Nobody is more aware of the receiving production Georgia lost off last year’s team than the individuals who hope to line up and reproduce it. And, just for the record, that’s a lot of individuals.
Eighteen, to be exact.
That’s how many players currently are working with the Bulldogs with the letters “WR” listed next to their names on Georgia’s roster. Ten of the wideouts were offered full scholarships to catch footballs for Georgia. Three of those had 5-star recruiting rankings when they came out of high school. The other eight are walkons, several of the special-invite variety.
On Woodruff Practice Fields, where the No. 3-ranked Bulldogs have commenced preseason camp, it's often hard to see position coach Cortez Hankton because he gets swallowed up on all sides as long and lanky athletes lean in to hear his instructions. Which is another trait of one of the Bulldogs' largest position groups in 2019.
There are some tall trees in that forest. All of the receivers are listed at 6 feet or taller, with five of them reaching at least 6-3. Tommy Bush, Lawrence Cager and Matt Landers are each 6-5.
This excites quarterback Jake Fromm. He said having “a lot of big guys who can go up and make plays” makes it “a lot more fun.”
“I can miss in different places,” Fromm said. “Height puts stress on defenses.”
So does speed, and that’s well-represented in this group as well. Demetris Robertson, Tyler Simmons and Dominick Blaylock are among the fastest players on Georgia’s roster.
This is why Fromm and coach Kirby Smart seem less stressed than fans about replacing all those yards and catches. They remain confident that more than a few of these guys are going to come through.
“They’re ready to step up, ready to go out and make plays,” Fromm said of many new faces. “I’m excited to see which guys make plays.”
So is Smart.
“We need to get those guys touches as much as possible so they get some confidence,” he said, “because the biggest thing they’re missing is experience.”
Yes, anybody who had any experience for Georgia seemingly is gone. The exact amount of lost production is mind-blowing even for the transient sport that is college football.
The Bulldogs last year totaled up 241 pass receptions for 3,165 yards and 34 touchdowns. But nine of the players making those catches won’t be back. With them, they took 69.3 percent of the catches (167), 76.1 percent of the yards (2,409) and 79.4 percent of the touchdown receptions (27).
Most of that production was accounted for by receivers Riley Ridley (44-570-9), Mecole Hardman (34–532-7), J.J. Holloman (24-418-5) and Terry Godwin (22-373-3), and tight end Isaac Nauta (30-430-3). All of those players are in NFL camps this week except for Holloman. He was dismissed after accusations of domestic violence were revealed.
The potential of the replacement candidates is high, though. None of them is more intriguing than Robertson.
Robertson was a 5-star prospect when he signed with California over Georgia out of Savannah Christian High. After a freshman All-America worthy first season, Robertson transferred to UGA following an injury marred sophomore year last summer. But his Pac-12 success didn't translate to the SEC and he was never able to crack the Bulldogs' receiver rotation last season. He failed to record a catch, but did collect 109 yards rushing on four reverses and jet sweeps, including a 72-yard touchdown in the season's first game.
Word is Robertson is healthier, has added some bulk to his 6-foot frame and is more proficient in the art of downfield blocking, an important criteria for getting on the field in Smart's offense. The junior has been exchanging first-team reps with redshirt freshman Kearis Jackson.
“What he has to do is play within our system and play well within our system and play better than the people in front of him and that’s his challenge,” Smart said. “That hasn’t changed from last year. He still has to play the best to be in the first three out there. To be in the top six and rotate, he’s got to be in the top six and I fully expect him to do that. He did that in the spring.”
Robertson is not the only one seeking a role.
The senior Simmons is the captain of the group. He has played in every game the last two seasons, but has only 12 catches and two touchdowns to show for it. Most everybody else is a relative newbie:
• Landers, a redshirt sophomore, was Fromm's main target in the G-Day Game last spring. He needs to be more consistent but shows great promise.
• Georgia brought in Cager as a graduate transfer from Miami, where he had 21 catches and six TDs last season.
• Trey Blount, Tommy Bush and Jackson are all trying to break in after failing to crack the regular rotation last year.
• Ty James is a preferred walk-on from Greater Atlanta Christian School who led Gwinnett County in receiving with 1,145 receiving yards as a senior.
The Bulldogs have about two more weeks to figure out which of the 18 will crack the six-man rotation. After that the focus will be on installing a game plan for the season opener against Vanderbilt in Nashville.
There’s a lot take in between now and then for the youngest, most inexperienced position group on the team.
“They’re still trying to figure things out,” Fromm said of the receivers. “Things are going to be kind of fast for them. ... Hopefully, we’ll get them lined up and they can run the right route.”
Said Smart: “I hope the growth happens fast.”
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