Georgia’s most inexperienced position group is at receiver entering the 2019 football season, but Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart doesn’t seem to be complaining.
Smart has lamented the youth, but he also has praised the potential that was apparently evident again Saturday in Sanford Stadium during the team’s second scrimmage this preseason. The closed scrimmage consisted of 135 plays, with Smart pointing out that several huge gains came from the receivers.
“Last scrimmage, it seemed like some of the backs out of the backfield had some big plays, but it was the wideouts as a group today,” Smart said during a news conference. “(Lawrence) Cager had one. George (Pickens) had one. Tyler (Simmons) had one. Trey (Blount) had one. We had several guys have explosive plays.
“Explosive to me is well over 12 or 13 yards. Kearis (Jackson) had a big one. We’ve seen great balance on the explosive plays.”
The Bulldogs must replace three receivers from last season who are now in the NFL – Terry Godwin, Mecole Hardman and Riley Ridley – as well as Jeremiah Holloman, who was dismissed from the team earlier this summer. Pickens was a five-star 2019 signee who made a one-handed grab during last weekend’s opening scrimmage.