Jackson Meeks to transfer after three seasons at Georgia

Georgia wide receiver Jackson Meeks has entered his name into the transfer portal. A three-year member of the program in Athens, the Phenix City, Ala. native has just one year of eligibility remaining.

Meeks’ career saw him play in 36 contests including all but one this season and all 15 in 2022. He’s been used primarily on special teams, being called a “special teams demon” by Georgia head coach Kirby Smart at one point in his career. Meeks 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.

Thank you UGA❤️ pic.twitter.com/f9UMjmFbJa

— •Jack• (@_7JMEEKS) December 4, 2023

“Well, the No. 1 thing that he’s done is he’s been a special teams demon. You know, you guys don’t get to see it enough. But he’s taken over a role on special teams in terms of kickoff coverage, punt return,” Smart said about Meeks previously. “He’s really been really good at what he does. He executes his assignment. He plays with great toughness. He’s gotten some opportunities at wideout. But he’s really physical. And, you know, that — the whole culture and team building and special teams being first, he’s really bought into that and brought kind of an era of toughness to that room that we haven’t had in a while.”

“It’s an honor. This is a great organization and a great school, so any time I get to be a part of it and help my team win, I take pride in that,” Meeks added. “I take a lot of pride in special teams. Like my old teammate Channing Tindall said, it’s always an honor to go play. I’m a starter, special teams starter and that means I get to go out there and contribute … I go out there and give effort like all my teammates do. We all give effort and we all play to our best ability and go out there to help our team in the best way that I can.”

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.

Meeks is the fourth Georgia player to enter the transfer portal in this window, joining outside linebacker Darris Smith, defensive lineman Jonathan Jefferson and quarterback Brock Vandagriff. 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.