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Entering the spring, Georgia’s wide receiver group was thought to be as much of a liability as the running backs were a strength.
The Bulldogs lacked both established top-end talent and depth, and the team’s leading receiver from 2016, Isaiah McKenzie, was off to the NFL. Outside of the offensive line, the wide receiver position had the most question marks.
Surprisingly, Georgia appears to be in a very different place exiting spring practice. Several receivers drew positive reviews during the spring period, and their performance during the G-Day Game was better than anticipated.
Now in his third season, Terry Godwin appears to be on the precipice of a breakout year – something we believed would come in 2016. He and Kirby Smart seem to be on the same page, and Godwin has taken a leadership role within the position.
“Terry is really doing a good job of being a leader and challenging those guys, a lot more so than he did at this time last year,” Smart said after one of Georgia’s spring scrimmages. “He’s coming into his own when it comes to work ethic.”
Godwin’s talent has always been apparent, but his on-field production hasn’t matched his potential. In the Bulldogs’ G-Day Game, however, the rising junior gave fans a reason to believe he’s ready for a big year: Godwin led all receivers with five catches for 130 yards, including a 40-yard reception.
McKenzie’s abilities as a slot receiver will be missed, but Georgia plans on using Godwin in that role. While not as quick as McKenzie, Godwin is fluid and fast enough to succeed at one of the most important positions in Jim Chaney’s offense.
What’s less certain, though, is what kind of production the Bulldogs will get from their perimeter weapons.
After a strong finish to his freshman season, Riley Ridley, the younger brother of Alabama star Calvin Ridley, looks like he could become a nice piece on the outside. Ridley did not play in the G-Day Game, but he was Georgia’s fourth-leading receiver as a true freshman and 179 of his 238 yards came in the second half of the regular season.
Senior Javon Wims is also expected to make a big contribution in his second season with the team. With four catches for 96 yards, Wims showed a nice rapport with quarterback Jacob Eason and gives Georgia a big option downfield.
Wims, Ridley and Godwin were already on the radar coming into the spring, but a few surprising performances on G-Day gave the impression that there might be more depth at the position than most initially thought.
Sophomore Tyler Simmons was targeted early and often in the spring game, and he led the Red Team with five catches for 114 yards, including a nice 70-yard touchdown grab.
The other young receiver who raised eyebrows was true freshman J.J. Holloman (below), who scored the first touchdown of G-Day on a 42-yard pass play. Holloman has a blend of size and speed that has been missing at Georgia, and it’s hard not to imagine he and Eason making spectacular plays happen in the future.
Holloman was the top receiver prospect in the Bulldogs’ 2017 class, which included four players at the position. Smart is making a concerted effort to improve the receiving corps, and the early returns are positive.
Of course, the most difficult task for the immediate future will be replacing McKenzie’s rare agility and acceleration. The 5-foot-8 receiver was Georgia’s go-to player in 2016 and became a versatile weapon.
Mecole Hardman looks to be the player that the Bulldogs will deploy in that role. The former 5-star athlete possesses similar playmaking ability, but he’s yet to prove anything in an actual game. Hardman did show flashes of potential during G-Day, however, with 62 yards on three receptions.
Georgia won’t rely solely on its receivers in the passing game, either. Isaac Nauta possesses incredible natural ability at tight end, and he should be one of Eason’s top options this fall. Charlie Woerner is an intriguing player, who seems to be more of an H tight end than a traditional Y tight end.
The running backs will also be factors. Sony Michel and Brian Herrien have both proven themselves to be capable pass-catchers out of the backfield, and with the depth that Georgia possesses at the position, it will have to get creative to utilize all of its options.
It’s too soon to say that the Bulldogs’ offense will be much improved from the 2016 version, but the individual pieces should be better. The challenge for Smart and Chaney is figuring out how to use all of the players at their disposal.
If Georgia’s young receivers maintain the level of play they showed this spring, the Bulldogs will have more options than anyone could have anticipated.
