The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Bulldogs face plenty of questions NEW ORLEANS — Georgia football was scheduled to arrive in the Big Easy on Thursday with a tough task on its hands. The No. 5 Bulldogs must find motivation to play against the lowest-ranked New Year’s Six bowl team, No. 1
UGA top cornerback Baker won’t suit up against Texas in Sugar Bowl.
Georgia’s football future appears bright, and the team is expected to continue to evolve as an annual national title contender.
But there are some pressing questions for the short term:
Deandre Baker won’t play
Smart said Thorpe Award winner Deandre Baker will not play in the Sugar Bowl.
The Georgia football team touched down at Louis Armstrong International Airport on Thursday afternoon, shortly after a tornado watch expired in Orleans Parish, and Baker was with the team.
Baker originally said at the College Football Awards Show in Atlanta on Dec. 5 he planned to play in the Sugar Bowl, and he practiced with the team through Dec. 20.
The first sign Baker might not make the trip to New Orleans to play in the Sugar Bowl was the night of Dec. 20, when an Instagram post appeared to indicate he was back home in South Florida.
Baker was not present at last Friday’s workout, and UGA officials did not respond to requests asking his status.
A projected first-round NFL pick, Baker has proven he has the skills to shut down the best receivers in college football. He also has declined an invitation to play in front of hundreds of NFL coaches, scouts and personnel managers at the Senior Bowl.
Will Justin Fields play?
Fields has said he wants to play in the Sugar Bowl, and Smart has said he welcomes Fields and wants to do whatever puts Georgia in the best situation to win the game.
Fields’ presence with the team in New Orleans creates a unique situation. Fields is allowed to talk to other programs about transferring even as he practices, travels, eats and meets with his Bulldogs teammates.
Smart has handled the Georgia quarterback situation delicately throughout the season, and he has continued to show grace with the national spotlight shining on Fields’ every move.
The Bulldogs’ staff saw to it Fields was given a fair chance to win the job before and during this season. Fields was provided playing time in 12 of 13 games even when the flow of the contests didn’t necessarily seem to dictate it.
Jake Fromm showed his leadership skills by handling the situation on and off the field, not allowing the potential distraction to disrupt his performances or upset the locker room.
But the question remains: Will Fields play in the Sugar Bowl?
How healthy is D’Andre Walker?
The Jalen Hurts miracle script has been written after the Alabama quarterback came off the bench to rally the Tide from 28-21 down to a 35-28 win.
It’s a good sports story and Hurts deserves credit for staying ready to play and seizing the moment.
But the subplot is Hurts made his comeback with Walker on the bench with an injured groin.
It’s fair to wonder if the Bulldogs’ senior outside linebacker — and team sacks leader — would have made a difference.
Indeed, Walker had five stops, two tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble, a pass breakup and two QB hurries in his three quarters of work before leaving the game with UGA up 28-21.
Whose last game is it?
Fields has gotten most of the attention, but Georgia has a handful of juniors who could be contemplating leaving early even though none appear to be first- or second-round picks.
All that can change with a blazing 40-yard dash time or impressive NFL combine workout, of course, and some might be willing to leave even as third-round picks.
The players to keep an eye on: Safety J.R. Reed, TE Isaac Nauta, WR Riley Ridley and WR Mecole Hardman.
Injury updates
Walker isn’t the only game-changing Georgia player who has been banged up.
FWAA Freshman All-American defensive tackle candidate Jordan Davis injured his back lifting weights and missed three practices last week, and no one seems to know when or if he’ll recover in time to play in the Sugar Bowl.
Redshirt sophomore offensive guard Ben Cleveland has been in bowl workouts, but he continues to have a noticeable limp.
Cleveland has been working with the second team — clearly not back to the dominant form he exhibited before breaking his left fibula Sept. 22.