Georgia tight ends still looking to break out

You’re not alone if you didn’t notice the Georgia tight ends against Austin Peay.

That group didn’t record a single reception against the Governors. Oscar Delp and Lawson Luckie were each targeted once. The group also had a relatively quiet season opener against Marshall, with four catches for 62 yards.

Ahead of an SEC clash with Tennessee this weekend, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart fielded a question regarding the lack of tight end usage so far in 2025.

“I don’t think that would be true to say that we didn’t target tight ends,” Smart said. “There’s multiple plays that the tight end was No. 1 option. But he was either not there, or he was missed, or there might have been a misread. But we had a tight end wide open where somebody fell down in coverage, and he was targeted, but we ended up going to the check down. There’s a couple other ones that we probably could have hit the tight end on, but we could have hit anybody because it’s called zone defense, so you go with the read. But there’s no rhyme or reason where we can’t call a play where we say, this ball’s going to the tight end. There is no such thing.”

Smart has been clear about what he wants to see from the group as it looks to establish itself in the Georgia offense.

“I judge things based on can you break a tackle, so did anybody break a tackle? Can you block people at the point of attack? Did anybody block people at the point of attack?” Smart said after the season opener. “If you do neither, then you’re not actually benefiting us. And I’m not saying they’re not, but I’m saying let’s watch it and see because we don’t just call plays to run plays. We want to get the best playmakers on the field.”

One bright light had been Ethan Barbour. The true freshman started the season opener and played extensively in Georgia’s first two games. But Barbour suffered a serious ankle injury on the final play of the first half against Austin Peay.

Barbour looks to be out for an extended period of time. That could mean even more reps for Georgia redshirt freshman Jaden Reddell.

“He’s getting better, his growth is getting better,” Smart said. “It’s hard when you come in from never having been a true blocker or do any blocking to having to do all that. He has improved in that through the weight room and through physicality, and he continues to improve. We’ll need him to step up and be able to play even more snaps.”

The matchup with Tennessee proved to be a good one for the Georgia tight ends last season. The trio of Delp, Luckie, and Ben Yurosek combined for 10 catches, 130 yards, and two touchdowns, both by Delp.