Notebook: Georgia players speak on new assistant coach, NFL dreams, and more

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Friday interviews at the 2024 NFL Combine began on Friday with five Georgia players having met with the media. At that point the Bulldogs still weren’t halfway done. Four more met with reporters today and they were peppered with questions about their time in Athens, former teammates, assistant coaches, the UGA standard, NFL meetings and much more. Below DawgsHQ has put together a notebook with quotes from each of those Bulldogs.

Daijun Edwards knows the new Georgia running backs coach…

Dell McGee coached Edwards through his entire Georgia career. He recruited the former four-star running back to Athens and was in his ear for the past four years. There will be a new voice in that room in 2024 with McGee moving on to become the head coach at Georgia State.

Georgia hired Josh Crawford earlier this week as the new running backs coach and run-game coordinator and while Edwards won’t play for him and never really has before, he knows a little about the guy from their time together at Colquitt County High School. Edwards isn’t a man of many words but he had some things to say about Crawford.

“He’s serious, man,” Edwards said.” He don’t play. He’s a serious guy. He don’t play.”

“He’s like real militant,” Edwards continued. “He’s going to be on you and ain’t nothing getting past him.”

Ladd McConkey wants to do more than play wideout in the NFL

The Bulldogs got a lot out of McConkey while he donned the red and black. He caught touchdown passes, took handoffs to the house, and nearly broke loose for scores on a few punt returns. He doesn’t know whether teams will use him as an outside receiver or a slot option at the next level but he hopes that he’ll get a chance at both.

McConkey also wants teams to view him as a guy who can help change the game as a punt returner, something he did quite well at times in 2022.

“That’s something I really enjoyed doing that 2022 year,” McConkey said on Friday. “I didn’t get to do it this past year. I missed the first four games. Mekhi Mews came in and he did a great job. They let him roll with it but that is something I for sure want to do.”

Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint sees some familiar faces

Georgia has 11 players at the 2024 NFL Combine but that doesn’t tell the entire story. In all, 13 players who signed with the Bulldogs out of high school are in Indianapolis and Rosemy-Jacksaint is excited to see all of them.

Alabama wideout Jermaine Burton, who won a National Championship with Georgia in 2024, was interviewed on Friday. AD Mitchell, who scored touchdowns in all four playoff games to help Georgia win two straight National Titles, also spoke to media. Rosemy-Jacksaint has spent the past couple of months training for the combine and hasn’t really gotten a chance to spend time with those guys until now.

“Little bit excited, you know,” Rosemy-Jacksaint said with a smile. “Just being able to see most of my teammates, old teammates, former teammates like Ladd and Jermaine and AD, those guys. It’s been exciting just because of the fact that we played together. We’ve been through a lot together. Just to see us on that same stage getting ready to go into the next league, the next step in our life, it’s a humbling and exciting experience. It’s very exciting. I’m excited for those guys, excited for myself, just to see what the road holds for us.”

Kendall Milton feels the best is yet to come

Anyone who has followed Georgia football over the past few years knows that Milton hasn’t been able to catch a break on the injury front. He has dealt with multiple soft tissue injuries and has suffered sprained knee ligaments at least three times since arriving in the Classic City.

Milton capped off his Bulldog career with a bang, scoring in nine straight games and reaching the end zone 12 times in that span. He also eclipsed 100 yards in three of his final five games. Milton is proud of the way he finished but he also feels that there’s plenty of meat left on the bone.

“I feel extremely motivated to continue out, especially at the next level,” Milton told reporters on Friday. “Like I said, a lot left on the table in College Football and I feel like going into the next step, like you said, my best football is ahead of me. Because at this point, I’m going to be in situations where I can take care of my body at a different level and I really believe, like I’ve said, my best football is ahead of me. A lot of things will be happening at the next level that will make me very proud and make my family very proud.”