In a battle between the two best college football teams that didn’t make the College Football Playoff, the one-loss Georgia Bulldogs are set to take on the undefeated Florida State Seminoles in the Orange Bowl on Saturday.
While it should still be a heavyweight fight, there will be some noticeable players missing from the game that will make both teams look slightly different from how they looked in the regular season.
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Florida State has multiple starters sitting out of the game, while Georgia will see most of their players on the field.
Top Georgia, Florida State Players Not Playing the Orange Bowl
Thanks to the College Football Network Bowl Game Opt-Out Tracker, we know the players who are likely to sit out through the transfer portal from Georgia easily enough.
Georgia Players To Miss the Orange Bowl
- Daniel Harris, CB (transfer portal)
- De’Nylon Morrissette, WR (transfer portal)
- Joshua Miller, iOL (transfer portal)
- A.J. Harris, CB (transfer portal)
- Jamon Dumas-Johnson, LB (transfer portal)
- Marvin Jones Jr., EDGE (transfer portal)
- Logan Johnson, WR (transfer portal)
- Yazeed Haynes, WR (transfer portal)
- Aliou Bah, OL (transfer portal)
- Mateen Ibirogba, DL (transfer portal)
- Mekhi Mews, LB (transfer portal)
- EJ Lightsey, LB (transfer portal)
- Xavian Sorey, LB (transfer portal)
- Nyland Green, CB (transfer portal)
- Jared Zirkel, K (transfer portal)
- Jonathan Jefferson, DL (transfer portal)
- CJ Madden, EDGE (transfer portal)
- Austin Blaske, OT (transfer portal)
- Jackson Meeks, WR (transfer portal)
- Brock Vandagriff, QB (transfer portal)
- Darris Smith, EDGE (transfer portal)
- Smoke Bouie, CB (transfer portal)
Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia (NFL Draft, opt-out)
Over the last three seasons, Brock Bowers has been considered one of the best tight ends in college football. After a red-hot start to the season, Bowers lost a month of play after suffering a high ankle sprain. Still, he returned for the last three games and fought through the injury.
Georgia HC Kirby Smart has already stated that he doesn’t expect Bowers to play, due to him not being 100% healthy and the fact he could be declaring for the NFL Draft. While an official announcement has not been made, Bowers did not initially travel with the team, leaving many to believe he won’t be playing.
Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia (NFL Draft, opt-out)
Amarius Mims entered 2023 as a First Team All-SEC preseason selection, holding strong at the right tackle position. Three games into the season, Mims suffered an injury that kept him out of games during the season. He was able to finish with seven games played with six starts. Mims was knocked out again in the SEC Championship game with an ankle injury.
MORE: College Football Bowl Game Opt-Out Tracker
Like Bowers, Mims did not travel to the bowl game with the team. Another indication is that with Mims’ injury concern and NFL Draft status as a projected first-round pick, he will most likely sit out for the game.
Florida State Players To Miss the Orange Bowl
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Florida State has talent entering the NFL Draft, the transfer portal, or injured for the game. Nearly 20 players at Florida State are out for multiple reasons.
- Jordan Travis, QB (injury)
- Tate Rodemaker, QB (transfer portal)
- AJ Duffy, QB (transfer portal)
- Trey Benson, RB (NFL Draft, opt-out)
- Rodney Hill, RB (transfer portal)
- CJ Campbell, RB (transfer portal)
- Winston Wright, WR (transfer portal)
- Johnny Wilson, WR (NFL Draft, opt-out)
- Keon Coleman, WR (NFL Draft, opt-out)
- Markeston Douglas, TE (transfer portal)
- Preston Daniel, TE (transfer portal)
- Jimmy Casey, TE (transfer portal)
- Bless Harris, OT (transfer portal)
- Colin King, OT (transfer portal)
- Thomas Shrader, iOL (transfer portal)
- Daughtry Richardson, OL (transfer portal)
- Qae’Shon Sapp, OL (transfer portal)
- Patrick Payton, EDGE (transfer portal)
- Jared Verse, EDGE (NFL Draft, opt-out)
- Ayobami Tifase, DL (transfer portal)
- Dylan Brown, DL (transfer portal)
- Malcolm Ray, DL (transfer portal)
- DJ Lundy, LB (transfer portal)
- Dylan Brown-Turner, LB (transfer portal)
- Dwayne Wells Jr., DB (transfer portal)
- Jarrian Jones, CB (NFL Draft, opt-out)
- Renardo Green, CB (NFL Draft, opt-out)
- Tyler Keltner, K (transfer portal)
Jordan Travis, QB, Florida State
Considered one of the best quarterbacks in the country, Jordan Travis protected the ball well all season. Travis threw for 2,756 yards with 20 touchdowns to just two interceptions.
He suffered a season-ending leg injury against North Alabama. This is his senior season, so Travis will not play in another college game, as he enters the NFL Draft.
Tate Rodemaker, QB, Florida State
Tate Rodemaker was Travis’ replacement when he got injured. Rodemaker finished the season with 510 yards passing with five touchdowns and no interceptions. A concussion in the Florida game knocked him out of the ACC Championship game.
MORE: Tate Rodemaker Transfer Portal Landing Spots
The backup was expected to be the starter for Florida State in the bowl game, but he ultimately decided to enter the transfer portal. This is partly due to the team actively looking at other quarterbacks to bring in.
Jarrian Jones, DB, Florida State
Jarrian Jones has been at Florida State since 2020, as he transferred from Mississippi State after just one season. This year, he finished with 25 tackles, three pass deflections, one sack, one forced fumble, three interceptions, and one touchdown.
He announced on X Wednesday that he would not be playing in the bowl game. The senior defensive back will most likely set his sights on preparing for the NFL.
Renardo Green, CB, Florida State
Renardo Green had one of his best seasons in college, as the fifth-year senior stepped up in the secondary. Green racked up 43 tackles, 12 pass deflections, 0.5 sacks, and one interception.
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Green joins Jones and S Akeem Dent in opting out of the bowl game. The focus for Green now will be on the NFL Draft.
Johnny Wilson, WR, Florida State
One of Florida State’s leading receivers, Johnny Wilson, posted 617 receiving yards and two touchdowns for the Seminoles. The junior receiver recorded over 1,500 yards and seven touchdowns in two seasons with the school.
Wilson is now entering the NFL Draft, and he will not play for the Seminoles in their bowl game. He is one of two receivers the team will be without.
Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
Florida State’s other junior receiver, Keon Coleman, was a top pass catcher for the Seminoles. This season, Coleman recorded 658 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns, including three games of two touchdowns or more.
He joins Wilson in opting out of the game to shift the focus to the NFL Draft as he hopes to be one of the top receivers drafted.
Trey Benson, RB, Florida State
FSU’s leading rusher, Trey Benson, has shown over the last two seasons why he is one of the top backs in the ACC. Benson finished the season with 905 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns. He also added 227 receiving yards and one touchdown.
Benson will not play in the game as the junior running back is entering the NFL Draft. He has already been deemed the number-one running-back prospect in the draft.
Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
Jared Verse was one of Florida State’s best pass rushers in 2023. He recorded 41 tackles, nine sacks, two pass deflections, and two forced fumbles this season. It’s the second straight season that Verse has racked up nine sacks.
The junior edge defensive lineman has also opted out of the Orange Bowl. He will be prepping for the NFL Draft as he is projected to be a first-round pick.
Miss any action from the top college QB Rankings during the 2023 football season? Want to track all the movement with the college football’s transfer portal? College Football Network has you covered with that and more!
Source: https://t-tees.com
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