More details have come out regarding Georgia special teams coach Scott Cochran’s absence from the Bulldogs.

After the absence was reported, coach Kirby Smart issued a statement that said Cochran “is currently dealing with health issues and is taking time to prioritize his mental health and well-being.”

Chip Towers of the AJC has reported that Cochran has been away from the Georgia football team since mid-July. That was prior to Smart and the Bulldogs taking their turn at SEC Media Days, and Cochran was already seeking outside help.

Former South Carolina coach Will Muschamp, who was hired as an off-field senior analyst, was elevated to an on-field role, and Towers explained the shift in coaching priorities.

Will Muschamp, who has been working for the Bulldogs in a defensive analyst role since late January, has at least temporarily assumed Cochran’s roles on the team. In the meantime, tight ends coach Todd Hartley, receivers coach Cortez Hankton and defensive backfield coach Jahmile Addae will carry a heavier load of the on-field special teams work they already were doing.

What’s more, the possibility remains that Cochran could return to the team before the Bulldogs open the season against Clemson on Sept. 4 in Charlotte at 7:30 p.m. on ABC.

Cochran was named special teams coordinator in February, 2020, after he served 13 years as head strength and conditioning coach at Alabama.