Three Georgia pass catchers included on Biletnikoff Award watch list
A trio of Georgia pass catchers were included on the watch list for the Biletnikoff Award on Monday. Presented annually to the most outstanding receiver, regardless of position, the Bulldogs’ Brock Bowers, Dominic Lovett and Ladd McConkey were among the 49 players to make the cut.
Starting off with Bowers, one of just two tight ends on the list, he returns to Georgia after having led the team in receiving each of his first two years on campus. As a freshman in 2021, Bowers set a school record with 13 receiving scores. He also had a freshman record 56 catches and 882 yards – both of which were tops for tight ends as well. For his efforts, Bowers earned unanimous honors as National Freshman of the Year.
Bowers came back and had an even better statistical year in 2022. Helping Georgia to its second straight National Championship, Bowers brought in 63 passes for 942 yards. Bowers also added 109 yards rushing to put him over the 1,000-yard total. He won the Mackey Award as the nation’s tight end and is looking to become the first-ever two-time winner in 2023.
“I wonder why we shy away from talking about him as the best college football player right now in America. Like, why are people afraid to have that conversation?,” SEC Network’s Cole Cubelic said recent about Bowers. “Best tight end, sure, maybe best offensive weapon, but he should be on a very short list discussion of best college players right now. That’s it. Game, set, match. Nothing else to talk about. You don’t need to add an asterisk to it, you don’t need to parenthesis that thing, he might be the best player in America.”
Meanwhile, with the wide receivers, Georgia has its second-leading pass catcher of the last two years in McConkey and Missouri’s top receiver last season in Lovett.
As a redshirt freshman in 2021, McConkey caught 31 passes for 447 yards and five touchdowns. He led Georgia in receiving in its road win over a ranked Auburn team, earning SEC Freshman of the Week for his 135-yard day on The Plains. Then, in 2022, McConkey came out of the gates strong, scoring two touchdowns in the opener against Oregon. It was his second career two-touchdown day and the first of three he had on the season (Mississippi State and TCU as well).
Top 10
- 1
Underranked SEC
Lane Kiffin protests CFP rankings
- 2New
Saban chirped
Big 12 comes after GOAT
- 3
DJ Lagway
Fan flashes Florida QB to Pope
- 4Hot
Strength of Schedule
CFP Top 25 SOS ranking
- 5
Alabama needs a prayer
Tide can make the CFP but needs help
Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy gave McConkey attention this offseason as he began to evaluate the NFL Draft class for 2024. McConkey, who decided to return to Athens and put the draft on the back burner for at least another year, has also received praise from NFL scouts according to ESPN.
As for Lovett, the Missouri transfer comes to Georgia with big expectations. Last year he had 100 yards or more in four games and was well on his way to doing so against the Bulldogs with six catches for 84 yards in the first half of a near upset before exiting with an injury.
In total, Lovett had 56 catches for 846 yards and three touchdowns.
“Dom’s been able to make some plays down the field. I’ve been very pleased with Dom,” Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said this spring. “He’s been matched up on Tykee (Smith) and Bull (Javon Bullard) and Joenel (Aguero) a lot, and he’s made some plays on those guys. I’ve been really proud of what Dom’s been able to pick up.”
Georgia, who was voted the No. 1 team in the country according to the Coaches Poll on Monday, opens its season at home on September 2nd against UT-Martin (6:00 p.m. ET, ESPN+/SECN+).
