Tag: Arian Smith

Georgia wideout could be in for breakout year

Four years into his UGA career, one speedy Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver has been generating a lot of buzz this spring

Four years into his Georgia Bulldogs career, one Georgia wide receiver has been garnering a lot of buzz regarding his development this spring. Arian Smith has reportedly developed his skillset to a new level this spring, and coupled with his experience, he could be one of the top weapons for quarterback Carson Beck in 2024.

Kirby Smart recently commented on Smith’s progress, saying, “I think we’ve made a concerted effort to spend more time on developing Arian…We’ve taken some of those times that he’s invested four years in special teams work, and we’ve allowed him to really grow as a wideout. I think it’s helped him do that.”

Smith has made his presence known this spring, hauling in a pair of explosive catches in both of Georgia’s scrimmages so far.

Smith has mostly been used as a vertical threat for the Bulldogs over his four years in Athens, averaging nearly 27 yards per catch. He started two games for the Dawgs a season ago, catching eight passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns on 20 targets. However, he came on strong with a catch in every game at the end of the year, including a 51-yard deep ball against Alabama and a touchdown in the Orange Bowl against Florida State.

Smith has also received praise from his teammates, including starting receiver Dominic Lovett, who referred to him as “the spark-plug” of the receiving room.  As the Dawgs seek to replace Ladd McConkey and Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, Smith’s emergence could prove to be a major difference in the offensive outlook for 2024.

Georgia WR Arian Smith describes UGA freshmen wideouts

Smith breaks down freshman WRs Yazeed Haynes, Tyler Williams and Anthony Evans…

Georgia signed three four-star receivers in its No. 2 ranked 2023 recruiting class in Yazeed Haynes, Tyler Williams and Anthony Evans.

Bulldogs wide receiver Arian Smith spoke about each of the new wideouts in a post-practice press conference on Tuesday.

“He’s [Yazeed Haynes] just quick. He’s just a natural receiver — like, he don’t have to get taught to, like, run routes. It’s just [about] him learning the plays. Once he learns the plays and learns the offense, he’s going to be good”

Haynes, out of Fort Washington, Pa., was rated as the No. 27 wideout, according to rankings by 247Sports.

Smith continued with a comparison to a former NFL receiver when speaking of Evans.

“He’s [Anthony Evans] fast. He’s going to be good, too,” Smith said. “He reminds me a lot like Percy Harvin with the way he runs. It’s like effortless.”

Evans, out of Converse, Texas, was rated as the No. 29 receiver in the 2023 class.

Lastly, Smith described Williams, who was the highest-rated receiver signed coming it at No. 17. Smith and Williams both attended Lakeland High School in Florida

“[He’s] strong. Strong hands. You know, the early [enrollee] guys have got to learn the offense. They’ve got to take the time to learn first.”

We will get a good look at how the young wideouts are progressing when the Dawgs take the field at the annual ‘G-Day’ spring game in Sanford Stadium on April 15.

 

 

 

Georgia WR Arian Smith shares advice to injured teammate Kendall Milton

‘Just keep your head straight, focus on the present and do what you can to be healthy.’

Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith is no stranger to dealing with injury. The speedster has missed multiple games in each of his first three seasons in Athens.

When UGA running back Kendall Milton went down with a hamstring injury during spring practice, Smith says he shared some advice he learned from his past experience.

“Really focus on the time, like the present. I try not to think about the future or past. It happened. Unfortunately, I’ve had three, so it happens a lot. I told K Milt earlier today, it happens man. My roommate Daijun (Edwards), he has been dealing with something too. Just keep your head straight, focus on the present and do what you can to be healthy.”

Milton dealt with a similar injury during the 2022 season and ended up missing two games. Even still, Milton had a strong season and finished as the Bulldogs third-leading rusher behind Kenny McIntosh and Daijun Edwards.

We’ve seen flashes of great ability from both Smith and Milton over their careers, but we have yet to see the pair play an entire season.

You can’t help but think how good this offense can be in 2023 with Smith and Milton at full force.

Report: Georgia football WR suffers ankle injury

Per reports, WR Arian Smith suffered an ankle injury that is expected to require surgery.

Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith suffered an ankle injury during practice on Thursday that is expected to require surgery, according to a report from Palmer Thombs of Dawgs HQ.

Smith is likely to miss the remainder of fall camp, and a timetable for his return is not known.

As first reported by Dawgs Central and confirmed by DawgsHQ, Smith suffered an ankle injury during practice on Thursday. Initially, the injury was one that wasn’t believed to be all too serious, however further evaluation has revealed Smith could miss more time than thought. He is expected to have surgery to repair the injury.

The former four-star wide receiver and track star from Lakeland, Florida, has struggled to stay healthy since signing with Georgia as a member of its 2020 recruiting class.

Smith was limited to four games as a true freshman due to surgery on a broken wrist and another on a torn meniscus. After multiple injuries last offseason, Smith missed a number of games in 2021 with a lower-leg contusion before suffering a broken leg in practice that ended his season.

https://www.instagram.com/p/ChK20djFnIW/?hl=en

Per Evan Crowell of Dawgs Daily, Smith was having a successful fall camp prior to the injury:

Sources indicate that Smith is coming into his own this offseason, partly because of necessity. He’s routinely making the down field plays Georgia fans have become familiar with, but sources have indicated he’s becoming much more of a refined route runner as well.

When healthy enough to play, Smith has performed well, using his world-class speed to make big plays. He has five career receptions for 188 yards (37.6 yards per reception) and three touchdowns. That’s one incredible conversion rate.

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Watch: Carson Beck hits 60 yard bomb to Arian Smith, Daijun Edwards scores

Arian Smith is DANGEROUS

Following a Black team touchdown from Stetson Bennett to Arik Gilbert, Red team quarterback Carson Beck said it was his turn to show the DawgNation what he’s made of.

