MOBILE, Ala. – Tuesday’s first day of practice for Saturday’s Senior Bowl (2:30 p.m., NFL Network) did not signify the best of starts for two of six Georgia players taking part in this week’s event.
When the American team, made up predominately of players from SEC, took the field at Hancock Whitney Stadium, Georgia linebacker Monty Rice was not in uniform and did not take part in any drills.
It’s unclear why Rice, who was bothered for much of the year with a foot injury, did not take part although he kept engaged throughout the two-hour practice. The practice was attended by scouts, coaches and front office personnel from all 32 NFL teams.
Unfortunately, Rice was not the only injured Bulldogs.
Just halfway through the session, offensive lineman Ben Cleveland suffered what appeared to be an injury to his left ankle and hobbled off the field.
Cleveland, who was playing left guard for the American squad coached by Carolina’s Matt Ruhle, was examined by Panthers team trainers before heading into the locker room.
He did not return.
Prior to the injury, Cleveland was working as the second-team right guard, the same position he played with the Bulldogs last fall.
…It was mostly an All-SEC first team offensive line, which by no surprise, included a couple of starters from national champion Alabama. The unit included left tackle Alex Leatherwood (Alabama), left guard Trey Smith (Tennessee), center Jack Anderson (Texas Tech), right guard Deonte Brown (Alabama) and right tackle Royce Newman (Ole Miss).
The second-team unit consisted of left tackle Dan Moore Jr. (Texas A&M), left guard David Moore (Grambling), Cleveland at right guard and right tackle Carson Green (Texas A&M). Anderson also took most of the reps as the second-team center.
…Bulldog Malik Herring worked primarily with the first team at left defensive end. Ironically, Herring spent the early part of the afternoon matched up against Cleveland.
…Tight end Tre McKitty worked as the second-team tight end. He made one of the day’s better catches when he leaped high in the air to make a one-handed grab off a ball thrown by Kellen Mond of Texas A&M.
…Bulldog defensive backs DJ Daniel and Mark Webb also made some impressive plays. Webb knocked away a would-be touchdown pass in the end zone by Jamie Newman, while Daniel showed tight coverage on Clemson’s Cornell Powell to knock away a couple of passes (2:53 in the video below)
