Tag: georgia tight ends

Georgia football TE John Fitzpatrick gives injury update ahead of Clemson

Fitzpatrick has missed a large part of fall camp with an injury. Here’s his status for the Bulldogs’ matchup with Clemson on Saturday.

Game week is here and the excitement around Georgia football is only building. The No. 5 Bulldogs take on No. 3 Clemson in Charlotte on Saturday night.

While all signs point to a great matchup, Georgia has been dealing with a multitude of injuries, specifically at receiver and tight end.

According to coach Kirby Smart, star receivers Arik Gilbert and George Pickens are out and we know that Dominick Blaylock is still recovering from an ACL tear suffered last year, which means, at best, Blaylock is questionable.

There is, however, great news for the Bulldogs at tight end. Georgia’s starter from a year ago, John Fitzpatrick, is back and ready to go versus the Tigers after missing part of fall camp with a foot injury.

Oct 10, 2020; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs tight end John FitzPatrick (86) is brought down by Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Trevon Flowers (1) during the first quarter at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

“I’m good to go, and I’m excited to contribute through the run game and pass game and all facets of the game,” Fitzpatrick told reporters on Monday.

“I’m really excited, right now we have our first Monday practice – I’m excited to attack this practice this week,” FitzPatrick said. “There’s tons of excitement around the team and the locker room, and we feel ready.”

College football analyst Cole Cubelic recently named Fitzpatrick as one of the league’s top-returning tight ends.

That means Georgia has one less spot to worry about filling for Saturday night, however, the Bulldogs will likely still be missing star tight end Darnell Washington, who underwent surgery last week to repair a foot injury. That said, Kirby Smart has recently stated that his injury is day-to-day.

We may not see Washington, but freshman Brock Bowers has been turning heads at fall camp. The 6-foot-5, 230 pound true freshman’s speed and play-making ability may give Georgia that boost at tight end it needs with Washington out.

Here’s what the tight end lineup may look like on Saturday:

  • John Fitzpatrick
  • Brock Bowers
  • Darnell Washington (questionable)
  • Brett Seither
  • Ryland Goede

 

“UGA Football Live with J.C. Shelton” is back! This week J.C. is joined by college football analyst Josh Pate to answer questions surrounding Georgia football and break down what to look for versus Clemson! Listen here:

Projecting Georgia’s depth chart at tight end

The Georgia Bulldogs return a lot of talent like Darnell Washington at tight end for the 2021 college football season.

The Georgia Bulldogs return a lot of talent at tight end for the 2021 college football season. The Dawgs lost Tre’ McKitty to the 2021 NFL draft, but return top tight ends Darnell Washington and John FitzPatrick from last season.

For depth chart purposes, we don’t consider LSU transfer Arik Gilbert to be a tight end. Instead, he is more of a wide receiver. Gilbert has the talent to play both positions. Fans should expect him and Darnell Washington to give opposing defenses fits.

Here’s how we size up the Georgia tight end room:

Georgia football player card: TE Brock Bowers

Georgia Bulldogs tight end Brock Bowers joins a stacked tight end room in Athens

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Brock Bowers, Tight End (No. 19):

Class: Freshman

Height: 6-4

Weight: 230 pounds

Hometown: Napa, California

High School: Napa High School

Georgia Bulldogs tight end Brock Bowers committed to the University of Georgia on Aug. 10, 2021. He is talented, but will likely spend much of his year developing in Georgia’s elite tight end room.

Bowers is rated a four-star recruit by the top recruiting sites. He is ranked the No. 105 player and the third-best tight end in the 2021 class.

The former Napa High School star put up incredible numbers as a junior in high school. Bowers is versatile and has a basketball background.

He received over 20 offers from Division I schools, but decided to join Georgia. Bowers has a good combination of size and speed and has the talent to excel at the college level.

The Los Angeles Chargers drafted Georgia tight end Tre’ McKitty this offseason and wide receiver George Pickens injured his ACL in spring practice, but Georgia still looks solid at tight end with Darnell Washington,  John FitzPatrick and LSU transfer Arik Gilbert.

Bowers comes from a very athletic family. His father played football for Utah State and his sister plays softball for Sacramento State.

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UGA football player card: TE Jarrett Freeland

Jarrett Freeland signed with Georgia baseball in 2013, but pursued a MLB career after the Cincinnati Reds drafted him in 2013 MLB Draft

Jarrett Freeland, Tight End (#48):

Class: Redshirt sophomore

Height: 6-7

Weight: 258 pounds

Hometown: Liburn, Georgia

High School: Parkview

Georgia Bulldogs tight end Jarrett Freeland has one of the more unique stories of any player on the University of Georgia roster. Freeland signed with Georgia baseball in 2013, but elected to pursue an MLB career after the Cincinnati Reds drafted him in the 15th round of the 2013 MLB Amateur Draft.

Injuries and positional changes took their toll on Freeland, who was released by the Arizona Reds in late 2017. Following this, Freeland decided to return to Georgia. Freeland, who is turning 26 in June of 2020, is one of the oldest players on the Georgia roster.

Freeland has excellent size and could be utilized as a blocking tight end at some point. For now, he’s adjusting back to football and looking to help the team anyway he can.

His father, Buddy Freeland, graduated from the University of Georgia as well.

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UGA football player card: TE Peyton Mercer

Georgia Bulldogs tight end Peyton Mercer played in three out of twelve games last season.

Peyton Mercer, Tight End (#44):

Class: Redshirt sophomore

Height: 6-4

Weight: 222 pounds

Hometown: Twin City, Georgia

High School: Emanuel County Institute

Georgia Bulldogs tight end Peyton Mercer walked on to the team in 2018 and took a redshirt. He played in three out of twelve games last season.

Mercer has been a special teams standout on the scout team, especially during the 2018 season. Mercer additionally participated in the 2019 spring game, where he recorded three catches for 12 yards.

Mercer played both linebacker and tight end for Emanuel County Institute in high school. Mercer has an impressive academic record and plans to major in forestry.

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