Someone else asked about a new deal for Monken: Id also look for that coming down the pike soon. Maybe Georgia can get me back there someday. (I have a distinct memory of typing up this column on my phone from the airport hotel in Munich. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. These are three of the greatest all-time NFL wide receivers to come out of the Georgia football program. Although that 172-per-game average still only ranked 63rd at the FBS level in 2020, so still not great. Basketball: Ive said before that the most tense environments Ive ever been in are the championship games of non-major conference college basketball tournaments, because the winner attains its season-long goal of going to the Big Dance, and all the possibilities that come with it while the loser is done. Kobe Pace saw extensive time on the field as a true freshman last year, and was never stopped for negative yardage. One of the many positions Georgia has produced some great talent in is at wide receiver. We should know more after this weekend because the national coaches convention is at the Final Four in New Orleans. As Ryan Fitzpatrick announces his retirement, we take a look back at some of his best moments throughout his 17-year career. Over the past three years, he stacked up 1,372 rushing yards, but only 190 of those came from the 2020 season. 2022 NFL Enterprises LLC. 4. Kenny McIntosh and Daijun Edwards are also likely to contribute yardage in Georgias upcoming season. After the loss to LSU in the (2019) SEC championship, Kirby admitted our wide receiver core needed to be stronger. The Duke commit is deadly with his speed, especially after the catch. Football is back! But his run as Xaviers head coach in the NIT has made him a hot commodity, and by all accounts, Sean Miller is interested in retaining him at Xavier. Copyright 2022 M & S Media Group LLC. Thats what steeled me and my colleagues with similar experiences for Kirby Smarts surly news conferences. McConkey is that guy, and Smith would be if healthy. The East Carolina commit wont have the benefit of reliable QB Brooks Pangle next season, but he will still take the top off of opposing defenses at will. Last season was his first on the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he was given a larger role. Several notable former Bulldogs were among those being cut, making teams or being traded over the last several days in the NFL. (AP Photo/Eric Draper), 1964 NFL Draft, ninth round, Washington Redskins -- Hauss played 14 seasons for the Redskins (1964-1977), was a five-time Pro Bowl selection, and was a member of the Redskins when they advanced to Super Bowl VII. 2. I could hazard a guess but that would just be for giggles. This was supposed to be the year where we didnt have to deal with endless questions about QB1 and now there are reports of Carson Beck taking the majority of first-team reps during (at least a couple of) spring practices. After a series of injuries left Georgias wideout depth without many expected names, younger and less experienced players stepped up to take on a new role on the field. As far as timing, it could be any day, or it could take into the summer. Clemson returns the most experience in senior Lyn-J Dixon. He scored 11 times last season, leading the Blue Devils in receptions and yards as well.

Often thought of as a deep threat, Chris Conley has had some really great moments during his young career. Chance of rain 40%. The Marietta native reportedly made the decision to transfer due to homesickness, so he elected to return to his home state. Clemson also returns sophomores EJ Williams, who showed out in multiple memorable catches in the 2020 season as a true freshman, and Ajou Ajou, who played in 10 games last season. There are also various mid-major openings, including Georgia State and Chattanooga. (Associated Press), 1970 NFL Draft, seventh round, Miami Dolphins -- Scott played seven seasons for the Dolphins (1970-75) and another three seasons for the Washington Redskins (1976-78). Alexander is one of the best route runners in his class. Chance of rain 40%.. He was game MVP in Super Bowl XXXII, and finished his career as a three-time Pro Bowl selection. Bailey is a 12-time Pro Bowl selection. With a lot of football ahead of him, Conley could be taking the top off of defenses more many years to come. Alexander has committed to Wake Forest, but hell have one more season chasing another county championship in the 400-meter dash. Mathis has mostly flown under the radar on the field, but he is a well-rounded receiver who can burn defenses over the middle. I cant tell you when hes going to be out there because I dont know, but hes close.. The 3-star recruit fielded 39 offers, but finally settled on Mississippi State. (AP Photo/ Bill Nichols), 1995 NFL Draft, sixth round, Denver Broncos -- Davis played seven seasons for the Broncos (1995-2001), and was a member of the team when it won Super Bowl XXXII and Super Bowl XXXIII. He is a seven-time Pro Bowl selection. Georgia will return every 2020 rusher for the game in Charlotte, North Carolina. Arik is not currently with us, Smart said. Against Caleb Downs and Mill Creek last season, Taylor put up 154 yards on seven catches. Despite a minor knee injury versus Florida, Kendall Milton had a breakout season in 2020 as a true freshman. ATHENS, Ga. We are now in the third week of Georgia spring practice, and the team has yet to win another national championship. 2022 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved, they have produced some tremendous players in the NFL as well, an entire 2019 NFL season missed due to an ankle issue. He turned 90 targets into 47 receptions for 775 yards and 5 touchdowns. Both things can be true. Ive never covered a Final Four, but Ive been to plenty of NCAA tournament regionals, and seeing it on TV I just miss it. Now, he returns as healthy as ever. Get $20 FREE when you sign up forFanDuel Racing, plus well match your first deposit in site credit up to $50! While he may have three fewer Pro Bowl appearances (4) than Green's seven, Ward's rsum as both a winner and champion towers over Green where it matters most, earning him the top spot on this list. Ward was a four-time Pro Bowl selection. One of Clemsons biggest holes in the 2021 roster is replacing ACC all-time leading rusher Travis Etienne. Defenders are rarely able to match up to his long strides and large catch radius. Those kinds of commitments, along with staff salaries and other behind-the-scenes stuff, is what will be key. And before those games, Monken and Smart were pretty clear about Bennett being the starter. Potentially the biggest buildup surrounding Clemsons wide receiver unit is the return of Justyn Ross after missing the 2020 season due to surgery for a congenital fusion in his spine. (Stats, outdoor atmosphere, etc.). But if Cirovski by the way still the Maryland soccer coach walked in this room right now and glared at me Id have an underwear-changing situation. Absolutely.

