As I indicated in my post about Georgia’s offer to him, I really am intrigued by Ladd McConkey, who committed over the weekend.
Not just for what he may bring to the table (h/t Nick)…
… but also for what it suggests about how the Dawgs have completely remade their wide receiving corps over the past two classes.
The Bulldogs now have 23 potential members for their 2020 signing class entering Wednesday’s traditional date. Georgia had 19 players sign in December’s early period, including six who chose to enroll early, and five of the 23 are receivers — McConkey, Marcus Rosemy of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Arian Smith of Lakeland, Florida, Jermaine Burton of Calabasas, California, and Justin Robinson from the Atlanta suburb of McDonough.
Georgia signed two of the nation’s top five receivers — George Pickens and Dominick Blaylock — in last year’s class, with Pickens capping his freshman season by earning Sugar Bowl MVP.
That’s an enormous talent infusion, but it also means Monken and staff have to figure out a way to make some of those young ‘uns contributors in a relatively short time frame, especially considering most of them aren’t early enrollees.
Most intriguing of all, though, to me, anyway, is how specific are the plans for McConkey.
“Georgia offered me to be a true slot guy,” McConkey said last week. “Guys that can win the one-on-one battle. I mean obviously they have guys who can win one-on-one matchups but really get in space there down in the slot and make people miss in real tight coverage.”
He’s the lowest rated recruit in the 2020 class. He doesn’t fit the physical mold that Smart has favored at the position over several classes. And yet I can’t help but wonder how much he’s expected to contribute this season by Monken, along with some of the other new kids on the block. What do you guys think?
Get The Picture 
I hope Tech, Florida and South Carolina sign several of those guys in green.
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Impressive footwork and film for a 3 star.
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I’m guessing seasoned SEC DBs will tie him up on the LOS at first (just like most of the 2019 UGA WRs). I really like the way Kirby attacks gaps, WR, OL, Coaches, offensive philosophy etc – all have specific changes/additions to close the gaps.
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When your ample depth is talented from top to bottom and then the cream rises to the top throughout practice, in theory at least you should have some pretty elite playmakers for Saturdays.
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Last night, I said a couple of times that I hoped Kirby was paying attention. Those passing routes on both sides were a thing of beauty. Tight ends were featured AND SF had multiple two back sets. Actually I hope Kirby and Monken watched together so Kirby could ask, “we can do that, right?”
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I like the moves this kid has. Now, to admit my ignorance of x & o’s once again, please tell me the difference between a slot receiver and a wide receiver. Thanks.
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Inside receivers lining up closer to the OL.
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Thanks.
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How can you be a fan of football and not know this? I’m being 100% serious
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Maybe he is just beginning to learn about football, and is asking questions to become knowledgeable.
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I’ve always been a fan, but I never paid attention to some details until the last few years. I admit where I am uninformed and try to learn more unlike some on this blog that pretend to be experts. To those that provide me the info I need I am truly appreciative.
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Keep on asking, brother. Never be apprehensive or afraid to ask….which I see that you are not.
The ones that question why, are the ones that look bad.
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Other than Smith, we don’t have slot WRs for the future so we doubled up in this class. You could argue we tripled up if you think Burton’s quickness could be used there too. (I do.) It doesn’t hurt that he’s in-state either, given our lack of interest/success in GA this year.
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Brings to mind the small slot guys that the Patriots have utilized for years.
Watching that film it appears there will be broken ankles and jock straps on the field for those trying to cover him. If he gets off the ball, without getting jammed he is going to create havoc for the other team.
He makes number 23 in this class. A full class is 25? Assuming Jones and Van Pran are expected to sign, does this signal the end of the Evans drama?
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He is 23 counting Jones and Van Pran.
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Ok, so the Evan’s soap opera is still on
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or even that little dude from UMass who had a huge day against our pretty strong D in 2018. Compact guys with great hands and good athletic skills arent necessarily easy to catch coming out of the slot.
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I still have nightmares about him
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Yes, I imagine him being like Isabella from UMASS, Renfroe from Clemson, and a couple of those smaller receivers the Patriots have had over the years. I would say IMac from UGA but I am envisioning a receiver that would also be a possession receiver like the ones named above, and that is not how we used IMAC. Something about this guy tells me he will be able to get separation off the snap, something we haven’t done well against press coverage. If nothing else, it may split the attention of the DBs. Me likey, now go show out young lad.
