Georgia football: 30 greatest players of the Mark Richt era

• SEC Champion (2005)
• 158 receptions for 2,282 yards and 16 touchdowns
• 14.4 yards per reception
• Fourth all-time in Georgia touchdown receptions

When Matthew Stafford was slinging the pigskin for the Dawgs, his favorite wide receiver was Mohamed Massaquoi. It should come as no surprise that he made the cut of 30 greatest UGA players under Mark Richt. He comes in at No. 20.

Massaquoi played his high school ball at Charlotte, North Carolina powerhouse Independence High School. His team did not lose a game during his four years at Independence. Though losses would inevitably happen at Georgia, Massaquoi was massive in the Georgia receiving game.

As a true freshman in 2005, Massaquoi would have 38 catches for 505 yards and two touchdowns with D.J. Shockley throwing him the football. Georgia would go on to win the SEC for the second time in four years that fall.

With Shockley being a late-round pick by the Atlanta Falcons, Georgia was in a bit of disarray at quarterback entering 2006. Though UGA legacy Joe Tereshinski III started the year under center in 2006, true freshman Stafford would take over mid-season. That would prove to be huge for Massaquoi’s career at Georgia.

After a down year of just 30 catches for 366 yards and two touchdowns, Massaquoi developed quite the chemistry with Stafford in their final two years together in 2007 and 2008. In 2007, Massaquoi would get back to his true freshman numbers, posting 32 grabs for 491 yards and a then career-high of four touchdowns. This include a ridiculous 58-yard touchdown in the “Blackout Game” versus cross-divisional rival Auburn.

Then in 2008, it all came together for Massaquoi. He shattered all his personal bests in receiving. Massaquoi had 58 catches for 920 yards and eight interceptions in what was his final season with the Dawgs. He would also be a great on-field mentor to a young true freshman by the name of A.J. Green that fall.

Being Stafford’s favorite target, who would be the No. 1 overall pick by the Detroit Lions in the 2009 NFL Draft, Massaquoi was a highly touted NFL prospect coming out of Georgia. He went No. 50 overall to the Cleveland Browns, where he would spend four NFL seasons.

Overall, Massaquoi had 158 career receptions for 2,282 yards and 16 touchdowns in his UGA career. While an ATV accident in April 2017 left him without four of his fingers, thus ending his football career, Massaquoi will best be remembered for all the great plays he and Stafford made together in Richt and Mike Bobo’s offense at Georgia.