What’s next for Georgia receivers after Dominick Blaylock injury?

It looked like any other play.

Sophomore Georgia receiver Dominick Blaylock attempted to snag a pass in practice. He hauled it in, came down and turned to make a move upfield.

Then, his left knee gave way.

Blaylock suffered a non-contact tear of his left ACL, the same injury that happened in last season’s SEC Championship game. Head coach Kirby Smart said he’d never seen a player rehab as hard as Blaylock, and now he has to start that process all over again.

“I reached out to him right away, and he said, ‘Coach, I’m going to be back,’” Smart said. “‘I’m going to be fine. I’m going to get through this. I’m going to push through it.’ He’s such a fiery competitor, and I’m excited to see him get back.”

The injury comes as a big blow for a receiving corps that struggled last season. Blaylock ranked third among returning UGA receivers in 2019 receptions (18) and yards (310), and only George Pickens had more touchdowns last season than Blaylock’s five.

For a team searching for explosive plays the past couple years, Blaylock represented a weapon that could take the top off a defense. He led all players who had multiple receptions with 17.22 yards per catch, with his signature play of his freshman season being a 51-yard score in the win at Auburn.

New offensive coordinator Todd Monken knows the Bulldogs need to find ways to create big plays. Even without Blaylock, Monken’s formula for that is simple.

“How do you get skilled players in space, really good skill players in space that can make people miss?” Monken said. “That’s at every level. That’s what we’re trying to accomplish, and I think we have those guys to do it.”

One of Monken’s key talking points has been getting the most out of his players’ “measurable skills sets.” He believes there are some experienced players in the receiver room, such as junior Matt Landers and senior Demetris Robertson, who still have plenty of room to develop into more effective players.

Monken also praised redshirt sophomore Kearis Jackson as being a “pleasant surprise” so far in camp. Jackson could take the lead role in the slot position Blaylock was projected to fill.

The Bulldogs also welcome five new receivers, as well as five-star tight end Darnell Washington, to the roster in 2020. Four of the five receivers were rated as four-star recruits, bringing an infusion of talent to the unit.

Smart said the staff is attempting to build a depth chart behind the veterans with some of the younger players. However, the head coach wasn’t impressed with what he saw in the team’s first scrimmage Saturday.

“We hit a wall a little bit with some of the younger guys,” Smart said. “I think they didn’t show us much today.”

The young players as well as some of the developmental players Monken mentioned will have every chance to earn playing time as the season nears. Georgia needs players who can make plays in the passing game, especially after Blaylock’s injury.

The coaches will have to do all they can to help that happen. To a point, Monken can scheme to get his players in space. Ultimately, it’s up to the offensive staff to get the most out of their players.

“That’s what we’re paid to do,” Monken said. “We’re paid to recruit really talented players and then develop them and maximize their measurable skill sets. That’s what coaching is, and utilizing what they do bring to the table.”