Georgia Football: Top 5 tight ends since 2000

#3: Leonard  Pope

The next tight end on this list is Leonard Pope or better known as the giant tight end. Pope played at Georgia from 2003-2005.

According to sports-reference, during his time at Georgia, Pope had 65 catches for 1,044 yards and 10 touchdowns.

While those numbers are similar to the  No. 4 tight end, Orson Charles, Pope was a legend in himself. He was 6-7, and 255 pounds and that was enormous during that time.

Despite only catching one ball in his freshman year, he put on a show for the next two seasons.

According to Patrick Garbin’s article on UGASports, he was on the First Team All-SEC in 2004 and 2005 and is the only Bulldog tight end to have this achievement.

He comes in at No. 3 because Garbin makes a good point in that he had 64 passes for 1,023 yards and 10 touchdowns in two seasons and no other tight end in Dawg history has gotten that many yards or touchdowns in that short amount of time.

Pope was the first tight end that made me fall in love with the position. Even though he was a mammoth on the football field, he was graceful and made opponents look silly against him.

I can remember the 81 and wanting one of his jerseys. Now I wish I had gotten one because he is one of my favorites to go back and watch.

You don’t see tight ends of this size much any more, but the Dawgs could be landing two of them. Pope would be proud to see big guys like him continue to come through college football and make it as a tight end and not get forced to play elsewhere because of their size.

Pope also helped lead the team to another SEC title in his final season, so he comes in at No. 3 who will be the top-two tight ends since 2000?