Departure of Blake Tibbs Leaves More Questions For Georgia at Wide Receiver
Blake Tibbs, a junior wide receiver from Lithonia, Ga., confirmed on Wednesday that he was transferring from Georgia. The question of depth at wide receiver has now just taken a big step up.
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Anytime a student-athlete transfers from a program, there will be repercussions. In the case of Blake Tibbs, the ripple effect may not be felt for some time, but chances are the Bulldogs will eventually feel it. Tibbs wasn’t a starter during his first two seasons, only catching four total passes, and he probably wasn’t going to be high on the depth chart in 2015 either, but that doesn’t mean his absence will go unnoticed.
Georgia is noticeably thin at wide receiver, with the bulk of the players either being incoming freshmen or returning players with little experience. Only Malcolm Mitchell and Justin Scott-Wesley could truly be considered veterans in the Bulldog receiving corps, and neither of them has been wholly dependable due to injuries and/or suspensions.
Tibbs was doubtful to be on the 2-deep roster, and would be a fill-in candidate at most, so it’s not like the Bulldogs will be missing a lot of catches. What they will be missing is a body who knows the offense (or at least most of it), who can mentor new players, and who could (once his injured shoulder healed) be game-ready on a moment’s notice. The special teams unit will miss Tibbs as well.
The Bulldogs have some quality players coming in who are natural receivers or who can be tutored in the position, but the learning curve will still be fairly steep. Added to that the fact that there will be a new (as yet unnamed) quarterback leading the Dawgs, and a new offensive coordinator, and suddenly losing an experienced receiver — regardless of where he falls in the depth chart — is no small matter.
Could this have been a breakout season for the former 3-star prospect? Given the circumstances of Georgia’s receiving corps right now, it very well may have been possible. Unfortunately, due to academic issues and a shoulder injury suffered this spring, Tibbs will be looking to do that elsewhere for the last of his eligibility.