Lumpkin has surgery

ATHENS - Georgia tailback Kregg Lumpkin underwent surgery on his left knee Tuesday but may have one more game in his college career.

Coach Mark Richt said Lumpkin, a fifth-year senior, may be able to play in a bowl game for the 21st-ranked Bulldogs.

``It's disappointing, but he's doing pretty good,'' said Richt, whose team is off this week. ``He's a mature kid. We saw him today with his mom and dad after surgery. It wasn't like he was happy, but he wasn't sitting there feeling sorry for himself.''

Lumpkin hurt his knee in last week's victory over Vanderbilt. He underwent an arthroscopic procedure to repair a torn lateral meniscus and a sprained posterior lateral complex.

``Playing in a bowl game is probably his only shot, but in talking to him today, he would welcome that opportunity,'' Richt said. ``He acted like if he was healthy, he wanted to finish.''

Lumpkin endured an injury-plagued career. After a promising freshman year, he tore up a knee on the first day of fall practice in 2004, forcing him to take a redshirt. He returned to lead the Bulldogs in rushing last season with 798 yards and six touchdowns, but sustained another setback in this year's opener against Oklahoma State when he broke a thumb.

Lumpkin missed two games and had to wear a special pad on his hand when he returned. His carries figured to increase in the coming weeks after fellow senior Thomas Brown went down with a broken collarbone, but the latest knee injury thwarted those plans.

Redshirt freshman Knowshon Moreno has taken over at the Bulldogs' starting tailback. Lumpkin has only nine carries for 37 yards.