Malcolm Mitchell the latest defensive starter to be scratched for season opener
Malcolm Mitchell (R) sprained his left ankle in Georgia's walk-through practice on Thursday, meaning Damian Swann (5) will get the start Saturday at boundary corner (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
ATHENS — Yet another defensive starter is going to miss Georgia’s opener against Buffalo.
Malcolm Mitchell, who was moved from wide receiver to cornerback due to attrition in the Bulldogs’ secondary, has been scratched from the game as well. The sophomore from Valdosta reportedly sprained an ankle in Georgia’s “walk-through” practice on Thursday. That’s according to UGA, which closes its practices to the media on the Thursdays before games.
“I can confirm that he sustained a left ankle sprain in yesterday’s practice and will not play in tomorrow’s game vs. Buffalo,” Georgia spokesman Claude Felton said on Friday afternoon. “No projections at this point on his availability for next week’s game.”
No details were provided on how Mitchell actually injured his ankle in a walk-through practice.
Mitchell was slated to start at boundary corner for the Bulldogs. His absence makes him the fifth defensive starter expected to sit out the opener.
Senior Sanders Commings, the regular starter at that position, is suspended for the first two games due a domestic battery conviction in February. Outside linebacker Chase Vasser is also suspended for two games due to his May arrest for DUI. Inside linebacker Alec Ogletree and Bacarri Rambo are expected to miss at least the opener due suspensions for teams rules violations. UGA has never confirmed nor denied that Ogletree and/or Rambo is being disciplined but has declined interview requests for the two players since March when it was first reported they failed surprise drug screenings conducted by the UGA athletic association.
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173 comments Add your comment
GB's Hamburgers
August 31st, 2012
5:31 pm
OK, he was horsing around with his homeys.
Chris
August 31st, 2012
5:33 pm
Loyaldawg you said it, Cory Moore is a beast…..
fishook dawg
August 31st, 2012
5:39 pm
Mitchell pulled his hamstring last year and missed about 3 games. He was moved to defense this year for the start of the season to fill in for suspended players. The bad thing now is he want get any live action at cornerback aganist a lesser team before the first SEC game at MIssouri. Good luck with that.
SEC East Commissioner
August 31st, 2012
5:40 pm
State of The Georgia Bulldawg Nation
Some of you will not agree with this, but It is honest as one can be.
15-20% of UGA fans Think Richt is no longer getting the results they want( BCS runs)
20-30% of UGA fans Think Richt needed to get rid of his Offensive Coordinator
99.9% of UGA fans think Grantham was the answer.
50-60% of UGA fans realize that if Georgia does not win the SEC this Year it will be their last chance for a couple of years with the amount of players graduating, leaving for the NFL after the season is over.
20% of the UGA fans think that getting to the BCSCG is really in their grasp.
80% of SEC fans think that somewhere along the line that UGA and CMR will choke on a game they should win.
The facts are that UGA is loaded on defense, their OL is their weak link, their QB will have to make plays each week and not turn the ball over in order for UGA to win the three games they do have that are semi-tough.
The UGA nation will need to understand that with certain teams that play tougher schedules throughout the country will jump UGA once the season starts if ANY form of weakness is exposed in the first 3 or 4 games.
In the end, most fans are taking a wait and see approach to UGA and most fans outside of UGA think UGA is beatable if their running game is not there, even with 4 and 5 star running backs pouring out of the backfield. Defense wins championships, but the offense has to be able to keep the defense off the field.
The other weak area is Kicking, but UGA has always had great kickers going back to the Dooley Administration. When everything is going bad for UGA the Kicking game seems to always be the bright spot( with the exception of 2011).
Good luck to your dogs, and stay healthy my friends.
WDE
August 31st, 2012
5:43 pm
@SEC East Commissioner 90% of the “experts” think USCe is going to be the toughest team on our schedule this year…did you see them last night? I hope they are the toughest, but I’m sure UF beats them like rented mules..so much for all the experts and you.
Spanky
August 31st, 2012
5:45 pm
I’m hearing that he’ll be good to go for Mizzou, otherwise Corey Moore and Damien Swann are playing lights out! ..just watch!
Spanky
August 31st, 2012
5:47 pm
WDE, I’d wait till we see FLA in action before ya hop in their lap, bra!…rented mules,..nice!
