ATHENS — Georgia coach Kirby Smart said tailback Kendall Milton is in “good shape” to be ready for Saturday’s game against Oregon.
The No. 3-ranked Bulldogs face the No 11-ranked Ducks at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz stadium.
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Milton missed the team’s first two scrimmages in fall camp on account of a hamstring injury.
“He’s done a great job bouncing back from it,” Smart said on the SEC Coaches’ Teleconference on Wednesday. “Soft tissue injuries are hard to control and monitor.”
The Bulldogs are down to four healthy scholarship tailbacks after freshman Andrew Paul underwent season-ending knee surgery after suffering a torn ACL in Scrimmage Two.
Milton is a gifted junior who has flashed dynamic running skills with great vision and a powerful forward lean that enables him to break tackles and move piles.
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Senior Kenny McIntosh is expected to start, but Milton has game-changing ability and his health has been closely monitored.
“He had a few days he was not able to go full speed, but he was still able to do things,” Smart said, “So much of our game planning is in walk-throughs and he gets to take the mental reps. The full-speed stuff is what he missed, but he’s been able to get that for the last week or so.
“He’s hit good numbers on the GPS, I think he’s in good shape., he’s very bright, so I’m looking forward to him being a big part of things.”
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Georgia injury report
OG Tate Ratledge (foot/ankle), probable
WR Kearis Jackson (ankle), probable
LB Trezman Marshall (calf), probable
DB Tykee Smith (knee), questionable
RB Kendall Milton (hamstring), questionable
OT Earnest Greene (hamstring) questionable
WR De’Nylon Morrissette (knee), questionable
WR Arian Smith (knee), out
RB Andrew Paul (knee), out