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Georgia: Dogs lose Sturdivant for season

By: David Paschall
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Willie Martinez

Georgia returned to the football practice fields Tuesday afternoon without the services of starting left tackle Trinton Sturdivant, who is out for the season after injuring his left knee during Monday’s scrimmage at Sanford Stadium.

Sturdivant’s knee will require reconstructive surgery, and coaches who worked with him and against him in workouts were quick to express their dismay. The 6-foot-5, 293-pounder from Wadesboro, N.C., started all 13 games last season as a true freshman.

“It’s damaging, because he’s the most athletic offensive lineman we had, and he was a really smart player,” defensive coordinator Willie Martinez said. “You’ve got to be pretty good to start as a true freshman on the offensive line anywhere. He was just a hard guy to get around.”

According to Ron Courson, UGA’s director of sports medicine, Sturdivant suffered a “multiple ligament injury” that will require up to 12 months of rehabilitation. Georgia head coach Mark Richt said the surgery likely will take place next week.

“Trinton was bigger, stronger and more experienced than he was a year ago,” Richt said. “He had been practicing so hard. I’m still sick about it, but he’s in good spirits, and we are going to support him.”

Sophomore Josh Davis worked with the first unit Tuesday in Sturdivant’s absence, with left guard Vince Vance, center Chris Davis, right guard Cordy Glenn and right tackle Kiante Tripp rounding out the starters. Vance, Tripp, Glenn and backup right guard Clint Boling also played some at left tackle.

Richt said one potential option would be moving Glenn out to right tackle and shift Tripp to left tackle but stressed that Josh Davis had a good workout Tuesday.

“His energy level moved up a notch, and I like what I saw,” he said. “He’s running with the No. 1 unit, and he’s in the lead for that position right now.”

The Bulldogs are scheduled to hold their third two-a-day session today.

Fontaine commits

Georgia picked up its 13th commitment for the 2009 class and its first in more than a month Tuesday when tight end Arthur Lynch-Fontaine of Dartmouth, Mass., made his nonbinding announcement. The 6-5, 240-pounder is rated by Rivals.com as the nation’s No. 4 tight end.

Lynch-Fontaine originally committed to Boston College and picked the Bulldogs over the Eagles, Maryland and Virginia.

Odds and ends

After reviewing video of Monday’s scrimmage, Richt said starting defensive tackles Jeff Owens and Geno Atkins dominated during their limited number of plays. ... One true freshman defensively who could play early is Bacarri Rambo, who is backing up CJ Byrd at strong safety following the injury to Quintin Banks. ... Backup quarterback Joe Cox returned to practice Tuesday after missing the last several days with a hurt elbow.

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