Kearis Jackson details why he's more hungry than ever heading into 2022

Georgia wide receiver Kearis Jackson is hopeful that 2022 can be his best season yet. After finishing as the team’s leading receiver in 2020, Jackson entered last season with a similar hope.

However, despite playing in all 15 games, he finished with just 16 catches for 194 yards and a touchdown. He also serves as the Bulldogs’ leading punt return, averaging 8.6 yards per return. In an interview after the annual spring game Saturday, Jackson explained why he believes this season will be different.

“I feel great about myself right now,” the receiver said. “Last year wasn’t the season I wanted to have, but guess why I came back another season? I still have stuff to prove. I still have stuff that I wanted to put out on tape that I know I’m capable of doing. Me coming back another season will to help not only myself, but help my teammates and help Georgia win another national championship.”

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If the G-Day game is any indication, Jackson looks well on his way to reclaiming the role of Georgia’s top receiver. He finished with 107 yards receiving on four catches to lead all players as team Black outlasted team Red by a score of 26-23. His final catch of the game was perhaps his biggest, as he gained 25 yards to set up the game-winning field goal from Jared Zirkel.

Despite his big showing though, Jackson isn’t satisfied with where he is at. The 6-foot, 200 pound wideout struggled through injuries last season, and while they never caused him to miss a game they certainly affected his play. However, it was also a learning experience, teaching him other ways he could have an impact on the game.

“I’m still working to be the best player I can possibly be,” Jackson said. “With me being limited last year, I was upset. But at the same time, we still won the national championship and I still helped contribute in some type of way. I made a contribution to the team even though I didn’t have receiver stats. Just being with my teammates and cheering them on even when I don’t have the ball. Blocking in transition and making explosive plays for the running backs. Whatever it is, I’m just happy to be a part of it. This year, I’m trying to do a little bit more by staying healthy. That’s the main part.”

Kearis Jackson is set to enter his fifth season with the Bulldogs in 2022. A former four-star recruit and the No. 18 receiver in the class of 2018 according to On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average. He also has talented players around him in fellow receivers Ladd McConkey and Adonai Mitchell.

“None of us can be too complacent about where we’re at, even myself,” Jackson said. “I’ve played many snaps, but I’ve still got young guys behind me that’s pushing me to this day. I look at it as we’ve got people who haven’t got as much playing time that’s actually taking the game serious and trying to win a starting position.”

The Bulldogs are set to open up the 2022 season on Sept. 3 against Oregon.