It was part of paying my dues, but also really educational and enjoyable! (AP Photo/Steve Krauss), 1945 NFL Draft, first round, Chicago Cardinals -- Trippi played nine seasons for the Cardinals (1947-1955), was a two-time Pro Bowl selection and a 1968 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. The gist of it: Could Georgia be more explosive at wide receiver? Georgias injury luck at receiver has been bad lately. Softball: This is a sport I wish warranted more coverage, and perhaps it will someday, because its fast-paced, on a more condensed field than baseball, and still has a lot of the things so great about baseball. Beck as well as Brock Vandagriff have been getting some first-team reps, but people are probably overthinking this: In Stetson Bennett, you have a sixth-year senior who was just named offensive MVP of the national championship game and the Orange Bowl. Not only that, but the way tight ends are used nowadays flexed out and all over the field, two of them on the field for most plays renders a lot of it moot.

Clemson lost its top three leaders in rushing and receiving yards, who accounted for nearly 47% of its total yardage in 2020. And the actual wording of the contract, which was more important than the pure base salary number, didnt come out for more than a week after that. Georgia boasts an impressive list of NFL alumni. As much as Hayes may want to come home, his best career moves are, in order, a head coaching job at a solid mid-major program, then being retained at Xavier (which could be a top-25 team next season), and then coming back to Georgia (which has a rebuild in front of it.). Is there more to it than meets the eye with their departures? Off-topic question also if it gives any content! Theres no reason to think Georgias administration and Smart are not on the same page, especially after seeing the fruits of that commitment to each other. In early summer, the Bulldogs landed transfer Arik Gilbert from LSU after entering the transfer portal following his freshman season. In the season he came up short, he totaled 964 in 10 games. He will be a reliable asset for quarterback JT Daniels and is likely to see more of the ball in the upcoming season. That may also spur a flurry of roster activity, although Id look more at the long term: Remember that Tom Crean hit the ground running with Anthony Edwards and that first signing class, but then it petered out pretty quickly. He missed some of fall practice due to a hamstring injury, and it is unclear whether he will compete against Georgia. (Im hearing some good things about early enrollee DeNylon Morrissette, who could help in the speed department.). Taylors transfer from Parkview to Norcross was one of the most highlighted moves of the offseason. The junior wideout made the Preseason All-SEC Third Team, voted by SEC head coaches. White has hired two of his three assistant coach spots so far, and both were assistants who were with him at Florida: Erik Pastrana and Akeem Miskdeen, neither of whom are from Georgia or have worked in the state, but who one source outside the program told me were both impressive coaches. Still, you can see that with the one open spot White would be well-served to hire someone local. However, his status as a great wide receiver has already been solidified. ), Jonas Hayes is still out there.

