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Kirby Smart comments on Trevor Etienne, Smael Mondon availability for opener

Palmber-Thombsby:Palmer Thombs•08/26/24•

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Dale Zanine | USA TODAY Sports

ATHENS, Ga. — Uncertainty has surrounded the status of Georgia All-SEC selections Trevor Etienne and Smael Mondon for this Saturday’s season opener. After each was arrested this offseason and Kirby Smart made comments at SEC Media Days about likely suspensions, speculation abounded. On Monday, Smart provided the latest update about their availability against Clemson.

“I don’t really talk about other stuff in regards to our players with suspensions,” Smart said. He did not comment when asked whether those decisions had been made internally.

Etienne and Mondon both had charges dropped from their offseason arrests over the summer. DUI less safe and DUI under 21 were dismissed for the running back – still pleading no contest to a reckless driving charge and guilty for underage possession of alcohol, failure to maintain lane and a window tint violation – while Mondon had his reckless driving and racing charges dropped. He pled guilty to driving too fast for conditions.

A transfer from Florida this offseason, Etienne is expected to bring a dynamic ability to the Bulldog backfield when he’s on the field. Kirby Smart has also praised his leadership since the mishap.

“Etienne, he’s a natural leader. He’s been the way, even at Florida he was that way,” Smart said recently. “He’s a very confident kid. He leads by example, gets up there first, is hard on guys when he needs to be and speaks up in front of the team. He’s a tremendous asset.”

Etienne totaled over 1,500 yards of offense in two seasons with the Gators, finding the end zone 15 times. Keep in mind, that came in a split-duty role alongside Montrell Johnson. Still, Etienne earned Freshman All-SEC honors in 2022 and provided plenty of highlights including a career-best 172 yards on 23 carries in an upset over a ranked Tennessee team or his three-touchdown day against LSU.

As for Mondon, the senior has been a big part of Georgia’s defensive plans the past two years. He stepped into a starting spot on the 2022 team, helping the Bulldogs to a second straight national title, and hasn’t looked back. Mondon led UGA in tackles that season despite missing a pair of games due to injury. Then, in 2023, he finished second, playing on an injured foot for most of the season. He did however earn All-SEC Second-Team selection and enters 2024 with high hopes of a healthy campaign.

“It was hard for Smael because he wasn’t able to do everything last year. He was dealing with a nagging injury and then he had the same thing in the spring,” Smart said about the senior linebacker’s leadership. “I feel like he’s been a little more assertive now that he’s back working, operating at every practice getting reps. Even though his reps one day may be 80% and then 40% and then he goes up and down with the volume, he’s been out there. He’s been able to be a leader.”

Etienne and Mondon aren’t the only two Georgia players that found themselves in trouble this offseason. Freshman wide receiver Sacovie White was arrested in May for going the wrong way down a one way street. Redshirt freshman offensive lineman Bo Hughley, the same week as Mondon, was involved in a one car accident that led to a reckless driving arrest. Demello Jones, Justyn Rhett and Joenel Aguero all also received tickets for driving related offenses while David Daniel-Sisavanh’s repeated offenses led to his eventual dismissal. Charges for White have since been dismissed while Hughley’s case is ongoing.

Georgia and Clemson kickoff the action on the first full College Football Saturday of the 2024 season. The Bulldogs and Tigers, both ranked in the top-15 of preseason polls, get going from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta at 12:00 p.m. on ABC.

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