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Does anyone know what DB he is going against in the video?
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Is it Kelee Ringo?
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that’s the word……….
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What would Kelee Ringo be doing at a regional Nike event in Nashville? Nike has one in just about every metro in the country. Including Scottsdale, AZ, Ringo’s hometown.
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Don’t ask me…..said, “that’s the word”
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I don’t know if that particular video was Ringo, but Ringo tweeted to McConkey last week about how McC had really tied him up a few times.
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yep, saw that. McConkey looks to be a gamer.
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In all honesty, it is probably not him. He looks to small in that video in comparison to McConkey…6’2″ versus 5’11’.
His little emoji (throwing up) was probably meant that the fellow just got smoked.
Nonetheless, thinks he is going to be a good one, good commitment.
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Its different Db’s running the drill although #875 DB is Ringo…………
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Cool, thanks for clearing that up. It does indeed look like him in the face.
Maybe that will help answer some of ASEF’s questions… :> )
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Is there any chance Ladd will be a preferred walk on or grey shirt?
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Why?
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Don’t believe UGA offers a scholarship with out intent to get that student athlete on the field, especially given the potential make up of the wr room, special teams seems a higher possibility ….I also understand every scholarship may not see the field of play
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Thinks Kirby is SERIOUS with the offer, guessing he thinks the kid can play. Those scholarships don’t come easy with him, ask Blankenship…
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Yeah, I’m excited to see what he can do. I was just thinking about numbers and spots open in the class.
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Trying to predict if there are any more spots in the class.
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I love everything about this kid – smart, great athlete, seems humble, etc.
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Isn’t Kelee Ringo taller than McConkey?
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Makes me think of those low ranked slot guys that Clemson has had over the last 5 or 6 years, like Hunter Renfrow. If he can produce anything even close to that, we’d be quite happy.
Also, is it just me, or does his physical description (and I’m not just talking about race) sound a lot like Stetson Bennett? In other words, if Bennett can’t get on the field as a QB, and we’re looking for those smaller squirrelly types of receivers for the slot, I wonder if that will he looked at?
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He looks like a nice addition, but Arian Smith of Lakeland, Florida is still the most intriguing guy for me if signing him means we have finally broken the Lakeland High School code.
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Yeah, a 10.39 100 meters plus a new OC who likes to attack downfield and an emphasis on explosive plays goes together nicely.
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He’ll be Monken’s Hardman. The kids has elite speed and agility. He’s a 3 star because he’s smaller and because he’s from NW Georgia, which isn’t as esteemed as it once was. I imagine he’ll be punt returner #1 rather quickly.
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Texas Dawg is drawing the right comparison in noting similar receivers in the NFL. They are 3rd down, possession specialist. Too twitchy & quick to block at the line, they have a knack of getting open in critical situations. He’s exactly what we didn’t have this past year.
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The Ladd McConkey film looks great. But there is a small problem. Any slot receiver will be expected to block, at least some, and he might get killed at 158 pounds. As a kick off or punt returner, he might get killed even quicker. You guys know I don’t really mean killed, but let’s say injured. I am not worried about the 4.58 time in the 40 because we have no idea how that was timed. If he was on grass at a GA practice field, the time would be fine. If he was indoors and on hard carpet the time might be a couple of steps slow. I saw in some article that Arian Smith was timed at 4.18 in the 40. I do not believe that. I have talked to Coach Haffner (many years ago) about this and he told me he had seen one true 4.3 second 40 yard dash and that was not Tony Dorset from Pitt. or any player from ND. It was Herschel Walker. He was timed on grass with coaches holding a stop watch and he also was timed electronically on carpet with the track team. When Coach Haffner tells me this 4.2 time is home cooking, I believed him. I am making too much about the 40 times. If you can run a 4.5 with quickness (the first 2 or 3 steps) a guy that runs a 4.3 is not going to catch you unless you have to go 80 or 90 yards. If we have to go that far then throw the ball to the Smith guy and watch his ass smoking down the field, even if not a true 4.18.
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