Georgia football signed a 29-member 2022 recruiting class, and it was one of the best that head coach Kirby Smart and his staff had put together yet.
This group grabbed what the Dawgs needed to keep the right amount of depth at most positions. One group with a lot of talent already in it is the receiver room. Even though they have a loaded room, each recruiting class must include a handful of solid wideouts to keep the talent from falling.
Of those 29 signees, 18 are early enrollees, which means they will practice this spring. Georgia signed four versatile receivers that could help the Dawgs in various ways. Of the four,
two of them are already on campus, and the other two will join in the summer.
Georgia football signed four strong receivers in the 2022 class.
The four signees are 4-star Chandler Smtih, 4-star De’Nylon Morrissette, 3-star Dillion Bell, and 3-star Cole Speer.
Georgia returns all but George Pickens and Jermaine Burton among last year’s playmakers. The others who left the program didn’t have much playing time, so they didn’t affect this position room.
Burton and Pickens will be hard to replace, but AD Mitchell, Dominick Blaylock, Marcus Rosmey-Jacksaint, Kearis Jackson, Ladd McConkey and tight end Brock Bowers beg to differ.
These four guys they signed in the 2022 class add some more depth but also more speed to this position. The Dawgs have so many weapons at the receiver position that it will be entertaining to watch how they use all of them this year. Fans want a more evolved offense, and this position group is beginning to take shape for that to happen.
Georgia football 2022 signee Chandler “CJ” Smith
Georgia football added Chandler or CJ Smith to this class, and it’s been a massive pick-up since he announced. This receiver is another speedster that can blow past defensive backs like it’s nothing.
The 6-1 and 185-pound receiver out of Mount Dora, Fla., was an Early Signing Day addition as he committed and signed on Dec. 14.
According to 247Sports Composite rankings, Smith came out of high school as the No. 32 receiver and the No. 26 player out of the Sunshine State.
Smith is one of the fastest prospects in the 2022 class as he broke 10.3 in the 100-meter dash — meaning he can burn most defensive backs. Not to mention, he has the length to be a deep-ball threat and the skill to be a more technical receiver for those shorter passes if needed.
He has great length and a frame to handle more weight if needed. Smith tracks the ball well but had a tough time staying healthy in high school, so the first key with him in Athens is getting some weight on him and the proper diet.
Once he gets really into the Georgia nutrition program, this guy will explode and could see some playing time early.
With him adding weight, it’ll make him tougher to cover. The strength staff will continue working on his speed because that is his biggest weapon. Imagine him and Arian Smith on the field at the same time with both of their speed — pure chaos is what that will be called.
Smith has a shot at early playing time if he continues to add mass, and now that Bryan McClendon is in the receiver room, he will get the development that could force Georgia to use him right away, and we’re not complaining.
The kid is a stud with the capabilities of greatness, and we’re excited to see him compete this spring.
Georgia football 2022 signee De’Nylon Morrissette
The second receiver Georgia football will have this spring out of the 2022 recruiting class is De’Nylon Morrissette.
A Peach state kid out of North Cobb, this 6-0 and 197-pound wideout will be one of the most competitive in this room.
According to 247Sports Composite rankings, Morrissette came out of high school as the No. 38 overall receiver and the No. 21 player out of Georgia.
Morrissette is strong and aggressive. He isn’t afraid to power through tacklers and gets that extra yardage after the catch. He has the weight you want to see on a receiver already, so it’s up to Bryan McClendon to put some magic on him.
McClendon can help clean up his route running because it’s already pretty sharp. He has some great moves that can create confusion from the defensive backs, which allow him to create that separation you want.
Morrissette could work on his blocking, but again, that is something McClendon can work with him to improve. We could see this young man some this season, but it will depend on how this spring goes.
If Georgia has a playmaker in him, they will find a way to use him. We saw from the Dawgs in 2021 that they aren’t afraid to spread the wealth, and Morrissette could be a freshman that gets a piece of it.
He excites us because of his size and natural ability to play receiver. Morrissette has the potential to play early, and working with McClendon will only elevate him into an even more elite wideout.
Georgia football 2022 signee Dillon Bell
Dillon Bell signed with the Dawgs during the February signing period, and this Texas receiver will be someone to watch out for during the summer and fall camp portion of the offseason.
At 6-2 and 205-pounds, he is already college size and will be someone to consider as a deep threat for the Dawgs.
According to 247Sports Composite rankings, the Houston native ranked as the No. 66 receiver and the No. 67 player out of Texas. He had 31 offers and picked the Dawgs after a long recruiting process.
Bell is fast for his size, as his 247Sports profile said he runs an 11.34 100-meter dash.
He recorded 102 catches for 1,344 yards and 17 touchdowns during his high school career. He also toted the rock and finished with 258 carries for 1,746 yards and 39 touchdowns.
Bell did it all during his high school career, but he is supposed to be a receiver. That frame, vision, and ability to create separation make him a great target. However, he is still learning to be one since he played so many different positions in high school.
Plus, the fact that he has experience running the ball could allow Georgia to use him in those in-and-around situations.
He will get to Athens this summer and could be someone Georgia red shirts because of all the playmakers in front of him, but that isn’t a bad thing. Bell will likely need some time to adjust to the fast SEC defensive backs, but he has the upside you want to see out of a young receiver.
Bell is fluid, though, and already runs solid routes, so some development from Bryan McClendon will only elevate him.
Georgia football 2022 signee Cole Speer
The fourth receiver Georgia football signed in the 2022 recruiting class is Cole Speer.
Speer is a Calhoun, Ga., native of 6-1 and 185-pounds that, like the other three, possess some great speed. He is a burner that ran off the charts for the Dawgs last summer, which is why they chose to sign him.
He committed to the Dawgs on Aug. 21 and signed during the Early Signing Day period. Georgia was one of the biggest schools to offer him a scholarship, so the Dawgs saw good things out of him.
Speer runs the 100-meter dash in 10.98, which is reasonably fast, and was a three-sport athlete out of high school.
According to 247Sports Composite rankings, he was the No. 103 receiver and the No. 74 player out of Georgia. While he was a 3-star, that doesn’t mean anything.
He is an aggressive, tenacious receiver that isn’t afraid to fight for his yardage. Wide receivers coach Bryan McClendon will be able to use him in many ways because he is the right size and speed for the long and short passes.
Speer has 4.4 speed and incredible bursts of speed, making him fun to watch and someone that will catch your eyes. He has a lot of skills, but it will depend on whether or not he can do it consistently. However, it will take some development, too, so we will see how McClendon works with him this summer to get a better idea.
Georgia football signed a talented group of receivers who can play wherever the Dawgs need them. Being this versatile means, they’ve got a greater chance of early playing time. Spring ball will be fun to watch De’Nylon Morrissette and CJ Smith, while seeing all four get together this summer will give us a better idea who will truly get playing time.