Georgia OLB Nolan Smith ruled out for game with shoulder injury
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Georgia outside linebacker Nolan Smith has been ruled out for the game in the Bulldogs’ matchup with Florida. DJ Shockley on the Georgia Bulldogs Radio Network reported the news from the sideline, as did the SEC on CBS broadcast crew.
Smith, a senior for the Bulldogs from Savannah, Ga., has started all seven games for Georgia at outside linebacker this season. He had 16 total tackles and a team-high 15 quarterback pressures coming into today’s contest. Prior to his exit from the game, Smith already had two tackles, including one for loss, and a quarterback hurry.
Smith also has a history of strong showing against Florida. Last year Smith was named SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week for his performance that included a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and an interception in Georgia’s 34-7 win over the Gators. All of that happened in a span of 39 seconds of game-time. Smith would finished with four tackles on the day, but the turnover help certainly had a major impact in the win.
He also earned SEC honors previously that season against South Carolina with a team-high eight tackles, causing a fumble and also assisting on a sack that resulted in a South Carolina safety.
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“He came in as a tremendous athlete, probably more of a pure pass rusher that had a great mentality for toughness. That’s just gotten better. He’s worked really hard to improve himself, really in all facets,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said about Smith earlier this season. “He’s not just a football player. This guy is probably one of our most dynamic leaders just in terms of the confidence. He doesn’t really care what other people think about him which is a unique trait in today’s day and age where everybody worries about it, he doesn’t really care. He cares more about the actions, the leadership and how he represents Georgia.”
“I think when you start talking about guys that can be impactful the rest of their life and represent Georgia the right way, he does a tremendous job of doing that,” Smart continued. “He pushes everybody to care just as much as he does. That’s more than just the ability to sack a quarterback or stop the run. He certainly can do those things, but he can do a lot of things off the field as well.”
Georgia leads Florida 21-0 in the second quarter of its annual rivalry matchup at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville. The Bulldogs have had a dominant day so far on defense, forcing four straight three-and-outs of the Florida offense and five punts in five drives overall. For live updates from the DawgsHQ crew in the press box, click here.
