The Sugar Bowl was a better-late-than-never introduction for Georgia freshman defensive back Divaad Wilson.
A four-star member of the Bulldogs’ 2018 signing class, Wilson enrolled last January but sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament in spring practice. The 6-foot, 195-pounder from Miami had not played all season but was used throughout Tuesday night’s 28-21 loss to Texas in New Orleans.
Playing time opened up for Wilson in the secondary due to projected first-round draft pick Deandre Baker sitting out the bowl and Tyrique McGhee getting injured, and he responded with four tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup during a healthy 65 plays.
“We wanted him to play all year, and I give the kid a lot of credit,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said early Wednesday morning in a news conference. “He has been frustrated, and he wanted to play. He had the ACL injury in the spring, and we thought he was going to be a really good player.
“He was cleared somewhere around the Florida week, but you can’t just get cleared and basically go out there and play.”
Fromm falls short
Georgia sophomore quarterback Jake Fromm completed 21 of 35 passes for 224 yards and three touchdowns and an interception against the Longhorns. He had just 89 yards through three quarters.
“It was tough,” Fromm said. “They did a really good job game-planning for us. They had an entire month to do so. They were showing a lot of different looks, and they were constantly mixing stuff up. They did a really good job with some eye violation stuff and showing you one thing one way and bringing it from the other.
“They showed us what that game plan was in the first couple drives, but we just couldn’t make adjustments quick enough really to capitalize on that.”
Fromm entered the game on track to set single-season program records in completion percentage and efficiency rating, but he fell short in each category. His 67.3 percent completion clip trails the 67.9 percent mark of Hutson Mason in 2014, while his season efficiency rating of 171.3 slipped behind the 174.8 that Aaron Murray produced in 2012.
Rocky ending
Bulldogs punter Jake Camarda had a disastrous first quarter in his freshman finale.
In an effort to field a low snap, Camarda’s knee touched the ground while he possessed the ball, resulting in a 14-yard loss at Georgia’s 27-yard line that led to a Texas field goal and a 10-3 lead. On Georgia’s ensuing possession, Camarda shanked a punt that traveled just 11 yards.
The 6-2, 180-pounder from the Atlanta suburb of Norcross entered averaging 43.2 yards per punt but had a 37.6-yard clip against the Longhorns.
“I think he’s done some good stuff,” special teams coach Scott Fountain said. “He’s a young kid, and he has been a little bit up and down. I wish he had been a little more consistent, but I think he’s getting close to becoming a big-time punter.”
Ford decision
Freshman tight end Luke Ford went home to Illinois and did not participate in Georgia’s on-campus practices for the Sugar Bowl before meeting the team in New Orleans. He did not play Tuesday night and told reporters early Wednesday morning he may transfer to Illinois in order to be closer to his grandfather, who is sick.
Ford was a top-50 national prospect in the 2018 signing class and played in nine games this season, catching one pass for 4 yards in the opener against Austin Peay.
Freshman quarterback Justin Fields also is exploring transfer options but did not speak to the media after the Sugar Bowl.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.