Kirby Smart raves about versatility of Brock Bowers, Darnell Washington at tight end

Kirby Smart can’t think of another player in the country as versatile as Georgia tight end Brock Bowers. Whether the Bulldogs need a pass-catcher, runner or blocker, Bowers is the man for the job.

He showed off that versatility in Saturday’s 39-22 victory against Kent State as he rushed for a pair of touchdowns, including a 75-yard touchdown run on the second play of the game.

“What a weapon he is,” Smart said. “What a tough character he is. He makes you defend the whole 53, right? When he comes into motion, the expectation is, ‘I’ve gotta stop the sideline.’ It loosens them up inside for some softer runs, too. When you run for 250, you’re doing something right.

“…I don’t know who there is because I don’t get to see it. It’s hard for me to ever do a comparison. But for what he does, I don’t think people understand what an incredible blocker he is. He doesn’t get to do that that much.”

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Bowers later punched in a two-yard rushing touchdown and finished the game with 77 yards rushing in addition to five catches for 60 yards. However, he wasn’t the only Bulldogs tight end to finish with a big day.

On the same drive that Bowers scored his second touchdown, Darnell Washington caught a 23-yard pass from Stetson Bennett. Washington ended the game with two catches for 39 yards, and joined Brock Bowers in earning postgame praise from Kirby Smart.

“The other incredible player out there is Darnell,” Smart said. “If you go back and look at Brock’s big plays this year, Darnell’s been a big part of that. I was so proud and happy to see him. First play of the game, he’s wide open and it was supposed to go to him. Stetson took a shot being aggressive and Darnell was there. The very next play, Brock gets a touchdown and Darnell’s celebrating. He’s the first one in the end zone celebrating. Darnell blocking combined with what Brock does on the perimeter, the package of those two, they complement each other really well.”

So far this season, Bowers leads the Bulldogs with 15 catches for 276 yards and a touchdown. Washington has seven catches for 120 yards. Both players will look to keep up their impressive play next week when they face Missouri next week.