MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Georgia may or may not have a new starting left tackle in the Liberty Bowl. Kirby Smart said on the eve off the game that it will be a “game time decision.”
Isaiah Wynn, who started every game at left guard this season, was at left tackle the first two practices this week, during media viewing periods. Dyshon Sims, who came off the bench this year, was the first-team left guard.
Tyler Catalina, the graduate transfer who started every game at left tackle, missed some Athens bowl practices with a head injury, per Smart, and has since been cleared. But the team may still bring him off the bench.
“I really think unless something crazy happens both kids will play,” Smart said Thursday. “It’s not something we’ve said as definitive – this guy or that guy. They’ve been battling it out during the week. Tyler missed some time there that hurt him some. We’re going to go with how the guys are playing during the game. How do we match up at those positions? How does Dyshon match up inside? That could change within the game as we watch it and see it go. Certainly they’re an athletic defensive front that’s very disruptive, can move, slant and rush really well. Very twitchy players.”
Inside linebacker update
Smart continues to say that Natrez Patrick, who missed the final three regular-season games with a shoulder injury, will be able to play Friday. But junior Reggie Carter, dealing with a hyper-extended knee, will be a game-time decision, per Smart.
Either way, Roquan Smith will start and see a lot of action, as he’s been the lone inside linebacker on the field during Georgia’s first-team alignments during bowl practices.
