NFL Report:Georgia Bulldog signed the fastest player from….
Georgia’s ranks dwindled as the fastest player was injured, but veteran receivers were still valued.
In order to keep opponents honest on the perimeter, Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett will rely on a few receivers, but one of the team’s best speed threats won’t be there.
The fastest player on the Bulldogs’ roster and possibly in the SEC, wide receiver Arian Smith, is reportedly the most recent UGA wide receiver injured. It is said that Smith will need surgery for his ankle injury.
The receiving unit lacks depth in terms of experience, so Georgia must make sure veterans like Ladd McConkey, Adonai Mitchell, and Kearis Jackson can stay healthy.
Earlier in fall camp, UGA coach Kirby Smart discussed how the talented tight ends the Bulldogs have will compete with receivers for snaps because multiple of them can line up in the slot.
At Sanford Stadium on Saturday, Georgia will undoubtedly consider a number of options when the team plays its first scrimmage of fall camp.
One of the tight ends with enough experience as a receiver to be frequently spread out wide to create mismatches is Arik Gilbert.
Todd Monken, the offensive coordinator for UGA, stated on Thursday that Erik is more of a route runner. He’s been in that situation where his development is almost identical to an air raid Y.
Particularly with Georgia’s veteran wideout shortage right now.
Monken revealed on Thursday that Smith was not expected to play every play because of his limitations due to injuries and his inexperience with the playbook.
According to Monken, “being unhealthy and not being able to develop limits you from having a player be an every-down player to get on the field more often because you can’t trust them to do everything you’re asking of them, so they have to be situational players.”
Smith has only participated in eight of the previous two seasons’ twenty-five games, catching five passes for 188 yards and three touchdowns.
It’s a difficult situation because Smith promised during spring drills to use his track speed more this fall. He has run a 4.29 40 and submitted a 10.18 100.
Before he moved to Alabama following the national championship season, Jermaine Burton—who led the WR unit with 497 yards receiving the previous season—was expected to be UGA’s most seasoned returning wide receiver.
With that, McConkey (31 receptions, 447 yards) and Mitchell (29 receptions, 426 yards) are the only players who started at receiver in each of the previous season’s games.
Jackson was limited to the return game in the first game against Clemson because he was recovering from a knee injury at the beginning of the previous season.
Jackson only managed 16 catches for 194 yards in the previous campaign, and there’s no assurance that he’ll get nearly as many chances this time around.
At his first press conference of the fall camp, Smart stated, “He (Jackson) is also competing with the tight ends.” “Because one of them isn’t on the field when he is.”
After making 18 receptions for 310 yards from former quarterback Jake Fromm, fourth-year receiver Dominick Blaylock was named the team’s co-offensive newcomer of the year. Georgia is hoping Blaylock can return to his freshman form.
Blaylock made two catches for 11 yards in four games last season while still recovering from ACL injuries, missing all of 2020 due to a torn ACL.
Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint played in 13 games last season and had 7 receptions for 94 yards before missing the remainder of 2020 due to a broken ankle he sustained against Florida.
Here’s what Georgia has in store for pass-catching in the future.
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