Imagine a scenario in Saturday afternoon's Southeastern Conference championship game in which Georgia receiver Ladd McConkey catches a third-and-6 pass and has Alabama linebacker Henry To'o To'o standing in his path to a first down.
Not that difficult, right?
Now go back a year and then try to imagine such a play.
McConkey and To'o To'o are among the most reliable members of their respective teams, but they will arrive at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium from very unexpected routes. Last December, McConkey was a raw talent out of North Murray High School who was vying on Georgia's scout team, while To'o To'o was the leading tackler for the Tennessee Volunteers.
"It really is crazy," McConkey said this week. "I was talking to my receivers coach in high school, just telling him that there is something special that is going on here. We're going into the SEC championship with the opportunity that we have - it really is something awesome, and it's something that we're definitely not taking for granted.
"We're just going day by day trying to finish this thing out strong."
McConkey has been strong all season, starting seven games and amassing 26 catches for 395 yards and four touchdowns, which ranks first among Bulldogs wide receivers. The 6-foot, 185-pounder had his most productive performance in Georgia's first hostile environment - at No. 18 Auburn on Oct. 9 - racking up five receptions for 135 yards and a 60-yard score in the 34-10 triumph.
To'o To'o also knows something about playing well against Auburn, having collected nine tackles and a tackle for loss during last Saturday's 24-22 topping of the Tigers in four overtimes, which marked his Iron Bowl debut. The 6-2, 228-pounder from Sacramento, California, had 76 tackles for last season's Vols but entered the NCAA transfer portal in January immediately after the firing of former coach Jeremy Pruitt.
Entering Saturday's showdown, To'o To'o now tops the Crimson Tide in that category, having racked up 93 tackles to go along with eight tackles for loss, four sacks, one forced fumble and zero regrets.
"It's definitely been everything I expected," To'o To'o said. "It's honestly been a blessing to be here, being around the best of the best - the best players, the best coaches. There's honestly no more that I could ask of coming here and being in the position that I'm in right now surrounded by these guys and the coaches.
"I've loved it ever since I got here."
AP photo by Vasha Hunt / Alabama linebacker Henry To'oTo'o sacks Auburn quarterback TJ Finley during the second half of last Saturday's Iron Bowl rivalry game. To'o To'o, who transferred from Tennessee after last season, had nine tackles against the Tigers as Alabama won 24-22 in four overtimes.Of course, the program To'o To'o left behind had a surprisingly solid 7-5 regular season given all the players who departed through the portal.
"I'm definitely proud of those guys," To'o To'o said. "I wasn't really watching them this year because I was kind of focused on what we had to do, but when I had a chance - whenever we had an early game - to see them play, I was proud of their performances. I'm just happy for them."
To'o To'o and McConkey are beyond happy their unique paths have led them to the doorstep of an SEC championship. McConkey was an unheralded recruit who received a late scholarship offer from Kirby Smart, while To'o To'o not only opted for the portal but had to receive immediate eligibility as a transfer within the league.
McConkey certainly expects to have more fans Saturday, as his entire hometown of Chatsworth would love the opportunity to attend. If only he had enough tickets to accompany them.
"I don't know how that's going to work," he said with a smile. "We'll see. I got my family in first and my girlfriend, and we'll see how everything else goes from there."
AP photo by Butch Dill / Alabama running back Brian Robinson Jr. carries the ball against Auburn during the second half of last Saturday's matchup of SEC West rivals.Robinson a mystery
The health of Alabama fifth-year senior running back Brian Robinson, who pulled a lower-body muscle last week at Auburn, continues to be the biggest unknown entering Saturday's game.
"We're doing some things with him in practice today to see how he responds," Alabama coach Nick Saban said early Thursday afternoon on a Zoom call. "It's going to be day to day."
The 6-foot-1, 225-pounder from Tuscaloosa has rushed 207 times for 1,016 yards (4.9 per carry) and 14 touchdowns this season.
Not the same thing
Smart was asked Thursday if facing the running ability of Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker last month would help when challenging Alabama's Bryce Young.
"I don't know that I would draw that comparison," Smart said. "There is a very different style of offenses in terms of what you're referencing. They're both mobile, but they're very different because Hendon is a really big, physical guy who runs with power and runs designed runs.
"Bryce doesn't run out of necessity. He runs because he can. He's really good at scrambling to throw or run, so I don't know that there's a lot of similarities between those two."
Young, Davis finalists
Young and Georgia senior nose tackle Jordan Davis were named Thursday among the five finalists for the Walter Camp Player of the Year. The other finalists are Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett and Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker III.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524. Follow him on Twitter @DavidSPaschall.