I think the coaches learned that, too. Last season, he starred with QB RJ Johnson atWestlake, and the year prior he dominated at Hillgrove. Georgias wideout depth was forced to adjust more this offseason than was expected going into 2021. (Associated Press), 2001 NFL Draft, first round, New England Patriots -- Seymour played eight seasons for the Patriots (2001-08) and four seasons for the Oakland Raiders (2009-12). Katherine Lewis is a senior at the University of Georgia and is the assistant sports editor. The only difference now is Georgia has a new athletic director, and though Josh Brooks has undoubtedly been talking with agent Jimmy Sexton for a while, Brooks has also had to deal with two basketball coaching searches, so if things get delayed it could be due to that. That was also Year 1 with Todd Monken as offensive coordinator, which was also essentially Year 1 of Smart truly opening up the offense. This time around, the dynamic is essentially the same: Smart wants to stay at Georgia and isnt going to threaten to leave just to squeeze a little more out of the school, and Georgia wants to keep Smart and understands it has to ante up. He led the Vikings to three Super Bowl appearances (Super Bowl VIII, Super Bowl IX and Super Bowl XI). Since then youve continued to see a commitment to facilities and resources, to the point Georgia may have finally caught up to where Alabama was when Smart arrived, and probably a little beyond that. But the production was good enough to have a national championship-capable offense, and with the tight end room continuing to be as strong as it is, theres no reason to worry about it yet. Like father, like son. Kearis Jackson and Jermaine Burton both missed some of fall practice due to injury, but are both probable participants in Georgias season opener. Zamir White is Georgias unquestioned leader at the running back position. The 3-star receiver recruit has raked in offers from Georgia, Auburn, Tennessee, and other prestigious schools. Is there a George Pickens, Jameson Williams or John Metchie? This is a good defensive back class, and perhaps Addae did well closing, and perhaps Will Muschamp, Smart and others really helped, too. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. Dominick has done an incredible job with rehab, Smart said. (Photo/Taylor Gerlach; taylormckenziephotography.com). As for Hankton, see above: He did bring in some good players, particularly that 2020 class, and Georgia seems to have found some three-star gems in McConkey and Mitchell. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall), 1999 NFL Draft, first round, Washington Redskins -- Bailey played five seasons for the Redskins (1999-2003) and 10 seasons for the Denver Broncos (2004-2013). Complacency reigns. There are some high school pass catchers in Georgia who are simply special. With quarterback Air Noland, Lockhart will be able to open up the Hughes passing offense, paving the way for a standout year and a potential state championship. Gilbert participated in summer and fall drills, but eventually stepped away from the team due to personal reasons. Head coach Kirby Smart has not revealed a timeline for his return. Additionally, there is a buzz surrounding Will Shipley, an incoming freshman who, according to 247Sports, is the No. 32 ranked player in the 2021 class. His leadership was on display last season as he helped Hart County improve from 3-7 in 2020 to 7-3. Rank the sports (other than football) that you enjoy covering and why? The Georgia Bulldogs football program has been one of the premier programs in the NCAA. My first loves are basketball and baseball, both playing and watching, so the fact I ended up making football my career would surprise the 22-year-old me. 5. Jackson was Georgias leading receiver in 2020 with 36 catches, and also led the team in punt and kickoff returns. When you have Bowers, Darnell Washington and Arik Gilbert (more a hybrid receiver-tight end) then your receivers could be average and youd still be in good shape. She is a journalism major and statistics minor and with a certificate in sports media. There was a problem saving your notification. The Bulldogs running backs have remained unscathed from injury in the off-season. He may be on pace for an explosive senior season with the Mustangs. Bennett then gets just enough starter reps this spring to be on track, and in the preseason you get ready for Oregon, which by the way is not the kind of opponent you give someone their first start when you have the national championship-winning quarterback still on the roster.

