Highlight catch from former Georgia WR will have fans wondering where that was last year

Carson Beck took a massive step back in 2024 after a 2023 campaign that had him looking like a Heisman hopeful and the eventual No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. While Beck clearly struggled as a decision-maker, especially during a three-game stretch where he threw eight interceptions, an undeniable factor in his regression was the play of his pass catchers. 

After throwing to Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey as a first-year starter, Dominic Lovett, Dillon Bell, and Arian Smith became he top targets last season, a group that combined for 21 drops. Smith alone accounted for 10 of them, the third most in the entire country. His drop rate of 17.2 percent was the second-highest in the entire SEC. 

Then, Smith became a fourth-round pick of the New York Jets and is suddenly making highlight plays in training camp that would leave any Georgia fan scratching their head. 

Arian Smith impresses at New York Jets training camp

Smith was never a natural pass-catcher; many of his drops were caused because he was more comfortable attempting to pin the ball against his body instead of hauling it in with his hands. That’s a massive red flag for receivers, but Smith’s 4.36 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine is the type of speed that’s too enticing to pass up. It’s part of the reason that Georgia couldn’t keep him off the field despite his drop problems. 

Now, Smith is making physical contest catches away from his body, the type of play that could have steadied Georgia’s spiraling passing game a year ago. After catching just over 20 percent of his contest catch opportunities last season, if he can suddenly become a consistent ball-winner at the catch point, Smith could carve out a solid NFL career. 

Back to Georgia. The other reason that Kirby Smart and Mike Bobo had to keep Smith on the field was the issues that other Georgia wide receivers had off of it. Georgia lost Rara Thomas, who is no longer with the program, and Colbie Young, who is back from suspension, to legal troubles. Those absences forced Smith to go from a gadget player who thrives on the occasional deep shot or reverses and sweeps, to a real wide receiver expected to produce down in and down out. 

It’s not a certainty that those issues will be solved, but heading into 2025, Georgia looks to have a much more complete wide receiver room. Young is back to be a physical X. London Humphreys has continued to improve as a slot option, and Smart added two big-time playmakers from the Transfer Portal in Noah Thomas and Zachariah Branch. 

Beck is gone, looking for a fresh start at Miami, so Gunner Stockton should reap the rewards of Smart’s offseason urgency and a much-needed wide receiver overhaul.