Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart met with the media on Tuesday at the start of UGA’s spring practice to discuss the state of the program.
Smart discussed the quarterback battle, the offseason arrests, the injury report and the status of transfer wide receiver Rara Thomas heading into spring practice.
See below for a few big takeaways from Smart’s first press conference of the spring:
Players who are out for spring practice with injury
- DB Dan Jackson (foot)
- OLB Marvin Jones Jr. (shoulder)
- OL Josh Miller (shoulder)
- RB Andrew Paul (ACL)
- LB Jalon Walker (shoulder)
Transfer WR Rara Thomas cleared to practice after charges were dropped
Transfer WR Rara Thomas is cleared for practice, but the campus process after his arrest is not finished yet, Kirby Smart said. Here is how Thomas' case was resolved in the courts. https://t.co/12sgcZjvZR
— Marc Weiszer (@marcweiszer) March 14, 2023
Speaking about the three transfers, Kirby Smart does note that WR Rara Thomas is cleared to participate in team activities after his charges were dropped.
— DawgsHQ (@DawgsHQ) March 14, 2023
QB UPDATE: Carson Beck and Brock Vandagriff to share first team duties this spring
Carson Beck and Brock Vandagriff will share first-team reps to start spring, per Kirby Smart, who also says: "I wouldn't count Gunner Stockton out of this thing."
— Seth Emerson (@SethWEmerson) March 14, 2023
Kirby answers question relating to policy
"No policy of lack thereof caused this accident," Smart said in answer to a question about his comments to ESPN that he doesn't expect any policy changes. But added that policies are always under review.
— Seth Emerson (@SethWEmerson) March 14, 2023
Regarding LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson's racing/reckless driving charge
Regarding Jamon Dumas-Johnson, arrested for racing and reckless driving for an incident five days before the accident, Kirby Smart said:
"Will he face discipline for that? Absolutely. Do I have to define what that discipline will be? I don't have to right now."
— Seth Emerson (@SethWEmerson) March 14, 2023
On the multiple reckless driving/racing charges surrounding the program: Kirby Smart says Jamon Dumas-Johnson still has a court date for charges that he has to answer to. He added that "absolutely Pop will be disciplined" but did not define what exactly that will look like.
— DawgsHQ (@DawgsHQ) March 14, 2023
Kirby says RB Andrew Paul is on track to be ready for fall camp
Kirby Smart: “[Ron Courson] would compare it to where Chubb was that first spring we got here … He is not cleared, but he’s on track. He’s going to do individual drills … We feel good about where he’ll be as far as fall camp”
Paul took a redshirt year during the 2022 season, his true freshman year, after suffering a torn ACL during Georgia’s second fall scrimmage.
