Kirby Smart provides injury update on Jalen Carter, Adonai Mitchell

Kirby Smart discusses injuries to AD Mitchell and Jalen Carter

Georgia Bulldogs head football coach Kirby Smart met with the media on Monday to discuss the Week 3 win over South Carolina and the upcoming home game versus Kent State.

Smart discussed the departure of defensive back William Poole, a sixth year senior who has played in 33 games throughout his UGA career.

“William Poole is not going to be with us for the remainder of the season,” Smart said.

“He’s dealing with a personal matter, and he’s going to focus on that and his health and well-being, so he will not be with us for the rest of the year, unfortunately.”

He also discussed the health of two big-time players: Defensive tackle Jalen Carter and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell.

Mitchell did not play in Georgia’s 48-7 win over South Carolina due to an ankle injury he suffered against Samford the week prior.

“We’re hoping to get him back this week,” Smart said. “Again, it’s one of those deals where last week we were hopeful to get him back.”

As for Carter, Smart said the superstar defensive tackle has been dealing with an ankle injury since Georgia’s Week 1 win over Oregon.

That held Carter out of the starting lineup on Saturday against the Gamecocks, though he still managed two tackles in the game on 11 snaps played.

“Jalen has been dealing with a lingering ankle issue, he really had it since the Oregon game and he’s trying to get well,” Smart said.

“We’re trying to get him healthy. Hopefully, he’ll be full-go. He was close last week but didn’t end up having to play a lot of snaps.”

Georgia has just one sack through three games this season.

Additionally, Smart said that cornerback Nyland Green is dealing with a lingering hamstring issue. Green did not play against South Carolina.

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Georgia defensive back no longer with program due to personal matter

DB William Poole no longer with program due to personal reasons, Kirby Smart said.

On Monday, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said sixth senior defensive back William Poole is no longer with the Bulldogs’ football program.

“William Poole is not going to be with us for the remainder of the season,” Smart said.

“He’s dealing with a personal matter, and he’s going to focus on that and his health and well-being, so he will not be with us for the rest of the year, unfortunately.”

Smart did not provide any further details why Poole will not be with the program for the rest of year.

A former four-star recruit in the class of 2017 out of Hapeville, Georgia, Poole played in 33 games during his UGA career. He was the Bulldogs’ starter in last season’s SEC Championship Game and in the College Football Playoff national championship.

Poole played in just one game this season — Georgia’s 49-3 season-opening victory over Oregon.

Smart spoke on the current state of Georgia’s defensive backs following Poole’s departure. He said UGA will not have to make any big changes.

“We’ve been chugging along, we’ve had Bullard at the star and Tykee at star the entire fall camp,” Smart said. “Poole played some there in the third-down situations against Oregon, but he was working more at corner.

“We’ve got the guys we’ve got; and we’ve got to get the guys we’ve got better to be where we want to be.”

Poole did not make the trip with the team to Columbia for Georgia’s 48-7 win over South Carolina.

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Georgia football player card: DB William Poole

Georgia Bulldogs senior defensive back William Poole saw action in six of Georgia’s ten games in 2020.

William Poole, Defensive Back (No. 31):

Class: Senior

Height: 6-0

Weight: 190 pounds

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia

High School: Hapeville Charter High School

Georgia Bulldogs senior defensive back William Poole saw action in six of Georgia’s ten games in 2020. The Atlanta, Georgia, native has played in 22 total games throughout his Georgia career and has accumulated 13 career tackles.

Poole came to the University of Georgia as a four-star recruit. Poole redshirted in 2019 when he played against Murray State, Arkansas State, and Georgia Tech and recorded three tackles.

He saw a good amount playing time a sophomore in 2018. That season he played in eight games and secured ten total tackles.

Poole and fellow Georgia defensive back Christopher Smith were teammates at Hapeville Charter.

Georgia is looking less thin in the secondary following the additions of West Virginia transfer Tykee Smith and Clemson transfer Derion Kendrick.

The Dawgs have Kelee Ringo, Ameer Speed, Jalen Kimber, and more returning at cornerback. Georgia’s defensive front is expected to be elite once again next season.

Sep 8, 2018; Columbia, SC, USA; Georgia Bulldogs defensive back William Poole (31) brings down South Carolina Gamecocks running back Ty’Son Williams (27) in the first half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

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UGA football player card: DB William Poole

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back William Poole redshirted last season. He came to Athens as a four-star recruit.

William Poole, defensive back (No. 31):

Class: Junior

Height: 6-0

Weight: 190 pounds

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia

High School: Hapeville Charter High School

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back William Poole came to the University of Georgia as a four-star recruit. Poole redshirted last season (he played against Murray State, Arkansas State, and Georgia Tech).

He saw more playing time a sophomore in 2018. That season he played in eight games and secured ten total tackles.

Poole and fellow UGA defensive back Christopher Smith were teammates at Hapeville Charter. Both players will face a lot of competition at the defensive back position this upcoming season.

Georgia is stacked in the secondary. The Dawgs have Eric Stokes, DJ Daniel, Tyson Campbell, Kelee Ringo, Divaad Wilson, Mark Webb, and more at cornerback. Georgia’s defense will be elite once again next season. Dan Lanning and company already had a stifling defense in 2019. The Dawgs may be even better next year.

Poole had arguably the quote of the offseason with his Mother’s Day Tweet:

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