Though displayed some exceptional athleticism when he competed at Georgia’s 7-on-7 camp a year ago. (Photo from WXIA.com)
ATHENS — I believe Terry Godwin eventually will be a fantastic player for the Georgia Bulldogs. I don't think he'll have a huge impact for them this season, however. At least not the type that is generally associated with a wide receiver of his stature (state's No. 1 athlete, 5-star-rated prospect).
Here’s why I say that. Georgia certainly needed receivers this season. That’s why it signed four of them in the 2015 recruiting class. In addition to the 5-foot-11, 170-pound Godwin, they landed Michael Chigbu (6-2, 200) of New Orleans, Jayson Stanley (6-2, 198) of Fairburn and Shaquery Wilson (6-1, 190) of Coral Gables, Fla.
Physically, the three of them are notably different than Godwin. Conversely, Godwin is NOT notably different in that regard from Malcolm Mitchell (6-1, 195), Isaiah McKenzie (5-8, 164) or Reggie Davis (6-0, 170), other players that will be ahead of Godwin on the depth chart that do many of the same things Godwin does.
Where Georgia needs to get shored up in the receiving corps this season in the area of good-sized, strong-possession receivers of the type they lost in Michael Bennett and Chris Conley. Players lile Chigbu, Stanley and Wilson come closer to filling that bill, as to returning lettermen such as Kenny Towns (6-3, 205), Shakenneth Williams and, to some degree, the muscle-bound speedster Justin Scott-Wesley (5-11, 215).
That said, expect Godwin to get a decent amount of reps and have an opportunity show his stuff right away. First-year offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer recruited him under the pretense of utilizing him the way the he did the ultra-versatile Tavon Austin with the St. Louis Rams. That is, they found multiple ways to get the ball in his hands, between jet sweeps and bubble screens along with an occasional deep route or quick slant, not to mention returning kicks.
For the time being, McKenzie has that role well covered for the Bulldogs. But they’ll be getting Godwin prepped to do the same. And if it turns out he’s as good or better than McKenzie right away, Georgia will have yet another offensive weapon to deploy.
Now or later, it’s a good bet Godwin is going to help the Bulldogs win some games.
UGA’S NEXT GENERATION SERIES
JUWUAN BRISCOE:
TRENT THOMPSON:
SAM MADDEN:
ROQUAN SMITH
