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Kirby Smart comments on possibility of Richard LeCounte playing in Peach Bowl
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Georgia defensive back Richard LeCounte has not played a snap since Halloween when the Bulldogs defeated Kentucky.
A motorcycle wreck following that game ruled LeCounte out for the remainder of the regular season, but the senior could return for the Chik-Fil-A Peach Bowl against undefeated Cincinnati. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart commented on the possibility of LeCounte being in the lineup on New Year’s Day, and how much work LeCounte is putting in to be able to play.
“It all boils down to the health and safety of that young man,” said Smart during his press conference Monday. “If he’s capable of playing winning football, he’ll go out there and play. He’s never been shy about it. He wants to play. He’s a football player. That’s the way he’s been since he was in ninth grade, and I watched him running around playing spring football down in Liberty County.
“That’s just who he is. He loves the game, he enjoys the game. He’s pushing really hard, he’s taking a lot of reps, a lot of reps for the twos. He’s working hard to get out there and play. It’s going to be conditioning, it’s going to be physicality, it’s going to be how comfortable he is. When you go that long without playing, it’s not always just straight line speed. It’s throwing on the brakes, understanding angles, feeling confident in contact because it’s a physical sport.”
Smart concluded the comments by stating that LeCounte could be a gametime decision.
“I don’t know what the odds are. I know he’s out there doing everything he can to be able to play. We’ll have to make a game time decision on whether he’s able to or not,” said Smart.
In the five games he played in 2020, LeCounte made 26 total tackles and three interceptions for Georgia.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Lucas is a digital reporter for 104.5 The Zone in Nashville, and a high school play-by-play broadcaster. Lucas has been covering SEC football for Saturday Down South since 2018.
