College GameDay went to Pittsburgh on Saturday morning to cover the Notre Dame-Pitt showdown. But the pregame show in Athens has a powerful story to tell about Georgia tight end Lawson Luckie and why he chose the program over any other. It was so that he could be closer to his younger brother Cannon, who is disabled.

“We always wondered how tough it would be to do long-distance,” Luckie said after narrating a story about the time his brother fell extremely ill and needed help breathing. He had to stop himself from breaking down while talking about it. “And that [incident] showed firsthand that at the end of the day, I need to be close to home.”

And a month after that incident, Luckie committed to the Bulldogs, ensuring he could go home when his brother needed him.

Cannon was born when Lawson was just seven, and it quickly became clear that his younger brother’s path would be challenging. He was born with cerebral palsy, unable to function on his own, needing round-the-clock care. Doctors diagnosed him with FoxG1 syndrome, which hindered brain growth, leaving him unable to see or hear.

And so, growing up, Luckie played an active role in supporting his family and helping care for Cannon. He wanted to continue being there for his brother, and playing for the Bulldogs ensured he could be closer to home.

As fate would have it, the TE shone brightly, most notably in the Bulldogs’ 45-33 win over Ole Miss, where he recorded three touchdowns and announced his arrival as a central figure in Georgia’s offense. After his second touchdown, he sprinted across the end zone directly to Cannon, who was watching from the stands.

The look on his brother’s face was unforgettable, a moment that brought tears to anyone witnessing the bond between the two. That night, Luckie chose to celebrate quietly at home with Cannon, watching highlights together rather than joining teammates for post-game festivities.

Over the past few years, Luckie has steadily become one of the most trusted voices in Georgia’s locker room. His connection with quarterback Gunner Stockton is well known, often showing up in some of the Bulldogs’ biggest offensive moments, including his breakout performance against Ole Miss. He guides younger players, carries himself with confidence, and speaks about his teammates with a sense of pride that reflects how deeply he is respected within the program.

Head coach Kirby Smart has taken notice, too. “The sky’s the limit. Lawson can be really good. He keeps getting better. I like his confidence, his leadership, and his mindset. He’s got a toughness about him,” Smart said in October. Praise like that says plenty about Luckie’s impact. But just two weeks after that career-defining game in Sanford Stadium, adversity struck.

Kirby Smart provides the latest injury update on Lawson Lucky

Luckie went down with a scary head injury in the second quarter against Mississippi State after a helmet-to-helmet collision that sent him to the turf. Medical staff tended to him for several minutes before he was helped off the field and ruled out for the remainder of the game.

The scene left teammates and fans concerned, and well-wishes poured in immediately. Fortunately, the update that followed was far more encouraging.

“Lawson is doing well. I think he’s going to make a good, quick turn. But we’ll see,” Smart said on Nov. 9. Now, new reports suggest Luckie is expected to play against Texas, and his absence from the injury report supports that outlook. That’s good news after he was listed as probable on Wednesday.

And his return comes at the perfect time for Georgia, which sits at 8–1 and is ranked No. 5 nationally as it continues its push toward a playoff berth.