HITS AND MANY MISSES
Georgia hasn’t had the most successful four-year cycle in recruiting receivers:2012Blake Tibbs — The lone receiver signee in the class played sparingly before transferring last spring.2013Reggie Davis — Has 29 career catches and seven career starts entering his senior season.Rico Johnson — Moved to cornerback before being medically disqualified with a spinal condition.Uriah LeMay — Arrested in the stipend check-cashing incident before transferring.Jonathon Rumph — Junior college transfer showed flashes when not affected by injuries.2014Gilbert Johnson — Failed to qualify academically and never played for the Bulldogs.Isaiah McKenzie — Has just 17 catches in two seasons but has been spectacular on special teams.Shakenneth Williams — Has four catches in two seasons, including one against an SEC foe.2015Michael Chigbu — Had four catches for 28 yards during his freshman season.Terry Godwin — Versatile talent already is Georgia’s active career receptions leader with 35.Jayson Stanley — Had two catches for 23 yards as a freshman, with both coming against Southern.Shaquery Wilson — Had no catches before being suspended academically for the TaxSlayer Bowl.
The Georgia Bulldogs were so thin at receiver to start the 2015 football season that three signees from last winter – Terry Godwin, Michael Chigbu and Jayson Stanley – were on the two-deep depth chart out of necessity.
When Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart was introduced as Georgia’s new head coach in early December, he quickly admitted the Bulldogs “were lacking somewhat in perimeter guys who can make explosive plays.” Georgia returns a mere 46 receiving yards from its 38-10 loss to the Crimson Tide in early October, when Godwin had three catches for 30 yards and Reggie Davis three for 16.
Yet despite their current deficit at receiver, the Bulldogs have just two receiver commitments with a week to go before national signing day.
“There are a variety of things that have factored into this,” Southeastern Conference recruiting analyst J.C. Shurburtt said. “Given the tailback tradition they have – one of the glamour positions in all of college football is playing tailback at Georgia – you know they’re going to run the ball every single year. It’s in the DNA of their program, so it’s hard to go out and get a bunch of receivers like a Texas A&M, which runs a futuristic, space-age offense and signs five or six per class.