<p>ATHENS, Ga. — In a potentially major blow to one of the nation’s top teams, Georgia receiver George Pickens will require knee surgery after being injured during spring practice.</p>
<p>A school statement said Pickens, projected as one of the nation’s top receivers going into the 2021 season, sustained the injury to his right knee during a non-contact drill on Tuesday.</p>
<p>An MRI confirmed damage to the anterior cruciate ligament. The school said a full recovery is expected but did not say how long the junior will be out.</p>
<p>“The good news is that the MRI showed it to be an isolated injury with no other structures involved,” coach Kirby Smart said Wednesday. “George is a hard worker. I know he will bring the same work ethic to rehab that he shows in practice every day.”</p>
<p>Pickens has already started his pre-op rehabilitation program under the supervision of the Georgia medical staff.</p>
<p>The 6-foot-3, 201-pound Pickens was picked to the Southeastern Conference all-freshman team in 2019. He followed up with 36 catches for 513 yards and a team-leading six touchdowns in eight games last season.</p>
<p>Georgia went 8-2 and finished No. 7 in The Associated Press rankings, closing out the pandemic-affected season with <a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-football-cincinnati-bearcats-football-georgia-cincinnati-jack-podlesny-822ad45a4c58a1a6c85aba18592ebf48">a last-second victory over Cincinnati</a> in the Peach Bowl.</p>
<p>The Bulldogs are scheduled to open 2021 against powerhouse Clemson on Sept, 4 at Charlotte, North Carolina.</p>
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<p>More AP college football: <a href="https://apnews.com/Collegefootball">https://apnews.com/Collegefootball</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/AP_Top25">https://twitter.com/AP_Top25</a> </p>
