ATHENS – Azeez Ojulari will play in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, and team captain Richard LeCounte continued to train with the team in an effort to recover from an injury, according to Georgia coach Kirby Smart.
The Bulldogs (7-2) classified in 9th place play Cincinnati in 8th place (9-0) at 12:30 pm on Friday at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Smart, who said last week he did not know which players would play, confirmed on Saturday that at least six former Georgia starters should not play in the game, including:
• CB Eric Stokes
• LB Monty rice
• TE Tre ‘McKitty
• OG Ben Cleveland
• OLB Jermaine Johnson
• C Trey Hill
Johnson revealed on Saturday that he is moving to the state of Florida, and Smart said Trey Hill should not recover from arthroscopic knee surgery he did last month in time to play.
UGA senior defender Mark Webb, who was hesitating to play according to reports, will play in the bowl, according to Smart. Smart did not update the status of cornerback DJ Daniel, who some reported was wavering.
Smart, however, gave a big hint that Daniel would be out, but did not mention the former starter as a potential replacement for Stokes.
“I’m focused on the guys who are going to play,” said Smart. “The guys who are not, they have a particular reason. I’ll leave it to these guys, because some of them got hurt over the year.
“I am focused on Cincinnati, Cincinnati and COVID. These are the opponents we are dealing with now. “
Smart said Rice has been dealing with a foot injury since the Alabama game.
Smart also revealed for the first time that Cleveland has a shoulder injury, and McKitty is dealing with the knee injury he suffered before the season.
Georgia players returned to training on Saturday after a three-day break for the holiday, and Smart said they must pass three COVID-19 tests before the bowling game.
Covid’s first test was on Saturday afternoon, and Smart said further tests will take place on Monday morning and Wednesday morning.
Smart made it clear that he wants the media to focus on the players who are going to play the bowl, rather than the players who choose to leave.
“I am very proud of the guys who are (playing) and want to finish and are committed to Georgia,” said Smart. “And they are ending up the right way.”
Georgia had several games lost in the Sugar Bowl last season, including team captains Andrew Thomas and JR Reed, and the offensive attack Isaiah Wilson.
“Many of those choices (from players who didn’t play) last year were not yours, many of those choices last year were our choices,” said Smart. “So we had two players in the first round (Thomas and Wilson) who chose not to play, but we had a few other guys who couldn’t play.”
Smart did not reveal why certain players were not brought in for the bowl trip last season, but Cleveland said he was suspended on account of academics.
Smart indicated that although UGA has at least four players losing the bowl this year, he does not believe it is a trend.
“Of the first 64 players chosen last year in the NFL draft, there were only six who would not play bowling if they had it,” said Smart. “So it’s not necessarily the modern thing or the tendency to do that. People say it is so, but that is not true. “
In fact, this year there are entire teams opting out of COVID-19, as well as some players who are choosing to train for their careers in the NFL.
Georgia’s Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
Kirby Smart shares the key to winning the Peach Bowl
Bulldogs gain momentum with Devonte Wyatt’s plans to return
Bearcats eager to take a bite out of exhausted Bulldogs
How Georgia Prepares for the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Showdown
Bearcats an early fight over Georgia in bowl picks