(AP Photo/Greg Trott), 1985 NFL Draft, fifth round, Dallas Cowboys -- Walker played three seasons for the USFL's New Jersey Generals (1983-85), and then played four seasons for the Cowboys (1986-89) before the famous trade to the Minnesota Vikings, for whom he played three years (1989-1991). Green began his NFL career has one of the most consistent wide receivers to play the game. Is that 2,000 total yards for the position group, delivering devastating downfield blocks, an increase in the blue-chip percentage, or is this routine coachspeak for Kirby to vocalize expectations? Those are all guys who make big plays downfield. (National Football League) For more go to NFL.com/CFB247. The rising senior caught for over 1,300 yards last season and even scored six times on the ground. He totaled at least 1,000 yards in six of his first seven seasons. Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. (Although two of three is already a lot. Is 8-year, $100-million contract the going rate today for a coach with his accomplishments & young age? Here are the 10 best high school wide receivers in Georgia returning for the 2022 season. Theres certainly an intense competition going on at quarterback to be the guy in case Bennett goes down. With all the injuries and missing players at wide receiver, freshman Adonai Mitchell may see more playing time. While the ceiling may have been raised for potential in the WR room, what would success look like? As one of the best high school receivers in Georgia, he can single-handedly change the trajectory of a game. Running backs certainly will be the position group where our team has the most experience and confidence, Smart said. The trick is finding more speed. In an offense that mainly ran the ball, Gatling still managed to score 13 times. Winds light and variable. Ward retired from the NFL as a two-time Super Bowl champion (XL, XLIII), with a Super Bowl XL MVP to show for it. With a new coach for the Eagles, expect a balanced attack that gets Gatling more involved. He was game MVP in Super Bowl XL. He scored seven times on the season. Georgia wide receiver Kearis Jackson (10) catches a pass during the second half of the G-Day spring scrimmage game in Athens, Georgia on Saturday, April 17, 2021. Is there going to be a quarterback controversy and, if so, have I just contributed to it? After a national title win, Kirby says our wide receiver core needs to be deeper. Whites key will be to take the Mark Fox template of recruiting, retaining and developing, while being a bit stronger on the recruiting part. What Smart is talking about, though, is probably in terms of pure bodies for this spring and the season, if there are injuries which there have been. Ward's Steelers went an impressive 12-6 across his 18 career playoff appearances, logging an additional 1,181 receiving yards in the postseason. As the unknown of the season is soon to become known, both teams will rely on their offense to win Saturdays game. White may also not love the optics of bringing his entire staff with him from Gainesville. Want to get the content before anyone else? His 17 yards per catch and 11 touchdowns label him as a serious threat to opposing teams, who must be wary of Mathis at all times. And there are negatives. Playing beside tight end Lawson Luckie and fellow wide receiver Zion Taylor this season immediately puts Norcross in the conversation for a championship. In 2020, Pickens was responsible for 36 catches for 513 yards and a team-best six touchdowns. Hanktons departure, in my mind, was a result of him having a chance to go home to LSU, and Smart believing he could use the opening to upgrade. Leveretts size has made him an invaluable threat on the outside. Great question. Ranking as in whatever is last place is truly the roughest sport to cover. Almost nothing at quarterback has gone according to plan. Junior Joseph Ngata also missed five of the Tigers 12 games in 2020 due to an injury-ridden season. Georgia will also look to James Cook, a senior who was the teams second-leading rusher in 2020.

Mathis stands at only 5-foot-8, but he broke out last season with five 100-yard games. But my first real beat was covering college mens soccer and the coach, Marylands Sasho Cirovski, was so intimidating to a college reporter that the thought of talking to him today still scares me.

There are a lot of variables for each sport, especially the coverage part. Take a look at the best photos coming out of 2022 NFL training camps. A.J. But they need more like them, because thats the name of the game right now. Definitely. The red team beat the black team 28-23. He was voted onto the Freshman All-SEC team after rushing for 195 yards on 35 carries throughout seven games. Still, just in isolation, Georgia is in solid shape at receiver. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Additionally, Dominick Blaylock continues to recover from an ACL tear. You made reference to the lack of depth right now at WR and DB as a reason why the former position coaches have moved on, assuming I recall that correctly in your context. Both Georgia and Clemsons wide receiver depth look strong on paper, but have plenty to prove on Saturday. Its work, after all, so when it comes to golf, for instance, the joy of being outside may be canceled out by all the walking. Check out the top 10 all-time NFL players from Georgia. (Top photo (L-R) of AD Mitchell, Kearis Jackson and Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint: Mackenzie Miles / UGA Athletics). The results, as they often are, were revealing: Georgia did rank low in wide receiver catches and yards, and even lower in targets, but higher in touchdowns, which points to them essentially doing well relative to their opportunities: Whats more, Georgia wide receivers did a good job turning their targets into catches, first downs and touchdowns, relative to their counterparts elsewhere: Two years ago, pre-Brock Bowers and with a healthy George Pickens and Kearis Jackson, Georgias receivers averaged 172 yards per game, which over a 15-game season would have been 2,574 yards. But we should also have learned to stop doubting Bennett. Milton is expected to see much more of the field this season after proving his ability. Addae was only here a year, and recruiting is such a long-term process that its hard to say. Low 72F. Though my career ended up as a football (and sometimes basketball) writer, at various times I was a beat writer for high school field hockey, golf, soccer, baseball, lacrosse you name it. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. The most important thing is the personal stories and every sport has those. He caught for 670 yards last season, and his combination of route running and track speed will be deadly at the next level. He is ranked second in school history in yards per carry, only behind Etienne. Long story.). Considering all the moving parts last year with injuries at WR and DB depth, transfers, I thought both Cortez Hankton and Jahmile Addae did a solid job. (Associated Press), 1961 NFL Draft, third round, Minnesota Vikings -- Tarkenton played six seasons for the Vikings (1961-66) before moving on to play for the New York Giants for five years (1967-1971). The only reason anyone would doubt his being the starter for this season is, well, the same reason people never expected his career to go this far. Poole will be a part of the states most talented receiving core in 2022. Burton saw action in all 10 games in 2020, contributing 27 catches for 404 yards. A potential breakout campaign last season for the speedy Lockhart was cut short by an ACL injury. The following receivers fit that description. ITG Next is your go-to source for high school sports media coverage in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and across the country.

