Roman Harper challenges Georgia WRs to step up: 'You have to get it figured out'

Roman Harper is tired of the excuses when it comes to the Georgia wide receivers. The SEC Network analyst and former Alabama safety issued a challenge to the Bulldogs receiving corps ahead of the 2025 season.

Speaking on SEC Now, Harper called out the fans for claiming that they never have any good receivers. He pointed to their recruiting classes as proof that they do have talent on the roster and put the pressure on the players to figure things out.

“Georgia recruits better than anybody,” he said. “I’m tired of hearing people talk about how Georgia ‘Oh, we don’t have any wide receivers.’ Arian Smith still got drafted, guys. I know he dropped a ton of balls last year but he still got drafted. So, you still have all this ability, you just have to get it figured out on the field. At some point, you guys have to make it work on the field.”

Smith was the team’s leading receiver this past season with 817 yards and four touchdowns. That marked the first time since Kirby Smart took over as coach in 2016 that Georgia had a receiver surpass 800 yards. Brock Bowers surpassed the mark twice as a tight end.

The lack of individual stats hasn’t lead to bad results for the team, though. Georgia still finished top three in the SEC in passing yards per game each of the past three seasons. Perhaps the Bulldogs just spread the ball around more than other teams.

This year’s squad could have a star, though, with the addition of USC transfer Zachariah Branch. It doesn’t get any more talented than that, as Branch ranked as the No. 1 receiver in the 2023 recruiting cycle.

Over the past two seasons with the Trojans, Branch recorded 78 catches for 823 yards and three touchdowns. He along with former four-star recruit Noah Thomas give Georgia a pair of transfers who could step in and contribute right away.

The Bulldogs also return last year’s third-leading receiver Dillon Bell and Colbie Young, who missed the final nine games of last season due to a suspension. That’s a group that looks good on paper, and we’ll see how it plays out on the field with first-year starting QB Gunner Stockton.

Ultimately, we’ll see whether the words from Roman Harper can light a fire under the Georgia receivers. The Bulldogs kick off the 2025 season on Aug. 30 against Marshall.