ZinoDawg
August 31st, 2012
5:53 pm
I am praying that this is not serious!
Bad news for a Friday night……..
SEC East Commissioner
August 31st, 2012
5:54 pm
WDE
August 31st, 2012
5:43 pm
@SEC East Commissioner 90% of the “experts” think USCe is going to be the toughest team on our schedule this year…did you see them last night? I hope they are the toughest, but I’m sure UF beats them like rented mules..so much for all the experts and you.
If you think that USC plays like that all year then you are confused. Secondly, Vanderbilt is not going to be a push over for ANYONE, including UGA.
You can get mad, but the facts are the facts and you cannot argue with them.
Destin Dawg
August 31st, 2012
6:04 pm
Spurrier looked old and tired… lucky to win a sqeaker on a bad call !!!! Lattimore and Shaw looked beat up with no good back ups….. whole S.C. team looked gassed .. hands on hips…ESPN even said that S.C. was lucky to be playing Vandy and not GEORGIA !!!!
Destin Dawg
August 31st, 2012
6:09 pm
O line will suprise this year… S & C program plus Jen Ketterly’s daily buffet ay Butts Mehre.. Grantham’s defense 3rd year in 3/4 with several NFLers one 1st team.. Go Dawgs win the SEC Champs this year !!!
supsalemgr
August 31st, 2012
6:30 pm
At least he was not suspended.
a country boy can survive
August 31st, 2012
6:41 pm
lots of ex-dawgs getting cut by the nfl…cannot overcome the lack of coaching they received in athens….four wasted years…recruits, notice how many dawgs get drafted….just to get cut because they didn’t learn the basics at uga…don’t waste a career by going to uga…
USA today editor
August 31st, 2012
6:52 pm
I have to agree with practically everything SEC East Commissioner posted. He is right on the money. And to those who think SOuth Carolina will look and play the same against UGA as they did against Vandy please back the Bus up and get off and wait for the Short Bus and for your rubber helmet to. E issued.
Fidlin1
August 31st, 2012
7:01 pm
Hey Chip, thanks for all the Pre-season Coverage and getting this revved up. What’s the possibilty of getting ‘Like’, ‘Dislike’ button for comments?
Little Richard
August 31st, 2012
7:11 pm
Mizzu is gonna kick Georgia’s butt. Gonna be fun to watch ‘em lose.
UGA Fan 4Ever
August 31st, 2012
7:12 pm
We are going to be an awesome team, once we get our team back……WOW
Little Richard
August 31st, 2012
7:14 pm
Ole Richt showing a lot of grey hairs this year.
Tampa Gator
August 31st, 2012
7:38 pm
This has a little something to do with football…….SEC football in fact……well sorta…….have you guys watched the CBS SEC Weekly Show…….and had the joy of watching the girl that does the twitter posts from the players around the SEC? If you haven’t, you should…..but send your wife or girlfriend to the grocery store for chips and beer first. And put down the beer you have in your hand first as well.
Tampa Gator
August 31st, 2012
7:39 pm
……and good luck to the Dawgs tomorrow.
kingdaddy
August 31st, 2012
7:50 pm
You too Tamp…
SEC East Commissioner
August 31st, 2012
7:51 pm
If we decide to go to a 9 game SEC schedule you will see us give UGA road games to Baton Rouge and College Station. We may throw Tuscaloosa in there just to make our point.
Okay, just joking, having a little fun.
Good luck UGA.
kingdaddy
August 31st, 2012
7:52 pm
I don’t know why, but I don’t believe he sprained it in a “walk-through”…
Big Crimson 75
August 31st, 2012
7:56 pm
King — good luck to the dogs tomorrow.
It should be a cake walk.
Y’all will know who your #2 QB is after Saturday.
TG — good luck to your crocs.
I know no-one will wish my team well — goes with the territory!
Rest assured, We’ll carry our weight for the SEC.
Maxx4955
August 31st, 2012
8:19 pm
Heard Corey Moore is tough as nails…a good coverage guy and is probably one of the hardest hitters on the team. Go Dawgs!!!!
Big Crimson 75
August 31st, 2012
8:28 pm
Whoa!!!
Is this Patterson kid the one UT fired all that $$$ at to keep him away from the dogs?
