Just hours before kickoff, it was officially announced that Georgia running back transfer Trevor Etienne will not be taking the field Week 1 against Clemson.
Etienne, who will serve his one game suspension against the Tigers, was unlikely to play due to his arrest this offseason on DUI and reckless driving charges. However, it was unknown whether he would be a go or not for the first game after Smart chose not to disclose punishment for the Florida transfer until gametime.
Georgia football’s policy mandates that a player dealing with a DUI is to be suspended for at least 10 percent of the regular season, or a game minimum.
The Bulldogs, who have dealt with injuries throughout fall camp, will now be without both Etienne and Roderick Robinson II, who is currently recovering from turf toe. This will likely put much of the run game duties on redshirt sophomore Branson Robinson — who is also returning from a season ending injury last year — and junior tailback Cash Jones.
With the Gators last season, Etienne finished with 753 yards and eight touchdowns on 131 carries. After splitting reps and a tough losing skid at Florida, the 5 ‘9, 205 pound back chose to take his talents to Georgia in hopes of helping lead the team back to a CFP National Championship.
Now, though, Etienne will be forced to sit and watch his fellow Bulldogs compete to maintain their spot atop college football during the first action of the new season.