DALLAS — Georgia coach Kirby Smart provided a health update on his team while speaking to reporters at SEC media days.
Smart had a lengthy update on linebacker Smael Mondon. He missed spring practice while recovering from foot surgery which also caused him to miss the last game of Georgia’s season against Florida State.
“Smael’s still battling back,” Smart said. “I don’t know if he’ll be cleared for fall camp or not. He should be close.”
Mondon was also recently arrested on charges of reckless driving and racing. Smart did not publicly state whether or not Mondon would be suspended, electing to instead keep the punishment in-house.
“We don’t talk about the suspensions. We have them,” Smart said. “I think it’s pretty obvious that we’ve done them in the past. You guys know when we do them. Each of those cases is very different and they’ll be handled in different ways.”
Offensive lineman Bo Hughley and wide receiver Sacovie White have also been arrested on reckless driving charges since the end of spring practice. Running back Trevor Etienne, who was arrested during spring practice, recently had his case resolved.
Malaki Starks was limited in spring practice with a shoulder injury. But the junior safety was one of three attendees at SEC media days on Tuesday and Smart provided an update on his health.
“Malaki’s great, typical surgery, shoulder surgery we have, labrum repair. He’s been on schedule,” Smart said. “He actually did some things in spring practice non-contact. I wasn’t even thinking of him as an injury guy.”
Starks was an All-American last season at Georgia. He started all 14 games, totaling 52 tackles, 7 tackles for loss and 3 interceptions.
Georgia had several other players miss spring practice in addition to Starks and Mondon. Defensive lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins is recovering from a foot injury.
“Ty Ingram-Dawkins is battling to come back,” Smart said. “He had a significant foot injury that we think he’ll be good to go by camp. But it’s something that you have to be really smart about the load and the amount of work you put on it.”
Running back Branson Robinson is still recovering from a patella tendon injury he suffered last August.
“Looks really good. I won’t say he’s 100 percent cleared, but man, he looks great out there running,” Smart said of Robinson. “His weight is down, which I think is going to put less pressure on that injury and those knees. Looks good running around out there. I’ve been really pleased with the way he’s looked. I don’t know if he’ll be 100 percent at the start of camp, but I feel like he’ll be close.”
Quarterback Ryan Puglisi missed the spring game with a knee injury but is expected to be good to go for the start of fall practice. Since the end of spring practice, Georgia brought in transfer Jaden Rasahda from Arizona State.
“I’ve seen a little bit of Jaden,” Smart said. “Seen probably more of Ryan in terms of him being healthy out there and running. Both those guys are pushing and competing. Jaden has been in as many meetings as he can be in and learning. He’s a guy that comes up there on his own to learn it. But ryan’s health looks great in terms of running and doing the summer stuff.
The Bulldogs will open the 2024 season against the Clemson Tigers on Aug. 31. The Bulldogs have not yet stated when they will start fall camp. Georgia announced on Tuesday that senior safety David Daniel-Sisavanh is no longer on the team and the offensive lineman KJ Smith had medically retired as well.