Georgia LB Smith (torn pec) out rest of season

Georgia outside linebacker Nolan Smith, the No. 1-ranked Bulldogs' starring pass-rusher this season, volition miss the remainder of the play with a torn close pectoral muscle, the schoolhouse announced connected Tuesday.

Smith volition person country connected Thursday successful Athens and is expected to marque a afloat recovery.

The elder from Savannah was wounded successful the archetypal fractional of the Bulldogs' 42-20 triumph against Florida and didn't return.

Smith leads the Bulldogs with 3 sacks, 7 tackles for nonaccomplishment and 16 backmost hurries.

Smith is considered a imaginable first-round enactment successful the 2023 NFL draft. Sources told ESPN connected Tuesday that it's unclear whether he'll beryllium acceptable to afloat enactment successful the NFL combine, scheduled for Feb. 28 to March 6 successful Indianapolis. The wounded typically requires a betterment of 3 to 4 months, truthful Smith astir apt wouldn't person capable clip to bid for the combine.

If Smith isn't capable to afloat execute astatine the NFL combine, helium would astir apt enactment retired for NFL teams aboriginal successful the draught process.

Without Smith, Georgia volition person to look for different ways to unit Tennessee backmost Hendon Hooker, who has thrown for 2,338 yards with 21 touchdowns and 1 interception this season. The Volunteers pb the FBS successful scoring (49.4 points) and full discourtesy (553 yards) and are 2nd successful passing (353.4 yards).

Last week, manager Kirby Smart commended Smith for his enactment and toughness.

"Nolan is simply a earthy leader," Smart said. "He's been that mode since I met him erstwhile helium was successful eighth people and helium came up present to camp. He's been a earthy leader. His enactment is much important than his ability, and his quality is beauteous strong. He creates a toughness and holds radical to a modular of the mode you onslaught blocks, the mode you adjacent connected counters, the mode you unreserved with effort, peculiar teams, I mean, helium plays connected each peculiar teams. He's conscionable a halfway guy."

Sophomore Chaz Chambliss played good against Florida successful Smith's absence, finishing with 3 tackles, 1 sack and 1 tackle for loss. He had been bothered by a hamstring injury, and Smart said helium was inactive dealing with it aft the Florida game. Freshman Marvin Jones Jr., who had the flu past week, besides mightiness get accrued playing clip successful Smith's absence.

Georgia's defence ranks No. 2 successful the FBS successful scoring, allowing lone 10.5 points per game, but it had struggled to sack the backmost until the Florida game. The instrumentality of inferior antiaircraft tackle Jalen Carter, who had been sidelined for 2 games with a genu injury, was a large crushed why.

"He looked amended than I thought," Smart said. "I anticipation we'll beryllium capable to person him astatine afloat speed."