The stage is set for the game of the year in college football as #1 Georgia prepares to host #2 Tennessee in Athens this Saturday, but the Bulldog defense may be without one of its leaders.
Not usually one to give detailed updates on injuries, Kirby Smart told reporters Monday that OLB Nolan Smith is “probably doubtful” for Saturday after suffering a pec injury in the Dawgs' win over Florida in Jacksonville.
If he can’t go, the Bulldogs will obviously miss his production as the team’s sack leader with three along with seven tackles for loss, but Randy McMichael says his potential absence can’t simply be measured on the stat sheet.
“It’s a big damn deal…he’s your leading sacker, he’s one of the leaders on your defense and a lot of the stuff he does doesn’t show up in the statistics and now you’re in a position where somebody else needs to step up,” McMichael said on The Midday Show on 92.9 The Game.
Andy Bunker agreed with McMichael, saying that Smith’s injury could have a major impact on Saturday’s game with the Bulldogs looking to slow down the nation’s top offense.
“It’s a big deal any week if Nolan Smith didn’t play. It’s a really big deal this week playing against that offense where one or two plays from guys on the DL could be the difference in the game.”
The Vols are averaging 553 yards and 49.4 points per game to lead the nation, but it’ll be a matchup of strength-on-strength Saturday as the Bulldogs come in with the 2nd-ranked scoring defense; allowing 10.5 points per game. Among those that can mitigate the loss of Smith up front is Jalen Carter, who returned Saturday after suffering an MCL injury against Missouri.