UGA seniors looking to win their finale at Sanford Stadium,

ATHENS — When No. 5 Geor- gia kicks off against Geor- gia Tech on Saturday, 21 Bulldogs will play their final game in Sanford Stadium. In the past four years, this year’s upperclassmen (who weren’t recruited by coach Kirby Smart, who was still at Alabama when this group arrived as freshmen) have been part of teams that posted a 41-11 record, including 23-8 in the SEC.

In addition to winning the SEC championship and the Rose Bowl and playing for the national champion- ship last season, the past four years have seen Geor- gia win two additional bowl games.

Suffice it to say, it’s been a classy class.

Smart this week praised his seniors, pointing out thata small but strong con- tingent of players were able to hang in and hang on these past four campaigns.

“I don’t know the numbers on that freshman class when they arrived, but I would argue there’s not a lot of them left because it was a really large class . ... Since we arrived, whether by transfer, by grades, by dismissal, it seems like that class has really shrunk,” said Smart, whose last game as a player at Sanford Stadium was a 21-19 loss to Tech in 1998.

“Now, I don’t know the official numbers, but the ones that have stayed, the ones that have pushed through, the ones that have bought in, have really helped our program. They have a chance to be one of the top four senior classes that have every played here, which is pretty incredible.”

Senior center Lamont Gaillard said earlier this week it hasn’t yet hit him that he’s about to go between the hedges as a player for the last time, but he’s confident there’s still plenty of college football to play this season.

“I’m not feeling it right now, but I’m sure when the time comes on Satur- day, I’ll feel it,” he said. “Of course, when everyone’s screaming for you to be going to your next chapter, you’re going to feel that moment . ... Just us going to playoffs last year, that’s a great moment for us and our program, but just us trying to get back there, that’s what I’m trying to do.”

When asked how he would like to be remembered by Bulldogs fans, senior linebacker Natrez Patrick said, “I just want the fans to know that and remember me as a player that was willing to lay it all on the line for the team. He was willing to do whatever he needed to do to accomplish team success.”

Junior tight end Isaac Nauta said he and the rest of the team’s non-seniors want to make sure their departing teammates leave their home field on a positive note.

“It is super important,” Nauta said. “For these seniors, it is a huge game. I know Coach Smart has said that he left with a bad taste in his senior year. That is something that we want to ensure that our seniors don’t have and we want them to go out on top.”

Georgia will honor 25 players in its senior-day ceremony Saturday, including former players Michael Chigbu, Sage Hardin, Sam Madden and Rashad Roundtree.

Injury update: On Monday, Smart said linebacker Monty Rice, who sustained a foot injury during warmups before this past Saturday against Massachusetts, probably wouldn’t be available to play against Tech, and Tuesday, Smart said Rice did not practice, which indicates he won’t play Saturday.

“He’s still rehabbing,” Smart said of Rice, who is the team’s second-leading tackler.

Right guard Cade Mays, who has been dealing with a shoulder injury, also probably is out of the game against the Yellow Jackets.

“Cade has not been in contact,” Smart said. “He’s been practicing in shoulder pads and moving around and running, but he’s not had contact yet.”

Left guard Ben Cleveland, who suffered a broken left fibula against Missouri, returned to play against Auburn but is now dealing with an ankle injury, although it seems likely he’ll be able to play Saturday.