It did not take long for the Red team to strike back. Beck hit wide receiver Arian Smith for a quick 60 yard strike to put them in scoring range.

Smith played in four games last season, his sophomore year, missing time with a leg contusion before eventually breaking his leg in November.

Additionally, Smith played in four games as a true freshman due to surgery on a broken wrist and another on a torn meniscus. He is a track star and was regarded as the fastest player in his class during the 2020 recruiting cycle.

The drive ended with a Daijun Edwards touchdown run.

Arian Smith breaks leg: Twitter reacts to tough news

Prayers up for Arian Smith

Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith suffered a broken leg in practice on Wednesday that will potentially keep him out for the remainder of the season. Smith will require surgery on his leg.

This season, Smith has caught three passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns. Smith played in only four games as a true freshman due surgery on a broken wrist and then another on a torn meniscus. After a few injuries during the offseason, Smith missed multiple games this year with a lower-leg contusion.

Injuries to the wide receiver position is nothing new for Georgia this season. Both George Pickens (ACL) and Dominick Blaylock (ACL, hamstring) are yet to take the field this year. Jermaine Burton, Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint and Justin Robinson have all missed at least one game as well with their own injuries.

Here are the Twitter reactions to Georgia losing another wide receiver to injury this season.

 

Report: Georgia WR suffers broken leg in practice

Report: Arian Smith suffers broken leg in Wednesday’s practice

Per a report from Palmer Thombs of DawgsHQ, Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith suffered a broken leg in practice on Wednesday that will potentially keep him out for the remainder of the season.

Smith will require surgery on his leg, the report notes.

Smith played in only four games as a true freshman due surgery on a broken wrist and then another on a torn meniscus. After a few injuries during the offseason, Smith missed multiple games this year with a lower-leg contusion.

This season, Smith has caught three passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns. He is a track star and was regarded as the fastest player in his class during the 2020 recruiting cycle.

Injuries to the wide receiver position is nothing new for Georgia this season. Both George Pickens (ACL) and Dominick Blaylock (ACL, hamstring) are yet to take the field this year. Jermaine Burton, Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint and Justin Robinson have all missed at least one game as well with their own injuries.

UGA vs Mizzou: Stetson Bennett hits Arian Smith for 4th down TD

Dawgs take a 7-3 lead with this Bennett -> Smith TD.

About time! Georgia got off to a very slow start in the first quarter against Missouri and was trailing 3-0 when UGA faced a 4th and 6 from the Mizzou 35 yard line.

Just out of field goal range, Kirby Smart decided to go for it. And it resulted in a 35 yard touchdown to Arian Smith on a beautiful throw from Stetson Bennett.  Georgia took a 7-3 lead.

Still, Georgia needs to find a way to keep this going, because it’s not been a pretty start for the No. 1 ranked team in the nation.

Kirby Smart on the health of UGA WRs

Kirby on Georgia’s wide receivers

Georgia’s wide receivers have performed very well despite being depleted at the group due to injuries.

Kirby Smart gave an update on a few of the injured receivers at his press conference on Tuesday.

On Arian Smith (shin):

“Yeah, we are hoping to get Arian (Smith) back. He’s been closer each week. It’s just a lower leg contusion that’s been bothering him when he plants and runs, but he is much closer this week, but he’s been on about a fifty percent pitch count. He’s been repping with the twos, he’s getting reps and I think he’s looked better this week than he has in the past. We hope that continues throughout the rest of the week.

On Jermaine Burton (groin):

“Jermaine (Burton) has been bothered by the groin, he’s fought through that. He’s not 100%.”

On Justin Robinson (hamstring):

“Justin Robinson’s got a little bit of a hamstring now so he’s banged up.”

On Dominick Blaylock (hamstring):

“Dom is still out. So I feel like we are better off than we were going into the Auburn game, but I don’t feel like we are near where we need to be in terms of wide receiver.”

On the group again:

“But I do think Arian will be back and Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint has done a great job this week and Jermaine has been out there practicing. Of those three alone, they are a huge boost.”

WR Arian Smith playing through minor injuries

WR Arian Smith playing through minor injuries

Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Arian Smith is one of the fastest college football players in the country. The Lakeland High School speedster came to Athens as a four-star recruit in the class of 2020.

Smith had a solid showing in 2020 when he played and expects to carry that momentum into 2021. He has played in both scrimmages this Fall and has looked good

He is, however, dealing with some minor injuries, says Kirby Smart.

“Arian, coming from track, he missed some of the summer workouts, and we had to shut him down and not do everything,” Smart said. “He’s bounced back; he’s been battling a couple of injuries the last couple of weeks. He’s had some turf toe injuries, a toe-nail that got stepped on it was just bad, really bad. But he’s missed a little time.”

Smith runs for Georgia’s track team in addition to playing wide receiver. Smith ran an impressive 100-meters time of 10.18 during track season. He helped Matthew Boling and Georgia set a school record of 38.54 in the 4×100-meter relay event.

Smith will be an important deep threat for the Bulldogs and quarterback J.T. Daniels. Georgia is missing starting wide receiver George Pickens, who tore his ACL, and Demetris Robertson entered the NCAA transfer portal. There will be plenty of opportunity for Arian Smith.

Smith was banged up last offseason. He underwent wrist surgery in May and had meniscus surgery in July. Smith did not play until Georgia’s final four games. He made an impact against South Carolina and Cincinnati, but ended up taking a redshirt year. He will look to build off his solid ending to the season.

Kirby Smart and Todd Monken signed Smith, Justin Robinson, Marcus Rosemy, Jermaine Burton and Ladd McConkey as wide receivers in the class of 2020.