Wyatt enrolls and is practicing with Bulldogs

An unfamiliar face peered into the Georgia team meeting room that reporters were sitting in and offered a smile and a friendly wave.

Simultaneously, head coach Kirby Smart was walking in for his early signing period news conference, shortly after his program announced its 17th signed player. After Smart motioned for the player to move on, he turned to the gathered media horde to offer up some new information.

"That's the guy y'all haven't figured out is here yet," Smart said.

Smart then revealed that the person standing with him briefly was Devonte Wyatt, a defensive tackle who was supposed to be a part of Georgia's recruiting class of 2017. But coming out of Towers High School, Wyatt was unable to earn admission into Georgia and played the 2017 season at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas.

While he is ineligible to play in the Rose Bowl, Wyatt is allowed to practice with the Bulldogs and went through his first padded practice Wednesday. Smart said that Wyatt getting the chance to play a season at Hutchinson benefited him since there wouldn't have been much playing time in this year's rotation at Georgia.

"I think it’s the best thing for him," Smart said. "He comes from a situation where he played at Towers High and he was going to take some development to be able to play. When he comes in with a couple senior offensive and defensive lineman, he gets to watch tape and see them play. He did a really good job preparing and taking some college classes."

Wyatt recorded 30 tackles and three sacks this past season at Hutchinson.

Since Wyatt just joined the program, Smart hasn't been able to see too much of him. But he is a player he's glad to have on board.

"He’s a lot more mature having been out on his own and it gives him a better chance at success here," Smart said. "(Wednesday) was his first day in pads. Obviously he can’t play for us right now but I’m excited about him."

This story was originally published December 20, 2017 at 6:45 PM with the headline "Wyatt enrolls and is practicing with Bulldogs."