Monday UGA News and Notes

If any of Georgia’s current seniors have decided to take advantage of the NCAA’s blanket waiver, to return to Athens for another year, that would apparently be news to head coach Kirby Smart.

Back in August, the NCAA approved a measure that will allow athletes, seniors included, the opportunity to return for one more season.

Under the plan, any senior who takes advantage of the opportunity would not have his scholarship counted as part of the 85 allowed per school.

“We don’t really have a lot of those conversations as far as the return,” Smart said. “They have the opportunity to do that. Each kid is in a different scenario. Some have Senior Bowl invites, some an opportunity to grow and get better, some an opportunity to graduate. So, we don't really get into it right now. We are concerned with Vanderbilt, and we'll worry about that when the regular season ends.”

Currently, Georgia lists 16 seniors on the school’s official website, all of whom presumably will take part in Senior Day festivities prior to Saturday’s 4 p.m. kickoff against Vanderbilt.

One of those seniors, wide receiver Demetris Robertson, was asked if he has given thought to coming back for another year.

With 10 catches for 98 yards, the Savannah native has not quite lived up to the expectations many had for him when he transferred from Cal. Some have speculated that he might consider a return.

“I'm taking part (in Saturday’s festivities), but I don’t know what the future holds,” Robertson said. “I really want to graduate, my family wants me to graduate, so, we’ll sit down and see what happens.”

When asked if he was willing to close the door on a return, Robertson seemed to leave a crack in regard to a possible return.

“You can’t shut any doors,” Robertson said. “You have to weigh every outcome, every opportunity, every possibility.”

Among Georgia’s injured who could return to play against the Commodores is senior safety Richard LeCounte.

According to Smart, LeCounte continues to rehab from the injuries he suffered in his motorcycle accident.

"There's a chance that Richard can get back,” Smart said. “I don’t know how realistic it is for this week, but he’s doing more. He's running now, and he's with us; he's back into things. There's a chance he can get out there and play by this week.”

Smart is hopeful nose guard Jordan Davis (elbow) can play after dressing out last week, although Davis was unable to get into the game at South Carolina.

UGASports asked about senior defensive back Mark Webb, who didn't play against the Gamecocks.

“Mark was just dinged up a little bit; he could have played,” Smart said. “But we weren’t going to play him unless we had to or maybe [if] we had some other injuries, because we're thin at the [defensive back] position. We didn't have to play him, so we didn't. We think he’ll be back this week.”

Over the years, Smart has grown close to former Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason, who was fired from his job on Sunday.

“It was unfortunate to get the news about Derek yesterday. He has become a good friend—a guy I have a lot of respect for in this profession. The job he’s always done with units while he was at Stanford—and they've always played so hard at Vandy,” Smart said. “I've gotten to know him in the offseason and have taken a trip together with some other coaches, with him and his wife. I have a lot of respect for Derek, and I know the future will be bright for him. He'll have a lot of opportunities moving forward, because he's a really good football coach.”

Two summers ago, Smart and Mason attended the Nike coaches conference and the two became close.

“To me, he’s like a brother,” Mason said two summers ago at SEC Media Days. “You meet people sometimes and you realize, man, that you have a lot in common, some of the goals. You see football the same way. You see life the same way.”

Ben Cleveland was named the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week Monday for the second time this season, but the honor was not what Smart wanted to talk about when asked about the senior from Toccoa.

It was the growth he's shown off the field.

Last season wasn't the best for Cleveland, who was forced to miss the Sugar Bowl due to academic issues.

Smart said he's proud of the way the veteran used this current year to get himself back on track.

“He’s had a better attitude and commitment to being a good player. I think he went through some spells last year when he'd probably admit he wasn't at his best,” Smart said. “It’s been more meaningful to him this year. He's played better. He's been a really good leader for that unit. He's been a tremendous leader for our team, and he has a bright future. He’s a guy who didn’t like the information he got last year, and he’s going to like the information he gets this year better, in terms of where he is as an NFL prospect.”

Last week against South Carolina, Cleveland had five knockdown blocks, missed no assignments, and graded out at 90 percent after playing 48 snaps against the Gamecocks. He helped anchor an offensive line that allowed the Bulldog backs to register a season-high 332 yards rushing on 46 attempts (7.2 average) and four touchdowns on the ground.

“Experience. You cannot put a value on experience. That's what people don't understand. Everybody wants the freshman O-lineman to be the best, the five-star to come in,” Smart said. “But on the offensive line, the number of times he's seen games and pass-offs and twists, he knows what they’re going to do before they do it. He has great size. I think he’s played more physically this year.”