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Georgia's Thorpe Award winner Deandre Baker to skip Sugar Bowl vs. Texas, focus on NFL draft

Texas receivers Lil'Jordan Humphrey and Collin Johnson won't get to test their skills against standout Georgia cornerback Deandre Baker after all.

The Thorpe Award winner as the nation's top defensive back, Baker has decided to skip the Allstate Sugar Bowl meeting with Texas on New Year's Day to concentrate on the NFL draft, coach Kirby Smart said Thursday. Baker had originally said he planned to play. He still accompanied the team to New Orleans.

"He was very honest about it. He was very concerned about it," Smart said at Georgia's arrival press conference. "Look, across the country, there are a lot of guys that made that decision.