Georgia linebacker Nolan Smith heads to locker room with injury

Georgia could be facing a loss to its historic defense. Linebacker Nolan Smith exited early in the fourth quarter of Saturday night’s game at Tennessee.

After exiting the game, he headed to the locker room holding his left wrist.

The former five-star recruit and No. 1 player in the class of 2019, Smith has been a huge piece of this season’s Georgia defense. The junior has 32 total tackle this season, but more importantly for the Bulldogs, he has been the leader of their front seven. He also has an interception and has forced two fumbles.

Losing Smith to a long-term injury could be devastating for the nation’s top-ranked team, which currently holds a 34-10 lead over Tennessee. The Georgia linebacker depth is already thin with the indefinite suspension of the team’s leading sacker, Adam Anderson. Anderson has been charged with rape in Athens-Clarke County.