Georgia football Pro Day postponed: ‘more time to work on things and prepare’

ATHENS — Georgia football Pro Day, originally scheduled for next Wednesday, has been postponed to a yet-to-be-determined date as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

UGA athletic director Greg McGarity announced on Friday morning that all spring practice activity would cease through the end of the month.

Several NCAA athletics issues are in flux and on the table for discussion amid these unprecedented and uncertain times.

The school’s NFL combine activity was included among the suspended activities in the SEC, per a school spokesperson on Friday morning.

Outgoing Georgia defensive lineman Michael Barnett, among the Bulldogs looking forward to showcasing their skills at the Pro Day, is disappointed but understands.

“In a lot of ways it stinks, because you train so long for this specific date,” Barnett, a former game captain, said upon first hearing the news.

“But with the unfortunate effect of the coronavirus, and the things going on, you understand,” said Barnett, who majored in Entertainment and Media Studies.

“You have to look at it as more time to work on things and prepare.”

It could prove to be a blessing in more ways than one for Barnett and his teammates. Several NFL teams have pulled their scouting personnel off the road amid the coronavirus outbreak.

WATCH: Kirby Smart breaks down 2019 Georgia football Pro Day

The Atlanta Falcons were among approximately half the NFL teams to announce restricted travel by close of business on Thursday.

Pro Day would not have been as well-attended at Georgia, or anywhere else in the SEC next week.

The NFL draft takes place April 23-25 in Las Vegas. There is no indication that will be delayed.

Georgia had 10 players take part in the NFL combine in Indianapolis earlier this winter.

But there are several Bulldogs, like Barnett, who are candidates to be selected in the latter rounds of the draft or sign through free agency who were not at the combine.

Among them:

DL Tyler Clark

DL David Marshall

LB Tae Crowder

TE Eli Wolf

WR/ST Tyler Simmons

DL Justin Young

DB Tyrique McGhee

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey announced in Nashville this week that the league would re-assess spring sports activities on March 30

The Big Ten announced that all sports activities at its member institutions has been suspended until at least April 6 and will re-evaluated.