On Saturday, Georgia freshman wide receiver George Pickens sat out the first half of the Georgia Tech game for what Kirby Smart described as a ‘team matter.’
When he returned in the second half, he made a splash, catching a 41 yard touchdown pass from Jake Fromm.
But that was the only good thing that came from Pickens playing in the rivalry game on Saturday. He and Georgia Tech defensive back Tre Swilling got into it in the end zone and eventually end up exchanging punches with each other. Swilling hit first, twice, including one to Pickens’ throat.
Tech lost twice yesterday pic.twitter.com/ZF0P5tuxg5
— Barstool UGA (@ugabarstool) December 1, 2019
Following the Tech game, Georgia players discussed the Pickens incident.
“That’s a huge lesson for him to not have him do something dumb like that,” linebacker Monty Rice said. “He’s a vital part of the team, vital part of the offense. You see how productive he is. He’s just gotta be smarter.
Ain’t no way around it. Ain’t no woulda’, coulda’ shoulda’. All you have to do is not throw a punch or slap or whatever it was. You just have to be smart.”
Pickens will be suspended for the first half of Georgia’s SEC Championship Game vs LSU. Additionally, the Bulldogs’ top receiver Lawrence Cager underwent ankle surgery this past week will not play. That is huge news seeing as how Jake Fromm has struggled this season without his top receivers out there. Dominick Blaylock and Tyler Simmons, who commented below, will be the go to guys.
“There’s always going to be some chippy talk and a chippy game like this between two rivals,” Simmons said. “But you can’t let that get to you.”