Georgia pass rusher Nolan Smith is done for the season with a torn pectoral muscle, coach Kirby Smart confirmed Tuesday.
Smart said Smith would undergo surgery this week and could come back to encourage his teammates at Thursday’s practice ahead of Saturday’s mega matchup between Georgia (8-0, 5-0 Southeastern Conference) and Tennessee (8-0, 4-0) in Athens, Ga.
“He does a great job. He is like an extra coach because he is so enthusiastic and getting after it,” Smart said. “He brings the energy. We are hoping to get him out there on Thursday.”
Smart initially feared Smith had dislocated his shoulder in the first half of the Bulldogs’ 42-20 win against Florida last Saturday, but an MRI confirmed it was instead a muscle injury.
Smith is a considered a first-round prospect for the 2023 NFL Draft. It’s unclear at this point if he’d be ready to take part in the NFL combine, which opens Feb. 28.
In addition to his team-high three sacks, Smith has 16 quarterback hurries and seven tackles for loss in eight games this season. He has 12.5 sacks and 110 tackles in 38 career games with the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs and Volunteers are Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, in the AP poll this week. When the initial College Football Playoff rankings were released Tuesday night, it was Tennessee No. 1 and Georgia looking up at them at No. 3.
Smith’s absence is untimely to say the least, as Tennessee and Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Hendon Hooker lead the nation in scoring (49.4 points per game) and total offense (553 yards per game).
Georgia is No. 2 nationally — tops in the SEC — in scoring defense, allowing just 10.5 points per game.
–Field Level Media
