Georgia's Riley Ridley out for Liberty Bowl

Georgia freshman receiver Riley Ridley will not play in today's Liberty Bowl due to an ankle injury sustained earlier this week in practice.
Georgia freshman receiver Riley Ridley will not play in today's Liberty Bowl due to an ankle injury sustained earlier this week in practice.

Georgia football coach Kirby Smart confirmed Thursday that freshman receiver Riley Ridley would not be able to play in today's Liberty Bowl against TCU due to an ankle injury suffered during Tuesday's practice.

Smart said the younger brother of Alabama sophomore receiver Calvin Ridley may have sustained ligament damage.

"He got rolled up on from behind and didn't see it coming, so it doesn't look good for him," Smart said during his final news conference before today's noon kickoff on ESPN. "I hate it for him, because he's a great kid, and he has had some really good bowl practices. He was coming into his own.

"He just needed time, and that's what the bowl game has afforded him, and now it doesn't look like he'll be able to play. We've got a core group of receivers who have all kind of depended on each other, and Riley has been one of the more physical guys that we lose out on now."

The 6-foot-2, 197-pound Ridley had 12 catches for 238 yards and two touchdowns this season, including the 47-yarder from Jacob Eason with 10 seconds remaining against Tennessee that gave the Bulldogs a short-lived lead.

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.

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