ATHENS, Ga. -- Georgia must find a new starting left tackle.
Again.
Vince Vance will need reconstructive knee surgery and miss the rest of the season, coach Mark Richt said Sunday.
The successor to Vance will be the team's fourth first-string left tackle since the preseason.
Georgia lost left tackle Trinton Sturdivant to a season-ending knee injury before the first game. Kiante Tripp moved up as the starter in the first three games before moving to tight end. Vance, a sophomore, made his third start before hurting his right knee in the second quarter of No. 10 Georgia's 26-14 win over Tennessee on Saturday.
Vance, a junior, was the only upperclassman among the five starting offensive linemen.
Georgia (5-1) could start three freshmen on the line next Saturday against Vanderbilt: center Ben Jones, guard Cordy Glenn and right tackle Justin Anderson. Another freshman, Aron White, made his first start at tight end against Tennessee.
"The good thing is they're not true freshmen anymore," Richt said. "They are six games into the season, and the sophomores are getting some experience under their belt."
Sophomore Clint Boling replaced Vance against Tennessee. Sophomore Chris Davis started at left guard.
When asked if it is a nightmare scenario to lose another left tackle, Richt said his first concern was for the players.
"It's a nightmare first of all because these young men work so hard to get in position to just play," Richt said. "There's so much work that goes into it. ... Now all of a sudden it's over, and it's sad for those kids.
"After that you start thinking about how it affects your team and how much pressure it puts on everybody else. ... We've just got (fewer) guys who are ready to play for us right now."
Richt said Tripp will move back to tackle from tight end.
jcutt77 
