Kirby Smart on Ladd McConkey: We have to stop him from running himself into the ground

Georgia receiver Ladd McConkey is a versatile weapon for the Bulldogs on offense and his head coach, Kirby Smart, is well aware. In the Georgia’s opening weekend beatdown of Oregon, McConkey was behind only teammate Kenny McIntosh for total offense among the UGA skill players.

McConkey caught five of six targets for 73 yards and a touchdown, plus he notched two carries for 16 yards and another touchdown on an end-around early in the game. McConkey is a true change of pace from the bruising tight ends and running backs on Georgia’s offense, and will be featured heavily in a number of ways. Smart and the staff will reign him in only to keep him from wearing out.

“It helps tremendously,” Smart said of McConkey’s versatility. “We have some other guys that can help in a similar way that he does. They just gotta get caught up to speed and get healthy and learn what to do. But he’s certainly a valuable asset. I think the important thing with Ladd is not over use. He could run himself into the ground because he’ll go as hard as he possibly can, everyday. And that’s not a bad thing, but it can be a bad thing. So we just gotta make sure we monitor him.”

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McConkey’s role figures to be nominally larger than it was a year ago when he was on the periphery of the Georgia offense. And though 2021 was just his first year suiting up for the Bulldogs, McConkey still accounted for six total touchdowns (five receiving, one rushing) on 31 receptions and four carries.

With two touchdowns in Week 1, it’s not hard to imagine McConkey eclipsing his 2021 touchdown total and a more central piece of the UGA offense. But Smart knows if he cut McConkey completely loose, he’d risk a valuable asset running himself dry.