Georgia football coach Kirby Smart sidestepped questions about Trevor Etienne’s status ahead of the season-opening win over Clemson both in the lead-up and after the game.

Etienne sat out the 34-3 win as suspension for an offseason driving arrest.

Smart was asked again Tuesday if the Florida transfer running back will be able to play in Saturday’s 2 p.m. home opener against Tennessee Tech.

"Again, we don't talk about it," Smart said. "It's not something I share or talk about. I respect your question."

Smart was asked if gamesmanship if keeping him from revealing about suspensions.

"No, it's not gamesmanship at all for me," Smart said. "It's a kid. It's a kid and his family. It's respecting. When recruits come in my room, they say we respect the way you handle things because a kid takes enough drug-through-the-mud headlines. Everybody puts it out there and nobody knows if it's wrong or it gets dropped or any of that. ...I want to defend the kid. To discuss it again and say it again then it's another whole headline out there."

Etienne rushed for 1,472 yards and 15 touchdowns in two seasons at Florida.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: The latest on Georgia football RB Trevor Etienne for home opener