Suspended twice during the 2011 season, Phil Smith won’t get the opportunity to hit the banishment trifecta at Georgia Tech.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the offensive tackle will not play for the Yellow Jackets in 2012. It was intimated by a school official that the decision was a mutual one between Smith (No. 61) and head coach Paul Johnson.
"(After) his violation of team rules at the bowl game, I think he and Coach Johnson decided that it’s probably best for him to concentrate on his studies,” associate athletic director Wayne Hogan told the paper.
In August, Smith was suspended for the first two games of the 2011 season for violating unspecified team rules. He did not play in the Sun Bowl after being sent home for again breaking unspecified team rules.
As he will earn his degree in a couple of months, Smith would be eligible to play immediately if he decided to transfer to another Div. 1-A school.
Smith started 20 games the past three seasons, including eight in 2011 after serving his suspension. He played in a total of 33 games during his Yellow Jackets career.