Quarterback Mathis back on field, not yet ‘fully cleared’

Surgery in May removed benign sinus cavity growth.

ATHENS — Quarterback D’Wan Mathis has not been “fully cleared” to participate in Georgia’s preseason camp, but he’s basically doing everything that needs to be done at this point.

“D’Wan is able to do passing drills, individual drills, things where we know that he can be safe and not take a hit and not risk injury,” coach Kirby Smart said before the Bulldogs’ first practice of the season Friday. “So still don’t know when he’s going to be fully cleared, but I’m excited to see him go out and work today.”

Mathis had emergency surgery in May to remove a growth in his sinus cavity that initially was feared to be a brain tumor. It was determined to be a benign growth, but the Mathis family credited Georgia’s Ron Courson, sports medicine director, with saving Mathis’ life.

Caution has been understandably high since then. But Mathis has been participating in offseason conditioning in recent weeks and is participating in all noncontact drills this week.

“He gets to do seven-on-seven, individual drills. He gets to do a lot of things,” Smart said.

‘Everybody should be excited’ about White

Any limitations that might’ve been on Zamir White have been lifted. The former No. 1 running back recruit in America is full go for Georgia’s preseason camp, which got underway in earnest Friday afternoon.

“(White will) do everything like normal,” coach Kirby Smart said Friday. “He’ll be thudded, just like every other back will be thudded, and we’ll progress from there. We won’t practice live until the first scrimmage.”

While that’s not exactly news, it became reality when White ran onto Woodruff Practice Fields with 100 other Bulldogs for the first practice of the 2019 season. They’ll be back on the field today and again Sunday.

The real test for White will come next week when the team shifts to full-contact work.

White suffered an ACL knee injury the second weekend of preseason camp last August. That followed an ACL injury that also required surgery from November of his senior season in high school the previous year.

Fellow running back D’Andre Swift has witnessed White’s comeback up close and likes what he’s seen.

“Everybody should be excited for him,” the Bulldogs’ leading returning rusher said. “We’re all excited for him and to see what he can do. I was just talking to him a few minutes ago, and he’s just so happy to be able to play football again. He’s been out of the game for a minute.”

JEFF SENTELL / DAWGNATION Georgia quarterback D’Wan Mathis had emergency surgery in May to remove a growth in his sinus cavity that was found to be benign, but the Mathis family credited Georgia’s Ron Courson, sports medicine director, with saving Mathis’ life.