Jackson Meeks announces commitment to Syracuse, reuniting with Fran Brown

Former Georgia wide receiver Jackson Meeks has his new home picked out, and he’ll be following a former UGA assistant to the school. Announcing his decision on social media this morning, Meeks is headed to Syracuse where he’ll reunite with former Bulldogs defensive backs coach Fran Brown, tabbed as the new head coach of the Orange earlier this month.

Meeks is the third Georgia player to enter the transfer portal and announce his next destination. He joins quarterback Brock Vandagriff (Kentucky) and defensive lineman Jonathan Jefferson (SMU) in having done so.

A product of Central (Phenix City, Ala.), Meeks spent three seasons at Georgia, helping the Bulldogs win two national championships. He played in 36 career contests including all but one in 2023 and all 15 in 2022. Used primarily on special teams, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart went as far as to call Meeks a “special teams demon”at one point in his career. He totaled five tackles in that role.

As a receiver, Meeks’ stats show 10 receptions for 132 yards. He hauled in six passes for 65 yards in 2022 with his biggest single game coming that season against Samford, totaling three catches for 31 yards including a long of 14 that day. His career-long reception came the year before against Charleston Southern when he hauled in a 27-yarder. In 2023, Meeks brought in just one pass, a 23-yard reception in the road win over Tennessee. He had a 29-yard touchdown in the spring game from quarterback Brock Vandagriff, one of two passes he hauled in that day to total 48 yards.

Meeks signed with Georgia in the Class of 2021 out of Phenix City (Ala.) Central. He was ranked the No. 639 overall recruit in the class, coming in just inside the top-100 for players at his position as the No. 99 wide receiver.

In total this cycle, 13 Georgia players (12 scholarship players plus walk-on Mekhi Mews) have entered the transfer portal. That list includes: outside linebacker Darris Smith, defensive lineman Jonathan Jefferson, quarterback Brock Vandagriff, EDGE CJ Madden, offensive lineman Austin Blaske, kicker Jared Zirkel, cornerback Nyland Green, linebacker EJ Lightsey, linebacker Xavian Sorey, wide receiver Yazeed Haynes, offensive lineman Aliou Bah and of course Meeks. Last year, the Bulldogs lost 15 players to the transfer portal.

More on the transfer portal…

The NCAA student-athlete transfer portal launched in 2018. It marked a chance from when student-athletes had to get a release from their school to transfer to another and they could be limited as to where they transferred. The portal allows student athletes to simply notify their current school and its compliance department that they intend to move on to another program.

Since its implementation, Georgia has added several notable prospects. That list includes Lawrence Cager (Miami), Eli Wolf (Tennessee), Tre’ McKitty (Florida State), Derion Kendrick (Clemson), Tykee Smith (West Virginia), Rara Thomas (Mississippi State) and Dominic Lovett (Missouri), among others. The Bulldogs have had years when they’ve been active in the portal, attempting to take as many as four prospects before the 2021 season. They have also had seasons like 2022 when they didn’t take a single player and went on to go 15-0 and win the National Championship for a second straight season.

Portal needs for Georgia in the current class include defensive line and wide receiver, where it is expected to land multiple players at each position. The Bulldogs could also be in the market at running back, outside linebacker, offensive tackle, or safety. If a player wants to transfer from SEC school to SEC school, he must do so by January 2 when the current window closes. There is another window that will open in the spring but, at that point, a player must transfer in from outside the conference.