Football fans in Georgia are used to watching former Bulldogs win in the NFL. It is never shocking to see former Bulldogs making news in the NFL since every week a new Georgia player achieves something spectacular in the league.
It is a little less usual, though, to witness former Georgia standouts excel in their first seasons. That simply illustrates how difficult it is to make the transition from college to the NFL, but it doesn’t necessarily say anything negative about UGA or their rookies.
But this year is different. In terms of receiving yards this season, Georgia has two rookies who surpass all other rookies.
Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey
With 706 yards this season, tight end Brock Bowers leads all NFL rookies in receiving yards, which should come as no surprise. Additionally, Bowers just broke the NFL record for the most receptions by a rookie tight end in NFL history last weekend when he recorded 13 receptions against the Miami Dolphins.
Bowers is already establishing himself and demonstrating that he has the potential to become the league’s top tight end, even though the Las Vegas Raiders aren’t enjoying the season he had hoped for.
Ladd McConkey, a wide receiver, is the second Bulldog to start the season quickly. With 615 yards thus far this season, McConkey is ranked third on the list of rookie receiving yards.
Compared to Bowers, McConkey has surprised more people this year. Most people thought it would take him some time to get used to playing in the NFL, but they didn’t doubt that he could succeed there. That hasn’t been the case, though, as he has played a significant role in the Chargers’ start, which is stunning at 7-3.
How Bowers and McConkey end their seasons this year will be fascinating to see. All indications are that they will finish as strong as they have been, and McConkey will probably have an opportunity to do so during this season’s playoffs.
However, their success just serves to highlight how frequently Georgia’s players can succeed on the field in the NFL, which should only aid UGA’s recruiting efforts.