It long has been expected that Georgia tailback Trevor Etienne, a transfer from Florida, would be suspended for the season opener against Clemson, and all signs continue to point toward that. While Kirby Smart has declined to confirm it, Etienne’s DUI arrest in March brings an automatic one-game suspension per school policy, barring exoneration. Etienne ended up taking a plea deal where the DUI was dismissed, but he accepted a reckless driving charge, and the interpretation of UGA’s policy was that the one-game suspension holds.
Georgia is confirmed to be without sophomore Roderick Robinson, the third-leading rusher last year who recently had toe surgery.
Given that, look for Georgia to start either Branson Robinson, who missed all of last year after a patella tendon injury, or walk-on Cash Jones. A trio of true freshmen, led by Nate Frazier, figure into the mix.
Smart spoke earlier in the week about being optimistic about the backfield because of preparation from the spring and preseason.
“I felt really comfortable with where our backfield is in those games and doing a good job,” Smart said. “I mean, at Georgia we don’t like to say, ‘Okay, let’s start all over.’ There’s these guys that have been in our program that have been picking up stunts, blitzes that our defense runs. We do two-spot walkthroughs where they’re getting to pick things up. There’s a lot of guys that have had a lot of reps doing those things that hopefully have a great game Saturday.”
