ATHENS, Georgia -- Georgia linebacker Natrez Patrick has entered a drug treatment program and sources told ESPN on Thursday that he won't play for the No. 3 Bulldogs in the upcoming College Football Playoff.
Patrick, a junior from Atlanta, had faced a misdemeanor drug charge after he was arrested following a traffic stop in Barrow County, Georgia, hours after the Bulldogs defeated Auburn 28-7 in the SEC championship game on Dec. 2.
That charge was later dismissed. The arrest triggered a drug test for Patrick's probation in Athens-Clarke County, which he failed, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Patrick faced a Jan. 11 hearing for that issue, but it was resolved on Thursday, according to his attorney.
"We resolved his probation violation today," William Healan III said. "Natrez is getting some treatment right now and we're glad we've put this behind him. We're looking forward to his future."
Patrick, who was the Bulldogs' sixth-leading tackler with 35 stops this season, can return to the team next season if he stays out of off-field trouble, sources told ESPN.
"Due to confidentiality requirements, we can't comment, other than to say we continue to follow policies, and we have no higher priority than the well-being of our student-athletes," Georgia senior associate athletic director Ron Courson said in a statement.
Patrick was facing dismissal from the team following his third marijuana-related arrest. He was arrested in October on misdemeanor marijuana charges and served a four-game suspension. He was also arrested on the same charges as a freshman in 2015 and was suspended one game.
The No. 3 Bulldogs play No. 2 Oklahoma in a CFP semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game Presented by Northwestern Mutual on New Year's Day.