ATHENS ― The Georgia football team held its second-to-last practice in Athens of this calendar year, and it did not include starting inside linebacker Natrez Patrick ― at least during the portion that the media could view.
Patrick, a junior, has an uncertain status for the Rose Bowl because of an alleged probation violation that is pending with Athens-Clarke County. Coach Kirby Smart has been non-committal about Patrick’s status with the team, but Patrick had been practicing, until Thursday.
Patrick is scheduled for a probation hearing on Jan. 11, three days after the National Championship Game, and 10 days after the Rose Bowl.
Meanwhile, he wasn’t the only player not present. The others:
- Latavious Brini, the freshman defensive back, again wasn’t at practice. Brini was not seen at practice on Wednesday, either, which was the same day he was exonerated of a felony charge of forgery. His lawyer said he believed it to be a case of mistaken identity. Brini has not played this season and is headed for a redshirt.
- Deangelo Gibbs, another freshman defensive back, continues to be away from the team for reasons that have not been announced by the team, but Dawgs247.com reported his absence was because of a “medical issue.” Gibbs has played in six games this season.
The Bulldogs will practice on Friday in a session closed to the media. The team will leave for Los Angeles on Tuesday.