ATHENS — Perhaps the most active and vocal person at recent Georgia practices has been, strangely enough, Justin Scott-Wesley. As he darts up and back, yelling instructions to fellow receivers, the senior doesn’t look like someone whose career might be over. At least his playing career.
“He’s taken on a bigger leadership role than when he was actually out there working out with us and practicing,” senior receiver Malcolm Mitchell said. “So, I would say his role has increased.”
Scott-Wesley is “doubtful” to play this season, coach Mark Richt said Wednesday. Scott-Wesley has had his right knee surgically repaired twice, most recently in July, then sprained the knee the second week of preseason practice. While he could return to playing, the chronic knee problems have him leaning towards hanging it up.
But Richt said that “there’s no point” in giving Scott-Wesley a medical disqualification, as he’s a senior and thus the team doesn’t need to open up a scholarship.
“So if somewhere along the way he feels good or somewhere along the way we get some injuries and he’s like, ‘I gotta go in there and help my team,’ we just want to make that available to him,” Richt said.
In the meantime Scott-Wesley is eagerly embracing the student assistant coach role. In fact Scott-Wesley has been doing more than just acting as a coach during practices.
“I’ve seen him up in the office looking at film and doing the extra things that a young coach would do,” Richt said. “He’s very active out there. He’s helping the younger players. It’s been very good. I’ve been impressed with him.”
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