George Pickens reveals why he knows he's a first-round pick

The 2022 NFL Scouting Combine has officially started this week in Indianapolis, Indiana. It’s a huge opportunity for college football prospects across the country to prove their value to NFL teams and to decision makers across the league. When former Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver George Pickens was asked how confident he is that he’s a first-rounder in the 2022 NFL Draft, he didn’t flinch.

“I’m very confident. I know I can present to teams exactly what a first-round pick is,” Pickens said on Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine. While he didn’t play most of the 2021-2022 season after suffering a torn right ACL in March 2021, he still flashed his big play ability when it counted the most: in the 2022 College Football Playoff Championship Game. He caught a critical 52-yard diving catch in the first quarter against Alabama.

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The six-foot-three receiver was named a preseason All-American by Walter Camp and All-SEC by the league’s head coaches. Blessed with an incredible amount of length and athleticism, Pickens is a matchup nightmare for opposing corners and has made a number of highlight reel grabs the past few seasons for the Bulldogs.

A few recent mock drafts from PFF have Pickens being selected in the first round. This year’s wide receiver class is incredibly deep, and a number of mock drafts even have former Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams as getting picked late in the first round.

Whatever NFL franchise lands Pickens is getting an electrifying playmaker that will boost their passing attack in a big way.

George Pickens career stats

In 2020, Pickens hauled in 36 catches for 513 receiving yards and six touchdown catches. As a freshman in 2019, Pickens hauled in 49 catches for 727 receiving yards, while bringing in eight touchdowns. As a freshman, he posted an epic performance in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1, 2020 when he exploded for 12 catches for 175 receiving yards and a touchdown. He earned MVP honors in the game. The 12 catches were a Georgia bowl record and the most by a Bulldog receiver in 17 seasons.

During his first two seasons in Athens, Pickens hauled in 85 passes for 1,240 receiving yards, while bringing in 14 touchdowns in 22 games.

As a high school prospect, the Alabama native was one of the highest rated players in the country and was a five-star prospect. He played for Hoover High School in Hoover, Alabama, which is one of the more decorated high school football programs in the state. He was selected to play in the 2019 Under Armour All-American Game.

There is plenty of information on how to watch the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine here. There will be over 50 hours of coverage by the NFL Network.