Albany Herald

ATHENS — Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones is back at practice and expects to play when the fifth-ranked Bulldogs host Vanderbilt on Saturday.

The junior sat out last week’s 56-20 victory against Florida Atlantic, allowing him to rest a groin injury. But he made it clear Tuesday that he intends to play against the Commodores.

Jones says he “ready to get out there and just pick up where I left off from.”

He strained his right groin before the Missouri game but played through the pain in perhaps the best performance of his college career — two sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception that he nearly brought back for a touchdown.

Jones won numerous defensive player of the week awards, but Georgia decided to rest him against overmatched Florida Atlantic.

UGA-TENN. GAME TO BE ON CBS: The Sept. 29 game between Georgia and Tennessee in Athens will be televised by CBS with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m.

This will mark Georgia’s first appearance on CBS this season.

Georgia has appeared on CBS 68 times and posted a record of 38-29-1.

Monroe breaks into state AP Top 10 Poll at No. 10 in Class AAAA; Early County gets 12 votes in AA

ALBANY — Sports writers around the state are starting to take notice of Monroe’s football team.

The Tornadoes, who are ranked No. 1 in The Herald’s Fab 5 Poll, debuted when the Top 10 in The Associated Press’ latest state poll was released Tuesday, coming in at No. 10 in the Class AAAA ranks.

Monroe (2-1) should be unbeaten, but the Tornadoes lost their season opener on a Hail Mary against Class AA No. 2-state-ranked Brooks County. Since that loss, Monroe has beaten Class A No. 4 Wilcox County and Class AA No. 6 Fitzgerald.

The only other Southwest Georgia team getting love in the state poll is Early County, which received 12 votes this week in the Class AA poll — more than any other team.