Which returning Georgia receiver will have a breakout year for the Bulldogs?
By Andrew Honea
With Georgia’s leading receiver from last year gone to the NFL, a handful of Bulldog receivers are poised to have big seasons.
In 2016, Georgia will take the field without the help of leading receiver Malcolm Mitchell. This will be the first time Georgia suits up without Mitchell since 2010. Although Georgia will play home to a bevy of new faces such as head coach Kirby Smart and highly-recruited quarterback Jacob Eason, the Dawgs will be looking for a new no. 1 receiver. Both new and old faces in Athens will be taking their own crack at becoming the new face of the UGA receiving core.
With the departure of a top ten SEC receiver in Mitchell, Terry Godwin will look to fill a void that will need to be filled quickly for a potentially dangerous UGA offense. The idea of this happening isn’t completely far-fetched. Godwin finished second on the team in receiving in 2015,
compiling 35 receptions for 379 yards and two touchdowns. Although these stats may not seem overwhelming to some, it helps to remember that the former five-star recruit was just a freshman in 2015. The “Newcomer of the year” and TaxSlayer Bowl MVP recipient doesn’t show signs of slowing down any time soon.
Another receiver to watch for is none other than the human joystick himself, Isaiah McKenzie. Although the junior played in ten games in 2015 he started just 4 times. McKenzie was also sidelined 3 games due to injury. Despite a lack of starting experience, McKenzie brings a bevy of explosiveness to both the offensive side of ball and special teams. At the conclusion of the 2015 season, the proclaimed human joystick was rewarded for all of his hard work by being named an All-SEC first team punt returner and an All-SEC third team kickoff returner. It is important to note that McKenzie is currently tied with former UGA standout Brandon Boykin for most career return touchdowns with five. McKenzie enters the season on the 2016 Paul Hornung award watch list.
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Reggie Davis will also be returning to Athens for his senior season. Davis will likely be looking for redemption after as number underwhelming performances in 2015. Not to sell Davis short, he did show shades of greatness in his junior campaign with a 134 receiving yard performance against North Texas, and an SEC player of the week award which came in a 244 yard performance against the Tennessee. This award came on the heels of a game that the Bulldogs would ultimately lose
to the Volunteers, in part to a dropped touchdown pass that was throw to a wide open Reggie Davis during the second half of that game. A bright spot in Davis’ game however, is that he plays a dual threat role for the Dawgs, similar to that of Isaiah Mckenzie. Assuming that he can put certain disastrous moments in the back of his mind, Davis could prove to be a real difference maker in 2016.
Every team has a few guys that look to break out at each position on a yearly basis. One of those could potentially be returning Sophomore Michael Chigbu, who had just 4 receptions in 2015. Although the New Orleans native saw limited playing time in his freshman year, Athens has proven to play home to unlikely breakout stars year after year so I ask you this. Why not Michael Chigbu? On a year where the Dawgs lose their number 1 receiver, anything could happen once the ball leaves the quarterback’s hand.
We will see a variety of fresh, young talent between the hedges this year, looking to bring glory back to Athens, Georgia. The Dawgs receiving core will be chock-full of familiar faces looking to do one of two things: continue making highlight reel plays week in and week out, or overcome demons that have prevented them from living up to the potential that brought them to Sanford Stadium in the first place. Only time will tell who the next superstar of this dedicated, college town team is.