Smoke Bouie leaves Georgia football: Kirby Smart explains

Defensive back Deyon "Smoke" Bouie is no longer with the Georgia football program and will not be on the team this coming season, head coach Kirby Smart said as he announced updates to the team's roster at the 2023 SEC Media Days.

"Smoke is no longer with our team," Smart said. "It's been that way for a while. It was kind of mutually agreed to part ways. We wish him nothing but the best."

Bouie was a former top-100 recruit nationally who initially committed to Texas A&M, where he played in seven games as a freshman.

The native of Bainbridge, Ga., transferred to Georgia, although he didn't make it to the start of the summer with the Bulldogs, although Smart did not offer any details as to why.

It was thought that Bouie would compete for reps at cornerback this season, but he was not featured on the team's two-deep rotation during the spring. Wherever he lands, the defensive hopeful will have three years of eligibility left.

"Very disappointing that his stay was short," Smart said.

"But it's a decision that was made on both parties, and like I said we wish him nothing but the best. He's from a hometown where I'm from, and know a lot of people back there. But it was a decision that was made."

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