Georgia OL coach Stacy Searels recovering from pneumonia in Athens-area hospital

Georgia offensive line coach Stacy Searels is not with the team at the Orange Bowl currently, instead recovering from pneumonia in a hospital in Athens, Ga., according to a report from DawgsHQ.

The Bulldogs are scheduled to play in the Orange Bowl on Saturday afternoon, taking on No. 5 Florida State.

Searels may yet recover in time, as a “a full recovery is anticipated per the team,” according to a statement released by the team.

Georgia brought Searels onto the staff to coach the offensive line in 2022. He had previously spent three seasons on staff at North Carolina.

Searels has an extensive coaching background, spending time coaching at LSU, Miami, Texas and Virginia Tech. He also had a previous stint at Georgia.

The Georgia assistant coach was a three-year starter on the offensive line at Auburn in the 1980s, helping block for 1985 Heisman Trophy winner Bo Jackson.

Georgia missing two key players

Stacy Searels isn’t the only key guy missing for Georgia as preparations continue in Miami. Tight end Brock Bowers and offensive lineman Amarius Mims were also absent when the team plane landed on Wednesday.

Head coach Kirby Smart addressed the question of Bowers playing in the game.

“That’s up to Brock. Brock’s been with us the whole time and he’s been doing all the things he’s got to do,” Smart said. “It’s more important though that he’s 100%. The guy probably played earlier than he should have, came out there and competed his butt off. He’s done everything he can for Georgia. He’s not 100% so it makes it a little harder to do.”

The talented tight end has totaled 2,538 career receiving yards and 26 touchdowns, while also adding 193 rushing yards and five scores on the ground. He is a mismatch nightmare, so his absence would be a big blow to the Bulldogs.

Bowers and Mims both suffered high-ankle sprains that required a tight-rope surgery during the season to repair. Mims’ recovery took significantly longer than Bowers.