Georgia football saw many young guys take a stand and shine in 2021, but who will make 2022 their breakout season? While it’s still extremely early to predict things, these are our three too-early breakout players of 2022.
The Dawgs relied on freshman and sophomores to do a lot of the work as some veterans like George Pickens were injured. That ability to have these youngsters and guys down the depth chart step up in those roles was a massive boost because fans thought 2021 could be another letdown season after losing so many.
Instead, that desire to overcome whatever adversity sat in the Dawgs’ way helped them win it all. Those players got so much playing time that when Georgia needed them in the national championship, they rose to the occasion and made some monster plays.
Georgia football had three players finish 2021 strong and will see their breakout season in 2022.
Georgia had quite a few players step up when they needed to, and while anyone could break out in 2022, there are a few guys who are just waiting at the moment to bust open and arrive.
We all know and talk about Brock Bowers because he led the Dawgs in receiving yards and touchdowns. However, he isn’t the only one who finished the season strong. Robert Beal also finished the season as the sack-leader for the Dawgs.
These are two guys that had break out years in 2021 and could do the same later this year, but for now, let’s look at three guys who have had spurts of greatness but now will put it all together and become even more consistent weapons for starting quarterback Stetson Bennett
On this list are three players are offensive weapons who the Dawgs will rely on this upcoming season because they are next in line. The ones in front of them have either transferred or gone to the NFL, so it’s time for them to show the coaching staff and the college football world what they got.
Georgia football WR Adonai Mitchell
The first Georgia football playmaker that could have a breakout season is sophomore wide receiver, AD Mitchell. Last season, he was an influential contributor but was up and down with dropped passes and other things.
Mitchell came up big for the Dawgs by scoring in the semifinal and title games by the playoffs.
He finished the season with 29 catches, 426 yards and four scores. Mitchell averaged 14.69 yards a catch. Most Georgia fans will remember him for his four catches for 84 yards and two touchdowns in the playoffs, but the freshman had some solid games earlier in the season.
Against Tennessee, he recorded five catches for 65 yards, and against South Carolina, he had four catches for 77 yards and one touchdown.
Mitchell was figuring out how college football worked, but those moments of greatness make us believe 2022 could be a massive season for him. Now that he has a full year under his belt, Mitchell understands the system a little better, so now he can just let loose.
He will be the replacement for George Pickens as Georgia’s deep threat option, so while he has big shoes to fill, he proved in the final two games, if starting quarterback Stetson Bennett can get it to him, Mitchell can go up and make the play. That touchdown catch against Alabama wasn’t easy, but the youngster made sure to hold onto it and get the Dawgs some points.
Next season, he and Brock Bowers could be competing for the top receiver spot, but it could be Mitchell who edges him out because he will be a weapon the coaches know they can trust. Mitchell had some growing pains, but he has some confidence now, so spring football and next fall will be a lot of fun to watch with him.
Georgia football RB Kenny McIntosh
Kenny McIntosh has been patiently waiting his turn for three years as the rising senior will finally get the chance to share the load with Kendall Milton as the Georgia football starting running back duo.
McIntosh has always shown spurts of greatness, and the touchdown pass to AD Mitchell will forever be a fan favorite.
Next season will be his moment to step into the role and run away with it. He is a tank and someone extremely good with his hands, so Georgia has both a running and receiving weapon in him. He is also one of the kick-off return guys, so whatever Georgia needs from him, he makes it happen.
Last season, McIntosh finished with 58 carries for 328 yards, three touchdowns and averaged 5.7 yards a carry. He also recorded 22 catches for 242 yards and two scores while averaging 11 yards a grab. McIntosh was a reliable target for starting quarterback Stetson Bennett, and it showed throughout the season.
We can’t forget his return numbers either, as he had eight kick-off returns for 157 yards, averaging 19.63 yards a return. He would have added more to that number with his one from the national championship game, but it got called back and didn’t count for as long of a return because of a flag.
McIntosh finally has the reins to prove why Georgia recruited him and leave his own mark in Athens. This season, he has the opportunity to really raise his draft stock and with him likely sharing the load with Milton, they both can show what was hiding behind Zamir White and James Cook.
The fan base has been patiently waiting on him to bust loose, and 2022 could be that year for McIntosh because he has waited his turn for this moment and won’t waste it.
Georgia football WR Arian Smith
Last but most certainly not least, Arian Smith is our third Georgia football player we think will have a breakout season in 2022. Once again, the injury bug bit him and caused him to miss the remainder of the season after he got off to such a hot start.
He is the fastest guy on the team, and that speed will elevate him next year.
While Smith only got to play in four games in 2021, he recorded three catches for 102 yards and two touchdowns. Smith averaged 34 yards a catch, and that speed really shined through on those receptions.
He can be a long-ball or short-pass receiver for the Dawgs because of his speed, and that is why the Dawgs brought in this track star. Smith will be a redshirt sophomore next season and has seen action in eight games through two years in Athens.
He caught four balls over 20 yards for 182 yards and three scores in those eight games. When Smith is in the ballgame, Georgia knows they got a serious threat that can outrun everyone else on the defense. That ability to be a deep threat is one of the reasons we think he will have a breakout year in 2022.
If Smith can stay healthy and keep working on his craft, Georgia will have two of the most dangerous receivers in the country, and both of them are still relatively unknown guys.
Georgia football will likely have a few more breakout players than these three listed, but for the too-early predictions, they were the ones who came to mind first. While some people are worried about the playmakers returning in 2022, these three names should remind them the Dawgs have plenty of talent that they reload with each year.