Georgia Football: Marshall Morgan Reportedly Suspended for Clemson Game

Sophomore Marshall Morgan, the only scholarship kicker on Georgia's roster, has reportedly been suspended for Saturday's opener against Clemson.

Per ESPN.com:

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Georgia kicker Marshall Morgan will not play Saturday at Clemson, the result of a suspension related to a June boating under the influence arrest, sources close to the team told ESPN.

He set new program records for most PATs made and attempted (63-for-67). He also went 8-for-14 on field goals and handled 33 of Georgia's 85 kickoffs.

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Morgan has been a subject of debate all offseason, ever since he was arrested for a BUI on Lake Sinclair in June. Mark Richt has played it close to the vest with his status, telling reporters they'd see come game day when they tried to glean any updates.

The Bulldogs, of course, play No. 8 Clemson in Death Valley on Saturday, opening their season with what should be a close and high-scoring shootout. It's easy to disregard kicking issues as minor, but in a game such as this (and next week's game versus South Carolina), specialists can play a vital role.

Junior Adam Erickson and sophomore Patrick Beless are listed behind Morgan on the Georgia depth chart, and starting punter Colin Barber has a big leg too. But none of them have Marshall's experience, and they'd all be a massive downgrade.

It should be interesting to see if/how this news affects Richt's play-calling. Will he be more aggressive with fourth-down calls? He probably should be; a missed field goal, from certain distances, is effectively a turnover. Will he opt to shoot for the end zone or punt instead of kicking?

And if he chooses the latter, will Georgia have anyone capable of coming through?