ATHENS, Ga. – The way Georgia senior receiver Javon Wims viewed it, he was just a two-sport kid having fun competing.
“I’ve been playing basketball since I was 7, and I’ve been playing football since I was 5,” Wims said this week. “I’ve just been going back and forth.”
Lost to him during his development in both activities was the benefit of how jumping up for a rebound would help his ability to jump up for catches. The 6-foot-4, 215-pounder from Miami leads the No. 7 Bulldogs (9-1, 6-1 Southeastern Conference) in receptions this season with 27 entering his Sanford Stadium finale Saturday afternoon against Kentucky (7-3, 4-3).
Many of his receptions, including his three-catch, 96-yard performance in last week’s 40-17 setback at Auburn, have come via so-called jump-ball opportunities against smaller defensive backs.
“He’s done a good job of that,” second-year Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart said. “He’s improved immensely at attacking the ball and not letting the ball get into his body. He’s really become a hands receiver, which is what you want.