Ex-Seminole County star Rambo, starting LB Ogletree benched for Missouri game

COLUMBIA, Mo. —- Georgia Bulldogs coach Mark Richt said two weeks ago that he was handling suspensions “different” this year.

Well, he has certainly kept his word.

For the second straight week, Georgia stayed mum until the 11th hour on the status of two defensive stars — former Seminole County and All-American safety Bacarri Rambo and LB Alex Ogletree — despite the fact ESPN.com reported Saturday morning that Rambo and Ogletree won’t play in the Bulldogs’ SEC opener against Missouri on Saturday night.

ESPN reported that sources said that Rambo and Ogletree, neither of whom dressed for last week’s season opener against Buffalo, said that both players were being held out again Saturday for failing offseason drug tests.

It wasn’t until after UGA’s 41-20 win that Georgia confirmed why both players were absent for the second straight week.

Rambo and Ogletree join fellow defensive starters Sanders Commings and Chase Vasser, both of whom had previously been suspended before the season — with those suspensions curiously being announced by the school well in advance, compared to the secrecy shrouding the way the university has dealt with Rambo’s and Ogletree’s situations.

Last week before the Bulldogs kicked off against the Bulls, Rambo and Ogletree were seen on the sidelines not dressed out like their teammates, leaving everyone to conclude neither would be playing, although no official announcement from UGA was made as to why. It was only after the game that Richt confirmed both players had been suspended, and he also was non-committal all week about whether either would play against Missouri.

Rambo led UGA and the SEC in interceptions a season ago — finishing fourth in the nation —- on his way to becoming one of UGA’s only two All-Americans.