Southerland out four months

Georgia fullback Brannan Southerland had surgery Friday to repair a fractured left foot -- his second surgery in the same foot since the end of last season. He's expected to need 16 weeks for recovery. If that timetable is correct, that would leave him out for all of preseason practice and the first four games of the season. That four-month window means his return date would be Sept. 26, the day before Georgia plays Alabama at Sanford Stadium.

Georgia's depth at fullback will take a big blow, particularly in the first two games, because of Brannan's absence. He would have taken the lion's share of snaps, but still had capable replacements behind him in Shaun Chapas and Fred Munzenmaier. Now it will be up to Chapas to carry the load, particularly in the first two games, as Southerland will be out and Munzenmaier is suspended for the first two games because of an alcohol-related arrest this offseason.

UGA release