due to draft: Thomas and Wilson
Academic ineligibility: junior offensive guard Ben Cleveland
Undisclosed reasons, according to Seth Emerson of The Athletic (Smart deflected inquiries in his welcome press conference on Dec. 27): running back Brian Herrien, defensive lineman Tyler Clark, defensive back Divaad Wilson, cornerback Tyrique McGhee, outside linebacker Walter Grant
Out due to injury: wide receiver Lawrence Cager (leg), wide receiver Dominick Blaylock (knee), safety J.R. Reed (originally intended to play, but hampered by foot injury and opted to prepare for draft).
Questionable to appear: wide receiver Kearis Jackson (ankle), running back D’Andre Swift (shoulder)
That’s quite the handful of key contributors who might not play — some won’t be in attendance — for the season-ending game which could technically serve as the beginning of spring practice.
“It is weird losing a lot of guys,” tight end Charlie Woerner said. “A lot of guys are either injured or not playing. We are still Georgia. We are still a team. It is still a lot of the same dudes that we have grinded with since winter workouts and through the summer.”
For Georgia, the sudden increase in absences allows for opportunity. The Bulldogs’ depth will be tested. Younger players will have a chance to be major rotation pieces, although some have taken that role already. The offensive line will be revamped with the likes of Warren Ericson and Jamaree Salyer potentially getting starting nods to man the vacant positions. Ericson and Salyer have mainly played behind-the-scenes roles this season.
Defensive coordinator Dan Lanning has boasted his depth throughout the season with deep rotations and a wave of players exiting-and-entering the game on nearly every down. At a few positions, that depth becomes a necessity.
Two freshmen, Lewis Cine and Tyrique Stevenson, will get to step into the spotlight for the Bulldogs with Divaad Wilson and Reed not playing. The two first-year defensive backs have emerged towards season’s end, and Cine received a start in the SEC championship.
“Lewis has done some good things during the year,” Smart said on Dec. 18. “He played well when given the opportunity, and he did some good things in that game. He’s one of our faster players, and he helps matchup-wise, and he’s one of our best tacklers.”
As Georgia finishes its season, things feel abnormal again. A period of turnover seems to hit the Bulldogs hard, at least through the past two winters.
But their hope is that this weird vibe doesn’t result in a loss. And that Georgia players are cutting up in the postgame locker room for a different reason than the last trip — which was a merciful end to a sputtering finish.
“Players that have not played much this year are getting the chance to step up,” offensive guard Solomon Kindley said. “We get to see how they will respond to the situation.”
All quotes from New Orleans are courtesy of interview transcripts provided by the Allstate Sugar Bowl.
This story was originally published December 30, 2019 at 3:02 PM.