Georgia football deactivation makes it official, with farewell graphics

Georgia football deactivation makes it official, with farewell graphics

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ATHENS – Former Georgia football team captains Monty Rice, Ben Cleveland and Eric Stokes have made official, they are relinquishing their Peach Bowl experience to focus on preparing for the NFL’s 2021 draft.

UGA coach Kirby Smart said last Saturday that players who choose not to participate in bowl games are not the trend they appear to be.

“It’s not necessarily the modern thing or the trend to do that,” said Smart. “People say it is so, but that is not true.”

Smart said 58 of the 64 best players selected in last year’s draft for the NFL who participated in bowling games last season.

Smart confirmed reports last Saturday that Rice, Cleveland and Stokes were not expected to play the bowl. The coach said Rice (foot) and Cleveland (shoulder) had problems they had been playing with.

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Opponent Tre ‘McKitty, who also gave up, has dealt with a knee, said Smart.

Former UGA external linebacker Jermaine Johnson also dropped out, announcing recently that he is moving to the state of Florida.

Smart did not address the status of ex-cornerback DJ Daniel of 2019, who must also have chosen not to prepare for the Senior Bowl.

The Bulldogs had three players who chose to leave the Sugar Bowl last year, with team captains Andrew Thomas and JR Reed choosing not to travel to the bowl location.

Reed aggravated a foot injury while preparing the bowl in Athens and sought to prepare for the NFL combination.

The offensive attack Isaiah Wilson, just as Thomas was chosen in the first round of the NFL last year, also opted out of the Sugar Bowl game with Baylor.

There were at least 13 UGA players who did not play in the 26-14 victory over Bears.

Smart indicated at the time that it was the nature of the beast.

“The NFL environment that we have, if we continue to recruit at a high level, what we did, will probably be an annual deal in which the guys decide that I am not going to play based on certain reasons or what they choose,” said Smart in the year past. “And that is their choice. I respect this. “

Smart, understandably, explained this year that he wanted the focus to be on the players who are participating in the game, and he is proud of them for that.

Outside linebacker Azeez Ojuarli, designed as a first round pick of the NFL’s 2021 draft by some, decided to play in the Peach Bowl after several reports that he was opting out.

Senior Richard LeCounte continues to practice in an effort to overcome injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident on Halloween night on Macon Highway, and senior defensive side Malik Herring is playing in the Peach Bowl, even with an invitation to the Senior Bowl .

Rice, Cleveland, McKitty, LeCounte, Herring, Daniel and defender Mark Webb were all invited to the January 30 game in Mobile, Alabama, which features a week of training closely monitored by all NFL technical and general managerial teams.

It is a record number of Georgia players in the Senior Bowl as it stands, further evidence of the talent Smart is recruiting and developing for the NFL level.

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