Georgia Football: Will Mecole Hardman Jr. be the X-factor the Bulldogs need?
Georgia Football needs a special playmaker in 2017. Could a sophomore be the key?
Related Story: Jacob Eason is officially UGA's starter.
With Isaiah McKenzie practicing for the Denver Broncos this fall, Georgia Football fans are wondering who will step up to fill the electrifying playmaker’s shoes in 2017. A lot are hoping that player will be Mecole Hardman Jr.
Hardman, a 5 star prospect in the 2016 recruiting class, committed to Georgia as an Athlete prospect. He specifically focused on learning how to play defensive back in his freshman season. He starred in high school as a dangerous offensive playmaker. However he was always recruited as a DB. Players with his sort of talent in the secondary offer something unique out there. The hype around Hardman as he came to Georgia was very high. Many fans expected him to play early and often. Unfortunately that did not happen.
Instead, he played sparingly during his first year at Georgia. Some of that was due to the steep learning curve surrounding learning how to play defensive back, a position he had never seriously played before.
As Georgia’s offense struggled in 2016, many wondered where Harman was. His athletic ability has seen him race track for UGA in the summer but was nowhere to be seen in 2016. The answer to that question isn’t fully known but it seems to be irrelevant now. 2017 looks like it could be a huge year for Mecole.
Changing position.
After practicing again at defensive back for some of the 2017 spring practices, Hardman eventually was given a red practice jersey and began practicing at receiver. It seems that his undisputed speed, quickness, and playmaking ability will make it impossible to keep him off the field in some capacity in 2017.
He has been getting increased work at receiver and appears to be in line to shoulder much of the kick and punt return duties. Kirby Smart even confirmed at SEC Media Days that Hardman is officially a wide receiver on the team’s roster now.
The kid can fly. He can take the top off any SEC defense. Georgia also does have a quarterback in Jacob Eason that is more than capable of stretching the field with him. Some have looked to past Bulldog athletes to wonder what Hardman’s role will be in 2017.
Will he be like a Brandon Boykin and Branden Smith, playing defense and contributing on offense every now and then? Or will he take on the role Isaiah McKenzie had in 2016 as the team’s most dynamic offensive player and return threat?
The answer to those questions came during SEC Media Days this week. Kirby Smart confirmed that the former 5 star prospect is now a full-time offensive player.
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Time will tell how Hardman is used for the Bulldogs. The Bulldog Nation knows all about his abilities. The rest of the SEC, however, probably does not. Hardman can emerge as Georgia’s X-factor in 2017 and hopefully provide some much needed vertical speed and talent to the receiving corps.