Drew Bobo is out Saturday for Georgia football’s SEC Championship game, but what about the College Football Playoff still ahead?
Coach Kirby Smart on Thursday, Dec. 4, wasn’t ready to say that the redshirt junior center will be out for the rest of the season with a foot injury.
“I’d be speculating because I still don’t know, determined what we’re going to do, with the injury he has,” Smart said. “Until we determine that, I’d rather not comment on that.”
The Bulldogs already turned to backup Malachi Toliver when Bobo missed the win over Charlotte two weeks ago with a hand injury. The redshirt freshman also played the second half of the win over Georgia Tech on Nov. 28.
“We’ve got a lot of guys that have worked at that position throughout the year,” Smart said. “Drew has been dealing with an injury the past three to four weeks prior to this week, so we had the good fortune to get a lot of reps for Cortez (Smith) and Malachi and Donnie Glover. All of those guys have been getting reps at center probably for three or four weeks.”
Toliver and Smith have taken reps this season even on the scout team “against big, physical people,” Smart said.
Smart said he wasn’t ready to disclose who will start at center against Alabama.
“The good thing is we’ve got three of them that are very capable,” Smart said.
Smart also said that running back Bo Walker, who was listed as out for Saturday on the SEC availability report, needed surgery after what was reported to be an automobile accident. Smart didn’t provide details on the nature of the surgery.
Georgia freshman wide receiver Talyn Taylor is available to play Saturday after being out since the Alabama game in September with an upper body injury.
“He’s trying to get back in the flow of things,” Smart said. “That’s important you get back in the flow of things. It’s not like you can just click your heels together and be back. He’s got to do that from a stamina standpoint. He has to do that from a contact standpoint and from a confidence standpoint.”
As for freshman tight end Ethan Barbour, Smart said he’s progressing from his ankle injury. He’s listed still as out for Saturday.
“He’s just able to do more,” Smart said. “He’s able to run, he’s off the scooter, he’s moving around.”
Smart said Barbour has done light work like individual drills.
“It’s still a slow process for him,” Smart said. “It was a significant injury. He’s been in great spirits. I’m really proud of the way that kid has handled things. He’s been attentive. He’s such a good energy guy and a great team guy, the way he’s around the team, around walk throughs and into things. He wants to get out there and do it, very eager to do it and get back and learn.”
