Georgia football is one of the college football programs whose alumni always find the most success in the NFL. Every week there are multiple Bulldogs who have great performances for their respective NFL team. But there is one rookie who is having arguably the best season out of any Bulldog, and that player likely will not surprise you.
Tight end Brock Bowers was a force at Georgia for his entire career. So it was not a surprise when the Las Vegas Raiders selected him with the 13th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. It also hasn't been surprising to see him have an amazing season with the Raiders so far.
But what is a little surprising is that he has already set an NFL record in his young NFL career.
Really like that. #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/M04i5tN3qi
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) December 8, 2024
Most receptions by a rookie tight end in NFL history
So far this season, Bowers has recorded 87 receptions for 933 yards and four touchdowns. All three of those stats are impressive, but it's his 87 receptions that is the most impressive because that is the most receptions in NFL history by a rookie tight end.
And the crazy part about this record is that Bowers and the Raiders still have four more games to go in their season. The Raiders will unfortunately not make it to the playoffs this season, but Bowers has a chance to put some serious distance between him and second place Sam LaPorta while also making this record untouchable for many years to come.
Bowers now is chasing Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, who has the most receptions by a rookie in NFL history with 106 set in 2023. So Bowers just needs 18 more receptions to tie Nacua, which comes out to just 4.5 receptions per game. So this record is very much in reach, and would be kind of surprising if Bowers did not pass it.
But even if he doesn't, Bowers has announced himself as the next great NFL tight end, and it would not be surprising to see him ascend to the level of the Travis Kelce's of the world after a few more seasons.