How long it lasts and whether or not it’s permanent won’t be determined for a while. But at least for the spring, Quayvon Hicks will be playing tight end for the Georgia Bulldogs.
Hicks, a 6-foot-2, 260-pound sophomore who started six games at fullback last season, is being moved up to the line of scrimmage due to the Bulldogs’ shortfall at the tight end position this fall. Georgia lost All-SEC tight end Arthur Lynch to graduation at the end of this past season, and his heir apparent Jay Rome just had metal pins removed from his foot from off-season surgery.
Rome, a 6-6, 254-pound rising junior, is expected to be ready to go in the fall. Jordan Davis, a 6-4, 225-pound redshirt freshman, is the only other tight end on scholarship participating in spring ball.
So offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said the offensive staff decided to work Hicks at tight end in the spring with the hopes of having him, fill a hybrid role — or H-back-type role — in the fall.
“I don’t know if he’ll even take any fullback reps,” Bobo said of Hicks. “… I think he plays with a good base. His issue sometimes blocking has been out in space, which causes him not to fit up properly. So we think getting up there close to the line will give him a chance to be successful in the running game. Now the passing game is going to be foreign. He’s used to running in the flat and that’s about it. So he’ll have to run some different routes and that will be an adjustment for him.”
In addition to Hicks and Davis, Georgia also has two other walkons that will play tight end during the spring.
However, several other offensive skill players will be out. Tailback Keith Marshall won’t participate after having a pair of major knee surgeries last December. Flanker Malcolm Mitchell (knee) will be able to run routes in pass skeleton but “won’t get near contact,” according to head coach Mark Richt. And wideout Justin Scott-Wesley (knee) is not yet ready to go full speed.
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