The SEC granted former Alabama DB Maurice Smith a conditional waiver to transfer to Georgia on Friday.

On Friday evening, Georgia coach Kirby Smart released a statement thanking the SEC for allowing Smith to become a Bulldog:

“I want to express appreciation to Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey for granting the waiver which will allow Maurice Smith to pursue his dreams at the University of Georgia as a graduate transfer,” Smart said in a statement. “This has been a difficult situation to navigate and we are grateful to all who have been involved in bringing it to a resolution. Now that it is behind us, we are all anxious to move forward.”

Smith doesn’t have much time to get up to speed if he’s going to be ready for the Bulldogs’ Sept. 3 season opener against North Carolina, but at least he’s cleared to join practices after a long, drawn-out drama with Alabama.