Georgia cornerback Devin Bowman switched jersey numbers for Saturday’s game against Vanderbilt in honor of a teammate whose UGA football career ended this week.
Bowman chose to wear No. 19, instead of his normal No. 37, as a tribute to freshman defensive back Rico Johnson, who was diagnosed Thursday with a neurological condition. Johnson had played in Georgia’s first four games this season, wearing No. 19.
“I wore 19 because me and Rico are really close,” Bowman said after the game. “That’s my friend. And I just wanted to surprise him today with the number.”
Saturday’s No. 19 was in the spotlight in the third quarter when Bowman, a junior from Rossville, intercepted a pass and returned it 63 yards for a touchdown to give Georgia a 34-10 lead over the Commodores.
The most excited person on the sideline after Bowman’s interception might have been … Johnson.
“When I came to the sideline, he was calling me Rico,” Bowman said. “We were just joking. He was, like, ‘Hey, Rico. Hey, Rico.’”
According to UGA, Johnson experienced “some neurological symptoms” during practice Wednesday and underwent a medical evaluation that determined it would be unsafe for him to continue to play football because of the risk of a permanent spinal cord injury. UGA said Johnson has been medically disqualified and can remain on athletic scholarship until he graduates.
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