› Georgia punter Long giving up football,
Georgia punter Marshall Long, who dislocated one of his kneecaps late in the 2016 season and hasn’t played since, is having to give up football.
Long is expected to receive a medical hardship, according to 247Sports.com, which first reported the news.
The 6-foot-2, 217-pounder from China Grove, North Carolina, was among the nation’s top 10 punting prospects in the 2016 signing class and earned a starting role as a freshman. In a practice before the 10th game against Auburn, however, he sustained what was described by coach Kirby Smart as a “freak injury” during a special-teams drill.
“I don’t know how long he will be out for, but it will require surgery,” Smart said at the time. “He is going to recover. He will fully recover. It will be good to get him back. Obviously our thoughts and prayers are with his family and him.”
Former backup quarterback Brice Ramsey took over the punting chores for the remainder of that season, with Columbia University graduate transfer Cameron Nizialek coming in and taking over those duties in 2017. The Bulldogs added Jake Camarda in the 2018 signing class, and he started this past season.
In his nine games with the Bulldogs, Long averaged 38.7 yards on 49 punts. His final appearance wound up being in a 27-24 win at Kentucky, where he averaged 41.2 yards with a long of 50 and had two punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
A medical hardship would allow Long to remain on scholarship without counting against the 85 scholarships a Football Bowl Subdivision program is permitted by the NCAA.
Former University of Miami receiver Lawrence Cager announced Friday night via social media that he will play the 2019 season as a graduate transfer at Georgia.
The 6-5, 215-pounder from Towson, Maryland, finished second among the Hurricanes this past season with 374 yards and six touchdowns on 21 catches. His 17.8 yards per reception led the team.
“I am excited for this new journey with Coach Smart and the entire UGA family,” Cager posted on Twitter.
Cager had 45 catches for 681 yards (15.1) and 10 touchdowns in his Miami career.
The Bulldogs must replace three prominent receivers — Terry Godwin, Mecole Hardman and Riley Ridley — from this past season. Hardman and Ridley decided to bypass their senior seasons for an opportunity at the NFL draft.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.
Cager joins Dogs