Georgia tight end Eli Wolf eager for more busy games

Bulldogs put former Vol to work in rout of Murray State

Georgia photo by Tony Walsh / Georgia fifth-year senior tight end Eli Wolf, a graduate transfer from Tennessee, had four first-half catches for 73 yards during last Saturday's 63-17 drubbing of Murray State.
Georgia photo by Tony Walsh / Georgia fifth-year senior tight end Eli Wolf, a graduate transfer from Tennessee, had four first-half catches for 73 yards during last Saturday's 63-17 drubbing of Murray State.

ATHENS, Ga. - In his three seasons as a Tennessee tight end, Eli Wolf totaled 86 receiving yards.

He nearly topped that during the first half of Georgia's 63-17 rout of Murray State last Saturday.

The graduate transfer had the busiest day of his collegiate career against the Racers, hauling in four Jake Fromm passes for 73 yards. He was not needed after halftime with the Bulldogs up 42-7, so redshirt freshman John FitzPatrick and true freshmen Ryland Goede and Brett Seither rotated at tight end the rest of the way.

"It was an exciting game," Wolf said. "I made a couple of mistakes, but as far as the receiving game, I was excited for this one. To make a play, get up and do it again and get in a rhythm like that makes a game fun and exciting."

Wolf had consecutive receptions in the first quarter, with the first one gaining 19 yards and the second one ending in a fumble that was recovered by Murray State. The Racers were already in a 7-7 game and drove to Georgia's 40-yard line after Wolf's miscue, but the Bulldogs forced a punt and then drove 78 yards in seven plays to open the floodgates.

"There is no excuse to fumble," Wolf said. "I expect more out of myself."

Georgia coach Kirby Smart said after Saturday's game that the Bulldogs weren't about to stay away from Wolf following the fumble, and that was reflected in the second quarter when Wolf had receptions of 24 and 22 yards. His 24-yarder took Georgia to Murray State's 10-yard line and was followed by a D'Andre Swift touchdown run on the ensuing play as the lead grew to 28-7.

His 22-yarder to Murray State's 15 set up a touchdown from Fromm to freshman receiver George Pickens on the next snap for a 35-7 lead.

"I think Eli is a talented player," Smart said, "and I think he's a weapon for us."

Wolf arrived at Tennessee in 2015 as the unheralded little brother of Ethan Wolf, who racked up 91 catches for 996 yards and seven touchdowns as a Volunteers tight end from 2014 to '17. After redshirting in 2015, the younger Wolf wound up playing 27 games with the Vols and made eight starts, with five of those last season.

His two second-quarter receptions last Saturday were longer than any catches he had at Tennessee, but Wolf has adjusted to more at Georgia than just being busier as the top backup to fellow senior Charlie Woerner.

"The biggest adjustment for me here has been just taking a mature role and being an example for everybody," he said. "Whether you've been here one year or four years, players look up to you with age and experience. To kind of be that role model for them is a role I've been trying to take."

Third-ranked Georgia (2-0) hosts Arkansas State (1-1) at noon Saturday, with ESPN2 televising the game.

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524. Follow him on Twitter @DavidSPaschall.

Upcoming Events