Georgia Bulldogs running back Trevor Etienne was absent from Friday night’s game against Georgia Tech, and head coach Kirby Smart
provided an update on his status heading into the SEC Championship Game against Texas.
“Trevor’s still a ways away,” Smart told reporters on Sunday evening. “I don’t have a clear answer yet because we haven’t had the chance to
evaluate those guys. He wasn’t close to playing last week, so I’m not sure how things will unfold moving forward.”
Etienne, who did not participate in warmups prior to the Yellow Jackets game, has been sidelined since Georgia’s loss to Ole Miss in early
November. His absence has been felt on the field, as he hasn’t had more than 10 carries in a game since the Bulldogs’ 30-15 victory over
Texas on October 19. In that game, Etienne had his most productive outing of the season, rushing 19 times for 87 yards and three
touchdowns. Since then, however, a rib injury has hampered his performance, including limiting his playing time against Florida in the
first weekend of November. Despite his setbacks, Etienne has totaled 95 carries on the season, with his last notable contribution coming in the
win over Texas. With Etienne out, freshman Nate Frazier has stepped up to lead Georgia’s rushing attack, accumulating 587 yards and scoring
eight touchdowns. Frazier also played a pivotal role in the Bulldogs’ dramatic victory over Georgia Tech, scoring the game-winning
touchdown in the thrilling eight-overtime contest.