Ladd McConkey proving during Senior Bowl week what UGA fans already knew
Ladd McConkey is quickly becoming the toast of Senior Bowl week, but his success is no shock to Georgia fans.
Just a quick glance around X (formerly Twitter) for sports fans and you'll see Ladd McConkey trending or at least showing up multiple times on your feed. That's because the former Georgia wideout is putting on a clinic in Mobile, Alabama.
McConkey is showing everyone at the Senior Bowl why he was such a crucial part of two Georgia national championship teams, and why his not being healthy for the 2023 SEC Championship Game against Alabama was a big factor in the game.
The 6'0, 185-pound receiver out of Chatsworth, Georgia was only rated as a three-star recruit, but as Kirby Smart and his staff have done so many times, they helped him develop into a highly sought-after NFL prospect.
What McConkey lacks in size and length he more than makes up for in route-running ability and swiftness of foot. When he's healthy, he's practically uncoverable, as seen here in his one-on-one drills at the Reese's Senior Bowl.
Here is every one-on-one rep by #Georgia WR Ladd McConkey on Day 1 of the Senior Bowl: pic.twitter.com/ogbpFeoXy6
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) January 30, 2024
ESPN Draft analyst Matt Miller had this to say about McConkey after watching him break ankles on the field at the Senior Bowl:
"Midway through the first American team practice -- the second Senior Bowl practice of the day -- McConkey has been uncoverable. Working in one-on-one drills against cornerbacks, he routinely created space with crafty, speedy footwork off the line of scrimmage. Whether it was against press or soft coverage, McConkey was open on every rep. A top-50 prospect on my board, there’s still room for McConkey to creep into the back end of Round 1."
McConkey's one-man show at the Senior Bowl practices have already started lifting his draft stock, with some scouts projecting him to early second-round and even late first-round picks. Comparisons to Cooper Cupp have even begun to emerge.
If he continues to impress, there's no telling how high his draft stock will go up.
Ladd McConkey's soaring draft stock demonstrates something important about UGA | DawgNation Daily https://t.co/p6oqM90Y8N
— DawgNation (@DawgNation) January 31, 2024
Georgia fans have, of course, been both elated and somewhat snarky about some suddenly "discovering" just how good McConkey really is.
My ENTIRE TIMELINE right now is just the entire NFL media world discovering how insane Ladd McConkey is and its glorious lol. #GoDawgs #GetonthatDonkey
— Athens Steve (@rainy_steve) January 30, 2024
I am the least bit surprised that it took two routes for Ladd McConkey's name to start buzzing around the Senior Bowl.
— Jonathan Williams (@Dr_JWill) January 30, 2024
It gets better when you realize he has put together three seasons' worth of tape of him doing the same things on a week-to-week basis.
This Ladd McConkey stuff is hilarious. People ignore College Football for years and then are shocked when a guy they’ve never heard of can ball.
— Sam Block (@theblockspot) January 30, 2024
I’ve got news for you, Ladd’s BEEN a baller, man. You just haven’t been paying attention!
A GEORGIA DAWG. AND A 2x CHAMPION. WAKE UP! pic.twitter.com/zl64uiHpO8
The world finally realizing Ladd McConkey is an elite route runner https://t.co/xMa4eLkBh9
— Ethan Offutt (@ethanoffutt84) January 31, 2024
It will be fun to see how the buzz about McConkey will continue to grow through the week and where he'll be predicted to land in this year's NFL Draft.
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