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This offseason at Georgia, much of the offensive intrigue has been around the quarterback position. That was only heightened when former Virginia quarterback Greyson Lambert transferred to play for the Bulldogs in 2015, adding another name to the mix under center.
With a deep and talented stable of running backs and one of the best offensive lines in college football, finding a quarterback to steward the offense seems to be the last step in Georgia taking over full-fledged favorite status in the SEC East (if it’s not already there).
Not to be lost in all of that is the question of who that quarterback will throw to this fall, be it Lambert, Brice Ramsey or Faton Bauta.
Of the Bulldogs’ top four receivers from last year, only Malcolm Mitchell is back. He heads into his senior year as the team’s top receiving option, and there’s not a ton of experienced help around him.
Who are the candidates to take the No. 2 job alongside Mitchell? We rank them from most likely to claim the starting position.
1. Isaiah McKenzie, sophomore
2014 stats: 6 catches, 67 yards; 7 rushes, 78 yards
McKenzie was not much of a factor on offense last year, but was a special teams star as he accumulated three total return touchdowns. That’s going to change in 2015. McKenzie appears to have made big strides as an offensive player, though, and he showcased that in the spring game with a 72-yard touchdown catch, as well as another 19-yard reception that was called back due to penalty. Georgia’s offense will benefit from having McKenzie’s dynamism on the field on a regular basis.
2. Reggie Davis, junior
2014 stats: 6 catches, 63 yards
So far in his career, Davis hasn’t been a real contributor for the Bulldogs. Like McKenzie, he showed his improvement in the spring game and has earned praise from offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer for his speed, separation and big-play ability. Davis is still working to become a more consistent player, and if he can reach a higher level there he’ll be a strong downfield option for UGA’s passers.
3. Justin Scott-Wesley, senior
2014 stats: 3 catches, 52 yards, 1 TD
At this point, it’s fair to wonder if the former four-star recruit will ever live up to his billing. The fifth-year senior has dealt with a torn ACL and an ankle injury in recent years, as well as a suspension last season. He has just 25 catches for his career and has never found consistent playing time, which could change with new receivers coach Charles McLendon. If he stays healthy, Scott-Wesley provides another deep threat.
4. Terry Godwin, freshman
2014 stats: N/A
Schottenheimer is high on his incoming freshman, and he’s compared him to former West Virginia star Tavon Austin, who Schottenheimer coached with the St. Louis Rams. Godwin will move around a lot on offense if and when he gets onto the field, but the Dawgs have to hope he’s not a high enough pick in the Major League Baseball this week to avoid tempting him into a baseball career.
A former freelance journalist from Philadelphia, Brett has made the trek down to SEC country to cover the greatest conference in college football.