SEC East Commissioner
August 31st, 2012
8:35 pm
Tenn Vols throwing it around, defense has a ways to go but they are spreading the field. 22-7 after 1
SEC East Commissioner
August 31st, 2012
8:36 pm
BIG CRIMSON…
Good LUCK to your TIDE! Represent us well.
Dude84
August 31st, 2012
8:39 pm
we obviously have a lot of naive fans of the game of football. Of course Malcolme Mitchell is fine and dandy, Richt is holding him out of this game in which we are 37 point favorites, because the depth at corner is thin and he wants as many fully ready players for week 2 at missouri. An actual, serious opponent…not Buffalo. Why would he risk playing any of the starters against Buffalo? I think Murray, Jarvis Jones, Ken Malcolme, and John Jenkins should be “injured” for the Buffalo game as well. You “fans” are funny, freaking out over this…
SEC East Commissioner
August 31st, 2012
8:43 pm
Michigan St’s qb is a scatter arm.
Big Crimson 75
August 31st, 2012
8:44 pm
Thanks Commish.
Sal Sunseri will save the young Dooley’s job @ UT.
kingdaddy
August 31st, 2012
8:48 pm
75
Kick their butts back to Michigan. They deserve a serious SEC Stomping. Anyone outside the conference can go to h€LL. GOOD LUCK…
Big Crimson 75
August 31st, 2012
8:48 pm
The discrepancy between the SEC & ACC is astounding.
Some HAD predicted NC State to compete for the ACC Crown — UT is probably the 7th or 8th strongest program in the SEC.
Big Crimson 75
August 31st, 2012
8:50 pm
king — with pleasure!!!
Left Coast Dawg
August 31st, 2012
8:54 pm
@Big Crimson75 – yeah, that is the kid Patterson……he looked good on that end around….damn good!
Left Coast Dawg
August 31st, 2012
8:56 pm
I was expecting more from NC State but maybe this is a testament to Derek Dooley’s efforts to improve that Volunteer product.
SEC East Commissioner
August 31st, 2012
8:57 pm
Dumb play call there on 4th and 1 1/2.
SEC East Commissioner
August 31st, 2012
9:02 pm
Sunseri needs to find some DB’s
SEC East Commissioner
August 31st, 2012
9:05 pm
Big Crimson,
Question:
No one has mentioned it but LSU lost a couple of coaches, especially Ron Cooper their DB coach who went to Tampa Bay Bucs, that will have some affect on them to some degree, What do you think?
Big Crimson 75
August 31st, 2012
9:05 pm
Signs of life from the Pack!!!
Bad decision to go on 4th down.
Big Crimson 75
August 31st, 2012
9:07 pm
Commish — I’m ready to see what Mettanberger is all about.
LSU’s loaded with players.
Left Coast Dawg
August 31st, 2012
9:14 pm
Ditto the Mettenberger comment……basically, see what we really lost.
Left Coast Dawg
August 31st, 2012
9:15 pm
OMG! Vols lost the ball on the half inch of the goal line.
The Umpire
August 31st, 2012
9:15 pm
Wow! SC looks a whole lot weaker than everybody thought, but TN looks fantastic! Explosive O, tough, fast and aggressive D. TN could be the sleeper this year. Hard to say how good NC State is, and you can have a burst, but the Vols look like they can play with anyone.
Left Coast Dawg
August 31st, 2012
9:16 pm
Me thinks after review that it will be a touchdown.
Left Coast Dawg
August 31st, 2012
9:17 pm
Umm, not so fast Umpire. The Tenn running game doesn’t look explosive……WOW, it’s not overturned ….
Left Coast Dawg
August 31st, 2012
9:18 pm
That play could cost Tenn the game.
Big Crimson 75
August 31st, 2012
9:21 pm
Luginbill just compared Patterson to Julio!!!
Easy dude.
The Umpire
August 31st, 2012
9:22 pm
Lefty, I’m watching the BSU MSU game too on DVR…haven’t caught up with you.
Delbert D.
August 31st, 2012
9:23 pm
Buffalo has a bunch of big bodies on the OL, starters and backups. The might fall on somebody. The DL is a different story with their 3-4. NT is 285, DEs are 265 and 270.