Branden Smith cleared to rejoin team; Quintin Banks ‘retires’ from football
ATHENS — Cornerback Branden Smith has been cleared academically and will rejoin Georgia’s football team Friday, coach Mark Richt said.
“He is academically in good standing for the 2010 season,” Richt said Thursday night. “So we are fired up.”
Richt declined to go into detail about Smith’s academic situation.
Smith, a sophomore from Atlanta, left the team last week and stayed away while awaiting word on whether he would be cleared to enroll in fall-semester classes. The issue was related not to Smith’s grade-point average but to a placement-test score.
Smith is expected to contribute to Georgia’s team in all facets of the game: defense (as a possible starter at cornerback), offense (as an occasional threat at tailback or wide receiver) and special teams (as a kick returner).
Despite missing eight practices, “I don’t think he’ll be too far behind,” Richt said.
Smith seems pleased with how the situation worked out.
“Will be back in Athens tomorrow,” he posted on Twitter late Thursday afternoon.
“Georgia is on my mind,” he tweeted an hour later.
Banks ‘retires’ as player
Backup safety Quintin Banks, whose career has been frequently derailed by knee injuries, will forgo his senior season.
Banks “has basically decided to retire from football,” Richt said Thursday. “His knees have just not allowed him to move the way he’s accustomed to moving and move well enough to compete at this level.”
Richt said Banks will have surgery “and try to get it all cleaned up” before he graduates. In the meantime, he will stay involved with the team and “help us coach,” Richt said.
“He has tremendous knowledge, tremendous love for this team and his teammates. He’s got a wonderful spirit,” Richt said. “Quintin is exactly what we’re looking for when it comes to a good Bulldog.
“As a head coach, you hope that when a young man walks out the door he’s ready for life. And Quintin is absolutely ready. He’s turned into a really fine man, and anybody looking for a tremendous employee and future leader, Quintin is that.”
Between injuries, Banks has played in only five games in the past two seasons.
And a few other things . . .
- Richt said that, “as of right now,” Georgia has no reason to believe that any of its players will miss any games as a result of the NCAA investigation into possible improper contact between players and agents at multiple schools, including UGA.
- A.J. Green, Carlton Thomas, Bacarri Rambo and freshman Derek Owens are getting work at punt returner, Richt said.
- Richt: “If I had to say who was the leader of the football team, it’d probably be [fullback Shaun] Chapas. Not just the offensive team.”
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223 comments Add your comment
FORTY ONE POINTS to your seventeen points
August 13th, 2010
12:11 pm
Realistic Dawg Fan
Not very smart one are ya? Nothing is more pathetic than to hear you leghumpers year after year,”best recruiting class ever…NC this year…blah blah blah”. Nope, love my Mighty Gators. 17 of 20, 7 out of 9.
How2fish
August 13th, 2010
12:14 pm
Dawgtards ruin this state is English a second language for you ? Did you fluke English 101 in that Taliban training school at North Ave here is what I wrote ” lets review shall we which team in the conference recently had to void all of their wins in football for over 2 seasons..hint moron it’s not UGA!! Now you can kindly STFU and sit in the corner until spoken to. Moron is Bugville in the SEC ?? Not since they were an actual program they aren’t I was talking about Bama where you got Bugville I have not clue no will you STFU and admit your wrong..once again!
Realistic Dawg Fan
August 13th, 2010
12:15 pm
41 to 17 Like I said, a tek fan through and through.
FORTY ONE POINTS to your seventeen points
August 13th, 2010
12:17 pm
UNRealistic Dawg Fan
As expected. By the way, fixed your typo.
41 to 17
August 13th, 2010
12:17 pm
I am looking for a job, my qualifications are as follows…er let me get back to you on that….. I am good at faking my identity.
41 to 17
August 13th, 2010
12:19 pm
I admit it I admit it I am a tek fan…. oh tthe pain of backing a loser.
Realistic Dawg Fan
August 13th, 2010
12:21 pm
I don’t have a clue what I’m talking about.
41 to 17
August 13th, 2010
12:21 pm
I am a loser because I hang out on UGA blogs and hide my identity. I have no job, no girlfriend and no education.
DIT
August 13th, 2010
12:21 pm
41 to 17
You are proving everyone’s point about you being a techie. In the past couple years I have never seen any gator posters come on here defending themselves. They don’t have to. Only techies use terms like leghumpers… etc. Give it up dude! Your an angry little man. If you are a gator them you are no doubt embarrassing the rest of the gators on here.
