Georgia Quarterback Carter Hurting

Georgia quarterback Quincy Carter, who severely bruised his left rotator cuff against Vanderbilt, is questionable for the Bulldogs’ game Saturday against Kentucky.

Carter, who has started 30 consecutive games for Georgia, said he won’t even attempt to throw until Thursday. If he is unable to play, Cory Phillips will start. Phillips has thrown only six passes in his college career.

Georgia has other injury problems. Running back Musa Smith underwent knee surgery that could end his season. Freshman Johnathan Sullivan, a backup defensive tackle, also had knee surgery Tuesday, though he might miss only one game. Another reserve, running back DeJuan Green, was on crutches because of turf toe.

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Florida State starting offensive tackle Tarlos Thomas will miss the rest of the season after tearing the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his right knee.

Thomas was injured Saturday in the sixth-ranked Seminoles’ 63-14 victory over Duke. An MRI on Monday revealed the tears. The senior will undergo reconstructive knee surgery within the next couple of weeks.

“It’s a shame,” Coach Bobby Bowden said. “It’s worse than we thought.”

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Virginia Tech’s Michael Vick needs to improve as a quarterback before he’s ready to play in the NFL, Hokies Coach Frank Beamer said.

Beamer has said he wants what’s best for Vick and that he’ll help the redshirt sophomore make a decision about the NFL when the time is right.

“I don’t want to speak for Michael, but I think the decision is going to mean more than just pure dollars,” Beamer said. “I think in our conversation, he understands that he needs to continue to improve as a quarterback before he’s ready to use his talents at the next level.”

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Katie Hnida, a kicker who joined the Colorado team last fall, has been given a release, clearing her to possibly transfer.

Coach Gary Barnett has said she might be interested in going to Washington, where former Colorado Coach Rick Neuheisel is coach.

Neuheisel had invited Hnida to try out for the team in the spring of 1999. Barnett honored the invitation after Neuheisel left.

As a freshman last season, Hnida became the first woman to appear on a Colorado football roster. She suited up for the Kansas game and the Insight.com Bowl but did not play.