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- 3/17/19 UPDATE -- We've updated the permissions for our "Football" and "Commit to the G" recruiting message boards. We aim to be the best free board out there and that has not changed. We do now ask that all of you good people register as a member of our forum in order to see the sugar that is falling from our skies, so to speak.
Ladd McConkey already generating national media buzz entering 2023 season
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Ladd McConkey already generating national media buzz entering 2023 season
Georgia fans already know how good wide receiver Ladd McConkey he is. He finished the 2022 season with 58 receptions for 762 yards and seven receiving touchdowns. He’s also served as a punt returner for the Bulldogs and added two rushing touchdowns.
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McConkey is a beast and is sneaky good when running routes - I suspect that in his early days, many doubted his abilities but with the national media and Jim Nagy from the senior bowl giving him pre-season props, he will be on everybodies' radar. That's ok, when you got the skills, you'll show them all!
I am just as impressed that Ladd enrolled at UGA on June 4, 2020 and has apparently completed degree requirements for undergraduate studies in only three years. That is saying something given the 365 day a year training environment at the SEC level.
Best of luck to McConkey, hope he avoids the injury bug. I see him as a Julian Edelman type receiver....
Connor… I love you, man… but you would benefit greatly from having someone edit your work before posting! 😬
Connor… I love you, man… but you would benefit greatly from having someone edit your work before posting.
No kidding! So annoying to have to stop 3-5 times in a read and ask… “What is he saying” . Re-read. Not just Conner! They want to blame it on auto-correct. Annoying especially to us Senior members. More the acceptable norm for younger generations. -Annoyed Daily
Back when Ladd signed there were 186 WR's rated higher than him.....I suppose being a HSQB had something to do with that, however as I've always contended, HS Stars and ratings mean squat. Thank Goodness Kirby recognized that if we make this young man a DAWG, He'll bring the DAWG bit! I wouldn't trade Ladd for any WR currently playing! GOOOO DAWGS, SICEM!
DGD!
I see him as a "Billy 'White-Shoes' Johnson" type player. Dependable receiver and playmaker, with punt/KO return skills. Or a Percy Harvin type offensive component. He has the skills and athleticism to be a game-changer, at the next level, if he can stay healthy and continue to improve his focus and ball-handling skills.
I call em "Wild Card Skill" guys. They have a natural ability to play the game of football...at a number of positions...in multiple capacities. He and Bowers, both fit that mold, as far as I'm concerned...Bennett and McIntosh, as well. I think the "Wild Cards" are Kirby's favorite players to recruit and coach-up, cause they play the game, with their heart..
I agree with you whole heartedly, my friend. There IS some value in the ranking system, as it sets a bar. You need a baseline to do any kind of player comparison...and, IMO...The various recruiting services perform just such a service for HC's College/NFL Football Programs across the Country..free of charge.
That being said...if you put it in perspective...
There are millions of kids in America, that are football eligible, every year. Of those...tens of thousands choose to play. And of those that choose to play...there are thousands presented to Universities for scholarship consideration. Thousands.
If you want to boil that large group of youngsters down into a "best-of-the-best" group...labeled ESPN's top 300...or top 100. "HOF/All American" type Players are gonna get missed...and have been missed. Finding those hidden diamonds, is and always has been, "Kirby Smart and Company's" specialty. They can have NIL/TP as long as that's true.
In reality...very little, separates the #300 player, from the #10 player. The more high exposure a kid has...the higher he'll be rated. You can't account for various anomalies...such as home life a child has no control over;...position switch or injury...ineligible until Senior year of HS...was not given an opportunity to attend the various football camps...and a thousand and one other possible reasons for a "great player" flying under the radar.
That's where it pays to have "bird dogs"...media and HS Coaching contacts, all over the Country, to flag those "prospect projects" for you. I'll guarantee you...Kirby's "must have" recruiting list for '24, '25, '26...and, beyond, has several barely-ranked players on it, you've probably never heard of. I don't give the "Star Rating System" nearly as much weight as most people. But, it does have value in the recruiting game, IMO..
Very high praise. I remember how much I hated Percy Harvin in those ügly swamp colors. Would have loved him with a G on his helmet.
Nicely done with the Wild Card Skill guys. You are on to something I think.
Could you explain what you mean by multiple capacities?
Go, Dawgs!
Another great get by Kirby and staff. Some of our best players have been 3 stars. It's amazing that Tennessee didn't offer him and was his dream school.
Their loss our gain.
Kirby seems to have a very good way to evaluate players and it seems to pay off big time.
If you get an offer from Georgia it doesn't matter how many stars you have. You are a star. Period.
Kang Kirby is King of College Football!
We love you Ladd. Looking for you to have a record setting season.
This 2023 receiving group for the Dawgs should be unstoppable, like almost on par with the 2018 Alabama group or 2019 LSU group of receivers. But only if CKS gives Mike Bobo and Carson Beck the green light to let if fly. Go Dawgs!
I’m telling y’all, Ladd the Impaler is going to continue to do great things for UGA. I love that kid, and agree with the notion that that slate of drops were a blip, not a trend, and didn’t deserve the criticism they received. I really don’t think they even would have received it if he hadn’t already established himself as an incredibly reliable and slippery guy. Go Dawgs!