Georgia is still receiving interest from top wide receiver targets including one of UGA’s latest targets from UCLA
The Georgia Bulldogs been on the hunt for wide receivers in the transfer portal window, which is set to close on Dec. 28. The Bulldogs may not be in the running for the top receiver transfer anymore, but they could be getting a visit from another one this week.
According to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, there is growing belief that top wide receiver J. Michael Sturdivant, who entered the transfer portal from UCLA on Dec. 10, will end up visiting Georgia this week. There’s no word on if the visit is official or unofficial. Sturdivant has one year left of eligibility.
The former four-star recruit transferred to UCLA from California in 2023. In three seasons, Sturdivant has 123 career receptions for 1,667 yards and 13 touchdowns.
According to Zenitz, some NFL scouts believe Sturdivant has NFL potential. He also visited Florida during the week.
Previewing Georgia football’s wide receiver depth chart. The Bulldogs have lost four of their five leading receivers from last season
Third-team All-SEC wide receiver Dominic Lovett leads the Georgia Bulldogs’ talented wide receivers room in 2024.
Lovett is Georgia’s only (top-five) leading receiver that is returning. Three of the five other leading receivers from 2023 were selected in the 2024 NFL draft. Additionally, Georgia’s fifth-leading receiver in 2023, Rara Thomas, was recently dismissed from the team after being arrested.
Versatile wide receiver Dillon Bell is Georgia’s No. 2 receiver and made the All-SEC team as an all-purpose player. Bell is Georgia’s best receiver after the catch and has previously played running back.
The No. 3 wide receiver on our depth chart is Miami transfer Colbie Young. Young is Georgia’s best red zone threat at wide receiver and is relatively interchangeable on the depth chart with Arian Smith. The two players just have very different roles depending on the situation. Smith is Georgia’s fastest receiver. Smith provides a deep threat and made several explosive plays in spring practice.
After Smith is explosive sophomore Anthony Evans, who is primed to have a larger role this season. Vanderbilt transfer London Humphreys and USC transfer Michael Jackson III both figure to see their respective roles increase as the year goes on. Jackson III is especially adept in the screen game and after the catch.
Cole Speer recently made a big play in Georgia’s scrimmage. He should not be counted out and is a big special teams player for UGA.
Georgia football’s depth chart at wide receiver
The Georgia Bulldogs need a big season out of wide receiver Dillon Bell. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Dominic Lovett (Senior)
Dillon Bell (Junior)
Colbie Young (Junior)
Arian Smith (Senior)
Anthony Evans (Sophomore)
Michael Jackson III (Senior)
London Humphreys (Sophomore)
Cole Speer (Junior)
Sacovie White (Freshman)
Nitro Tuggle (Freshman)
It is unclear who Georgia’s five best playmakers will be on offense. Running back Trevor Etienne, tight end Oscar Delp, wide receivers Dominic Lovett and Dillon Bell are probably Georgia’s four best playmakers, but the fifth-best player is up for debate.
Evaluating the depth chart for the Georgia Bulldogs’ wide receiver room following Rara Thomas’ dismissal
Georgia football head coach Kirby Smart announced that he dismissed wide receiver Rara Thomas from the Bullldogs’ program following his arrest.
Thomas’ dismissal is a significant loss to the Georgia wide receiver room. However, Georgia already has experienced what life is like without Thomas, who was limited this spring due to a foot injury. Despite this, Georgia will miss Thomas’ combination of production and experience.
Thomas is a versatile receiver that has to be accounted for at all three levels of the defense. In 2023, Thomas recorded 23 receptions for 383 receiving yards and one touchdown. Previously at Mississippi State in 2022, Thomas hauled in 44 receptions for 626 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.
Thomas’ loss emphasizes the importance of Georgia’s top returning receiver is Dominic Lovett, who made All-SEC third-team. The versatile Dillon Bell is Georgia’s No. 2 receiver and made the All-SEC team as an all-purpose player. Bell is Georgia’s best receiver with the ball in his hands and has previously played running back.
The No. 3 wide receiver on out depth chart was Thomas, but now it becomes Miami transfer Colbie Young. Young is probably Georgia’s best red zone threat at wide receiver and is relatively interchangeable on the depth chart with Arian Smith, who is Georgia’s fastest receiver. Smith provides a deep threat and made several explosive plays in spring practice.
Beyond Smith is sophomore Anthony Evans, who is very explosive and recorded the second-most receiving yards (75) of any Bulldog in Georgia’s spring game. Vanderbilt transfer London Humphreys and USC transfer Michael Jackson III round out the rotation of wide receivers that we expect to play consistently. Here’s our projected depth chart for Georgia’s wide receivers group.
Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Kaustov Chakrabarti comes to Athens as an unheralded recruit. He’s a member of the class of 2020.
Kaustov Chakrabarti, Wide Receiver (#33):
Class: Freshman
Height: 5-7
Weight: 160 pounds
Hometown: Lilburn, Georgia
High School: Parkview High School
Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Kaustov Chakrabarti comes to Athens as an unheralded recruit. He’s a member of the class of 2020 and is a preferred walk-on player.
