ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia's only player from Tennessee probably won't get on the field today in his home state.

Sophomore kicker Andy Bailey from Athens, Tenn., is relegated to a backup role, which means a waiting game to see if and when he gets another chance during a game.

"I come to practice knowing it's just another day of work to try and get better," said Bailey, who played at McMinn County High School. "I might get another opportunity, I might not."

Bailey was trying to overtake sophomore Brandon Coutu in the preseason before he dislocated his left shoulder. Bailey was Georgia's kicker on field goals and extra points until losing the job in the Georgia Tech game last season. He was an unanimous pick to the All-SEC freshman team after making 14 of 20 field goals and 36 of 37 extra points.

Coutu, a walk-on, has tightened his grip on the job. He is tied for the SEC lead in scoring (10.5 points per game), is fourth in the nation in field goals per game (2.25) and third in field goal accuracy (9 of 12, 75 percent). He also handles kickoffs.

"It hurt worse that I didn't get to play in the bowl game," said Bailey, who has returned from the injury and will be in uniform for the game against No. 8 Tennessee. "I thought I'd at least get the chance to finish what I started, and I didn't think that I had that bad of a year."

Bailey, the only kicker or punter on the roster recruited on scholarship, said he has entertained the thoughts of transferring if he still is behind Coutu after the season but can envision staying for two more seasons, even as a backup.

"I've only got a few more years until I graduate, and it's a free education," Bailey said. "Football is my ticket to get an education."

For now, Bailey is preparing for another chance. If it comes.

"There's always that one chance," he said. "If I get that one chance, I want to shine."

Bryant Out: The hard-luck storyline of A.J. Bryant's career continues.

Georgia's sophomore wide receiver will miss today's game and could be out for next week's game at Vanderbilt with a groin injury suffered in practice this week.

"I hate it for him," Georgia coach Mark Richt said. "I hate it for anyone who gets hurt, but he just seems to always have a little setback here and there that keeps him from continuing on with his development."

Bryant was limited to seven games last season because of a foot injury and suffered a dislocated shoulder in the preseason. He has two catches for 16 yards this season.

Georgia's receiving depth was further thinned because junior Mario Raley sustained an ankle injury this week. Raley (one catch for 7 yards) won't play Saturday and is questionable for Vanderbilt.

The Bulldogs will travel with six scholarship receivers, including redshirt freshman Demiko Goodman who did not make the Mississippi State trip.