Thor Nystrom tracks players opting out of upcoming bowl games as well as the coaching changes around the college football landscape. Thor will update the article through the remainder of the season to keep you updated on bowl games, college prospects, and the 2023 NFL Draft.
And below we’ll take a closer look at the upcoming bowl game.
Check out Thor’s projections for all college football bowl games
Peach Bowl: 2022 College Football Playoff News, Player Opt-Out Tracker & Game Preview (Georgia vs. Ohio State)
- Saturday, December 31 | 7:00 PM
- Georgia (-6.5) vs. Ohio State | Total: 62
ATL UGA -7.5 | ATT: 65
Ohio State
- RB TreVeyon Henderson (Injury)
- RB Miyan Williams (Injury)
- RB Evan Pryor (Injury)
- WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Injury)
- OG Matt Jones (Injury)
- LB Teradja Mitchell (Transfer portal)
RB Henderson will miss the CFP after announcing on Dec. 13 that he would undergo season-ending foot surgery. Banged-up throughout the campaign – he’d been playing through a fracture and torn ligament in his foot since September – Henderson missed three of the last four regular season games. Henderson ran for 1,248 yards with 15 TD last season.
OSU RB2 Williams was able to return from a right leg injury to play against Michigan in the finale. Like Henderson, Williams dealt with injuries all season, so his status bears monitoring. The Buckeyes’ RB depth has been an issue all season after previous RB3 Pryor was knocked out for the season before it began in August.
Also out for the bowl is WR Smith-Njigba, whose season is over due to his problematic hamstring. Smith-Njigba will now try to rehab in advance of the pre-Draft process. Smith-Njigba posted a ridiculous 95-1606-9 receiving line in 2021 before a lost campaign in 2022.
Starting OG Jones missed the Michigan game with injury – it’s unclear if he’ll be able to return for the CFP. LB Mitchell played only one defensive snap in the fall.
Georgia
- WR Ladd McConkey (Injury)
- TE Arik Gilbert (Undisclosed)
- OG Tate Ratledge (Injury)
- OT Warren McClendon (Injury)
- DT Bill Norton (Transfer portal)
- EDGE Nolan Smith (Injury)
- S Dan Jackson (Injury)
WR McConkey left the SEC title game with a knee injury. OT McClendon was also injured in that game. It’s unclear if either will be able to return for the tilt with the Buckeyes.
OG Ratledge is playing through shoulder pain – his status likely isn’t affected for the CFP unless a serious aggravation of the injury occurs. TE Gilbert has scarcely played this season and isn’t likely to see the field in the CFP.
EDGE Smith was the team’s best edge-rusher. He suffered a pectoral tear against Florida and is out for the season. Smith was Georgia’s second-best defender to DT Jalen Carter by any measure you choose – PFF grade, NFL scouts’ words, the eyeball test, et al.
S Jackson is presumed out for the season with a foot injury. He had posted a sterling 80.7 PFF grade in 126 snaps before going down in October. DT Norton played only 46 snaps off the bench – he transferred to Arizona.
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