41 to 17
August 13th, 2010
12:22 pm
I am a sick person. Young and stupid and sick
DIT
August 13th, 2010
12:22 pm
sorry “then” not them
Realistic Dawg Fan
August 13th, 2010
12:23 pm
We are FLA’s beeyotch…so, I accuse their fans of being techies. It helps sooth the pain of 17 out of 20, and 7 out of 9.
41 to 17
August 13th, 2010
12:24 pm
I am so had….
41 to 17
August 13th, 2010
12:27 pm
To be honest I didn’t go to college, got dumped by a girl that went to UGA, follow tek because I hate UGA but have such low self esteem I pretend to be a FLA fan.
Realistic Dawg Fan
August 13th, 2010
12:30 pm
Dayum…my trailer is soo hot. I’m glad all I have is GA football.
Dawgtards ruin this state
August 13th, 2010
12:53 pm
@ How2smellfishy – Still not claiming Jan Kemp?
Swarm
August 13th, 2010
12:53 pm
He took the Harrick basketball test and just passed, which got him back in.
Swarm
August 13th, 2010
12:58 pm
If you morons think anybody from Tech would envy anything from buttsnifferville, then grits ain’t groceries. eggs ain’t poultry and Mona Lisa was a man!!!!!!!!
Carz
August 13th, 2010
1:05 pm
What is Mark Richt’s record against Alabama?
B-ham Dawg
August 13th, 2010
1:07 pm
3-1
Still@theBAR
August 13th, 2010
1:09 pm
To bad the guy has to miss playing his senior year.
LawDawg
August 13th, 2010
1:09 pm
jealousy is not a great trait, haters.
LawDawg
August 13th, 2010
1:11 pm
Swarm,
if you didn’t envy, you wouldn’t be here!!
LawDawg
August 13th, 2010
1:12 pm
Swarm,
I got a test for you:
See if you can stay off of this blog.
Swarm
August 13th, 2010
1:18 pm
Lawdawg – go file a frivolous lawsuit against yourself. You would lose twice.
how2fish
August 13th, 2010
1:19 pm
Dawgtards ruin this state still not admitting your were wrong and that the Dogs own the Bugs??
Coach or not Meyers
August 13th, 2010
1:19 pm
I’m glad that Timmy is gone! Now I’m the center of attention! My shrink and the Pope say I’m going to be OK if I stay away from Satan Saban!
LawDawg
August 13th, 2010
1:23 pm
Swarm, you FAILED!!!
Maybe you need to take Harrick’s exam.
Wolfman
August 13th, 2010
1:43 pm
Clint Bolling’s DUI is reduced to reckless driving, GPAs suddenly get “corrected” — amazing how things work out!
Swarm
August 13th, 2010
1:48 pm
Lawdawg – take two codicils and call us in the morning. It was so cold last winter, I saw a lawyer with his hands in his own pockets.
LawDawg
August 13th, 2010
1:49 pm
Wolfman,
you don’t read very well. Or is it comprehension you lack? Nowhere, NOWHERE, in the article does anyone mention his GPA as a cause for concern. For the last time: IT WAS A PLACEMENT TEST. Should I sign you up to take the exam with Swarm this afternoon?
Georgia CB cleared to play : ChuckOliver.Net
August 13th, 2010
1:50 pm
[...] http://blogs.ajc.com/uga-sports-blog/2010/08/12/ugas-branden-smith-cleared-to-rejoin-team-friday/?cx... [...]
LawDawg
August 13th, 2010
1:53 pm
Swarm = envious Techmite
Gotta go….actually working on a codicil for someone!!
Yech Fan
August 13th, 2010
1:54 pm
You dummer than a brik UGA fans canot understnd good graades r impotent.
Swarm
August 13th, 2010
1:56 pm
Will – you dummy. One of UGAg’s 2 Heisman’s and one of 2 claimed National Championships came during WWII, when all the kids were off at war!
G
August 13th, 2010
2:00 pm
Atleast we didn’t have to have enlisted 25 and 30 year old service officers make up our team.
G
August 13th, 2010
2:00 pm
Who is Will?
Swarm
August 13th, 2010
2:00 pm
Probably printing it off of the internet and filling it in. I needn’t remind you how well you ambulance chasers are thought of. Or are you in law enforcement? Like, maybe the security guard at Walmart?
