Woodrow Clemons wants to be sure Georgia fans know something about his grandson.
“He’s a good kid,” he said of Josh Harvey-Clemons, a starting safety for the Bulldogs. “He really is.”
Harvey-Clemons will have to miss the Gator Bowl because of “a violation of team regulations,” according to UGA. It’s the second suspension for the 6-foot-5, 215-pound sophomore. He also had to sit out Georgia’s season-opening game against Clemson after violating the athletic association’s marijuana-use policy.
According to Woodrow Clemons, this time an academic issue has sidelined his grandson. Harvey-Clemons is not expected to miss any other games, he said.
“Yes, but I really don’t want to say anything else about it,” said Clemons, who is the legal guardian of Harvey-Clemons and his siblings. “I’d rather you get that from coach (Mark) Richt, but he’ll be all right after this game.”
Richt has declined to provide any details on the absence of Harvey-Clemons or fellow defensive back Sheldon Dawson, who also will miss the bowl because of a suspension. It is unclear whether Dawson is being disciplined for the same reason.
“I’m not shedding any light on that,” Richt said before Friday’s practice at Jacksonville University. “I’m going to talk about the cats we’ve got here.”
In the meantime, Harvey-Clemons is back home in Valdosta, and he feels remorse.
“He’s OK,” Clemons said. “Obviously he’s very disappointed in himself, but he’s going to be all right. He’s got strong family support, and we haven’t given up on him.”
Harvey-Clemons took his youngest brother to Lowndes High School on Friday to play in a pickup basketball game. The family will remain in Valdosta and watch the Bulldogs’ Wednesday game against Nebraska on television.
“We hate that Josh, the team’s third-leading tackler, is not going to be there playing with them,” Mr. Clemons said. “I was looking forward to being there myself. I probably won’t now. Our holiday spirits have been dampened.”
Harvey-Clemons started all 11 games in which he played at either strong safety or the “star” position. He ranks third on the team with 66 tackles and has an interception and five pass break-ups.
Ramsey filling out: Freshman quarterback Brice Ramsey looks completely different than he did when he arrived on campus less than a year ago. He said he weighs 225 pounds. He left Camden County High weighing about 195.
“I think I’m putting weight on in the right places,” he said. “I don’t feel too big and fat.”
Even though rising senior Hutson Mason clearly is the heir apparent at quarterback, Ramsey said he plans to compete as hard as he can to unseat the rising senior before next season. Redshirt freshman Faton Bauta currently is no. 2.
Theus brothers feel at home: Among the visitors to Friday's practice were the parents of Georgia's John and Nathan Theus. They didn't have to come far. The Theuses live about 20-25 minutes southwest of Jacksonville University. Both players attended The Bolles School, a private school and longtime football powerhouse in Florida.
The best thing about being so close to home that is the brothers got to pocket the majority of their travel per diem, which came to about $400. “I used it to buy Christmas presents,” said Nathan, a sophomore long snapper.
They figure to give some of that back, as an outing to the Theus house seems to be making its way onto the unofficial bowl itinerary for this weekend.
“I’ve been talking to my parents about it, and we might be cooking a little food or something like that,” said John Theus, a two-year starter at right tackle. “I don’t know if we can get 100 out there or not, but we’ll try to get as many as we can. We’ll see what we can do.”
Rome undergoes surgery: Sophomore tight end Jay Rome underwent surgery two weeks ago to repair a torn ligament in his right foot. He attended Georgia's practice Friday on crutches with the foot heavily wrapped, so he's obviously out of the Gator Bowl. But Rome said he plans to be back — and before next season. The Bulldogs will count on him. All-SEC tight end Arthur Lynch is graduating.
Etc.: Georgia's not the only team dealing with a disciplinary issue. Nebraska left four players behind for unspecified disciplinary reasons, including starting defensive end Avery Moss. … The Bulldogs held a lively two-hour practice in full pads Friday. It was their eighth of 12 bowl practices and first since arriving in Jacksonville. … Among the visitors to Friday's practice were former Bulldogs offensive lineman Austin Long, former offensive line coach Neil Callaway and 100 or so Florida high school coaches.
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