Everything else: There are positives to covering golf (see above), tennis, track, swimming, hockey, etc. As we celebrate dads, take a look at some of the dynamic fathers and sons who have been a part of the NFL over the years. Ive been yelled at by Leo Mazzone, humiliated by Bobby Labonte, been in group interviews with Barry Bonds, and had to ask countless tough questions in tense interview situations, public and private. Much like the first contract extension, the critical factors are elsewhere: Smarts guarantee 65% due to Smart if he were let go, with Smart owing much less if he left on his own was a commitment by Georgia to Smarts vision, and it paid off. Celebrate your 4th of July with photos celebrating the best of tailgating, fireworks and flyovers from around the NFL. After Smarts second year, when the run to the national championship game spurred a contract extension, it wasnt announced until May 3. Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight.

Davis has no trouble snagging contested passes, either. The Bulldogs have made a brand name for themselves competing in historically the toughest conference the college level has to offer, and they have produced some tremendous players in the NFL as well. As stated before, its very much a matter of personal taste and background. Soccer: Ive never covered a World Cup game or qualifier; about two decades ago I strung some MLS games. Winds light and variable. Paired with Nakai Poole and Lawson Luckie, Taylors production will sharply increase to match his true dominance on the field. Sign up for our email newsletter. Not from what we see right now. In 2019, he recorded a team-high 66 receptions and started in all 14 games. But Alabama and the other SEC West schools didnt stop building, even after the pandemic, so Georgia will have to keep up. But there is a really good first group: AD Mitchell, Ladd McConkey, Kearis Jackson, Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, and if healthy Dominick Blaylock and Arian Smith. And as evidenced by the stats in the previous question, Hankton did a good job of preparing and coaching his players. They can dissect a defense, and their presence can draw more attention to one side of the field. 115 N. Patterson St. | PO Box 812 | Valdosta, Ga 31601, 13245 Atlantic Blvd., Suite 191 | Jacksonville, FL 32225. With two seasons with the Bulldogs under his belt, White has compiled a total of 1,187 yards and 14 touchdowns across his two season at Georgia. But when he is on the field, there is little doubt that the seven-time Pro Bowler is one of the best receivers currently in the league. Read, watch, and listen to the latest news and opinions in the high school sports world. He then played another seven seasons for the Vikings (1972-78). The Blue Devils may have themselves a steal on and off the field, but Hart County will rely on him for one last playoff push in 2022. What will Smarts salary and contract length be? Low 72F. OK, that doesnt have much to do with the question, but I just thought writing all that out would be cathartic. Georgia and Clemsons wide receiver and running back depth have seen plenty of turnover between the 2020 and 2021 seasons. Thats why you give Beck and Vandagriff reps with the first team now, so you see how each performs in those situations. Now that AD Josh Brooks has a few days off from basketball coaching searches, maybe he can get on it.

But first, lets delve into a position that Smart has expressed some early concerns about, what he may have meant, but mostly use it as a chance to go off on our own tangent, which is sort of what we do around here: (Note: Submitted questions have been edited for length and clarity.). The Tigers leave much more unknown within their running back depth, but show a sizable ability to make an impact. Al Pinkins, the other Florida assistant, is a south Georgia native, but youd have to think he wouldve come by now if that were going to happen. Do they need to win more recruiting battles for five-star wide receivers? (As Ive written before he was going to do that even if James Coley had been retained, but elected to go with Monken when he became available.). Comparing Georgia and Clemsons wide receivers and running backs, Georgia wide receivers prepared for season opener amid injuries, Bulldogs in the NFL: Fromm released, Michel traded as teams make roster moves, Comparing Georgia and Clemsons quarterbacks. Prior to the setback, he was considered one of the states most underrated threats, scoring in every 2020 game. All Rights Reserved. Theres something about the feel of the gym, the importance of the game, and being close to the court, something you dont get at many college arenas anymore. You have permission to edit this article.