Is UGA’s Trevor Etienne suspended? What Kirby Smart said before Clemson game
Will Trevor Etienne play against Clemson?
His coach won’t say.
Speaking Monday in his first weekly news conference of the season, Georgia coach Kirby Smart declined to say whether or not Etienne, a Florida transfer and the younger brother of former Tigers star Travis Etienne, will play in Saturday’s Aflac Kickoff Game against Clemson.
Etienne was arrested and charged with driving under the influence in March, and Smart intimated in media interviews this spring that the star running back could face in-season discipline such as a suspension with the No. 1 Bulldogs.
“I don’t really talk about any of the other stuff in regards to any of our players with suspensions,” Smart said Monday, when asked directly if Etienne will be available. “But I’m excited about all the guys that are gonna get an opportunity to play.”
Bulldogs HC Kirby Smart would not comment on the playing status of RB Trevor Etienne for Clemson or anyone else who could be facing a possible suspension pic.twitter.com/8dgs0Fp5jR
— Zach Klein (@ZachKleinWSB) August 26, 2024
Later in his news conference, Smart was asked if Georgia has already made decisions internally on suspensions for its season opener against Clemson.
Outside of Etienne, a preseason first team All-SEC pick, UGA linebacker Smael Mondon Jr.’s status is also up in the air after his July arrest on reckless driving and racing charges. Smart declined to elaborate on any potential suspensions.
“We don’t discuss those,” he said. “Thank you.”
The loss of Etienne would be a significant personnel change for the Bulldogs and the Tigers to adjust to, as the Florida transfer is expected to be Georgia’s starting running back this year and one of the top rushers in the SEC.
Etienne, 20, was arrested by Athens-Clark County police on March 24 on charges of DUI, reckless driving and two other misdemeanors, per ESPN.com.
He was traveling 80 to 90 mph in a 50 mph around 1:50 a.m. that night and told police he was trying to get home and had drank three beers “way earlier,” according to a police report obtained by the website.
In July, the running back agreed to a plea deal in which two DUI charges against him were dismissed and he pleaded no contest or guilty to four lesser charges, received 12 months of probation and agreed to community service, random alcohol/drug screenings and other stipulations, per the Athens Banner-Herald.
Mondon, a preseason second team All-SEC pick, also agreed to a plea deal in August in which his reckless driving and racing charges were dropped.
In a media interview last week, Smart had also declined to say whether or not Etienne would be suspended for the opener. He had indicated in the spring Etienne would face some sort of suspension.
The younger Etienne had Clemson as one of three finalists in his recruitment before committing to Florida over the Tigers and LSU in January 2022. A former top 200 recruit, Etienne rushed for 1,472 yards and 14 touchdowns in 24 games across two seasons with the Gators.
His connections to Clemson are obvious, as his older brother, Travis, is one of the most productive running back in Tigers history.
Travis Etienne (now with the NFL’s Jaguars) had an ACC record 4,952 rushing yards, 78 total touchdowns, 70 rushing touchdown and 468 total point scored while playing at Clemson from 2017-20 and was part of the 2018 national title team.
Clemson vs. Georgia game, TV info
Who: No. 14 Clemson (0-0) vs. No. 1 Georgia (0-0)
When: 12 p.m. Saturday
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta
TV: ABC
Line: Georgia by 13.5 points
