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Sophomore slump? Georgia LB Lorenzo Carter has become a ghost
By Alex Zorn
Published:
The last time Georgia played Kentucky, LB Lorenzo Carter had one of his best games: 9 tackles, including 3.5 for a loss and 2.5 sacks.
Saturday, Carter will have to prove he deserves to be on the field.
What a difference a year makes.
It’s not so much that Carter has regressed as a pass rusher as a sophomore, and it’s hard to say he hasn’t with 0 sacks this year compared to 4.5 sacks in his first-year, but it’s against the run game that coach Mark Richt feels Carter has become a liability.
Earlier this season Richt told The Ledger-Enquirer that “Lorenzo’s got to get better at (playing first and second down pretty good) and he will continue to get better in that area. Lorenzo’s been a very good pass-rush guy.
“We just got to get him to be more dynamic on all downs.”
Fans got a first-hand look at his struggles against the run Saturday as Florida back-up running back Jordan Scarlett took the linebacker for a ride on first down.
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For a player who depends on sacks to impact the game, without them, Carter is just another guy on Georgia’s deep linebacker rotation. Even if he looks like an athletic freak at 6-6, 242 pounds.
The good news is, as the former freshman sensation has disappeared, others have stepped up.
UAB transfer Jake Ganus, an inside linebacker, leads the team in tackles with 55 and is tied for the team lead with two interceptions. And on the outside, LB Davin Bellamy has been solid off the edge with 27 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and 2.0 sacks, especially while senior Jordan Jenkins has been recovering from injury.
Carter is slated to start against Kentucky on Saturday with Reggie Carter out for the season, but don’t expect to see No. 7 on field much on first and second down.
He’ll have to earn every play he’s on the field from here on out.
