Bulldogs banged up as football camp begins, but no COVID-19 opt-outs for UGA
Georgia has a full roster but won’t be at full strength when preseason camp begins Monday.
Head coach Kirby Smart on Sunday shared an extensive list of Bulldogs who have been or are currently dealing with injuries with camp set to begin.
Most notably, potential starting quarterback Jamie Newman suffered a mid-foot sprain and missed about half of this summer’s access period, which Smart referred to as a “minicamp.” However, Newman has since been cleared by the medical staff.
Other offensive injuries include transfer quarterback J.T. Daniels and sophomore receiver Dominick Blaylock, neither of whom has been fully cleared after suffering torn ACLs last season. Blaylock has been able to do some workouts and running, while Daniels has taken limited reps.
Freshman offensive lineman Broderick Jones and freshman tight end Darnell Washington are also back fully practicing after dealing with minor injuries. Freshman receiver Arian Smith, however, is not yet able to practice after surgery on his meniscus and will return at some point this season.
On the defensive side, five-star freshman defensive back Kelee Ringo will be “out for a while” due to surgery to repair a shoulder injury he suffered in high school. Ringo figured to be in the mix for playing time in a talented secondary.
Redshirt freshman linebacker Rian Davis is also sidelined after meniscus surgery. Senior cornerback D.J. Daniel is recovering from an ankle injury that sidelined him for most of the summer access period, but Smart said he will be back as a full participant starting on the first day of fall camp. So will senior linebacker Monty Rice, who missed some time with a foot injury.
As far as opt-outs due to COVID-19, Smart said he hasn’t yet had a player that has made the decision to sit out the season.
“Our guys have been very open, transparent,” Smart said. “We’ve had a lot of meetings and talks to make sure they’re comfortable with the information they’re receiving.”
Georgia’s season opener is Sept. 26.
Bulldogs holding each other accountable
It’s a message that senior safety Richard LeCounte said has been ingrained into every Georgia player and coach. If the team wants to have a season, it has to follow all the necessary safety protocols.
The coaches have been doing what they can to ensure players aren’t breaking the rules, addressing the situation every time they hear of a player not wearing a mask or violating some other protocol. However, it’s ultimately up to the players to keep their teammates in line.
“The season might mean a little bit more to a junior or senior than maybe a true freshman,” Smart said. “Sometimes they need to hear that from the junior or senior. That message is much better delivered from one of those kids than just from a coach.”
LeCounte said the team has done a good job of avoiding large groups and doing things to stay safe such as wearing masks and washing their hands. Junior cornerback Eric Stokes echoed that message, saying the Bulldogs can’t be hypocrites by saying they want a season while also not following safety protocol.
But there are some aspects that Stokes and his teammates can’t control. Students are returning to Athens this week as Georgia prepares to start classes on Thursday, and medical experts across the country are concerned that college towns could see spikes in COVID-19 cases in the coming weeks if students don’t take proper steps.
If those kinds of spikes happen, the likelihood of an SEC football season decreases. LeCounte wants to make sure that his senior season isn’t ruined by rising case numbers.
“These guys are taking this protocol very seriously and also being able to help the others that’s on the campus, transmit that message that we need everybody on the campus to be safe so we have a season also,” LeCounte said.
This story was originally published August 17, 2020 at 5:00 AM.