Tennessee
Georgia loses Smith as D braces for Tennessee
ATHENS, Ga. – Simply in time for its largest check of the season in opposition to No. 2 Tennessee’s top-ranked offense, top-ranked Georgia’s protection has misplaced outdoors linebacker Nolan Smith to a season-ending damage.
Smith, who leads Georgia with three sacks and is fifth with 18 tackles, suffered a torn proper pectoral muscle in final week’s 42-20 win over Florida. Georgia introduced Tuesday that Smith, a senior, could have surgical procedure on Thursday and is anticipated to make a full restoration.
Smith was one among solely three returning starters from the 2021 protection that led Georgia to its first nationwide championship since 1980. Regardless of having eight gamers from the protection chosen on this yr’s draft, together with 5 within the first spherical, Georgia (8-0, 5-0 Southeastern Convention, No. 3 Faculty Soccer Playoff) is second within the nation with its common of 10.50 factors allowed.
NOT NO. 1? UNDEFEATED GEORGIA MISSES TOP SPOT IN CFP RANKINGS
Georgia coach Kirby Good stated after Tuesday’s observe Smith “has nice power proper now” and has continued to steer.
“I talked to him and requested to assist left spirits and push,” Good stated. “That has been his position when he’s practising, so I don’t need him to alter now that he’s not. He’s on the market flying round and serving to us out. It’s nice to have him take that on. Not all children do this. Typically you get dejected or down within the dumps. He isn’t like that.”
Saturday’s matchup supplies the chance for Georgia to show it once more has a championship-caliber protection. Tennessee (8-0, 4-0, No. 1 CFP), tied with Ohio State for No. 2 within the AP ballot, leads the nation with its common of 49.4 factors per recreation.
Senior Robert Beal and sophomore Chaz Chambliss, who have already got performed important roles, performed extra snaps after Smith’s damage final week.
Chambliss stated the expectation is to regroup after shedding Smith to the damage simply because the protection reloaded after shedding eight gamers within the draft.
“We didn’t drop as a result of it’s the usual right here,” Chambliss stated. “The protection has an ordinary that we’re going to be the perfect of the perfect and it doesn’t change by who’s right here or what number of draft picks; it’s simply the usual right here to have an awesome protection. We observe like that each single day and that’s why we haven’t dropped off.”
The lack of Smith provides problem to the already daunting problem of containing the Vols’ fast-paced assault led by quarterback Hendon Hooker. Tennessee leads the nation in complete offense and ranks second in passing.
Hooker handed for 3 touchdowns and ran for a rating in Tennessee’s 44-6 win over then-No. 19 Kentucky final week.
The win over Kentucky was the Vols’ finest defensive recreation of the season, however the focus will relaxation on the matchup between Tennessee’s offense and Georgia’s protection.
The Bulldogs’ secondary might be challenged to comprise Tennessee’s vast receivers, together with Jalin Hyatt, who has set a college document with 14 TD catches, together with two in opposition to Kentucky. The secondary is led by cornerback Kelee Ringo and security Christopher Smith.
“One factor is for positive, they’re going to get to cowl,” Good stated of his defensive backs. “They’re going to search out out. As a result of there’s no hiding anyone if you play these guys.”
Cedric Tillman, the Vols’ prime vast receiver final season, returned final week in a restricted position after lacking a lot of the season with a excessive ankle sprain. Tillman might play an even bigger position in opposition to Georgia.
When requested what makes the Tennessee receivers so troublesome to cowl, Good stated: “Pace, house, scheme, proficient arm.”
“You realize, you possibly can have the perfect receivers on this planet, and so they get open on a regular basis, when you don’t have anyone that may get it to them — they’ve anyone that may defend them and get it to him,” Good stated. “They do job of that. Once more, that’s the problem for us this week.”
The winner of Saturday’s recreation will take command of the SEC Japanese Division race for a spot within the SEC championship recreation.
Hooker stated the showdown represents “the highest model of soccer.”
“As you possibly can see, they’ve some nice coaches behind them, and so they play extraordinarily exhausting,” Hooker stated Monday when requested about Georgia’s protection. “That’s one thing which you can’t educate. The trouble and angle and toughness that they bring about to the sport is immaculate and that’s what SEC soccer is about.”
Tennessee
Affidavit: Tennessee cop faces DUI, assault charges, stopped for going 104 miles per hour
A Hendersonville police officer has been decommissioned and temporarily suspended from duty pending an internal investigation after he was stopped by a Sumner County deputy Monday and charged with driving under the influence and assault on an officer, authorities confirmed Tuesday.
