Dominic Lovett says he 'looked up to' Georgia players, valued opportunity to team up

Georgia hasn’t been one of the more active teams in the NCAA transfer portal since its arrival, but when the Bulldogs do go portal shopping they go big. This offseason the Bulldogs plucked talented Missouri receiver Dominic Lovett from the portal.

Lovett has had the experience of playing against Georgia, but he’s been blown away since arriving on campus in Athens.

“It was actually dope because I kind of looked up to them as far as all the players that have been here, that have came, that have went that I’ve met, from like Jalen Carter, Ladd McConkey, Marcus Rosemy-(Jacksaint), Brock Bowers,” Lovett said. “Just meeting those guys and seeing how humble they are and how they welcomed me with open arms, that was a big thing. From Javon Bullard, K3, Malaki Starks.

“Just like the whole team just invited me in with open arms, and that’s something that I can say that was a big thing for me being in this transfer portal coming to a new place. Just that family friendly environment.”

The talented Missouri wideout accounted for 56 catches for 846 yards and three touchdowns last season, so he’ll be a welcome addition for new starting quarterback Carson Beck.

But fall camp has also been quite lively as a result of the new addition. Lovett’s likeness has been on TV in the facilities when replays of last season’s games are on.

“We mostly joke and laugh about it. They kind of tease me about it like every day when it comes on the TV,” Lovett said. “‘Hey Dom, look, you’re on the TV,’ and I just laugh. It’s nothing but laughs, but it is kind of cool seeing where I was and how I ended up here, from going against them to now playing with them. That’s a big factor. That’s pretty dope.”

In the game against Georgia a year ago, Lovett more than held his own. He caught six passes for 84 yards as Missouri gave Georgia one of its toughest games of the season, a 26-22 result.

Lovett said that game showed him what he could do.

“I actually took that game as an honor, with them being like undefeated and them just winning the national championship,” he said. “I took that game as an honor. I went out there and had fun, played ball. We was up and they came back and they won. Honestly I look at that game as like a growing point, from being there and from being here as in Georgia is one of those teams that you’re going to have to play for four quarters. They’re never out of the fight. Of course we can run back to the Ohio State game; they’re never out of the fight.

“I took that game as an honor seeing how so many of those players entered the draft from offense and defense, so I felt like that was a cool team to play and I felt like we got after them pretty good and it was a good game. They came out on top. I had no bad blood. I just told them after the game it was a good game, maybe we’ll catch y’all next year. And I obviously ended up here next year.”

Lovett will get the chance to make his Georgia debut on Sept. 2 when the Bulldogs host UT Martin in the season opener.