Georgia Coach Kirby Smart Gives Update On William Poole and Injuries
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ATHENS - Kirby Smart spoke with the media today as his No. 1 ranked Georgia Bulldogs prepare for Kent State after a dominant performance against South Carolina.
Smart spoke about a number of different topics and gave an injury update on some key players.
One of them was star defensive lineman Jalen Carter who played sparingly against South Carolina. One of the top defenders in college football, Carter is an absolute force in the middle of Georgia’s defense and Smart is hopefully to get him back to 100% soon.
“Jalen is dealing with a lingering ankle issue. He's, really, had it since the Oregon game. And he's trying to get well. Trying to get him healthy. Hopefully he'll be full go this week. He was close last week, but didn't end up having to play a lot of snaps.”
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Star receiver AD Mitchell was injured on Georgia’s first possession against Samford. He didn’t play last weekend against South Carolina but Smart is “hopeful” to get him back this week.
“Then AD, we're hopeful to get him back this week”, Smart said. “Again, it's one of those deals last week we thought we might get him back. We're hopeful to get him back this week.”
Smart added that defensive back William Poole, a key player in Georgia’s national championship victory last year, is no longer with the team.
“William Poole is not going to be with us for the remainder of the season”, Smart said. “He's dealing with a personal matter and he's going to focus on that and his health and well-being. He will not be with us for the rest of the year, unfortunately. But we've kind of been chugging along there at STAR. I mean, to be honest, we have Tykee (Smith) at STAR and (Javon) Bullard there. The entire fall camp, Poole played some there in the third down situations against Oregon. But he was working more at corner. But we have the guys we have, and we have to get the guys we have better to go where we want to go. “
Tight end Arik Gilbert, who Georgia fans have been waiting to see for over a year now, still isn’t 100% ready to help the team.
“He (Gilbert) is going to be day-to-day throughout the week”, Smart said.
Cornerback Nyland Green, a former 4-star prospect, has been dealing with a hamstring injury that could be healed soon.
“He has a hamstring and we're hopeful to get him back soon.”
Georgia plays host to Kent State (1-2, 0-0 MAC) in Athens on Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. and the SEC Network+/ESPN+ will stream the matchup.