So, any hope of a Georgia mention in Brandon Marcello’s piece about the true freshmen looking in preseason camps like they’ll be real contributors this season?
Why, yes, thanks for asking.
Adonai Mitchell, receiver
Georgia needs all the good news it can get at receiver, where three options have been sidelined due to injuries.
Tight end Arik Gilbert, the 5-star transfer from LSU, and backup Darnell Washington are out (for now); and receivers Kearis Jackson, Jermaine Burton and Dominick Blaylock did not participate in the first scrimmage of preseason camp. All of this news comes in the wake of losing top-tier receiver George Pickens in the offseason due to an ACL surgery.
So, who will step up as the season opener against Clemson quickly approaches? Turns out 3-star freshman Adonai Mitchell continues to impress after an impressive spring in which he caught a team-high seven passes for 105 yards in the spring game.
“Coaches and teammates have mentioned his explosiveness and raw potential at the position and he has gotten a ton of reps with the Bulldogs being banged up at wide receiver,” says Georgia insider Jake Rowe. “He impressed in the first preseason scrimmage with a couple of acrobatic grabs and it’s looking more and more like he’ll have a substantial role in UGA’s 2021 offense.”
I keep telling myself it’s realistic to expect Mitchell to be the latest in a long line of G-Day wonders who do little once the season kicks off, but I have to admit the buzz around him has been sustained longer than I expected. Maybe he’s about to prove to be the exception to the rule. Lord knows his timing couldn’t be better.
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Guessing that Washington would find it ‘news’ that he was backing up Gilbert and Gilbert would find it news that he was playing tight end.
Marcello just finds a way to irk the crap out of me, every time that lightweight starts typing about Georgia.
Mitchell is a 3Star Freshmen by the way. Georgia fell in love with him early last year and locked him down. Kids out of Alabama. Here’s another one for you. Don’t laugh. Ladd Mcconkey… Low three star that Georgia added last minute to the 2020 class. From the state of Georgia, but grew up at UT fan his entire life. Grandfather (who is passed) was a big influence on the kid. Apparently he has had a huge camp and is expected to see the field a lot more than people might think. Strong punt returner and out playing some of those bigger names at receiver.
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McConkey’s lower body looked slight to me at G-Day, but maybe he’s done wonders in the weight room since then. He’s got a lot of folks to fight through to get much playing time at receiver this year, but he’s a gamer whose time will come.
As for punt returns, don’t forget Jackson led the conference in that last year.
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I doubt McConkey beats out Kearis Jackson at punt returner. I definitely think heMs going to get some shots in games where we are comfortably ahead.
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We can’t afford to lose Kearis Jackson on a punt return. Would rather see anyone back there but him.
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I can understand that. Punt return is a momentum and field position change opportunity. I don’t want us to squander an advantage we may have there especially against Clemson.
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Dude,
most games are won on special teams!
Oklahoma (win), Alabama (two loses) come to mind.
I want our studs on special teams!!
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Normally I would agree, but Kearis is just too valuable to lose considering the shape our recieving group is in. Not saying we put a fair catch specialist back there either.
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Takes me back to the “you can’t use Gurley to return kickoffs!” days.
Such good advice.
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That is pretty dishonest comparison right there and you know it. Gurley was a threat to go the distance every time he received a kickoff. Kearis Jackson is not a homerun threat. What he is is a solid, dependable, possession receiver that JT needs out there badly. Just my opinion dawg. You don’t have to like it.
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I appreciate your permission.
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There is a ton of buzz about Mcconkey. We will see him on the field at some point other than just mop duty.
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We can only hope. UGA is so “snakebit” with injuries and other reasons that keep players out of games that it’s more than time enough that something happens on the positive side for a change.
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Hopefully A Mitchell cements himself in UGA lore on 9/4…it appears he’ll have opportunity…but I’m still hopeful for Burton, Jackson, and Blaylock to be up to speed by then.
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Where is this buzz coming from other than posters on this website who are willing it to be? “Ladd has made some plays” from a week ago is literally the only quote I have seen through the google machine.
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Sorry, that was intended to be in response to Biggen above…
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Between Adonai, Justin Robinson, and Rosemy, JT really needs to have confidence in one of them to develop into that 50/50 jump ball guy to compliment Kearis and Burton without Pickens.
Rosemy appears to be behind the other two. It sounds like Smith is still figuring out the offense, but I hope he gets in on at least a couple of go routes or sweeps each game. I do think McConkey will get meaningful playing time, and if Monken has a screen game he should be a part of it.
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I’ve been in the McConkey corner since day one – the kid has great ball instincts and pretty good speed. I see him as a Renfrow type WR with a bit more speed.
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Have to say I am not optimistic about the passing game early this season. You don’t lose Pickens, Darnell, and Gilbert and expect to be explosive as necessary in a top 5 match-up. I know JT, Kearis, Burton, and others are studs but I am definitely not expecting big plays. Hope I eat those words, though.
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My confidence has diminished for those same reasons.
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