Kirby Smart met with UGA beat writers after his team’s practice Monday afternoon. The Bulldogs’ head coach covered a range of topics including the improving health of his inside linebackers, another transferring player, comments about tight ends coach Shane Beamer and Tyler Catalina’s recent injury.
 
Linebackers:
 
Reggie Carter:
 

We hope he is going to be able to play. He was further today than he was previously – he was able to go out and run some straight-ahead stuff. He is still not practicing a lot of reps, but he knows our defense. He has been in the defense a long time. We feel comfortable that he’s going to be able to play by the end of the week, but we have got to see him practice a little bit. We are hoping to get more out of him each day. So, it is been a step-by-step process.

 
Natrez Patrick:
 

We’re hoping to get Natrez out there. You know, he was out there today. He had the black jersey on, but we really think is going to be able to play. We are excited to get him back. It is really conditioning now for Natrez, and also a little bit what personnel we play.

 
 
Shaun McGee transferring:
 

… Shaun is going to finish up with us and be done. He is going to transfer out. He may have some academic issues, depending on how his grades finish up. We’re still checking on a couple of classes, but he may not be eligible for us next semester.

 
 
Shane Beamer:
 

Shane has done a good job for us. Shane works really hard at his trade. He’s a good person, very knowledgeable, and a good asset for our program.

 
 
Tyler Catalina’s injury:
 

… TCat (Tyler) had a little ding. He had a head injury while we were back home. He got over that, but we feel like Isaiah (Wynn) got a lot of reps there. So, we feel comfortable with both of those guys… They alternate, they get the same number of reps, so I think, right now, we just got Isaiah they are because Tyler missed some practice time back home. But Tyler’s cleared, we expect Tyler to play. Who will start? I don’t think we’ve decided yet, but we’re going to be able to rotate those two guys.