Georgia quarterback Faton Bauta, who made one of the more curious starts in Bulldogs history, has decided to transfer and will not compete in the bowl game.
Bauta is a redshirt junior in eligibility but graduated this past May with a degree in sport management. The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder from West Palm Beach can transfer to any school and be immediately eligible without having to sit out a year.
His announcement follows the firing of head coach Mark Richt earlier this week.
“In my four years at Georgia, this university and this football program have allowed me to grow as a man and as a football player,” Bauta said in a release. “I can’t thank Coach Richt, my coaches and my teammates enough for all they have done for me. I will always be grateful for my time in Athens, my degree from this great university and each week I spent battling with my brothers on the field.
“At this time, I feel that the best option for me is to explore a new opportunity for my final year of eligibility, but I will always be thankful for my years in red and black.”