Kirby Smart updates the availability of Jalen Carter, AD Mitchell, Earnest Greene, and Nyland Green
Georgia has been unstoppable through three games and against some quality teams as well. Head coach Kirby Smart got the first SEC win of the season against South Carolina on Saturday but will now revert back to the nonconference this week. Kent State will travel to Athens but the Bulldogs are still dealing with injuries to key players.
Smart provided an update on four guys, with Jalen Carter, AD Mitchell, Nyland Green, and Earnest Greene being in question.
Beginning with Mitchell, Smart said the wide receiver is hopeful against Kent State, while Green is more of a question mark. Getting the defensive back to full speed seems to be Smart’s priority.
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“We’re really hopeful to get AD back,” Smart said during Wednesday’s SEC coaches teleconference. “He’s getting closer. Nyland, hit some good speeds yesterday. He’s running. Don’t know if he’ll be able to play this week but he’s getting closer.”
Earnest Greene close to playing for Georgia
The next player touched on was an exciting true freshman on the offensive line in Greene. He has not been able to play for Georgia through four games but Smart thinks Greene’s time could be coming. Working with both the offense and scout team, Greene could see the field depending on practice this week.
“Earnest Greene has looked the best he has all year. He’s working both with the offense and with the scouts. He doubles up, gets extra work down against us. He’s further along than he’s been, he may be available for this game. It really just depends how today’s practice goes and Thursday’s.”
Coming out of high school, Greene was ranked a four-star prospect by the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting services. He was a top 50 overall guy, ranking No. 48 in the country. Smart was able to pull him out of the state of California and the famous St. John Bosco High School.
Kirby Smart provides update on Jalen Carter
Arguably the most important update Smart provided was Carter at the defensive tackle position. The future top NFL Draft pick has been dealing with an ankle injury since the Oregon game and saw limited action against South Carolina.
Smart says due to the position Carter plays, the Bulldogs are going to be careful with his usage heading into Kent State.
“Still don’t know,” Smart said. “He was limited yesterday so it will probably remain that way today and see how he’s able to push through. It’s not a severe ankle injury but it’s enough at his position where you put a lot of stress on that. You’re playing a double team, you’re playing blocks, you’re dealing with a lot more load than maybe a receiver or DB.”