Mekhi Mews a name to keep in mind for Georgia this fall

ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia receiver Mekhi Mews continues to be a name popping up on practice reports and scrimmage scoops as somebody getting serious work in the slot. While Missouri transfer Dominic Lovett seems to have the first-team position on lock and Ladd McConkey is capable of playing on the inside too, Mews is certainly somebody factoring into things when it comes to a receiver rotation. According to Kirby Smart, there’s not a huge drop off when the walk-on comes in for the All-SEC caliber players.

“Well, they’re more similar than they are different,” Smart said, speaking on Mews and Lovett. “They both have redeeming qualities and quickness and getting the ball and making touches. They’re not physically imposing blockers. They both are willing blockers and they’re both really tough. They’ll stick their face in there. You’re not going to be in our program or rep at our practices if you’re not willing to go block somebody or play on special teams, so both those guys have bought into the special teams and the blocking when they don’t have the ball. When they do have the ball, they’ve made some good plays.:

“We have to find a way to utilize each of their skillsets, and they compliment each other in terms of keeping each other fresh,” Smart continued. “The other guys — Anthony Evans who’s played in the slot, and he’s different than those guys and he’s made some plays. So I’m very pleased with where they are. We’ve got to continue to get more out of those guys.”

Mews, a product of Central Gwinnett High School in Grayson, Ga., saw action in a trio of games last season. In a September victory over Samford, Mews hauled in one pass for six yards. Against Georgia Tech in the regular season finale, he had a 3-yard grab plus a punt return for a pickup of 21. The previous year Mews played against Charleston Southern on special teams with returns for 12 (kickoff) and four (punt) yards.

Mews, who wears No. 87 if you’re wanting to keep an eye out for him this fall, also made a name for himself this spring. On G-Day, he returned a kickoff for a touchdown, although it was called back thanks to the spring game special teams tackling rules. On the last play of the game though, Mews got redemption with a 10-yard touchdown reception from Brock Vandagriff, one of his team-high four catches on six targets totaling 91 yards including 53 after the catch.

“I tell people all the time: Mekhi Mews has made more plays on the scout team the last two years against great defenses, now. Great defenses, he’s gone out there and made a bunch of plays. And it’s paying off today,” Smart told ESPN’s Alyssa Lang during the television broadcast of the spring game. “Because he plays every day against one of the best defenses in the country and he’s not afraid to go out there and play right now and he’s done a great job. He’s really an explosive guy.”

“Mews does that every day,” he added in a postgame press conference. “Mews is a guy that, he last year kept getting really close to being able to play and help us. He was on scout team so I had seen him make plays on scout team. We put him in a couple of guys as the returner. Very sure handed, makes good decisions, you saw today he’s got some return ability. Exciting, and you get what you get from Mews every day. The guy is a worker, and I thought he made some plays today with his feet and made some really tough catches.”

What Mews’ role for the 2023 season is remains to be seen. However, his constant presence in the preseason certainly would seem to indicate he’ll be a factor in some sort of way. Whether it’s by providing relief for receivers or helping as a return specialist, you better not forget the name associated with No. 87 this fall.