The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
All-American safety Reed latest to bow out of bowl
Loss of senior is major blow for a Dogs defense ranked No. 4 in nation.
NEW ORLEANS — Georgia’s list of players who aren’t playing in the Sugar Bowl continues to grow, and it includes another All-American.
Senior safety J.R. Reed, who was named an Associated Press first-team All-American earlier this month, is not with the team in New Orleans. Reed sent out a tweet at the same time the Bulldogs practiced at the Superdome stating he had suffered a “minor foot injury” in practice this past week.
Also not spotted at practice Saturday were senior defensive end Tyler Clark, defensive back Divaad Wilson and outside linebacker Walter Grant. Their sta
tus for Wednesday’s game is unknown at this time.
Reed’s loss is a major blow for a Georgia defense that ranks No. 4 in the nation. As the Bulldogs’ three-year starter at free safety, Reed is responsible for making all the defensive calls for the secondary and making sure everybody is lined up correctly.
“We’re missing some key parts, but next man up,” senior defensive end David Marshall said. “We’ve got young guys, and they’re learning fast. We’ve still got the same defense, still playing the same way we’ve been playing, a lot of the same people, just a few young guys starting and learning.”
With Reed out, Georgia is expected to start Lewis Cine, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound freshman from Cedar Hill, Texas. Cine played in every game this season and actually started in the SEC Championship game against LSU as a sixth defensive back. He has 14 tackles and had an interception and 15-yard return against Arkansas State.
Junior Richard LeCounte will assume the play-calling duties in the secondary. Senior Tyrique McGhee and sophomore Christopher Smith can also play safety.
Georgia already knew it would be without All-American offensive tackle Andrew Thomas, offensive tackle Isaiah Wilson, offensive guard Ben Cleveland and running back Brian Herrien for noninjury reasons. The Bulldogs also will face No. 7 Baylor without No. 1 receiver Lawrence
Cager (ankle) and No. 3 wideout Dominick Blaylock (knee).
Whether he’ll play remains to be seen, but junior running back D’Andre Swift was practicing with the Bulldogs during the 15-minute viewing period.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart went out of his way to make it difficult to determine who was practicing and who was not. He had the players mixed together rather than in position groups as they ran through conditioning drills during the entire open session, and many of the players were wearing duplicate jersey numbers.
Smart is looking for every competitive advantage he can find. The Bulldogs have lost their past four postseason games under his watch.
Last year, Georgia
All-American cornerback Deandre Baker decided to skip the Sugar Bowl after saying he was going to play in it.
Reed made a similar statement at the Home Depot Awards Show in early December.
“The Dawgs are playing, and I’m still a Dawg,” he said.
Reed said in his Twitter statement he “fully intended to play with my brothers” in the Sugar Bowl. But after hurting his foot he realized he needed to “rest my body and get ready for what’s next.” Reed, whose father played many years in the NFL as a receiver, is expected to be among the first few safeties drafted.
Reed leaves UGA with 199 career tackles — including 54 this season — as well as five interceptions and 14 pass breakups.