Georgia Bulldogs Expected To Be Without Two Key Starters In Orange Bowl Against Florida State
Florida State's roster has been decimated by opt-outs and transfers leading up to the Orange Bowl against the Georgia Bulldogs. The Seminoles will be missing a ton of playmakers on both sides of the ball such as running back Trey Benson, wide receiver Keon Coleman, wide receiver Johnny Wilson, tight end Jaheim Bell, defensive end Jared Verse, defensive tackle Fabien Lovett, cornerback Jarrian Jones, and cornerback Renardo Green.
It appears that FSU won't be the only team without key players this weekend. The Bulldogs are expected to be without star tight end Brock Bowers and offensive tackle Amarius Mims against the Seminoles after neither player was spotted when Georgia arrived in South Florida on Tuesday evening.
This would be a big loss as Bowers is Georgia's leading receiver with 56 catches for 714 yards and six touchdowns while also adding a score on the ground. The projected first-round pick has dealt with injuries throughout the 2023 season and was sidelined for multiple weeks after a surgical procedure to repair a sprained ankle.
Bowers caught a season-high eight passes for 157 yards and a touchdown in a win over Kentucky in October. He was named a First-Team All-SEC selection following the regular season. If Bowers doesn't play, the Bulldogs will likely turn to sophomore Oscar Delp, who has 21 catches for 253 yards and three touchdowns this season.
Mims appeared in seven games, with six starts, at right tackle while battling injuries of his own. He underwent surgery early in the year to address an ankle ailment. Mims reinjured the same ankle during the SEC Championship against Alabama.
The Bulldogs have also had 18 players enter the NCAA Transfer Portal over the last couple of weeks.
Florida State and Georgia will meet in the Orange Bowl on Saturday, December 30. The game will kick off at 4:00 p.m. and be televised on ESPN.
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