The latest on the Bulldogs’ in and outs for Saturday.The wait for Georgia football is nearly over.
No. 1 Georgia (0-0, 0-0 SEC) takes the field at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday against No. 14 Clemson (0-0, 0-0 ACC) to begin the 2024 season for both teams. Saturday’s game will be the 61st between the Bulldogs and the Tigers, the most recent being Georgia’s 10-3 triumph to begin the 2021 season.
Georgia starts the 2024 season with great expectations after falling just short of the playoffs previous year. The Bulldogs’ loss to Alabama in the SEC title game dashed their aspirations of a three-peat, but they finished the season with a 13-1 record owing to
Florida State was blown away in the Orange Bowl.The Bulldogs lost important offensive starters Brock Bowers, Ladd McConkey, and Daijun Edwards, as well as defensive starters Kamari Lassiter, Javon Bullard, and Tykee Smith. They do, however, return numerous significant contributors from last year, including quarterback and projected Heisman Trophy contender Carson Beck.
Clemson, on the other hand, struggled to get started last season, losing 28-7 to Duke. The Tigers then suffered three losses in five games as Florida State, Miami, and NC State all outscored them. Clemson finished the season on a high note, winning its final five games, the last of which was a come-from-behind triumph over Kentucky.
at the Gator Bowl.Junior Cade Klubnik returns as Clemson’s starting quarterback from a year ago. The Tigers also have numerous significant returning starters, including running back Phil Mafah, defensive linemen TJ Parker and Peter Woods, and linebacker Barrett Carter.
“Just a lot of admiration for their program and what Dabo has done. “He did an incredible job,” Kirby Smart remarked on Monday. “He has a terrific culture and environment. They do an excellent job of recruiting our state. We often go head to head with them. When you look at their roster, there are a lot of kids who we were really close to. I’m sure it goes the same way for them. “It should be an amazing environment.”
Saturday’s game between Georgia and Clemson is regarded as one of Week 1’s headline games, and the Bulldogs face a few injury concerns heading into the weekend. Here’s the latest on who we expect to play against the Tigers and who won’t.
Remember to check back in on this story around an hour before Saturday’s first kick. We’ll update you on who was warming up and who wasn’t:
RUNNING BACK TREVOR ETIENNE (DOUBTFUL)
A couple of players on this list are uncertain about their status owing to non-injury reasons. Trevor Etienne is one of them.
Etienne may face a ban on Saturday as a result of his March arrest on allegations including driving under the influence. While Etienne’s court issue was concluded in July, the Georgia program’s consensus is that the Florida transfer will not play in the opener.
Etienne, who is 5 feet 9 and weighs 205 pounds, transferred to the Bulldogs after a successful sophomore season at Florida. In 2023, Etienne was the Gators’ second-leading rusher, with 131 carries for 753 yards with eight touchdowns.
Only Montrell Johnson has more carries and yards. Etienne averaged at least 5.0 yards per run in eight games this season and had at least 80 rushing yards in three of the Gators’ last four games.
Etienne, a former three-star prospect from Jennings, Louisiana, impressed during his rookie season at Florida. Etienne had 118 carries for 719 yards and 6 touchdowns in 2022, breaking the 100-yard mark against South Carolina and Florida State.
RUNNING BACK RODERICK ROBINSON (OUT)
Roderick Robinson was likely to be one of the backs called upon to step up if Etienne did not play. Unfortunately, Robinson’s toe injury has sidelined him for the foreseeable future.
Robinson underwent surgery last week after suffering from what Kirby Smart described as turf toe. Robinson will most likely be week-to-week from now on, according to Smart.
Robinson was pressed into a role early in his true freshman season when Kendall Milton and Daijun Edwards were injured. Robinson suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 3 against South Carolina and missed the next six games before returning to face Ole Miss. Robinson had two carries for 37 yards against the Rebels but did not play the next three games. He returned in the Orange Bowl, rushing seven times for 70 yards in the Bulldogs’ rout of Florida State.
RUNNING BACK BRANSON ROBINSON (IN)
While Roderick Robinson will be unavailable, Branson Robinson could start on Saturday.
Branson Robinson is preparing for his victorious return from injury, having torn his patellar tendon during autumn camp last year. The redshirt sophomore made waves at the start of camp, when he had no restrictions other than having his workload carefully regulated by the Bulldogs staff.
Given that this is Robinson’s first game back, it will be interesting to see how much Georgia uses him.
