Georgia Bulldogs star defensive tackle Jalen Carter out ‘a week or two’ with knee injury

No. 2 Georgia will be without star defensive tackle Jalen Carter for “a week or two” as he deals with a knee injury, coach Kirby Smart told reporters Monday.

A 6-foot-3, 310-pound junior, Carter is projected to be a top pick in next year’s NFL draft. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. lists him as the third-best prospect overall.

Smart said Carter injured an MCL last Saturday at Missouri. Georgia came back in the fourth quarter, scoring 14 unanswered points to win 26-22.

“We don’t know how long it’s going to be,” Smart said of Carter’s recovery, “but it’s doesn’t look good for this week.”

Georgia hosts Auburn on Saturday and Vanderbilt the following week.

Then, after a bye week, Georgia plays rival Florida in Jacksonville.

The Bulldogs, who are 5-0 this season, expect to welcome back starting defensive back Javon Bullard on Saturday, Smart said.

Bullard did not travel to Missouri as part of a one-game suspension he received following his arrest Sept. 25, when he was charged with several misdemeanors, including driving under the influence.

Bullard started all four games prior to his arrest. He has seven tackles and one pass breakup.

NEW ORLEANS — At this time a year ago, Washington receiver Rome Odunze’s immediate future was unclear. After an incredible junior season in which he was named an All-American and was part of one of the best receiving corps in college football, the polished Las Vegas native would have been justified in calling his time at Washington a success and heading to the NFL.

It was tempting — here was his chance to opt into life-changing money and realize a longtime goal — but he wanted to be deliberate. As he weighed the decision in the month following the regular season, a clearer picture of what 2023 would look like emerged, starting with quarterback Michael Penix Jr.’s pledge to return. Seven other key contributors followed suit.

“I was going over everything I could, calculating everything I could,” Odunze told ESPN. “Talking with my family, with my dad, who is heavily involved in that as well.”

But in the back of his mind, he kept returning to one thought.

“I’ll be coming back with Penix.”

On Jan. 12 last year, four days before the deadline for underclassmen to enter the NFL draft, Odunze went with his heart, announcing he would return to UW.

Helping UW to a third national title in school history is a goal Odunze has never shied away from. As a high school prospect, his commitment announcement on social media included the phrase #NattyOTW (national title on the way). In January 2022, when he decided to remain in Seattle after Kalen DeBoer was hired as coach, there it was again.

“My goals and aspirations remain the same! To win a national championship at the University of Washington,” he said in the post.

In no small part because of the performance of Odunze and UW’s other receivers, the Huskies are a win away from achieving what Odunze set out to do.