Swarm
August 13th, 2010
2:03 pm
G – see page one. G whizz! G dang! Watt up G?
G
August 13th, 2010
2:03 pm
This Swarm fellow sure spends alot of time on here to claim he is not envious of UGA. Hmmmmmmmm…….
seriously
August 13th, 2010
2:04 pm
Of OCurse Branden Smith would return…. Just had to ask JAN KEMP about that one
G
August 13th, 2010
2:05 pm
seriously,
are you Irish or have something against the Irish?
TBONEdawg
August 13th, 2010
2:07 pm
I’ve known Quintin Banks since he was in elementary school. He’s a great young man and a great student. He’s also a great artist. It’s got to be heartbreaking to him to not be able to play this year. He’s worked so hard to contribute to this team. I was extremely proud of his play at the end of the Tech game last year. CMR is not exaggerating when he says that Que is the kind of kid you want as a Bulldog. Good luck Quintin.
Swarm
August 13th, 2010
2:09 pm
G – what’s that you’re humming?
atlxMAN
August 13th, 2010
2:14 pm
Smith was not a 5 star recruit so was not worthy until he took the 5 star placement test. From now on all good dawgies must pass the 5 star placement test because you cannot win unless you are 5 star certified. Only 5 star high schoolers and NFL wannabees need apply. Urban Crier we will beat you since we gonna have more 5 star’ers, by hook or by crook but don’t need to read no book – just be a 5 star. unh-huh
GT Sambo
August 13th, 2010
2:21 pm
I am just LMAO at the guys co-opting each other’s handles. That’s pretty funny. I am on the UGA blog today, because there is nothing new on the Tech blog. Unlike what some Dawg fans have suggested, no Tech fans have any reason to feel embarassed at their team’s performance. We beat our rival in 2008, won our conference in 2009, and played a competitive game against our rival in 2009. JDawg is so proud of UGAs 9 straight 8+ win seasons. Great, good for them. We have been to a bowl for just as many seasons in a row as UGA (14 and counting, I believe) and if you look at the Bowls, you can’t really say UGA has been to significantly better ones over that stretch.
Again, I’ll gladly take Paul Johnson over Mark Richt and Mike Bobo and Al Groh over Todd Grantham anyday. Todd Grantham isn’t qualified to hold Al Groh jock starp while running a 3-4. This “high school” offense is exactly what a school like GT should be running. Why should GT try to compete for Pro style offense recruits with UGA… that would be foolish and it didn’t work under Chan Gailey.
GT Sambo
August 13th, 2010
2:22 pm
sorry… that should be jock strap
GT Sambo
August 13th, 2010
2:29 pm
By the way, I love how UGA fans continue to try to talk themselves into Todd Grantham, like he wasn’t their 3rd choice for DC. Can you believe that the Virginia Tech DC refused to even talk to CMR about the DC job at the MIGHTY UGA. What an insult. Virginia Tech?!?!?
Look I have no doubt that UGA’s defense will improve this year. Much like Tech’s it has no where to go but up. However, seeing that Todd Grantham got FIRED from his last DC job, I have a feeling in a couple of years when UGA’s defense doesn’t have the success of Alabama’s D, that Todd Grantham will be on the chopping block. Don’t worry though, Todd, Mike Bobo will be a scape goat long before you will.
Dawgtards ruin this state
August 13th, 2010
2:31 pm
I was wrong not reading “conference” in your reply. But I don’t have the brain cells to figure out which of the 12 SEC schools was the LAST one to forfeit (sp?) victories. We know every SEC team has been on probation many times. The SEC slogan is “If you’re not cheatin’ you’re not tryin’”.
(s)lawdawg ain’t no lawyer, but he’s like Herschel and always loved criminal justice, just couldn’t do the classwork.
UGA is Just Fine...
August 13th, 2010
2:34 pm
GT Sambo-”Why should GT try to compete for Pro style offense recruits with UGA… that would be foolish and it didn’t work under Chan Gailey.”
So you actually admit that GT can’t get the same caliber athlete that UGA does, and that running a gimick offense is the only way the techies can hope to compete against UGA?
wow, at least you’re realistic, I’m just stunned you actually could admit UGA’s superiority to tech.
Thanks!
oh and GO DAWGS!