Georgia Kicker Marshall Morgan Suspended for Week 2 vs. South Carolina

Georgia kicker Marshall Morgan, the subject of a late-June intoxicated boating arrest, was suspended for the Bulldogs Week 1 game at Clemson and will remain inactive against South Carolina on Saturday.

According to Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald, head coach Mark Richt confirmed the suspension on the radio:

Morgan, a sophomore, made eight of 14 field goals and 63 of 67 extra points as a freshman last year. Those aren't earth-shattering numbers, but he is—supposedly—the best kicking option on the team and was/is being counted on to improve this season.

Walk-on sophomore Patrick Beless took his spot against Clemson and made all five of his extra-point attempts. He's the assumed starting kicker against South Carolina, though it's worth noting he still hasn't attempted an actual field goal in his career.

The one time Richt sent him out there, Georgia trailing 31-28, the snap on a 20-yard attempt was mishandled, and Georgia came up empty. Even though it wasn't Beless' fault, an error in the kicking game helped promote the Bulldogs' loss, leading many to (wrongly) expect Marshall's return in Week 2.

Earlier in the game, on 4th-and-4 at the Clemson 33-yard line, Richt elected to go for it rather than kicking a 50-yard field goal. The Bulldogs trailed 14-7 at the time (and the drive eventually ended in a touchdown), so it's hard to say whether Morgan's absence played a role in that. Truth be told, it probably didn't.

But Richt will stay just as aggressive on fourth downs against the Gamecocks.