Georgia Safety Josh Harvey-Clemons Suspended

January 01, 2013; Orlando, FL, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers running back Ameer Abdullah (8) is tackled by Georgia Bulldogs safety Josh Harvey-Clemons (25) during the first half of the Capital One Bowl at The Citrus Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports

EDIT: Multiple sources are now confirming The AJC report that Harvey-Clemons has been suspended. 

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Georgia Bulldogs safety Josh Harvey-Clemons faces possible suspension for the season opener, stemming from an on-campus incident earlier this month.

Harvey-Clemons’ possible suspension has monumental implications for the Bulldogs. Harvey-Clemons, a sophomore and highly touted 2012 signee, was expected to fill a huge gap Georgia has in its defense. Mark Richt’s team loses starters, safety Bacarri Rambo and linebacker Alec Ogletree, and needs immediate replacements for them to emerge with Georgia drawing the No. 13 ranked pass offense of 2012 in Week 1.

A trip to face Heisman Trophy candidate Tajh Boyd and the Clemson Tigers looms on the Bulldogs’ schedule. Clemson is a likely preseason top 10 team, with realistic BCS aspirations of its own. A win over Georgia would catapult Dabo Swinney’s Tigers into the stratosphere.

Georgia then follows up with another potential top 10 team, its SEC East rival South Carolina Gamecocks. The Gamecocks have been a thorn in Georgia’s side, winning each of the last three match-ups.

South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier, never one to shy away from speaking his mind, quipped about Georgia suspensions last season. Prompting Spurrier’s comments were last year’s off-field troubles of Bulldogs, including the aforementioned Rambo and Ogletree. Both received substantial suspensions, returning just prior to a 35-7 loss at South Carolina. Richt also dismissed five-star running back Isaiah Crowell in the 2012 off-season.

In Richt’s defense, he has been one of the Southeastern Conference’s more rigid coaches as it pertains to violations of team rules. Suspensions have been a recent recurring issue when UGa opens its season, thought that can be largely attributed to Richt’s expectations of his players.

Spurrier’s taunting of Richt’s team, coupled with the Gamecocks’ win streak, ups the ante on what could be one of the biggest conference games of the 2013 season. The SaturdayBlitz.com SEC predictions have the winner of that Week 2 affair representing the SEC East in the conference’s championship game. Either South Carolina or Georgia has participated in each of the last three SEC title games.