UGA's Malcolm Mitchell now ‘doubtful' for Florida

By Chip Towers

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

ATHENS — Georgia coach Mark Richt has downgraded the injury status of wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell from “questionable” to what he’s now calling “doubtful and hopeful.”

“He’s doubtful, and I’m hopeful,” Richt said with a forced smile following practice Wednesday night.

The prognosis is not good. Mitchell, a freshman from Valdosta and Georgia’s leading receiver, missed his second consecutive day of practice Wednesday because of a pulled hamstring. He tried to come back Monday, but lasted only “about five minutes,” according to Richt.

Mitchell suffered the injury in the midst of a 71-yard reception against Tennessee on Oct. 8, sat out the Vanderbilt game the next week and all of last week’s practices. He leads the Bulldogs with 25 catches for 438 yards.

Now the situation has gone from deciding whether Mitchell can play to whether he’ll even accompany the team to Jacksonville.

“I really don’t know,” Richt said. “There are 69 spots decided on, and there’s one to go. That’s part of the reason why.”

Mitchell’s absence would be a blow to Georgia’s deep passing game, an issue compounded by the fact that speedster Rantavious Wooten (concussion) also remains sidelined.

The Bulldogs have plenty of other options, but there isn’t a receiver who can get behind a defense with the ease and regularity that Mitchell does.

“Malcolm’s really fast,” split end Marlon Brown said. “He has those quick-twitch muscles, and that’s really a plus for him.”

Brown filled in admirably for Mitchell against Vanderbilt. He had four catches for 121 yards and two touchdowns, including a 75-yarder. Wideouts and tight ends accounted for 21 of Georgia’s 22 receptions against the Commodores.

Besides Brown (75 yards) and Mitchell (71), tight end Orson Charles has Georgia’s next longest catch this season, at 36 yards. Tavarres King has a 33-yard reception. Redshirt freshman Michael Bennett, freshman Chris Conley and senior Israel Troupe make up the remainder of the Bulldogs’ receiver rotation.

Brantley likely starter

Florida coach Will Muschamp implied Wednesday that quarterback John Brantley likely will start Saturday.

“[Brantley] has continued to progress pretty well through the week,” Muschamp said. “I expect him to perform Saturday unless something shocking comes up the latter part of the week.”

The Gators also could use freshmen Jacoby Brissett or Jeff Driskel. Richt downplayed the effect that Florida’s quarterback question has had on the Bulldogs’ preparations.

“It’s not like they run a totally different offense with this guy, with this guy and this guy,” he said. “They’re really running the same offense. I think it’s important to know who’s in the game because they are a little bit different in their characteristics.”

Etc.

Sophomore outside linebacker Jarvis Jones, who was named a semifinalist for the Butkus Award this week, has declined interview requests all week. Charles, as is his custom for Florida week, also refuses to talk. ... Offensive tackle Austin Long is sidelined with an ankle injury and is doubtful for Saturday. ... Georgia senior punter Drew Butler was named one of the recipients of the National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Awards, according to a joint announcement Wednesday from the NFF and the College Football Hall of Fame. ... The Bulldogs will hold a second consecutive dress-rehearsal practice Thursday at Sanford Stadium. They’ll depart for Jacksonville on Friday.