Georgia loses starting defensive lineman for the season during playoff push

The Georgia Bulldogs are preparing for final four game stretch of the regular season. In the month of November, the Bulldogs will face Mississippi State, No. 11 Texas, Charlotte and No. 17 Georgia Tech to end the season.

With a No. 5 ranking in the AP Top 25, Georgia is poised to make a considerable playoff run. However, they will have to make that run without the services of starting nose tackle Jordan Hall.

Hall had started each of the eight games on Georgia’s schedule prior to the injury. Hall suffered a knee injury in the Bulldogs win over Florida last week. According to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, Hall is expected to miss the remainder of the season with that knee injury.

The former five-star recruit was off to his best statistical season of his college career. Hall was fifth among Bulldog defensive lineman in solo tackles and second among Georgia defensive lineman in total tackles.

Hall’s job on Georgia’s defense will be difficult to replace. At 6’4, 320 Hall is not an easy man to move. As the primary run stuffer on their defensive line, his production will be missed. Hall is backed up by three freshman defensive tackles. True freshman Elijah Griffin has been almost as productive as Hall. While Georgia is not expected to have an immediate personnel issue with the loss of Hall, they will be thinner in that position group.

Georgia has an important game against Mississippi State in Starkville. A game that some analysts believe has ‘trap game’ potential. With two remaining ranked opponents yet to be played, Georgia cannot afford to lose focus at this stage.

When the first college football playoff rankings were released this week, Georgia had a No. 5 ranking giving them an opening round home game. If they hope to hold or improve that tournament draw, they will need to take care of business against the four lower ranked teams they have yet to face.

Georgia at Mississippi State kicks off at Noon ET and will broadcast on ESPN.