Georgia offensive tackle Mark Beard, who would have been a senior in eligibility next season, has decided to transfer after graduating from UGA this summer, the Bulldogs announced
Beard will take advantage of the NCAA rule that permits such a move without having to sit out a year if graduation requirments are meant before transferring.
“We appreciate Mark’s contributions to our program the last two years and wish him the very best for his final year of eligibility,” Richt said in UGA’s news release.
Said Beard: “I’m grateful for the experience I’ve had at Georgia and that I’ll leave with a degree from UGA. I’m looking forward to the next step in my football career.”
A native of Adamsville, Ala., Beard played in 26 games (including two starts) over the past two years after transferring from Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College.
Beard’s absence will create a depth issue at left tackle, where he backed up now-graduated Kenarious Gates the last two seasons. Senior Kolton Houston and junior John Theus are the most likely candidates to start next season, with several other returning lettermen also in the hunt. Georgia signed four offensive linemen in the 2014 recruiting class that was secured on Wednesday.
