Summer UGA football lookahead: Receivers strong in numbers but lack experience

Entering the spring, a huge question mark was placed upon the receiver position.

With Malcolm Mitchell graduating and heading to the NFL, there's a leadership void to fill at the position.

But coming out of the spring, a lot of those questions were answered, at least in terms of whether Georgia can get quality contributions from the group. At least three of the sophomores are in position to make huge strides and they should be aided by some talented newcomers.

In addition, there are some older players who could provide a role in offensive coordinator Jim Chaney's offense. While the position group had some initial concerns, spring practice appeared to alleviate them to a degree.

Players expected in the rotation: WR Terry Godwin, WR Isaiah McKenzie, WR Michael Chigbu, WR Jayson Stanley, WR Shakenneth Williams, WR Javon Wims (JUCO transfer), WR Riley Ridley (freshman), WR Tyler Simmons (freshman)

How they fared in the spring: There's a lot to like about this position group, even if there isn't much experience across the board.

Godwin came on strong as a playmaker down the stretch of the 2015 season and is poised for a bigger role this year. Based on how the spring went, McKenzie is someone who might be used more than the gadget role he was oftentimes confined to.

The two returning receivers who perhaps made the biggest leap were Chigbu and Stanley. Both ran with the first-team offense at the G-Day spring game, with Stanley making some plays down the field. Chigbu had what looked to be a touchdown ruled incomplete in the scrimmage, but spectacular nonetheless.

Ridley, an early enrollee, was impressive and got a lot of first-team looks in practice. He also had a beautiful over-the-shoulder catch from quarterback Jacob Eason in the spring game. He'll be someone who gets an early chance at playing time.　

What to watch in August: The spring showed Georgia will have some reliable options, at minimum, at receiver.

But when preseason practice arrives, there will be two additional receivers who could potentially take spots in the rotation.

Wims is a bigger target at 6-foot-4 who has a great chance of playing early since he already has post-high school football experience.　

Simmons is someone who could wind up as the steal of Georgia's recruiting class. His speed could make him an early candidate to get some early run as a slot receiver in offensive coordinator Jim Chaney's scheme.

Of course, a lot of success at receiver will hinge on who becomes Georgia’s quarterback. At G-Day, Georgia opened up the ball and had the quarterbacks throw a bunch. Will the Bulldogs do that during the regular season? With what’s returning at running back, there might not be a need to pass the ball quite that frequently.

Breakout candidate: Based on what transpired throughout the spring, Ridley fits the bill as someone who will play early and be a reliable target.

He moved up the depth chart rather quickly and should get plenty of opportunities on offense. Ridley might not be a starter early in the season, but he should get every chance to work his way into that role.　

Previous stories in this series

Looking ahead at Georgia’s defensive backs

Looking ahead at Georgia’s outside linebackers

Looking ahead at Georgia’s defensive line

Looking ahead at Georgia’s inside linebackers

Looking ahead at Georgia’s special teams

This story was originally published June 26, 2016 at 1:29 PM with the headline "Summer UGA football lookahead: Receivers strong in numbers but lack experience."