Robinson appeared in 12 games as a true freshman in 2022 and finished as the team’s fourth-leading rusher, with 68 runs for 330 yards and three touchdowns. He finished his freshman season on a high note, carrying seven times for 42 yards and two scores in the Bulldogs’ rout of TCU.
He missed the entire 2023 season due to a torn patellar tendon. He did not participate fully in spring practice, but he did warm up with the squad before to the G-Day spring game.
WIDE RECEIVER COLBIE YOUNG (IN)
Miami Transfer Colbie Young has received a lot of attention this offseason. A hamstring ailment slowed him down throughout fall camp, but all signs indicate he’s ready to play.
Smart stated on Monday that Young has been fully engaged since Georgia began preparing for Clemson. Young’s status is critical for Georgia’s passing attack, which must replace reliable playmakers such as Brock Bowers, Ladd McConkey, and Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint.
Young, who stands 6-foot-3, recently finished his junior season with 47 catches for 563 yards and five scores for the Hurricanes.
CENTER JARED WILSON (IN)
Georgia faced a difficult position during fall training when centre Jared Wilson developed Achilles tendonitis. The good news is Wilson returned for the Bulldogs’ final scrimmage of camp, and all indications are he’ll be ready to go on Saturday.
Wilson drew attention during fall camp ahead to the 2023 season, but he settled in as Sedrick Van Pran’s backup at centre. Wilson has been praised for his exceptional athleticism at the position and established himself as the starting centre in the spring.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE WARREN BRINSON (IN)
Georgia’s defensive line has been a huge talking point this offseason, and it became a source of concern after Warren Brinson missed a significant portion of camp due to an Achilles injury. The good news is that Brinson was ready to go when Georgia started preparing for Clemson, which speaks well for the super senior and the entire Bulldogs line.
Brinson started three games last year and was a regular on the Bulldogs’ defensive line. He finished the season with 21 tackles, three tackles for loss, and two sacks.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE JORDAN HALL (OUT)
While Brinson’s return is welcome, the Bulldogs will be shorthanded on defence. Jordan Hall is still recovering from injury and will not be available against the Tigers.
Smart explained that Hall’s most recent injury is somewhat unusual.
“Jordan was recovering from a stress fracture in his tibia and began running. He is currently struggling with the identical issue in the second leg. “The other leg had the same thing,” Smart explained on August 13. “It was weird that it happened, but he didn’t realise it until he started rushing to get back from the first one. We needed to fix the other one.”
Hall was regarded as a significant addition in Georgia’s 2023 During the signing class, the five-star defensive tackle worked hard to establish himself on the defensive line. The 6-foot-4, 320-pound lineman appeared in 10 games as a true freshman last fall and recorded 10 tackles. His most productive game came against Tennessee, when he made four tackles in the Bulldogs’ 38-10 win.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE XZAVIER MCLEOD (QUESTIONABLE)
Another defensive lineman, South Carolina transfer Xzavier McLeod, has been hampered by an injury. According to Dawgs247, McLeod has been battling with an abdominal strain, putting his availability into question heading into the season opener.
McLeod was a four-star talent when he signed with South Carolina in the 2023 class, but his time in Columbia was short. He appeared in four games as a true freshman last autumn, finishing with one tackle and one interception.
INSIDE LINEBACKER SMAEL MONDON (PROBAB
LE)
Smael Mondon is another Georgia player whose status is uncertain owing to potential suspension. Mondon’s current situation is unknown owing to a July arrest on reckless driving allegations. Mondon’s case was settled earlier this month.
Mondon has also been working his way back from offseason foot surgery, but Smart says he’s fully recovered.
“Smael has practiced every practice this camp,” Smart stated on August 20. “He’s had some days of higher volume, some days of lower volume, but Smael’s been out there doing everything.”
Mondon will most likely face Clemson on Saturday.
CORNERBACK CHRIS PEAL (DOUBTFUL)
Georgia cornerback Chris Peal was hindered by an injury during fall training last year. Peal has been out again in preseason, this time with a shoulder ailment.
Peal underwent labrum surgery in the spring and missed some time as a result. Smart stated on August 20 that he was not cleared for the start of camp, which resulted in Peal wearing a black, non-contact jersey many times throughout August.
“He’s just now getting cleared, as in today,” Smart remarked on August 20. “He has been practicing. He just hasn’t been cleared to make full contact. He will get to accomplish some of that.”
Peal was hindered by a turf toe during autumn camp last year. He didn’t notice the field until Orange Bowl and finished the game with one tackle.
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