Kirby Smart provides injury updates on key Georgia players at SEC Media Days

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Georgia’s rotation at SEC Media Days has just begun and with that, head coach Kirby Smart has given an update on a couple of key Bulldogs. Linebacker Smael Mondon and running back Branson Robinson both missed the spring game in April, each having suffered foot injuries in the final practice prior. Smart shared the latest on both of them and others on Tuesday.

“When you say ready for fall practice, they will not be full go. I don’t know how long it will be, but they will not be full go for practice one,” Smart said. “They will be able to run. What we call dry land running is the next stage, so they’ll be dry land running, but they won’t be full go at practice. We’re going to go through a little bit slower of a ramp up process with both of them. They’ve both been dealing with significant injuries. We’re hopeful to get them back, but I don’t know when that will be in terms of full speed.”

Mondon led Georgia in tackles last season with 76 stops. Those impressive numbers came in spite of missing a pair of games in October against Auburn and Vanderbilt due to an MCL sprain. Mondon recorded a career-high 11 tackles at Kentucky after returning from the injury as he played his best football down the stretch. The former five-star had five or more tackles in nine contests last season including seven of the last eight.

Meanwhile, Robinson acted as a rotational running back last season behind the likes of Kenny McIntosh, Daijun Edwards and Kendall Milton. With McIntosh gone after a senior season that saw him led Georgia in rushing, the sophomore Robinson is expected to take on an even bigger role. He finished fourth on the team in carries and yards with 68 attempts and 330 yards, scoring three touchdowns including a pair in the National Championship Game win over TCU.

Smart was not certain whether or not either Mondon or Robinson would be forced to miss games. He did however say that at one point that was looking likely, but things could have changed since then.

As for other banged up Bulldogs, like Robinson’s fellow running back Kendall Milton and sack leader Mykel Williams, Smart says that they are either at full health or will be by the time fall camp starts.

“Yeah, Kendall’s full health,” Smart said. “Mykel has been — he will be full go by fall camp. He is not full go currently, but he’s had a great rehab, work in progress. I mean, I’ve gotten to see him run some during the agility stuff we get to go view. He’s not back completely yet, but he’s ahead of the other two you mentioned — Branson and Smael.”

Spring practice came to an early close for both Milton (hamstring) and Williams (foot). Three key defensive players – Jalon Walker, Marvin Jones Jr. and Dan Jackson – missed the set of 15 practices entirely. For Walker and Jones, that was due to post-season surgery to repair their respective torn labrums. Jackson on the other hand underwent surgery on his foot midseason, ending his 2022 campaign seven games in.

“Good, typical labrum repairs,” Smart said on Walker and Jones. “Cleared for full go, will probably be in a harness. Biggest thing will be conditioning level and getting back to practice.”

“Yeah, Dan is back doing everything. Getting all his reps,” he added on Jackson. “His foot injury was a pain for him. He’s overcome it. He’s in good shape.”

Finally, redshirt freshman running back Andrew Paul is coming off of an ACL injury he suffered just months after stepping foot on the Georgia campus. Almost a year removed from the injury, Smart said Paul is not all too different than other ACL tears he’s seen throughout his career.

“Andrew Paul is doing great. He’s a typical ACL guy that happens in fall camp,” Smart said. “I remember Zamir White’s happened, I remember Nick (Chubb)’s happened early in the season, I think Tennessee. Every person that we’ve had early in the year, they come back the next year. They’re not always 100 percent right away but he’s going to be cleared. He’s going to come out in a rigid brace starting out and then he’ll work himself into confidence and come out of it. But there’s nothing that I’ve seen that’s kept me from believing he’ll be ready to go.”