Cortez Hankton Jr. on Georgia WR Ladd McConkey: 'He's a young man that fights against the odds'
Cortez Hankton Jr. will be supporting his pair of LSU receivers during the 2024 NFL Draft. However, before arriving in Baton Rouge, he spent four years in Athens where Georgia is also set to produce a professional wideout next week in the draft.
Hankton Jr. joined ‘Andy Staples On3’ on Friday and spoke about Ladd McConkey amidst all the quality receivers that he has worked with. In speaking about McConkey, he credited him for the chip on his shoulder that has been big enough to bring him from where he was to where he will be after his career with the Bulldogs.
“Well, for me, especially with Ladd. Because, you know, he’s a young man that fights against the odds,” Hankton Jr. said. “Blue-chip mentality, blue collar. Didn’t have a whole lot going on coming out of high school but he was ultra competitive.”
“He believed that he could compete at the highest level. He proved that in whatever opportunity that he got,” said Hankton Jr.. “What I mean to tell you – like, he is a guy that, every day he walks into that building, he has it on his mind to make a point to prove people wrong.”
In 2020, McConkey, a Chatsworth, Georgia native, came out of North Murray High School as a three-star prospect. That’s according to On3’s Industry Ranking. He finished just inside the Top-200 in wide receivers and just inside the Top-125 recruits from out of the state.
Amongst what offers he had, McConkey ended up at his in-state school of Georgia. He came in as part of their No. 1 class that cycle, a group that has since produced top-notch talent. Out of 25 commitments, he was one of their six three-stars and was third from last out of that collection.
Still, while not highly-touted, Georgia stayed on him as they had their eyes on him for some time. As Hankton Jr. recalled it, they just saw qualities in McConkey, both on the field and elsewhere, that made him a player that they wanted.
“Trust your eyes,” said Hankton Jr.. “You know, ultimately what it comes down to is the evaluation of not only the skillset but the redeeming qualities of a young man.”
“You know, you see him play multiple sports. I remember being at a basketball game. His team was down, like, 11 points in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter of a game. I mean they made a bunch of plays, tied it up going to overtime, and then they win it,” Hankton Jr. remembered. “He was a leader of that team. So that in itself showed me his competitive nature, his will to fight for his team, and also to lead them to a victory.”
In hindsight, that evaluation of McConkey paid off for Georgia.
Over four seasons with the ‘Dawgs, McConkey was one of their most impactful pieces. Following a redshirt as a freshman, he went on to post 119 catches for 1,687 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also rushed for four more scores to bring that total to 18.
That production made him an All-SEC wideout, helped Georgia to go 42-2 over the past three years with two national titles, and, now, helped him to become an all but surefire selection on Day 2 of this NFL Draft.
McConkey’s determination led him to panning out as well as he did in college. Hankton Jr. knows it too as it’ll also be what could now lead him to success at the next level.
“I love that about him,” said Hankton Jr.. “I love that about this young man.”