Georgia coach Kirby Smart green-lighted RB Nick Chubb (ankle injury) not only for a game against South Carolina Saturday, but for the practice week, as well. The injured ankle of LSU RB Leonard Fournette isn't responding quite as quickly, however.
Chubb and Fournette, both juniors, are two of the nation's top draft prospects at running back. The Georgia coaching staff limited Chubb to just one carry in a loss to Tennessee Saturday, while Fournette did not play in LSU's win over Missouri.
"We feel good about him going into this week. We're not holding him back in any kind of way. He was cleared to go for (Tennessee). It was more of a deal of was he better at the time than those other backs? Was he completely healthy? Was he able to run at full speed? He didn't practice the whole week, so it made it a lot harder for him to go in and get reps," Smart said in a Monday news conference. "This week he's cleared to go. We'll see where he's at and make sure he builds his reps as the week goes and is ready to go for the game."
Orgeron said Monday he wasn't sure when Fournette would be back in the Tigers' Saturday lineup, or even back at practice.
"I don't know if he's going to play," Orgeron said, according to The Advocate. "Day by day. Don't know if he's going to practice (Monday)."
After missing much of last season with a knee injury, Chubb opened his junior year impressively with 222 yards in a win over North Carolina. His yardage totals have progressively fallen each week since then, however, and an ankle injury suffered against Ole Miss on Sept. 24 set up his questionable status for last week's game against UT. Fournette has been hobbled by ankle injuries since the preseason. He has missed two games, but has rushed for more than 100 yards in the three games he's played against Wisconsin, Mississippi State and Auburn.
LSU plays at Florida Saturday.
Other injury news among some of college football's top players:
Grant Newsome, OL, Michigan: Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh announced UM's left tackle would miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury. After Newsome's injury during a 14-7 win over Wisconsin last week, Juwann Bushell-Beatty played left tackle and is expected to fill in for the talented sophomore.
Luke Del Rio, QB, Florida: After two weeks on the sideline with a knee injury, the son of Oakland Raiders coach Jack Del Rio could be back behind center for the Gators against LSU Saturday, coach Jim McElwain said Monday. Del Rio will participate in practice Monday.
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