According to an arrest affidavit, Steven Wilson was driving 104 miles per hour in a 65-mile-per hour zone on Highway 86, and he continued on toward Exit 6 after a deputy activated his overhead lights and siren in an attempt to stop him.
Wilson was seen with “bloodshot-watery eyes” and the odor of intoxicating beverage was coming from his vehicle once he did pull over, the affidavit said.
When he was asked to get out of his car, Wilson asked Deputy Oscar Vazquez to turn off his body camera, the affidavit notes. It also said that when Vazquez refused, Wilson grabbed at the deputy’s body camera repeatedly and eventually grabbed at Vazquez’s left wrist.
Body camera footage also shows Wilson grab his car keys off the hood of Vazquez’s cruiser and begin walking back to his car before Vazquez grabbed Wilson, the affidavit said.
A struggle ensued, and Vazquez is heard asking responding officers to “step it up” in coming to the scene, the affidavit notes of the footage.
At least four responding deputies and a Hendersonville police officer arrived and struggled to gain control of Wilson, who was warned he would be Tased, the affidavit said.
Four deputies were ultimately able to take Wilson to the ground and handcuff him, the affidavit said.
Vazquez suffered a cut near the pinky finger of his left hand while trying to handcuff Wilson, but he did not seek medical attention for the wound, according to documentation from authorities.
Wilson did not consent to a blood test, but the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office obtained a warrant for one and conducted a blood draw shortly before 4 a.m. on Monday.
A search of Wilson’s car revealed two small Jack Daniels bottles and two unopened White Claw beverages, authorities noted.
“Based on the speeds he was traveling, his intoxication, and his action during the traffic stop, I believe that Mr. Wilson was a danger to himself and the public,” the affidavit said.
Reach reporter Craig Shoup by email at cshoup@gannett.com and on X @Craig_Shoup. To support his work, sign up for a digital subscription to www.tennessean.com.
Tennessee
Titans fire general manager Ran Carthon
The Tennessee Titans have fired general manager Ran Carthon per Jim Wyatt. President of Football Operations Chad Brinker will be retained and will conduct the search for a new general manager per Wyatt’s report. The report also confirms that Brian Callahan will be retained as the Titans’ head coach.
Ran Carthon was hired in January of 2023 to succeed Jon Robinson who had been fired during the 2023 season. In his two years here, the team compiled a 9-25 record. Just putting that record out there without context isn’t fair to Carthon, however. He took over a roster that was depleted of talent after Robinson had three really bad drafts in a row.
Carthon’s 2024 draft looks like it could end up being pretty good. JC Latham had a solid rookie year and looks like a tackle the Titans can count on going forward. T’Vondre Seat showed some promise in his rookie season, though they need him to develop as a pass rusher. Jarvis Brownlee held his own at cornerback after the two guys they brought in, Chidobe Awuzie and L’Jarius Sneed were injured for the majority of the season.
But at the end of the day, this roster really is not any better than the one Carthon inherited when he was hired. It was always curious that Carthon hired Brinker and Brinker ended up being promoted over him in less than a year here. That was a pretty strong indication that people inside the organization were not happy with the job Ran was doing.
Last year, Amy Adams Strunk chose to keep Carthon over Mike Vrabel. You have to wonder if she regrets that decision now just a year later.
Full statement from AAS:
“I’ve loved the time I’ve spent with Ran. He’s a talented football mind, a great man, and friend to everyone along his path,” Strunk said in the statement. “It’s impossible to ignore that our football team hasn’t improved over the past two years. I am deeply disappointed in our poor win-loss record during this period, of course, but my decision also speaks to my concern about our long-term future should we stay the course.
“I love this team more than you can imagine. To our fans: we know this level of performance isn’t acceptable. We’re humbled by your support as we continue to work towards building the team you expect and deserve.”
Tennessee
What schools are closed Tuesday? Middle Tennessee school closures, delays due to weather
‘Heaviest snowfall in over a decade’: Winter storm impacting millions
A massive winter storm is bringing bitter cold temperatures, rain and snow to more than 60 million Americans.
A strong cold front brought freezing temperatures and some snow showers to Middle Tennessee this week.
While the precipitation was expected to taper off Monday evening, moisure left on the roads could freeze overnight, the National Weather Service in Nashville reported.
Williamson County Schools reported car accidents, black ice events and road closures.
Here’s what Middle Tennessee schools are closed on Tuesday.
Middle Tennessee school closings and delays
- Cheatham County Schools: two-hour delay
- Franklin Special School District: closed
- Williamson County Schools: closed
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