Chakrabarti will have to fight for his spot in order to earn playing time. He’ll face stout competition from players like George Pickens, Dominick Blaylock, and more. Georgia’s lack of depth at the wide receiver position was addressed this past offseason.
UGA has incoming class of 2020 scholarship wide receivers in Jermaine Burton, Arian Smith, Marcus Rosemy, Justin Robinson, and Ladd McConkey.
Sep 8, 2007; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi (1) catches a long pass in front of South Carolina Gamecocks safety Chris Hampton (33) in the second half at Sanford Stadium. The Gamecocks defeated the Bulldogs 16-12. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine USA TODAY Sports
Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Braxton Hicks came to Athens as an unheralded recruit.b
Braxton Hicks, Wide Receiver (No. 80):
Class: Freshman
Height: 6-2
Weight: 195 pounds
Hometown: Tiger, Georgia
High School: Rabun County High School
Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Braxton Hicks came to Athens as an unheralded recruit. He’s a member of the class of 2020 and played his high school football at Rabun County.
Marcus Rosemy, Jermaine Burton, and speedster Arian Smith are Georgia’s best wide receiver recruits from the class of 2020. That being said, Braxton Hicks will look to compete with them and will try to sure up the wide receiver position.
Check out Georgia”s newest group of wide receivers:
— Braxton Lee Hicks (@BraxtonLeeHick1) June 8, 2020
Hicks will be competing at the University of Georgia as a preferred walk-on. He’ll have to fight to earn playing time, but will be learning from a great wide receiver coach in Cortez Hankton.
Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Marcus Rosemy comes into UGA as a four-star recruit. He helped St. Thomas Aquinas win a state championship.
Marcus Rosemy, Wide Receiver (No. 81):
Class: Freshman
Height: 6-2
Weight: 195 pounds
Hometown: Pompano Beach, Florida
High School: St. Thomas Aquinas
Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Marcus Rosemy comes into Athens as a four-star recruit. He’s widely considered a top ten wide receiver in the class of 2020. He helped St. Thomas Aquinas win a state championship in Florida last season.
Marcus Rosemy, Jermaine Burton, and speedster Arian Smith are Georgia’s receiving gems from the talented class of 2020. Kirby Smart focused heavily on receivers in the class of 2020 and it paid off. They’ll look to sure up UGA’s receiver issues that plagued them throughout last season.
Rosemy should see immediate playing time next season and could be Georgia’s No. 2 wide receiver behind George Pickens. He has the capability to catch heavily contested jump balls.
Georgia Bulldogs WR Ladd McConkey will compete with freshman receivers like Marcus Rosemy, Jermaine Burton, and speedster Arian Smith.
Ladd McConkey, Wide Receiver (#84):
Class: Freshman
Height: 6-0
Weight: 175 pounds
Hometown: Chatsworth, Georgia
High School: North Murray High School
Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Ladd McConkey arrived in Athens this offseason as a three-star recruit. At North Murray, McConkey was a versatile athlete, who recorded over 3,000 total yards as a senior.
McConkey runs a 4.5 second forty yard dash and additionally ran some track in high school. Here’s how the true freshman committed to the University of Georgia this past offseason:
McConkey will compete with receivers like Marcus Rosemy, Jermaine Burton, and speedster Arian Smith for the rest of his career. Kirby Smart focused heavily on receivers in the class of 2020. They’ll look to sure up UGA’s receiver issues that plagued them throughout last season.
He wore a lot of hats in high school and managed to excel at almost every position on the field.
Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Cameron Moore roster card. Moore played football at Cambridge High School before coming to UGA.
Cameron Moore, Wide Receiver (#85):
Class: Junior
Height: 5-10
Weight: 170 pounds
Hometown: Alpharetta, Georgia
High School: Cambridge High School
Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Cameron Moore walked on to the team during the 2018 season. He hasn’t seen any game action yet, but he’s been a member of the scout team.
Moore played baseball and football in high school for Cambridge. He switched to receiver after playing quarterback as a junior.
Georgia’s offense is replacing Lawrence Cager after he was undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft. George Pickens is the clear-cut No. 1 wide receiver in 2020, but beyond him Georgia will have competition at the position.
Georgia Bulldogs WR Jaylen Johnson went viral following a small act of kindness.
Jaylen Johnson, Wide Receiver (#81):
Class: Redshirt Sophomore
Height: 6-2
Weight: 192 pounds
Hometown: Duluth, Georgia
High School: Peachtree High School
Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Jaylen Johnson came to Athens as an unheralded recruit. The six-foot-two target walked on to the football team as a freshman in 2018. Throughout the 2018 season he was a fixture on the scout team.
Last season Johnson played in three games against: Georgia Tech, Murray State, and Arkansas State. He’ll look to carve out a larger role with the team in 2020.
Georgia’s offense is replacing Lawrence Cager after he was undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft. George Pickens is the clear cut number one wide receiver in 2020, but beyond him Georgia will have lots of competition at the position.
Johnson’s small act of kindness during this offseason went viral:
#UGA football players Latavious Brini and Jaylen Johnson helped out a family in #Athens with a small act of kindness last Friday. Now, the story has gone #viral. 🏈💟
